.30 Caliber Muzzle Brake Shootout

1. On the shopping list goes the m4-72

   • I put an M4-72 on a new Armalite upper AR-10 and tried to zero the rifle. Using a Shepard 3-10 scope that I had previously used on a National Match receiver. What I used was a Mil-Spec M-16/4 25 meter zeroing target set a 25 Meters after 25 rounds what I got was a group of Buck Shot. Afterward, I switched to Precision Arms M-11 and that fixed the problem. Point is the M4-72 muzzle brake softens the kick but screwed up the accuracy.

     • Currently My M&P 10 is a Shooter, however im having the same Short Stoking as many are. Going to drill out the Gas Port just a touch ( from .068 to .0781 or maybe even a little less ). However, im concerned weather or not that will affect accuracy, i hope not as it is an absolute shooter right now. I am considering the Wilson Combat Q Comp because it reduce flash to almost 0, and has some recoil and muzzle rise contributions. Recoil isnt bad to start with, so if it helps by 30% without the added Noise,
       that would be great

2. Have the 5.56 m4-72 on a build with a sd3g trigger…fun times.

3. For some other very good reviews, precisionrifleblog.com did a few. They compared silencers and brakes for sound, muzzle blast and ground signature, recoil, poi shift and ability to stay on target. They also had an overview article and one outlining the methods used.
   Also check out their articles comparing a bunch of high end scopes, with thorough performance testing.
   Some of the best reviews on brakes and scopes I’ve read.

4. I’ve heard some of the competition shooters (5.56 guys) on Brian Enos forum complaining that the rearward blast on the M4-72 is severe, causing them issue, and a couple guys have changed them out.

   How have you found the blast on the m4-72 when it’s shouldered and such?

   • Doesn’t bother me. I’ve even had it on my Tavor. I can usually feel some warm wind moving around me from it, but nothing much worse than that. It actually has less concussion than a lot of the brakes — that is, less of the thump you feel in your chest and sinuses that makes brakes annoying and “loud” to most bystanders and such — but it sends out a gust of wind for sure. For the shooter I don’t think it’s all that noticeable as it usually goes around you. For people in the immediate area they’re going to notice it. But again, it’s more of a gust of warm wind and less of a pressure wave concussion. On the Tavor I could definitely feel it on my left arm and such, but I don’t find it bothersome. Definitely I could see it mentally distracting people though if they focus on it.

     BTW if any chunks of crap get shot out the ports, the shooter should be well behind that. On a shorter barrel you’re at the edges of the wind disturbance from it, and on a longer barrel (at least 16″ on a non-bullpup rifle) I don’t think you really notice much of anything unless you’re really looking for it or are really easily distracted 😛

     EDIT: here, not sure how valuable this footage will be, but I remembered shooting it on camera for the MagnetoSpeed Chronograph review. This part has 10 shots rapid fire, and then if you go back to 7:40 into the video you can see it fired on the table so you can see how much the stuff around me moves from it. Mostly, just a paper towel that blows in the wind. https://youtu.be/v5IXXfuTCOc?t=9m50s

5. Midwest makes a 308 brake for $36 to your door and it works. I can’t say how much it works but I could not stand to shoot my AR10 without it.

6. So I’ve seen you do these tests before, and every time you include the AAC Brakeout, but you never include the AAC muzzle brakes that are just brakes and not combos. They have both a QD suppressor mount brake, as well as a non-mounting single chamber brake, but I’ve never seen them tested.

   • The very first test had the AAC Blackout 2-port brake in it (it’s the first one listed). The only non-mount ones I know of are flash hiders. Obviously I can’t get everything on the market. The interest in brakes that are QD mounts for specific silencers and cost way more than non-mount brakes is fairly low. If you don’t have the silencer in question it just isn’t something you’d generally consider buying, and if you do have the silencer in question you’re going to buy it no matter what. Brakeouts have been in these tests because I’ve happened to have them. In all cases the Brakeouts were loaned to me and I figured I may as well throw it in the test. The majority of the tested brakes were chosen more specifically due to demand and interest level, and some others also fell in my lap via loans from friends and whatnot.

