How to Make a Muzzle Brake
A muzzle brake is a device that redirects propellant gasses from the muzzle of a gun. A muzzle brake suppresses the recoil of a gun as well as upward movement of the gun's barrel when fired. Muzzle brakes are particularly useful for automatic and semi-automatic guns, where rapid firing can lead to unpredictable movements in the gun's barrel. Muzzle brakes are also used extensively in timed competition shooting events, and they are often found on hunting rifles. This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions for making a muzzle brake.
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Things You'll Need
- Ruler
- 6-inch-long steel tube with 1-inch-thick walls
- Metal boring machine
- Metal saw
- Drill
- ¼ inch flat-end screw
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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Building a Muzzle Brake
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1
Measure the diameter of your gun's barrel. Be sure to measure the distance from outer wall to outer wall (not just the diameter of the barrel opening). This measurement will determine the appropriate size of the muzzle brake.
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2
Purchase a 6-inch-long cylindrical steel tube from an industrial supply company or a hardware store. The tube should have the same diameter (from outer wall to outer wall) as the barrel of your gun. The walls of the tube should be approximately 1 inch thick.
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3
Use a metal boring machine to enlarge the radius of part of the cylindrical steel tube. Insert the metal tube into the boring machine, and thin the outer walls of the tube to ½ inch. Do this for the first 3 inches of the cylindrical steel tube.
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4
Use the metal boring machine to taper the 4th inch of the steel tube. Move the steel tube back and forth along the boring machine to create a smooth taper. This taper will center the muzzle brake on the barrel and will prevent the muzzle brake from sliding off.
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5
Saw 6 linear cuts into the top and bottom of the muzzle brake. The cuts should be approximately 1/3 of an inch thick and 1/3 of an inch apart. Make sure that the cuts go all the way through and create long holes in the top and bottom of the muzzle brake.
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6
Drill a ¼ inch hole into the bottom of the tapered end of the muzzle brake. This hole will allow you to fasten the muzzle brake to the gun's barrel with a flat-end screw. Drill a ¼ inch hole into the bottom of the tapered end of the muzzle brake. This hole will allow you to fasten the muzzle brake to the gun's barrel with a screw.
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Tips & Warnings
If the muzzle brake is loose, you can use a shim to hold it in place. A shim is metal tube approximately 1/8 of an inch thick that fits around the gun's barrel. Slide the shim up the gun's barrel, attach the muzzle brake, then slide the shim into the muzzle brake to hold it firmly in place against the barrel.
Always wear appropriate protective gear when working with metal. Gloves, eye-goggles, and close-toed shoes should always be worn.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/cust_remington_700.php, http://www.beeman.com/brakes.htm
