AI Factory muzzle brake

[Luvman]

I recently picked up a factory AI barrel with factory muzzle brake. My original intention was to cut it and sell the brake. I haven’t been able to shoot it yet, but after seeing some of the previous owners groups I’m thinking about leaving it as is.

I hate muzzle brakes in general. I’m curious what you guys think about the factory brake. How does it compare to other brakes that are out there? How bad is the blast at the shooter?

 

[wilshire1412]

I have a 20" AT .308 Barrel with the AI brake as it came with the rifle last year.

It works like a champ as a brake, very effective.

No one else around appreciates it when shooting, everyone on the line thinks it is a .338 LM anyway.

 

[J-Fonz]

My 338 AX shoots like an un-braked .308.

 

[davidwiz]

I've shot .308 AIs with the factory AI brake and other manufacture' brakes, notably the SilencerCo ASR. IMHO, they all work about the same.

 

[Supersubes]

I’ve never been a fan of them personally. If anybody needs one, let me know. I have several sitting on a shelf. One came off my AXMC, the other was an AE I think.

 

[Luvman]

I’ve never been a fan of them personally. If anybody needs one, let me know. I have several sitting on a shelf. One came off my AXMC, the other was an AE I think.

Do you not like brakes in general? Or are you not a fan of the factory brake?

 

[Supersubes]

I love brakes, just not a fan of the AI. In your case, just shoot it. No sense spending the money to swap it. On future barrels, you may consider a swap.

 

[Eric32]

Has anyone tried to tune the brake<turning the out a rev or three> to help group size with factory loaded ammo?

I recently heard david tubbs interview on Franks Podcast and he spoke about nodes with brake timing.

 

[Scotch_egg]

If a brake isn’t loud it isn’t working.

Your felt recoil will be negligible.

If you can’t handle the noise get a silencer.

 

[Luvman]

If a brake isn’t loud it isn’t working.

Your felt recoil will be negligible.

If you can’t handle the noise get a silencer.

I have plans for a can down the road. This barrel was purchased to be cut to 16” for that can.

Now I have the barrel in hand I’m rethinking that.
I hope to get to the range soon to see if I can reproduce the previous owners sub half minute groups. You know the whole if it ain’t broke don’t fix it thing?

If it still shoots good I’m hoping the brake won’t annoy me as much as they normally do.