     If there’s a second .308 test, it will include the JP Recoil Eliminator, the Alamo Four Star Cowl Induction Brake, and the American Precision Arms Bastards, among others… but I won’t be seeking out any of the other AAC ones and won’t re-test the Brakeout. I’ll test an AAC one though if you want to loan it to me 😉

     • Oh good. The APA lil’b makes a 6.5 creedmoor LR308 into a complete pussycat of a shooter. I would expect it to end up right next to the m4-72.

     • It looks like they discontinued the non-mount single chamber brake. I’ll have to check your other test, because I remember seeing the Brakeout but not the pure brake.

     • Would love to see the M4-72 compared to the APA Little Bastard. That is the perennial favorite with precision rifle shooters.

     • I love the data sheet, can you add the measured concussion blast please?
       “I’ve purchased air pressure sensors designed to log blast waves so we can compare the amount of concussion each muzzle device generates, and these will be used in test four.”

       I’m looking forward to seeing the results from test 4. Thank you for posting such a detailed comparison.

       • I have a muzzle brake that removes ~70% of the rifles recoil and muzzle climb so that you can get the next shot on target. Here is a link to my Ebay listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/183206710723?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

7. Do some Griffin armament stuff!

8. Jeremy, when do you plan on doing the next 5.56 muzzle device video? I have 3 good ones I would love for you to test, and 2 more I want to hunt down.

   1. Early style A1 duckbill from Manticore Arms – I remember you testing a later type one in some video, but can’t seem to find it. The later ones have a more closed off design to increase strength and eliminate the tuning fork sound at the cost of flash suppression.
   2. Suarez V-76 – A repro of the 3 prong hider on the Valmet rifles, minus the bayonet lug
   3. Armalite AR-18 duckbill – technically the 3rd and final generation of the Armalite 3 prong style flash hiders.

   4. I would love to get my hands on and send you the HK 4 prongs they use on the G36
   5. I would also like to try to get one of the 3 prongs Sig is using on the MCX (I believe the same one is on their 556i)

   • The second flash hiding test (http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/12/jeremy-s/ar-15-flash-hiding-test-2/) had a retro 3-prong and retro A1 FH in it. I’m not going to include these flash hiders in a muzzle brake test, though, as none of them have any design features intended to reduce recoil and they’ll all cluster within a few percent of the recoil of a bare muzzle. I’ll hit you up to borrow those and can definitely snag an MCX 3-prong if I do another flash hiding test, but I actually doubt that will happen. Interest in the FH tests proved to be extremely low compared to the brake tests. I’m not planning on doing a third.

     • People have been asking since Nov 2014 for Griffin’s stuff to be looked at and still no quantified testing for muzzle breaks. 3 of their flash hiders were looked for flash suppression at but not any of their 14 break or comp type devices for recoil. Is this Muzzle Brake Test #3 or is that still happening in the future?

       • The Hammer Comp will be in brake test #3 for 5.56. This test here is brake test #1 for .308. The 5.56 vs .308 brakes and FHs are not compatible at all, so it’s a completely separate group that I keep in a completely separate shoe box 😛

         Anyway, I understand your frustration. But here’s the candid truth: I have basically no budget for this. I’m able to buy one or two brakes, and choose to spend that money on the absolute most-requested one(s) that I wasn’t able to borrow or get donated. Nearly every brake other than 1 or 2 in each test was loaned to me or donated. I’ll contact Griffin, tell them that there’s demand, and ask them to loan me some recoil-reducing designs for the next 5.56 brake test as well as the next .308 brake test. Demand hasn’t been high enough for me to actually buy them.

         Anyone with contacts at any company that manufactures these sorts of things is more than welcome to pressure them to loan/donate one for future testing! Or just blast whatever e-mail address or phone number is on their website 😉 . If I have it, I’ll test it. Having it is the hard part. I have also borrowed some from TTAG readers in the past. Only catch there is that I usually end up hanging onto it for a couple weeks before it gets mailed back. Manufacturers can contact me via e-mail at GunsAndGearEJ20 followed by that @ symbol followed by gmail.com

9. Why wasn’t the JP Recoil Eliminator included? It was tested previously and they do make a .308 version. If I recall correctly it had the top score on the least movement off target between shots which is as important if not more important than pure recoil reduction.

