45-70 muzzle brake

[harley berry]

Allright I want to make a muzzle brake for my h&r 45-70 but i need to know ,does the inside have to be the exact same size of the riffling or should it be a little bit bigger than riffling. Also does it make a difference about holes, versus slots, and should i put them at an angle so the blowback will keep the rifle barrel down and more straight.

[Austin1]

I can't help ya but a muzzle break in any gun makes them very loud! I fired a Marlin 45/70 with the Factory porting with some stout 350gr loads and I was thinking ya 18.5 barrel will sound loud but wont be to bad I was wrong! Dam that thing was loud! I only own one gun with porting really I thought it was a flash hider? it's a 6.5 Swead auto loader and its too loud to shoot without ear plugs. The gun has no muzzle rise but is very very loud!
I would forget the muzzle break and learn to live with the recoil. But that is me us skinny guy's soak up recoil better than big guy's we bend like a willow rather than be strong like a Oak.My fav hunting Rifle is a .375 H&H and it is not too bad No worse than any .300/338 mag just make sure you have a Scope with good Eye Reliefe. 
 

[Troyboy]

For the life of me, I can not understand why poeple make such a big to do over the noise. Ya are gonna be wearing ear protection if ya got any sense anyway. If the recoil and muzzle rise are reduced, where is the problem? If you are hunting and you are worried, take the thing off. If not plan ahead and bring earplugs. The hunting shows that I see you got time for earprotection. At the range ya gotta wear protection. I'd go for anything that  makes a firearm more pleasant FOR ME TO SHOOT. Ya gotta do whats best for you. As far as the holes in the brake I just have no clue, I would think it would be much cheaper to buy one

[harley berry]

I'm not worried about the noise at all, just trying to get size dimensions thinking i can get the rifle to be more pleasant for my wife with the huge loads i like, so wondering about the actual slots vs holes and if degree make a difference

[Zeke Menuar]

Allright I want to make a muzzle brake for my h&r 45-70 but i need to know ,does the inside have to be the exact same size of the riffling or should it be a little bit bigger than riffling. Also does it make a difference about holes, versus slots, and should i put them at an angle so the blowback will keep the rifle barrel down and more straight.

I can't really answer the question, but here are links to two of the best brakes on the market.  This should get you started.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=13835/Product/RIFLE_MUZZLE_BRAKE

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=13070/Product/MUZZLE_BRAKE

Unless you want the experience of building your own brake, get the .458 Vais brake and be done with it.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

 I need to know ,does the inside have to be the exact same size of the rifling or should it be a little bit bigger than rifling? Also does it make a difference about holes, versus slots, and should i put them at an angle so the blowback will keep the rifle barrel down and more straight.

On my  H&R Handi .270 Ultra Comp the bore size on the compensator is .339" and the holes are drilled at 90 degrees to the axis and measure .187", if that's any help.

Bill

Added picture:

[Swampman]

Why would the .45-70 need a muzzle brake?  The noise is a huge issue for me.  I won't own a braked gun nor shoot around anyone that does.

[harley berry]

thats helpful but I need to know the inside difference between inside of the brake relative to my inside diameter of my barrel 45-70 does it have to be the same as my rifling or a little bit bigger

[mitch132]

Try these sites for good info:

http://www.the-long-family.com/making_a_muzzle_brake.htm

http://www.rvbprecision.com/shooting/adventures-with-muzzle-brakes.html

The second link should answer most of your questions.

[Elkoholic]

The inside diameter of the brake must be larger than the .458 inside diameter of your barrel. 
You don't want the bullet to ever touch the brake.

If' it's what you want go for it!!

Good luck,
Mike

[Spanky]

Why would the .45-70 need a muzzle brake?  The noise is a huge issue for me.  I won't own a braked gun nor shoot around anyone that does.

My thoughts exactly.

If someone needs to brake a rifle to handle the recoil they should probably consider a smaller rifle.



Spanky

[harley berry]

o.k. i thought I said I want to make it better for my wife so she won't be scared of it last time i took her out she was a little sore and complaining so I could shut her up

[Spanky]

If she wants to shoot a big bore but doesn't want the recoil you could get her a 44mag or a 45LC. Neither of them has much recoil but still makes a big hole.
If she wanted to stick with the 45-70 you could load some trapdoor or maybe even some black powder loads for her and you could stick to the stout stuff.
Anytime someone is scared of a gun it ain't no fun.

The best thing might be to get her a 357 and ream it to max. She could shoot everything from tin cans to big game.



Spanky

[BowHunter252]

To all those who ask why he needs a muzzle brake - BECAUSE HE WANTS IT!!!

I also agree with Spanky about it not being fun if it is too much gun for her.  I load some 450-500 gr bullets in mine that only do about 800fps.  Not much recoil at all and not too loud either.

[Zeke Menuar]

To all those who ask why he needs a muzzle brake - BECAUSE HE WANTS IT!!!

Amen to that.

A recoil reducer in the stock, properly fitted stock with a Limbsaver, will also reduce recoil.  I'd try those options first.  If the kick is still too much then go to a brake.

If the OP handloads, very mild plinking loads can be made with Trail Boss and 300gr cast bullets.  Save the heavy stuff for Godzilla.

