#Howa 308 muzzle brake series#

The drawback to most muzzle brakes is that they can change the direction of the sound of the fired round. This tends to prolong the life of the suppressor. This is not the same as a sound baffle, which decreases the sound signature of the firearm, but rather that the brake takes the brunt of the muzzle blast and fired gasses as opposed to the baffles in the suppressor itself. Some muzzle brakes, when used in conjunction with a suppressor, can act as a sacrificial blast baffle. Secondary benefits of muzzle brakes are byproducts of this as the reduction in felt recoil can aid the shooter with regard to accuracy and allow for faster follow up shots.

#Howa 308 muzzle brake series#

Although construction varies, the primary identifying characteristic is a series of cuts that direct the burning gasses and muzzle blast of a fired round away from the shooter and most often toward the side or 180 degrees from the muzzle itself.Īs most of the felt recoil from a firearm originates at the muzzle, this effort is primarily done to reduce recoil. We’ll go over the nitty-gritty of muzzle brakes and compensators, but if you’re looking for a quick reference, take a look at this chart for the two major differences between the two: MUZZLE BRAKEĪ muzzle brake is a device which threads onto the end of a firearm’s barrel. Some come equipped with thread protectors and many come with a muzzle device.Īlthough the included muzzle device is typically a flash suppressor, some jurisdictions cling to antiquated and ill-informed laws that regard these devices as an “evil feature,” whereas a muzzle brake or compensator is perfectly legal. This has recently extended to bolt-action and lever-action rifles more commonly found in the hunting as opposed to the tactical arena. Most rifle barrels in the past several years have come threaded from the factory so the shooter can add a muzzle device such as a muzzle brake or a compensator.