SHREWD #2 Muzzle Brake 22 Caliber 1/2-28 Chrome Moly Silver

I've learned, through experience, that it is wise to check anything and everything with female threads before I screw it on to a barrel, especially any barrel just over minimum length (eg, a 16.25" AR barrel leaves you no room to lop off damaged threads and re-cut).



To that end, I have made a set of threaded stubs in various common muzzle thread specifications that I use to check silencers, brakes, etc. This way, if the female threads mess up my stub's threads, I just grab a new piece of 1144 or 4140 and make a new stub.



The 1/2-28 brake wouldn't take either of my class 3A or 2A stubs for more than three threads before stopping. I saw some chips in the threads, and pulled it out. Now I got five turns into the brake. I decided that it might be best if I ran a 1/2-28 tap into the brake - I did, and it pulled out quite a bit of chips from the threads. My stub threaded in there most of the way, but not all the way, before exhibiting more signs of chips in the bottom of the threads.



I ended up putting this brake on my lathe, picking up the internal threads with my internal threading tool, and taking a pass that barely made contact with the threads in order to clean out the rest of the chips that had been pressed into the threads. Overall this brake cost me 2 hours of shop time I can't bill back to a customer. At $85/hour, that adds up quickly.

I can't even count how many of these brakes (all part numbers) on this page I have installed, everything from light sporter 300WSM's down to rimfire calibers. I have NEVER had anyone that wasn't satisfied with the results. Recoil reduction is amazing.The larger O.D numbers can be tapered back to meet the bbl. O.D. for a clean installation. I don't usually write reviews, but these things work. Period. The brake should be indicated in a four jaw chuck and reamed to .020 over bullet diameter, and the barrel shoulder must be turned to a square shoulder and single point threaded. Hearing protection is required with or without the brake. Accuracy is improved because the high pressure gases are stripped away leaving a clean flight of the bullet. You can't beat the price!

I install one of these brakes almost weekly, they are nicely made and affordable. Once the shooting community in my area saw how well they reduced recoil they literally sell themselves. Be sure to advise clients that they HAVE TO wear hearing protection when the brake is in place. Offering thread protector caps for use when hunting keeps clients happy and increases sales.

My earlier review says this item ships with too small an exit aperture. I don't know if based on this brownells changed the item description or if I screwed up and didn't see the description.

Either way. The description now clearly says you need to open up the exit aperture, even for a .22 cal gun. Don't forget that step and you are good to go. It does a nice job with recoil.

I'd suggest you not buy this as a poor man's Tactical Solutions brake for .22 LR guns. The small ports fill with lead rather quickly. I had to chip the lead build up out of mine after about 1000 rounds. It was easy enough to do, but there are better options for rimfire shooters.

I HAD MY 308 WIN. RIFLE FIXED TO ONE OF THESE MUZZLE BRAKES AND IT RECOILED LESS IN FELT RECOIL BUT WHAT I REALLY LIKED WAS THAT IT DID NOT EFFECT ACCURACY AS THE RIFLE SHOT AT 100 YARDS A 3 SHOT GROUP THAT COULD BE COVERED BY A DIME.

I purchased this muzzle brake to have installed onto a Savage 110E long action chambered in 7mm Rem. Mag. After having it installed by a competent gunsmith I examined it very carefully to make sure it was installed correctly. Its bore was centered with the barrel's bore, and its muzzle hole was enlarged to .3125" to accommodate the 7mm bullet. After careful examination, and appearing to be in good order, I took it to the range for a few test shots. This is where things got really ugly. The first shot resulted in the vented frontal portion completely disintegrating; sending tiny pieces of stainless steel shrapnel in all directions perpendicular to, and in a concentric circle around the muzzle brake. The remaining rear portion that screws onto the barrel was blown off of the barrel's muzzle, stripping off the threads and shot downrange, never to be located despite extensive effort. Taking into consideration the manufacturer's claims and customer reviews of this product here at Brownell's, this product promised great results from an economically-friendly modification. However, this product not only failed to produce the expected results, it created an extremely dangerous situation for both shooter and bystander(s). Having gone to adequate, if not extensive, measures to ensure safe and proper installation, having this happen makes me extremely cautious about the safety of others. This was a [$] lesson that could have resulted in grievous bodily injury or death. Not only would I not recommend this to a friend, I would not recommend it to anyone else, for that matter.

This product works great. BUT. The exit aperture is 5.5mm and not 6.0 mm.

Why is this significant? Because in its as shipped condition it can NOT be used for a .22 caliber centerfire rifle. Unlike what the description says.

I don't know if I got a "bad" one, or if the Brownell's description is just incorrect, either way it is dangerous.

Other than that. It works great, with significantly less blast than something like a Miculek brake. Kindof a poor man's battle comp.

I would

Don

I have installed several number of shrewd brakes on my customers rifles. They are all happy with the recoil reduction, a few wanted them installed for their improved look of the rifle. For best recoil reduction, do not open the exit more than .025".

Gotta' be kidding. I can't build the thing for what it's priced at here. It's an excellent part. Works like a charm.

I use this brake for benchrest shooting. This type of brake reduces felt recoil and the muzzle flip almost all together and looks great with my stainless steel barrel, but is very loud.

These brakes are a great value.
Finish out nice and have enough material to let you get a perfect blend.