 

[pvtschultz]

From the brownell's listing:

Ready-To-Fit Brakes Enhance Recoil Control
Multi-port brake softens and reduces recoil and muzzle flip. Multitude of gas dispersion holes have an offset pattern, and a 7° forward rake, that effectively moves blast and sound forward to provide maximum noise deflection. .22 caliber bore exit hole must be opened up to .020" over bullet diameter. Rear of comp can be tapered to blend with barrel contour. .865" Brake is correct outside diameter for Lone Eagle pistols. Furnished with a 6mm exit hole that can be opened up to .44 caliber.

[petemi]

A big part of what people conceive as "recoil" is muzzle blast.  It sure can't help to make you a better shooter.  Reduced loads or lighter caliber is what I'd do.  Brakes are a pain in the A$$ to be around.  I've heard of people putting brakes on .22-250s and .243s.....WHY

Pete

[44 Man]

Part of the recoil you feel is the powder getting the bullet moving.  But a lot of it is the jet engine effect of the hot expanding powder gasses rushing out the barrel.  A muzzle brake disturbs the 'jet engine nozzle' and disperses the gasses in other directions.  Especially as the bullet temporarily blocks the exit hole in the brake.  That suddenly disrupts the flow and the gasses rush out the ports, and by then the pressure is lower and the flow never gets re-established again.  They are effective and do work.  They work better on high pressure rounds than low pressure ones.  Yes, they are louder because the blast is directed sideways instead of forward, but there again, all guns are loud enough to damage our hearing without protection anyway.  Wear ear protection when shooting at the range and the occasional muzzle blast while hunting will not cause permanent damage.  (although all ear damage is culmative)  When I am hunting, I cannot tell the noise difference between a ported gun and a non ported one.  If you want to, do it.  Of course I also agree with the folks that advise you to buy a .45 colt for the wife so she can enjoy shooting!  The extra expense will be worth it in the long run.  And a .45 colt loaded to Ruger pressures will kill anything that needs killing.  Enjoy. 44 Man

[knight0334]

o.k. i thought I said I want to make it better for my wife so she won't be scared of it last time i took her out she was a little sore and complaining so I could shut her up

Nothing ever stops them from complaining or shuts them up....

[44 Man]

Yeah, but if she didn't like shooting the .45 colt, he would still have another gun for himself!    44 Man

[Mac11700]

If his 45-70 barrel is done like what Tim showed his Ultra Comp barrel...then the shooter will not get any blast from it out in the open. The only time I ever got any blast or increase of noise from either my 270 UC or 30-06 UC was when I was closed in shooting area at the public range..or shooting off a steep incline where the barrel was close to the ground. Same for any other compensated rifle pistol or shotgun I have owned.The UC barrels do tame the recoil some..but they reduce the muzzle climb a-lot more. Anyone standing off to the sides will move very quickly after 1 shot with these..

If you really want to shoot hotter loads in the 45-70..fit a thumb-hole stock and a mercury recoil reducer along with a nice soft sorbathane cheek pad..and a magnum recoil pad..for her frame..not yours..A ill fitting gun hurts more than a fitted one...This will allow her to control the gun better with her hands..absorbing much of the recoil..while taking all of the face slap out of the issue and stop her shoulder from getting pounded..You can also get her a strap on shoulder pad to wear under her blouse...Face slap is where the majority of perceived recoil comes into play..and causes more people to wince when they don't have a proper cheek weld on the stock..

Mac

[Mac11700]

o.k. i thought I said I want to make it better for my wife so she won't be scared of it last time i took her out she was a little sore and complaining so I could shut her up

Nothing ever stops them from complaining or shuts them up....

When you buy one for them and fix it up as good as yours they do seem to quite down a-lot...

Mac

[wreckhog]

For the life of me, I can not understand why poeple make such a big to do over the noise. Ya are gonna be wearing ear protection if ya got any sense anyway. If the recoil and muzzle rise are reduced, where is the problem? If you are hunting and you are worried, take the thing off. If not plan ahead and bring earplugs. The hunting shows that I see you got time for earprotection. At the range ya gotta wear protection. I'd go for anything that  makes a firearm more pleasant FOR ME TO SHOOT. Ya gotta do whats best for you. As far as the holes in the brake I just have no clue, I would think it would be much cheaper to buy one

I was at my range over the weekend. Over the summer we built a roof over the shooting benches. Noise bounces. Being so close to deer season, it was crowded with folks sighting in 12 gauge slugs, .223, .22-250, 270, 30-30, .308, 30-06 on up to 35 Whelan. Lots of gunfire, everyone with ear protection. Whenever I shot my 30-06 Ultra Comp, the noise would just jolt everyone. Not to mention that the neighbors have already complained about loud and sustained firing.

[wreckhog]

A big part of what people conceive as "recoil" is muzzle blast.  It sure can't help to make you a better shooter.  Reduced loads or lighter caliber is what I'd do.  Brakes are a pain in the A$$ to be around.  I've heard of people putting brakes on .22-250s and .243s.....WHY

Pete

99% of AR15's have a muzzle brake or flash hider. And you only get 1 shot each time you pull the trigger. Varmint guys do it so they can see the hit.