   • There are probably 1,000 brakes that didn’t make it into this test, with the main reason for that being I didn’t have them. More details in some of my previous comments.

10. Looks good Jeremy! Thanks!

    -Adam Lilja

11. In addition to the ones you plan on adding to the 2nd .308 brake test…if you can get a hold of them, I’d recommend:

    JEC
    Kelby Ported Muzzle Brake
    Muzzle Brakes and More “Beast”
    DPMS Miculek
    Lund / SJC Titan
    SilencerCo Specwar

12. So based on these tests, if design works well for 5.56 and that same design is available for the larger 308/7.62, then it would likely have similar recoil reduction abilities? I ask because the Thunder Technologies Heartbrake did very well on the 5.56 tests and they do offer the brake in 7.62 also.

    • I think that’s fair to say. The recoil forces come from the same things and the recoil reduction comes from the same things. The .30 cal brakes don’t work quite as well, though, in terms of recoil reduction percentage because the larger bore diameter means more gas leaves the muzzle. Easier to “catch” and deflect a higher percentage of the gases with a smaller bore.

13. I noticed you didn’t put the Ruger Muzzle Break that comes standard on the African addition as well as a few other models and is one of the best I have ever shot. I would love to see where it falls in your professional test conditions!!

    http://shopruger.com/30-Caliber-Muzzle-Brake-Stainless-Steel/productinfo/90468/

    • I haven’t found any with holes like that to be particularly effective in pure recoil reduction. I’d certainly test it if I did another .30 cal test (which I’m not sure I’ll do), but your link says it has 1/2-28 threads and that’s a big issue. That’s the typical thread pattern for a .223, and every .308 or other .30 cal (other than foreign-made AK) I’ve come across is threaded 5/8-24. The brake wouldn’t fit on any of the test guns I’d be using.

      • Hi Jeremy,

        Here’s another .30 caliber hybrid muzzle brake by Ruger. My guess is they are trying to tame their popular RARR in 7.62×39. Thoughts on how this might stack up?

        RUGER HYBRID MUZZLE BRAKE 5/8X24
        https://grabagun.com/ruger-hybrid-muzzle-break.html

      • VERY, VERY, VERY late to the party but, here’s the one for the .308…

        https://shopruger.com/Muzzle-Brake-308-Caliber-5_8-24/productinfo/90602/

14. If you’re looking for work, why not test pistol brakes (although I’d guess linear comps might be more important to police).

    True, it’s easy for commenters to spend your time and money. Maybe you could try crowd funding?

    Cheers

15. http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/08/07/muzzle-brakes-sound-test/

16. I wonder how the Precision Armament M41 would fare on this chart. Anyone see reports or stats on it?

17. Would the M4-72 (or another) work on a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06? I do know someone capable of treading the barrel.

    • Yeah, as long as the barrel is thick enough to provide a shoulder for the brake once threaded, any of these should work on it for that caliber.

18. Love the video and write up. If you were to do another, and were taking suggestions of what to test next, I would throw the Cadex MX-1 in the ring. It is very similar in appearance to the Lancer Systems Viper.
    Here, have a link: http://www.cadexdefence.com/products/weapon-accessories/muzzle-brakes/

    • That’s cool looking. Holy crap $269 is a lot though.

      • Yeah, it is a wad of cash, but Christmas gift cards and all… Unfortunately I live in the Middle of no place, so the local gun shop only had 4 to pick from, but they seem to only bring in the best. I actually tried it out for the first time today and it worked really well. Minimal felt recoil and almost no muzzle jump. Keep up the good work Jeremy.

19. Do you have any more information on the Nord 308 open. I really like the look, performance and price point. However, it doesn’t look like it has hit the US market yet. Thanks

    • They were at Brownells very briefly then back off. I’m not sure what’s up. They do sell directly, though, even to the U.S.: http://www.nordarms.com/directly-from-us.html

20. I have found the Ares Armor “Effin-A” comp to be superior at eliminating muzzle rise.
    It’s a TUNABLE comp with threaded ports that YOU decide how you want your ports to be, and how many.
    Ever heard of it Jeremy?

    With this thing (I have the 5.56 and .30 cal versions) my muzzle doesn’t rise at all, only dips a bit, making rapid-fire on target a dream.

