delet*** !!!thx for the advice!!! delete***

[sauls89]

please tell me how a muzzle brake improves accuracy???

[Hairtrigger]

I have heard of Ruger Mini-14 owners getting better results after installing a break... to me if you want accuracy in a Mini it is worth the extra money to have a heavy barrel installed... especially if shooting more than 3 shot groups

[drdougrx]

Hi All,

Just my 2 cents.  Muzzle breaks don't necessarily improve the inherent accuracy as say a bedding system would (glass, pillar, etc.)  What a muzzle break does is redirect muzzle blast in way that reduces felt recoil, so the shooter can more more accurately hit the target.  Browning BOSS systems incorporate a muzzle break with an adjustable harmonic stabilizer that tunes barrel vibration to the point where more inherent accuracy is achieved.  Mini 14's use heavy muzzle breaks or under barrel stabilizers for the same reason.  I usually mag-na-port every rifle in 300win or greater.  I find, and it's just my opinion, that it keeps muzzle rise down and reduces a some felt recoil (along with a limbsaver pad) and gives me the opportunity to be more accurate.

[The Gamemaster]

A muzzle brake does not improve accuracy, all it does is redirects the pressure in the barrel from it's exit in the front to the sides of the barrel.

A damaged crown would decrease the accuracy of a barrel.

Unless you cannot handle the recoil of the firearm, there is no need for a Muzzle Brake.

Again, if the recoil is tremendous, then it would improve the accuracy for you, but not for all hunters.

A semi auto weapon cannot be compared to a single shot bolt action weapon.

The reason for this is because the early model Thompson Machine guns used a Cutt'S Compensator.

It was found that in full auto that the Thompson would hit about dead center on the first shot and would climb every shot after that in full auto.  A 45 ACP is not really that powerful a shell.  It was just that there was so many shots being fired in a very short period of time that you couldn't control it.  The Cutt's Compensator did decrease muzzle climb in that weapon.  But I'm pretty sure that the porting on it was not radial, more than likely it just vented out the sides.

The same principal is used today on the barrels of guns mounted on tanks to reduce recoil.

[Brithunter]

Hmmm from watching the braked rifles on the range it seems a well designed brake can improve grouping. There is a small group who shoot rifles like the Sako TRG, Tikka T3 tactical and one who has an RPA magazine fed rifle all are in .308. The RPA and TRG's shoot virtually one hole groups from what I have seen but then again they have had their rifles a little longer and have worked up laods for them. The guy with the T3 Tactical seems to shoot factory stuff and is more interested in Deer Stalking that range shooting.

 Now I have shot this T3 on several occasions and on the Indoor 100 yards Tunnel range it certainly groups better with the brake than without it. This is using factory Sako soft point in either 150 grain or 123 grain. Now with a Sound Moderator (Silencer -yep legal here) it shoots better still.

[gunnut69]

If the guns recoil is causing poor grouping then a brake may allow you to shoot it better... The mounting of a brake(not a magna port) may alter the harmanoics of the barrel for the better, but then so will adding a weight.. I have heard some say that adding a rim fire to a 22 rimfire can help with accuracy by reducing the gas pressure on the base of the bullet as it exits the muzzle. I have not seen this proven not have I seen a move to add brakes to BR50 or benchrest guns.. Any brake will certainly add damaging blast for the shooter and those close bye.

[koginam]

A brake like the Browning Boss system does help with accuracy because you can dial in the ammo you are using and improve grouping, 
The normal increase in accuracy from a muzzle break is because the recoil is reduced and the shooter losses the flinch reaction, the gun may not shoot any better but it the groups may shrink when the flinching is removed, Also because of the recoil reduction the shooter is more likely to shoot more and with practice comes accuracy

[Brithunter]

[quote[ The normal increase in accuracy from a muzzle break is because the recoil is reduced and the shooter losses the flinch reaction, the gun may not shoot any better but it the groups may shrink when the flinching is removed, [/quote]

     Sorry I cannot agree with this as part of the improvement caused by Muzzle brakes is the effect of it acting as a still air chamber and protecting the bullet as it leaves the barrel and stablises. Sound Moderators work even beter at this due to their larger size and longer length normally and they also reduce recoil and eliminate muzzle blast as well as protecting your hearing.

