A Shooting Brake (NOT an estate car! )

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, all,

I've been watching some machining videos on YouTube, lots of interesting stuff on there.

Among the many channels, I watched some of Ray Caniglia's ("Ray's Garage"  ) which includes some gun-smithing. In one video, Ray makes what he describes as a 'brake', it screws on the muzzle of a shot-gun from which he has previously cut (sawn off) a section and cut a thread.

Now, there are two things in life I try to avoid, chain-saws and guns!

Nevertheless, this 'brake' business has tweaked my curiosity. I know there are some shooting enthusiasts on this forum – please can you explain to me the function of a 'brake'? Also, how can it be good to shorten the barrel length of a shot-gun? (Forum members based in Chicago need not respond!!! )

Will the answer to my question also explain the lump on the end of the gun barrel on a battle tank?

Oh, and does the title of this thread date me?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 09/10/2015 12:41:55

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 09/10/2015 12:42:25

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

I don’t understand a device I saw on YouTube.

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

A muzzle brake has slots cut into it which redirect some of the combustion gases backwards. This reduces recoil and supposedly makes the gun steadier so that is easier to acquire the second target. Often you will also see holes drilled in the top of the brake which reduce muzzle flip. This occurs because the barrel centre line is above the line of the stock, so the recoil forces will tend to lift the muzzle up. So again the holes drilled in the top allow gases to escape upwards counteracting the flip.

As to whether they are a good idea, screwing a big lump of metal on the end of your barrel will mess up the critical balance of your gun, whcih I asume is why they look to shorten the barrel.

There is a less invasing technique which is fairly common. Most competition shotguns are multi-choked, with screw in tubes that can be used to vary the pattern. These are available in ported versions, which have thw same slot design, but on a much smaller scale than a brake. I have never seen an aftermarket muzzle break on a shotgun.

Finaly yes, the lump on the end of a tank gun is a muzzle brake.

 

Edited By Stuart Bridger on 09/10/2015 12:59:09

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Shotgunners in the USA are well known to use the most powerful cartridges available to them, to this, muzzle brakes are a useful addition to control recoil and muzzle flip as described by Stuart. Being American means they seek further innovation and from this developed a muzzle device that not only reduced recoil but for the second shot also reduced the muzzle constriction with a dialled in choke setting.. For Duck shooters this meant that a close up shot was at '0' choke and the going a way shot for longer distance was say, half choke or better. Remember that the American shotgunner uses a pump or auto action gun with a magazine holding up to 5 or 6 shells. Modern shotguns now nearly always come with the option of choke sleeves which are changed to suit shooting conditions, shot size and range. No gentleman would ever consider using a shotgun with adjustable chokes and would only rely on his own shooting ability. As a further to this, at one time I had a muzzle loading black powder shot gun, it was what is known as a, 'Cylinder choke' that is no constriction and it was a revelation to those who used it that they were smashing the clays to dust ! but could not do that with a conventional shot gun. sadly and stupidly i sold it. Keeping black powder at home has certain regulations.

Clive

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Choke is an interesting subject in the clay shooting world. 10 years ago in the UK you should see loads of people changing chokes at every stand during competitions. Now it is quite unusual, so the "fad" has gone away somewhat.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Clive Hartland on 09/10/2015 15:09:07:

Shotgunners in the USA are well known to use the most powerful cartridges available to them….Remember that the American shotgunner uses a pump or auto action gun with a magazine holding up to 5 or 6 shells. ….No gentleman would ever consider using a shotgun with adjustable chokes and would only rely on his own shooting ability.

I thought they were intended for disembowelling fellow citizens on the sidewalk. Perhaps I've been watching too many movies and news reports. I expect they will soon be making special versions for kinderkarten kids.

[JonParticipant @jon]

Posted by Swarf, Mostly! on 09/10/2015 12:41:18: please can you explain to me the function of a 'brake'?

question also explain the lump on the end of the gun barrel on a battle tank? Mostly! on 09/10/2015

They can be known as several other things in this pc world but muzzle brake is the proper terminology whatever its fitted to whether a tank, rimfire, air rifle or centrefire.
Can also incorporate flash arrestors to harmonic tuners.

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