    I’d love to hear your opinion of that one!

21. 10% less reduction for 1/2 the cost? That sounds like a winner to me when you’re talking about .308. It’s not like we’re trying to tame a 416 Rigby or something.

22. No Levang-style Linear Comps included in this round-up? Wish they included them — they are a great alternative to the traditional muzzle break … great at dispersing sound out and away, your range-mates will appreciate it. Also reduces recoil a bit, but the trade off is most linear comps don’t do much to hide muzzle flash.

    For me, reducing noise, muzzle lift, and recoil is more important than muzzle flash – besides, the kids love the muzzle-flash after it gets dark, lol.

    If you are looking more to reduce muzzle jump and noise, consider a linear comp, especially for 308 – some mfg’s include KAW, BRT, DPMS, etc.

    Here’s an example:
    http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Kaw_Valley_Precision_30cal_Linear_Comp_5_8x24_Blac_p/kvp-linear308-blk.htm

23. The next time you do a Brake review, you have got to try the Terminator Line from Australia! I have the M4-72 on my AR-15 and it kicks A$$. I got the Terminator T-3 for my .308 and oh my it’s an M4-72 on Steroids! I think the T-2 is equivalent to the M4-72 only a little better at braking.

    http://terminatorproducts.co.nz/brakes/

    • Those look identical to the ‘bastard’ series from American Precision Arms. I wonder if they’ve licensed the design or are white labeling the APA ones or whatever (or maybe it’s the reverse?). We do intend to include a couple APAs in the next test…

      • They are there own design, you’ll notice they have 5 vents on each side. I sent them a message telling them about your upcoming reviews, maybe they will send some goodies to test. Keep up the great work an your reviews!!!

24. based on the 5.56 review, i bought the m11 brake for my .308, hoping it would perform just as well as the smaller version and it does, besides i just love the look of it.
    however, i’m missing the miculek MIC-COMP-30 brake in your review.
    the MIC-COMP-223 performed very well in the first shootout but the design of the .223 and the .30 versions are not identical.

25. Have you reviewed the VG6 Precision Gamma 762? If so, how does it compare to the others listed?

    • Yes. Would like to see the VG6 Epsilon 762 and the new Vg6 Lambda PRS30 thrown into the next round.

26. I just bought a Thompson Center Compass in .308 for hunting that comes threaded which is cool. Unfortunately cant have an evil “Silencer” as an Illinois resident, but I’m wanting to screw something onto the end of the barrel to keep the muzzle down so I can spot my shots better. I rifle hunt in WI from an enclosed shack… shooting out a window/ hatch.

    Blast doesn’t bother me. I Usually have a guy next to me in the shack, but it’s one shot once a year so he can deal with the concussion. BUT… you have the range queens who whine, so I’m looking for something a little less concussive. I also want a brake that wont throw dirt into my face when shooting prone.

    Is there a comp worth screwing on that isn’t so concussive? I see these comps with forward facing ports, but am skeptical.

    Thanks!

27. It is interesting that in your data Nord Arms OPEN 308 had the lowest recorded recoil at 6.3750 vs 6.4375 for the Precision Armament M4-72, yet without any further testing you named the M4-72 as the winner. I see you recorded that the OPEN 308 recoiled 6.7500 in the first test then 6.3750 in the second, and that the first test is what brought the average recoil higher than the M4-72. Why do you think there is such a relatively large difference between test one and test two for the Nord Arms OPEN 308? And being that the OPEN 308 is the runner up and was recorded with a lower recoil, don’t you think further testing would be required to definitely say the M4-72 recoils on average 0.51% less than the OPEN 308? I know I’m nitpicking here, just curious as to what your thoughts on this are. To be honest, I would have liked to seen you do a few more tests on only the top five to reduce the effect of outliers on the average. Thanks for the review!

    • While we are at it, I’d like to see the Ares Armor “Effin-A” tested without the holes all OPEN. Realistically, they’re meant to be partially closed, or what’s the point?
      Of course, I’m interested in this one because it’s the one I personally use on my 5.56 and .308 rifles.
      I’ve found that by plugging certain holes and leaving others open, I can almost entirely remove the “up and to the right” muzzle flip that is common to the AR platform. Even in rapid-fire, I get only a slight dip, allowing quicker realignment of sights.
      I’m not sure how this specifically equates to recoil reduction, but isn’t realignment of sights for the next shot really the purpose of mitigating recoil for either of these calibers (at least in a semi-auto rifle)?

