Barrel brakes, carbon build up, cleaning hassles

[problemchild]

I was running a brake on my LMT MWS. I tried 2 different brakes and within 2-300 rds the crown had a lava hard carbon lip building up. I also noticed my groups getting bigger. I took the brake off and cleaned the crown. The gun is shooting good again after replacing the flash hider instead of the brake but the recoil jars a bad disc in my neck. I leave the range with a stiff neck for days.

I would like to re-install the brake but its a real pita removing, cleaning, re-installing, loc-tighting, timing the brake every range trip.

What am I missing here? Suggestions?

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Barrel brakes, carbon build up, cleaning hassles

I'd imagine it has something to do with the design of that brake- something like a mostly closed ported initial chamber like the Surefire brake?

If you get one of the brakes that would allow you to clean the muzzle without removing it from the weapon (using the small end of an all purpose brush or dental picks you should be out of the woods). In fact with them carbon may not build up on that surface.

Ops Inc makes a brake like that, our RSTA brakes which are being produced will be like that, the AAC brakes appear to be like that, and I'm sure there are several other options.

I also don't see the point in loctiting. Loctite only holds to about 300F, and that temperature will easily be exceeded by firearm barrels. Torque is holding the brake on the weapon.

Even so I understand your desire not to have to remove it after every use.

 

[Dollman]

Re: Barrel brakes, carbon build up, cleaning hassles

Muzzel brakes do tend to allow for the build up of carbon on the perfectly good crown. Suppressed cans are worse. I found out last year when shooting the 300 Win. Mag. alot. My brake is threaded on with 5/8X24 tpi. I was told not to remove brake as the accuracy would suffer. It was a lie to me. Accuracy was worse with carbon build up on crown. I just remove the brake after every 100 or so rounds and clean crown with brake off. I replace the brake when done and it lines up from timing of threads just fine. I don't over torque as that is supposed to distort end of barrel. Just snug it back on, line it up, and it always shoots fine. I'm always within 0.002" of perfect position for timed brake.