I was talking to alocal gun smith about a muzzle break,he said he could do the job but
i would have to have my gun reblued,the break
would cost me 125.00 and 100 to reblue.I think he was trying to rip me off ,i have had
a gun smith that i used before tell me the
complete job for 125.00 walk out. Any thoughts on this

I have had over 20 breaks installed over the years. The average price was 200.00 I did get one installed for $135.00 once then took it to a good smith to be replaced, as the bullet nicked it as it left the barrel. Good smith work is worth the price. don't go cheep unless the best is cheep!

Sounds good to me, they need to eat too.

I charge $135.00 for CM & $150.00 for SS.& $200.00 for 50 cal & larger. Remember though that I do this as a hobby (29yrs.now) to support my Gun Show habbit. not to support a family.

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NRA Life member

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 12-05-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 12-05-2001).]

That doesn't seem too bad to me. Some of the breaks are $200+ now. Just depends on what its capable of. Can it be activated/deactivated without being removed from the barrel?

I can't imagine why you would need to have your rifle re-blued unless he wants to do it to match the color of the brake.

The best muzzlebreak of all is the one that will never be installed.

AD

$200 sounds reasonable to ruin a barrel.

Don't think you should have to reblue just because you have a brake installed. The smiths I know up here charge about $150CAN. On the other hand, I believe that if you think you need a brake, you should shoot something else. A good recoil pad makes a world of difference and is a lot quieter. Just my redneck opinion.

Daryl i use to feel the same way about breaks
Just like i felt about a release for bow,felt like if you had to pull a trigger it
should go bang.15 years of shooting a bow with my bear fingers has come to a end ,I
have a release now ,i also shoot better,WISH
i would have got one sooner.I shoot my guns
dam good now,Just think i might improve with a break!and maybe not,but it won't hurt any thing. Arent we all after'' BUG HOLES''
well atleast one.
Reloader Len

I install several muzzle brakes every year. It does not require rebluing of the barrel. I can match the bluing of your barrel pretty close.

For a single expansion chamber design such as Shrewd (sold by Brownells) it is 125.

For a multiple chamber design such as a KDF or Vais it is approximately 190.

Len, no offense. Brakes on the bench are great. In the field they are certainly loud. I put one on an M1-A and it was great with a bi-pod. I did wear ear plugs, though. Y'know, I think if I took up bowhunting I would definately use a release! But a friend of mine wanted to put a brake on his .280. I convinced him to instal a pad first and see.

I don't think installing a break is about just can't take the recoil. There are other reasons. If you really want to see bullet impact like varmit shooting a break can be nice. Slight recoil will cause you to lose the visual in the scope.

I have seen breaks that rotate to open and close, this was the type I'm curious about. It could cover both bases a break for the bench if desired and no break for hunting purposes. I forgot the web site or I'd post it!

FWIW,
I had Dave Gentry install one of his "Quiet Brakes" on my Remington 40XB-KS in .22-250 not as a recoil reducer but rather to aid in seeing the bullets impact. My experience is that even with a heavy rifle(13 pounds) and modest .22-250 handloads, I still can't maintain sight picture. Even off the bench. In all truth this brake is a loud waste of money in my opinion. The $175 initial cost combined with having the barrel cut and recrowned to get rid of the damned thing. All in all a good $245 lesson. Though I suppose you have to experience them first hand to truly appreciate one. Regards, Matt.

Other reasons that I have installed brakes is for people that have had heart surgery & can't take any recoil but still want to hunt & folks with bursitis or arthritis. Muzzle brakes have helped this people continue to enjoy what they love to do most.

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NRA Life member

One of the guys I hunt with had a 264 winchester with brake. But then he had bypass surgery and now uses a 22-250.

I was in a wreck a year ago and have upper back and neck problems so one of my rifles now sports a brake and a thumbhole stock.

What really sucked was that the guy that hit me was a high school kid coming home at night from a hunting trip and fell asleep.

RJS

No reason to have to re-blue a gun that has had a brake installed....

I like brakes and have them on several of my big bores..I shoot better when I am not have the stuffen knocked out of me...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com