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Most people think of a muzzle brake as something that goes on the end of a rifle barrel. But some suppressor setups give you another option: putting a brake on the front of the suppressor. It sounds a little strange at first. After all, isn't the whole point of a suppressor to tame the muzzle blast? Why would you want to add a brake to the end of it?
There are actually some really good reasons.
On a firearm that is not being suppressed, a muzzle brake serves to reduce recoil. That serves two purposes. One, it helps reduce the felt recoil and on some firearms, you wouldn’t want to shoot one without a brake. Along with recoil reduction, muzzle brakes also serve to increase accuracy by reducing muzzle jump.
Years ago, I shot a .50 BMG rifle with a brake. We filmed in slow motion so you could see how the brake keeps the muzzle down. It also redirects the intense blast to the sides and rearward, making ear protection mandatory. I honestly don’t think you’d want to shoot one without a brake. For comparison, I also shot a .470 Nitro Express double rifle with no brake. With the slow-motion camera, you could actually see the rifle momentarily jump out of my hands and deliver a Chuck Norris-level roundhouse kick to my face.
Adding a muzzle brake on a suppressor essentially does the same as adding one to the end of your unsuppressed barrel. There is a huge recoil benefit. A brake redirects some of the escaping gas and helps reduce muzzle movement. Of course, how much difference it makes depends on the particular brake, suppressor and cartridge. There is a trade off, however, in that a suppressor with a brake will not be as quiet as shooting the suppressed firearm without a brake.
A muzzle brake mounted to the front of a suppressor can also act as a sacrificial component. It takes some of the abuse from the expanding gases and unburned powder exiting the suppressor.
Think of it as an extra layer of protection. The brake takes the beating instead of the suppressor's final baffle. That's especially useful on rifles that see a lot of shooting. If you're putting serious round counts through a rifle, anything that can help protect the suppressor's internal components deserves some consideration.
One of the best-selling suppressors of all time, the SilencerCo Omega 300, comes with a built-in muzzle brake. The popularity of this can speaks volumes for the effectiveness of a suppressor with a muzzle brake. Several manufacturers sell a replacement end cap for your suppressor that adds a muzzle brake. BANISH’s COMP 6.5 TI and COMP 6.5 SS are 6.5mm suppressors designed for competitive shooting and hunting. They both come with an optional brake. It’s nice to have options.
The other option is to run the suppressor without a brake on the front. This is the simple approach, and for many hunting rifles, simple is good.
Without the brake, the suppressor remains as compact and streamlined as the manufacturer designed it. There is no additional device hanging off the front, and you don't have to worry about adding length or weight. For a rifle that gets carried more than it gets shot, that's worth considering.
The tradeoff is that the suppressor itself takes all of the blast. There isn't an additional component at the muzzle to take some of that abuse and reduce recoil. A regular suppressor without a brake will still reduce felt recoil
Like most things in the shooting world, it depends on what you're doing with the rifle. If you're running a high-volume setup or shooting a hard-hitting cartridge, a front-mounted muzzle brake can provide an additional layer of protection and potentially help with recoil and muzzle movement.
For a lightweight hunting rifle, however, you may decide that the extra length and weight aren't worth it. There is an option that fits in with this, however. The BANISH MeatEater TI suppressor has a built-in, adjustable anchor brake that reduces recoil by up to 40% when open and further reduces decibel levels when closed. Plus, it is light and short, just the right combination for a serious hunting suppressor.
The important thing is to use a brake specifically designed and rated for use with your suppressor. Not every muzzle brake belongs on the front of a suppressor, so follow the manufacturer's specifications.
Sometimes the best accessory is the one that solves a real problem. Sometimes it's just more stuff hanging off the end of the rifle. Know what you're trying to accomplish before adding it.
About Suppressor Brakes
It is very possible that a suppressor brake will affect your rifle's zero. As with every change you make to your setup, you should always check your zero before going hunting. For more on zeroing your rifle with a suppressor, click here.
Yes and no. A suppressor brake does the same basic function as a muzzle brake in that it redirects gases as the bullet exits the barrel. The difference is that the suppressor already redirects a lot of those gases. The suppressor brake doesn't have to be as pronounced as a muzzle brake to do the same job.
As long as the suppressor manufacturer makes an accessory brake, you can add one to your suppressor. It is important to note that you shouldn't try toads a brake to a suppressor that it isn't specifically designed to fit. Doing so invites a high potential for accidents.
