Gunsmithing Finishing a muzzle brake

[dareposte]

Hey guys, I'm the proud owner of my new made-from-scratch muzzle brake for my 338 Edge, and am wondering if I should heat treat it, phosphate coat it, or just paint it and use it.

What do you think?

It's made out of annealed 4140 steel, so it's pretty soft.

I've got access to heat treat ovens, park baths, paint booths, whatever I need, I'm just not sure what the best thing to do is.

 

[AQC440]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Not that I would know, but certainly don't think it would hurt to heat treat it...nice looking design by the way.

 

[_DE_]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Good luck....... Hope it works great for you!

 

[crumpett]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

No need to treat it in any way. Coat it and shoot it, looks real nice.

 

[mjb2]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

I would think heat treating would help prevent erosion due to the muzzle blast...No ?

 

[dareposte]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Not sure, I cut the threads and put it on today though, so I may just try it out and see how it shoots.

 

[dareposte]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

I didn't heat treat it because I was worried it would warp the threads or baffles, but I did put it on the barrel and then paint it. Can't wait to shoot and see how much it helps.. I'm hoping a lot because it's a fairly large brake.

 

[burkeknives]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Very nice!

 

[300sniper]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dareposte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can't wait to shoot and see how much it helps.. I'm hoping a lot because it's a fairly large brake.
</div></div>

well if the ports don't reduce the recoil much, the weight sure will

it looks good though.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

i have been making my brakes out of cold finished heat treated 4142. it is pre-hardened to 27-32 rc. it still machines great and i like working with it.

 

[l115a3]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Duracoat is the best choice. But it will not friendly with solvent.

 

[dareposte]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dareposte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can't wait to shoot and see how much it helps.. I'm hoping a lot because it's a fairly large brake.
</div></div>

well if the ports don't reduce the recoil much, the weight sure will

it looks good though. </div></div>

The brake is surprisingly lighter weight than I would have though, most of the metal's been removed in the cross slots and drilling for threads. It's still a big one though, but that was the idea

 

[dareposte]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 700 XCR Compact</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Duracoat is the best choice. But it will not friendly with solvent. </div></div>

I had some Alumahyde on hand, so that's what it got. Everything I've painted in the last month is the same color

Until it runs out and I get a new one.

Duracoat is good stuff but I hate messing with the airbrush to put it on.

D

 

[dareposte]

Re: Finishing a muzzle brake

Installed the brake, should be able to test it out on Sunday!