Muzzlebrake Question

[stumpy]

I have a "Rifles Inc" 7stw which I purchased second hand. It is a "very" light rifle with the recoil of a 270. This is in part because of the muzzle brake which is at the end of a very small tapered barrel. The problem is although the recoil is not a problem the noise is absolutly painful. Much more so then any other rifle I have ever shoot ( brake or not).  My question is does a intergal muzzle brake on a barrel have the "crown" at the end of the barrel or is it before the brake and what effect does the brake have on volocity  I am considering having the brake removed and the barrel recrowned but losing 2" of barrel length might defeat the purpose of a 7 stw compared to a 7 mag.

Thanks

[gunnut69]

A brake has only a very minor influence on muzzle velocity.  The actual crown or terminus of the rifling is protected by the brake.  The brake consists of several chambers where gas is released and directed out of the ports.  The angle of the ports, the amount of gas and the area the ports consist present as well as the velocity of the gas at discharge will determine the effectiveness of the brake.  Unfortunately the more effective the brake the noisier they tend to be.  The STW and the other large capacity rounds beg for long barrels and less than 26 will have a limiting effect on the cartridges reason for being-velocity.  That said there are brakes machined directly into the barrel.  The MagNaPort is an excellant example.  These will cost you some velocity if they are cut away as the rifling terminus is after the ports entry point into the bore.  I find any type brake distasteful and studiouly avoid them.  If the rifle is too violent I would suggest a cartridge of lesser recoil or adding weight to the weapon.  Super light rifles are a joy to carry but a friend once said 'Even if it's a joy to carry if it fails in it's purpose, it's of little value'.  I concur heartily.

[wallynut]

You might be better off just getting rid of this rifle and buying another if you really like the cartridge and don't want to lose the velocity advantage.  A shorter barrel isn't gonna help the blast any either.  On the other hand, it may not be that much of a loss.  At any rate, you've just learned a lesson, muzzle brakes ain't all that great.