Re: muzzle brakes? help please lol
It is possible to manufacture muzzlebrakes out of alluminium. We have done a few as test pieces, and if you think about it there are many an alluminium supressor on the market.
All fine in theory,
The problem bieng that Alluminium doesn't stand up to the high temp of propellant gasses and can wear quickly. This is just fine for a supressor on a hunting rifle that sees no high volume of fire. Same could be said for a brake i guess. Certainly one can combat this to a certain extent with pressed in inserts in the case of a brake and steel or stainless steel bafles in the case of a supressor, but in the case of a brake its just not economical manufacture and isn't the way to go to get the best performance or ruggedness.
Personaly for a Muzzlebrake i'd stick with the steel or stainless steel variants. The only reason i can see for wanting to build a brake in Ally is weight, if weight is such a consideration personaly i'd rather loose an inch of barrel and then thread the barrel and instal a steel brake.
You can fit a clamp model if you don't want to or aren't legaly allowed to thread the barrel, but threading the barrel would always be my preference.
There are hundreds of different brakes on the market, and the most effective ones are by design loud. Some brakes are very simply made of round bar stock with vent holes strategicaly bored, some are a little more intricate with plenty of machining work, some are realy nicely made and finished and some are cast items that look like they belong on russian farm equipment. Nearly all work to a certain extent, some far better than others.
When choosing a brake there are several factors to consider.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Noise:</span> if you dont want to consider ear protection any more than without a brake, then don't look at brakes with 90° to barrel axis or further rearward angled ports.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Dust Signature: </span> if you don't want clouds of dust bieng driven up by downward ported gasses then a brake with ports on the underside is out.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Flash signature: </span> especialy for night/dusk shooting, ports that vent uwards with screw with your night vision.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Recoil Reduction: </span> This can realy vary from brake type to brake type and the only way to find out what is the most effective is to test or ask some one who hast tested or has experience with brakes. Or trail and error your own brakes.
Like I mentioned in another thread I would realy like to see a Snipershide Muzzle Brake test done, but as yet no takers..
regards Pete