Are clamp-on muzzle breaks worth having?

CRNA

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I see some manufacturers offer clamp- on muzzle breaks. Seems like it would be easy to blow them off or scratch a barrel. Am I right or wrong? Seems those are more expensive than thread-ons but the nice part would be I could take it off for hunting since I don't hunt with hearing protection regularly. Anyone have any experiences and/or advice?
 
I see some manufacturers offer clamp- on muzzle breaks. Seems like it would be easy to blow them off or scratch a barrel. Am I right or wrong? Seems those are more expensive than thread-ons but the nice part would be I could take it off for hunting since I don't hunt with hearing protection regularly. Anyone have any experiences and/or advice?

They are not very precise and therefore not as effective because they must have a larger bore
to allow for any misalignment.

Also each time it is removed it may change the harmonics unless it is timed exactly in the same spot.
(Nearly impossible)

There are very good breaks that also have a thread protector for the times that you want
to shoot without the break. Threaded breaks can be removed with a wrench or a simple pin
slightly smaller than the ports without damage.

J E CUSTOM
 
I see exactly what you guys are saying. Makes perfect sense, I just didn't think about the barrel harmonics. May be a stupid question, but for the sake of argument, what would prevent a thread-on brake from changing barrel harmonics as well? Do you guys have any preferences as to a good thread-on brake? My 7mmRM doesn't necessarily have to have a break. The recoil is acceptable, but I am toying with the idea of putting one on to further reduce muzzle jump. Thanks for the input guys. Keep it coming.
 
The threaded brakes change harmonics as well to answer your question. As pointed out above they are preferred for several reasons one of which is looks.
 
The threaded brakes change harmonics as well to answer your question. As pointed out above they are preferred for several reasons one of which is looks.

So, as is right now, I'm pretty happy with my gun as far as the way it shoots. Could putting a brake on it change the accuracy of my rifle to the point that I couldn't get it to shoot like it is now? Or would I simply have to re-zero the rifle with the brake in place to account for it and then shoot as consistently as it does now?
If I have the potential for ruining a good shooting rifle, then I will just stick with what I have and be done with it
Thanks for the replies BOSS HOSS and others.
 
You'll definitely need to re-zero after installing a threaded brake. If not due to harmonics, then due to the fact that the barrelled action needs to be removed from the stock to be chucked in the lathe. I also don't think it'd be wise to turn it in the lathe with the scope mounted.

You should be able to remove/reinstall a threaded brake with repeatable results. A clamp on brake would be more difficult to clamp back into the smae position with repeatability.

Worst case is that you may want to go back and tweak your load.

It's rare to hear about deteriorated accuracy from a properly installed brake. ...improperly installed is another story.

-- richard
 
You'll definitely need to re-zero after installing a threaded brake. If not due to harmonics, then due to the fact that the barrelled action needs to be removed from the stock to be chucked in the lathe. I also don't think it'd be wise to turn it in the lathe with the scope mounted.

You should be able to remove/reinstall a threaded brake with repeatable results. A clamp on brake would be more difficult to clamp back into the smae position with repeatability.

Worst case is that you may want to go back and tweak your load.

It's rare to hear about deteriorated accuracy from a properly installed brake. ...improperly installed is another story.

-- richard

+1

It is possible to install a break without taking the barrel and action apart, but I would not recomend
leaving the trigger , or the scope mounter to the action, (To much chance of screwing up eather one).

If a threaded break is fitted well and the shoulder is Square where it will make up clean, it should
index perfict every time unless you hammer it on, then it will progress each time.

It is however a good idea to check your zero each time you re install it if you plan on extreme
distance shooting.

The reason that indexing the same is so important is because a break discharges gas that may
have an an effect if it does not aim this gas discharge in the same direction each time.

There is a way to install a clamp on break so that it will index true and will line up with the
bore but the process is more expensive and with the break already costing more it is just not
worth the effort and money unless there is a specific requirement for one.

J E CUSTOM
 
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I'll bet dollars to donuts that a properly installed threaded brake will come of faster and cleaner than a slide on with set screws munched down. I just grab mine and give them a little grunt and they spin right of and when I put them on I do the same, no tools no problems just nice shooting!
 
Thanks for clearing all that up guys. I appreciate it. Now anybody have any manufacturers in mind for recommendations?
 
So, as is right now, I'm pretty happy with my gun as far as the way it shoots. Could putting a brake on it change the accuracy of my rifle to the point that I couldn't get it to shoot like it is now? Or would I simply have to re-zero the rifle with the brake in place to account for it and then shoot as consistently as it does now?
If I have the potential for ruining a good shooting rifle, then I will just stick with what I have and be done with it
Thanks for the replies BOSS HOSS and others.

Man you are a nurse anesthetist, spend some of that money and get it done right. Ross Shuler (RWS on here and snipershide) makes an excellent brake for 50 bucks. Add another $75 to it for a gunsmith to thread your barrel and your done. Ross also sells them on egay with free shipping. Made my 7mag kick like a 223.
 
Man you are a nurse anesthetist, spend some of that money and get it done right. Ross Shuler (RWS on here and snipershide) makes an excellent brake for 50 bucks. Add another $75 to it for a gunsmith to thread your barrel and your done. Ross also sells them on egay with free shipping. Made my 7mag kick like a 223.

Haha!! I will definitely go for the better of the two and have it threaded if I decide to get one. I had never really looked into brakes until surfing the net and checking out different models. I didn't even realize there was such a thing as a clamp-on brake. It sounded like something that after loosening up after a day of shooting would end up blown in the bushes knowing my luck.
So it settled your 7RM down that much huh? Sounds like I may just have to take the plunge. Maybe after hunting season this year. I don't want to rock the cradle too much and chance something happening to the gun this close to season. I'm justa itchin' to blast a critter with my new toy!
 
My advise to anyone thinking of purchasing a Bolt on Muzzle Brake is to stay away I'm lucky to by here to tell my story to you. I just recently purchased a Bolt on muzzle Brake from a leading seller _ _ _ _ machine I was told by not to use there name but let me tell my story. I purchased the bolt on muzzle brake for my marlin Bolt action stainless 270 and mounted the bolt on muzzle brake two days later I went to me local gun range to try out the new bolt on muzzle brake as some as I pulled the gun out the reaction from people was not good one guy told his shooting partner to get all there guns back that's a bolt on and there a piece of **** get back he said its going to blow off. I'm thinking to myself what have I purchased its not get good reviews here. I told the guy shoot next to me on the other side to get back. thinking what could happen I've seen people on YouTube using them so I set up for my first shoot and held on and fired off the first round the shoot was way high and to the right the guy to the left said dam did you see the blast out of that its a good thing we moved are guns I set up for the next shoot a pulled off the second round off it kick hard and I here "there it goes" I told you it would blow off it landed about 18 yards out. It scratched the end of my barrel pretty good the range master came over to see what all the excitement was all about. I'm so lucky the gun barrel didn't blow up in my face or blow up and kill one of the other shooter. i say Stay away from Bolt on Muzzle Brakes its not worth you life!!! lightbulb
 
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