      • man i plug to many holes on my EFFIN the first time and it pushed my rifle down so far I had to stop and let my brain catch up to what just happened lol

        • Took a few minutes, did it?

          LOL

28. You should have tested a few of the popular generic ones you find on eBay for $15-$20 to see how they compare

29. I am with Keith Harter. I am trying to figure out what brake to use on a new 6.5 Creedmoor. I would like to see a comparison between the Terminator T-3 brake vs. Alamo 4 Star / ZRODelta Cowl Induction Brake vs. Precision Armament M4-72 Brake.

    Don’t mind spending money for quality. Just doesn’t seem like anyone has compared these three side-by-side.

    Will Truth About Guns do a follow-up?

30. If you play around with the momentum and motion equations, you can approximate the recoil reduction provided by the brake from your measurements. The reduction in axial momentum on the gun (recoil reduction) with respect to the bullet momentum is crudely approximately by [1-sqrt(1-R)] where R is the reduction in displacement that you tabulated. Most of the brakes examined are in the 25% – 40% range.

31. I would like to know how a .30 cal SJC Titan Comp does the against the .30 cal Precision Armament M4-72 Severe-Duty Compensator. Since it now reigns as champ in the AR-15 muzzle brake shootout #3 test.

32. I have a muzzle brake that removes ~70% of a rifles recoil.

33. Jeremy, Here is a picture of my muzzle brake. Please let me know if you would like to test it.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/183159734059?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

34. Your link is broken.
    It’s nordarms.com NOT nord-arms.com!

35. Do you have the corresponding DB levels for each.
    Best brake at the lowest DB level.

    Thank you.

36. Hey Jeremy,
    I’m curious why the Vais Muzzle Brake didn’t get tested. They’ve been around for over 30 years and were even featured on the Brownell’s cover back in the late ’80s- early ’90s.
    Regards

37. How do you run a brake test without APA, one of the best selling most popular brakes? The Fat B and Little B should be #25.

38. One thing nobody comments about is how does the Precision Armament M4-72 reduce recoil in the real world? Well, I’ll tell you, Shooting an M118 duplication load feels like a pleasant 22 RF, and I can shoot that all day long.

39. I installed a Cherry Bomb on my 300 blackout. The threads are much finer. I thought I cross threaded. I send it back and manufacture retapped it like new. Meanwhile I got a 5.56 can and from manufacturer I bought what they called “Three Leg Jack” threaded muzzle. The threads are corser and fits.
    1. Is there a threaded muzzle out their in 7.62 with corse threads?
    2. Or with tapered Cherry Bomb wrench it on and leave it?
    3. Or get another Three Leg Jack that fits my can and have gunsmith drill from 5.56 to 7.62?

40. I would be forever Grateful if you could include the Wilson Combat Q Comp for .308 in your test. Or, even if you could just test it separately as you already have the conclusions from these comps. Its reported that it had almost 0 flash and for that reason im concerned about its ability to handle muzzle rise and recoil. It is also reported that it has excellent muzzle rise and rear recoil reduction, without the NOISE. Please Consider if you can, thks Nathan

    • I don’t foresee testing that one (it’s unlikely that there will be another .30 cal test), but from its design I’d expect something in the range of a 30% reduction in recoil and it will most definitely apply downward pressure on the muzzle.

      • Thank you for the quick response ! Appreciate your advice, take care

41. Any thoughts on doing another .30cal test as this one is almost 4 years old and there are a lot of new and highly touted muzzle brakes out there. Two that I can think of off of the top of my head SJC Titan and the CODA .308 Fury Titanium.

    • One of the problems in using some of the MBs is a lack of accuracy, please include this with the results

42. I’d love to see the Troy Medieval Muzzle brake tested. It would be nice to see some quantified data on how it performs, as I have one on my AR-10. The first flash hider test included that version for the AR-15; seems like including the brake version of either the 5.56 or 7.62 would follow.

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