     In fact Anshutz put a still air chamber on some of their target rifles barrels to protect the bullet from disturbance as it leaves the muzzle of the rifled bore.

[mcwoodduck]

I have a Muzzle break on my AR-15 and to me it was a noise maker until I was able to shoot my Upper on a full auto lower.
A Deputy had his M-4 out at the range and asked if we wanted to squirt out a few rounds.  With his 16" upper with a flash hider you could get about three rounds on a 20X20 steel plate at 100 yards before everything was above the target when aiming at the bottom of the steel.
We then swapped out my upper for his and the break helped to keep the rifle on target and 1/2 mags on target were not uncommon.
At a recent 3 gun match others commented on how my rifle did not rise.  I was able to double tap targets quickly.  If your looking for a three gun rifle then a break is the way to go.
 
A friend has a Browning A bolt in 7mm Mag with the boss system.  It reduced recoil so much I thought he had loaded some mouse fart loads when I shot his.  I tried factory ammo in it and was the same.  the reduction in recoil may aid in accuracy only in eliminating any flinch or anticipation of recoil.
If your looking for a large bore magnum or a big game rifle for a kid or smaller lady then a break would be a good idea on a 308 or 7mm mag depending on what kind of hunting you plan on doing.  A muzzle break will mechanically do what weight does to a rifle for recoil.

[koginam]

 Brithunter

A still air chamber would have to be several feet long and of very large diameter to be affective in stabilizing a bullet, very long because a bullet does not stabilize in a few inches let alone  yards, large diameter because the propellant gases move faster then the projectile and would be causing havoc within a small diameter tube. Of more importance in stabilizing a bullet would be a properly cut crown and the correct twist rate for the bullet weight, as well as bullet geometry.
A muzzle breaks use is to reduce recoil which with most shooters will result in less flinching and better grouping, If the firearm shot poorly because of an ill cut crown or improper twist rate before the muzzle break was installed it would shoot poorly afterwords but with less recoil.
I have built and sold many Sound Moderators both Silencers, and suppressors and have found no evidence that they stabilize a bullet, but they do reduce recoil.
As I said earlier, with the recoil reduced the shooter will practice more and their for his groups should shrink so a muzzle break does have a secondary effect on accuracy.

[Brithunter]

May I Suggest that you contact Anschutz and let them know they are doing it wrong and don't know what they are doing!

I am sure they will glad of your expertise.

    Oh there is not such thing as a "Silencer" really as it's impossible to silence completely. Sound Moderator is the correct term as it "Moderates" the sound or if you prefer "Supresses" the sound they are all really one and the same thing. I believe maxim called his original invention to supress the muzzle sound a "Silencer" but that was back in the lat 19th century so we can forgive the great man a slight slip.

     Now in hunting and especially in a Cull situation where several beasts need to removed from a group as part of the management cull, Sound Moserators are very good. Even Muzzle brakes helps as because the re-direct the sound the beasts cannot get a directional lock on the sound and mill about as they are confused and are not sure which way is safe to retreat to. Of course this only really fully effects the area in front of a braked rifle. Any beasts or groups to the side of the rifle will not be so confused so care about this must still be taken. The most effective area is a a angular quadrant directly in front of the rifle and this is known as the "Cone of Confusion".

    Although I have never sold any moderators or brakes I have also made both starting with Pnuematic air rifles back in the late 1970's

    As for improperly cut crowns well if you will buy poorly made guns! ...................................... well what can you expect!

[jpcampbell]

Brithunter
I'm not sure what a still air chamber is. I have carried Anschutz  for many years and I only know of two things resembling what you are talking about, one is a barrel weight, the other a muzzle tube, both are installed on barrels by Anschutz, but neither of them is designed to do what your still air chamber is supposed to do. The barrel weight is installed for balance and dampening, the muzzle tube is used to lengthen the sight radius and some have weights that can be adjusted for balance and dampening..  If I am wrong I would like to see something on it, we learn something every day.