Has anyone come across a shrouded muzzle brake? I have contemplated designing one. The idea is to have the brake but inside a shroud that is open to the front so as to 'break' the recoil but direct the blast forward again at lower velocity. The shroud would be mounted a bit back from the muzzle so as not to negate the break.

This concept may be of interest to folks in countries were suppressors are illegal but want to reduce recoil without the blast effects of open breaks.

I have one on my 375 wildcat.

It was made by American Safe Arms out in Idaho.

It reduces the sound by 4 dB from the un-braked rifle.

That number was choosen (somewhat arbitrarily) by the BATF to allow manufacture to continue.
At one point Browning had a deal with ASA to put their shrouded muzzle brake on the BAR, but I think the legal issues made them nervous.

The original ASA muzzle brake dropped the sound by about 50 dB.
That made it a suppressor in the eyes of the BATF.

Garrett

Been there done that. It sounds like shooting into a culvert when standing at one end.

Any pics? Sounds like a neat idea.

I'll take photos & post them tommorrow.

Thanks for the replies!

quote:

The original ASA muzzle brake dropped the sound by about 50 dB.

That is quite substantial. The most important thing is that it is reducing muzzle blast. Does the 4 dB one effectively direct the muzzle blast downrange?
How big are these things? (Actually, how small are they?)

303 Guy,

If there is any additional muzzle blast, I don't see it or feel it. If anything, it seems like the muzzle blast is attenuated.

The shroud or tube is the exact same diameter as the shank of the barrel, and it's welded into place...seamlessly...looks like one piece of metal (again, the BATF insisted on that).

What you have is a rifle with what looks like a 10 gauage shotgun barrel on it.
The tip of the barrel is threaded, and a removable endpiece centers the barrel and tube when you screw it on. If you want maximum braking, you use a ported end piece instead of the solid one (they will make you one of each).

It works pretty well.

Garrett

Thanks for that. Could you post some pictures of it, please? I am eagerly awaiting D Humbarger's pictures too. My rifle just happens to have a big fat fore-end which makes the barrel look a little skinny, so, it is a prime candidate for the '10 gauge' look. In fact, you have given me an idea - to get hold of a scrap shotgun barrel and use that to make the shroud. Thin and strong!

303Guy-

I have a rifle that a shrouded muzzle break of sorts.

The muzzle end of the barrel has been ported much like a muzzle brake. Then the exterior of the barrel was threaded to accept the shroud. The concept to this shroud is to deflect some of the gases from the muzzle blast away from the shooter.

I will try and post some pictures.

Pics?

quote:

I will try and post some pictures.

Thanks 30 Caliber Mag Fan. I would appreciate that.

Can these things also be used to control muzzle lift?

Nothing fancy. Just an experiment.

Thanks for the pick D Humbarger. Is that the way it is or have you screwed the inner part out for the pic? What I had in mind is pretty much along those lines but with a longer shroud. It does not look too bad at all! In fact, it could be said that it enhances the appearance of the muzzle. Now that I know what looks good, I can begin mine.

Levang Linear Compensator?

quote:

Levang Linear Compensator?

Interesting! They don't give any details, just a picture and the price but the picture says it all. Muzzle gasses will strike an 'obstruction' and 'drive' that obstruction forward! I suppose that by angling the ports slightly upwards, muzzle lift will be reduced further. Simple enough.

The brake is screwed on tight. I left the front set of holes exposed for a pin to go through to tighten the brake. The schroud just gets sandwiched against a shoulder & drawn up tight by the brake. I originaly had this on a SKS & it looked like it belonged on the gun.

quote:

Originally posted by N. Garrett:


What you have is a rifle with what looks like a 10 gauage shotgun barrel on it.


Garrett

Here's what it looks like on a Model 70 rebarreled to 404 Jeffery:

The ASA shrouded muzzle brake sounds very interesting. I’ve found a listing for American Safe Arms Inc. in Pleasant Grove, UT but no website for the company; no listing for ASA in Idaho.

Garrett & Wink,
As you both possess DG caliber rifles using the ASA shrouded brake could you provide your prospective to the following questions?
• I’m presuming that the solid end piece gives the 4db sound reduction at the cost of less recoil reduction. Is this the case?
• How much noisier is the ported end piece over the solid end piece?
• How much recoil reduction is lost with the solid end piece vis-à-vis the ported end piece?
• How much weight does this shrouded brake add to the weight of the barrel?

Thanks to both of you for your responses.
Jim

A 3dB reduction is equal to one-half the volume. 50dB would be what-- about 1% of the original volume? 50dB down would make a nuke blast sound like a small fart...

I have finally built a proto-type muzzle break and fitted to my 303-25. This tiny device reduces the muzzle blast by as much as a very much larger over-barrel suppressor does. Recoil is un-noticeable! It is there, as the sight picture moves. I do not know what the recoil was like before the device was fitted but I do know what the muzzle report was like. Noise reduction is substantial – hard to say how much but a lot more than 4 db.
This device is very light - made from thin 4140 steel. It adds 50mm to the length of the barrel. I will be trying one on my 303 Brit soon.