What are Muzzle brakes?

[snIPer]

They are NOT silencers.

Muzzle brakes and recoil compensators are devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm or cannon to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire[1]. Muzzle brakes are very useful for combat and timed competition shooting, and are commonly found on rifles firing very large cartridges (often big-game rifles), as well as some artillery and tank guns. They are also commonly used on pistols for practical pistol competitions, and are usually called compensators in this context[2].

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5136219_mu ... uracy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_brake

/S/

[Vikram]

Good post,Sniper,as I myself have been reading about them recently.

The only downside to them is that they are awfully loud.

A better alternative would be a sound moderator.

Best-
Vikram

[nagarifle]

however in the Indian context they are i believe classified same as sound moderators. since they hide the flash somewhat.

[Vikram]

Nags,

From all I know,muzzle brakes actually increase the flash and bang than the other way round. I am unaware if they are actually classified.

Best-
Vikram

[brihacharan]

Hi Guys,
> One of the primary functions of the Muzzle Break is to balance the barrel harmonics.
> The objective is pure physics - by allowing the burnt gases to escape in 4 different directions equilaterally, the barrel doesn't buck too much - holds very close to the point of aim when the gun is fired.
> Allows the bullet to exit smoothly and not through a turbulence of air that may affect ballistics / flight path.
> Technically re: sound, it may not be the decibals but the frequency / pitch of the sound.
> Yes - Muzzle Breaks are not Silencers...
> A Silencer basically supresses sound & the burnt gases escape through the same aperture as the bullet. Silencers don't have side / lateral vents to allow gases to escape.
> A Muzzle Break is a Tube all through, but for the vents in the front - whereas a Silencer has cones within to absorb and richochet sound within it.
> To one not familiar with either's construction & function, both look same, hence the confusion.
Cheers
Brihacharan

[nagarifle]

vickers it must be after 2pm and you are awake

i would agree unless it suppress the flash. some do that, ie in the sa80 it has a flash suppersers/eliminator.. which is not a sound supperser, but to hide the flash somewhat.

then again i am know to be wrong

[Vikram]

Nags,

You are right about the time.

Muzzle brakes and moderators/suppressors do not look the same by any measure.

Muzzle brake




Suppressor/Moderator




How Supressors/Moderators work

When a moderated firearm is discharged the projectile exits the barrel as usual, passes along the expansion chamber, and exits through the central holes in the baffle plates on its way to the target. At the same time a large proportion of the following propellant gasses are diverted and contained within the expansion chamber, where they are allowed to expand, cool and slow down. These gasses then pass through the central holes in the baffle plates where they expand and cool even more in each baffle cavity. Finally they exit the moderator with a lot less energy than when they exited the muzzle, significantly reducing noise, muzzle blast and recoil. This expansion chamber/baffle arrangement is the same system that is used in many automobile mufflers.

You can read the rest of the article here:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/sound_moderators.htm


Best-
Vikram

[winnie_the_pooh]

A flash suppressor is more to prevent the shooter from being blinded by the muzzle flash at night than to prevent the observer from detecting it.

While a flash suppressors and sound moderators are covered by the description of 'firearms' a muzzle brake is not.

[snIPer]

Good visuals there Vikram.
/S/