Muzzle Brake Ignorance

[akajiggs]

I just acquired a cheap Savage rifle in 400 legend to try my hand at straight wall deer hunting. Now this thing is threaded 11/16x24 which at first I thought was weird until I got to checking on brakes.
About the only brakes that I could find with a thread pitch like that was for 45 cal and above. Now for the big question . Will a 45 cal brake be just as effective on a 40 cal or will it not work at all?
With old broke up shoulders this thing packs a pretty good punch on both ends and is the reason for question.
Thanks in advance for your help

Jim

 

[robert8904]

I recently got interested about muzzle brake diameter change and effectiveness. The tests I read were for smaller calibers in the 22-30 range. The basic finding was generally it didn't make a big difference. Even
a few steps up, like shooting a 6mm bullet through a 30 caliber brake still worked fine with maybe only 20% loss of effectiveness. Percentage wise, the difference between 40 to 45 cal. is less than 24 to 30 cal.. A 45 cal. brake should work just fine.

 

[boltfluter]

Any brake is better than no brake on a beast like that. You may loose a little efficiency but most likely it will work well for you.
Paul

 

[CaptainMal]

The answer is ..."just as effective".

Well, very close to that the difference would take some serious testing.

 

[dusterdave173]

Ross Brakes will do custom thread sizes no extra charge--not a better guy or brake and they are inexpensive to boot

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The Ross self timing brake looks nice, install easy at home.

 

[LuvDog]

Very little loss on effectiveness. I though it was something 6% for a 30 cal brake on a 6.5mm

 

[mikecockcroft]

you should be able to buy a brake with the thread you want with a .250 bored hole. Have a local smith bore it out to .020 over bullet diameter

 

[Ledd Slinger]

you should be able to buy a brake with the thread you want with a .250 bored hole. Have a local smith bore it out to .200 over bullet diameter

This^

But pretty sure you meant .020” over bullet diameter

 

[akajiggs]

Thanks men, ya'll have been a big help..
Appreciate it.

 

[rockhound78]

Witt machine makes a good brake. Think I have 4 of them and you can order quite a different variety of thread sizes and various calibers.

 

[Toddmack]

Any brake is better than no brake on a beast like that. You may loose a little efficiency but most likely it will work well for you.
Paul

Is the 400 Legend a "beast"? Pure curiosity, not a smart ass comment.

 

[jpjulian]

Gavin from Ultimate Reloader did a test a while back and has a YouTube video of the results. IIRC a brake bigger than the bore didn't make much of a difference.

 

[Brians356]

... brake bigger than the bore didn't make much of a difference.

A brake smaller than the bore - now that makes a big difference.
-

 

[boltfluter]

Is the 400 Legend a "beast"? Pure curiosity, not a smart ass comment.

Todd,
I honestly don't know. Lol. Just sounds like a shoulder abuser to me.
Paul

 

[swd]

Gavin from Ultimate Reloader did a test a while back and has a YouTube video of the results. IIRC a brake bigger than the bore didn't make much of a difference.

I’ve built and installed probably 400-500 brakes over the years of quite a few different designs. You can definitely feel the difference. The extra .050”-.080” larger exit bore, depending on the actual exit bore size of the 45 cal brake would make a pretty noticeable difference. Especially if the OP has a bad shoulder that’s needs all he can get.

Hotter loads, slower burning powder and shorter barrels, basically anything that increases muzzle pressure all make brakes work better too.

 

[6.5 forever]

A brake smaller than the bore - now that makes a big difference.
-

You should put a smiley face and lol on this. Somebody might try it. Lol

 

[Stormbringer]

400 Legend is in the 16-18 FT-LBS of recoil. I would think more of a push than hard snap. Maybe try a better recoil pad and see how she does? Stock fit with the Savage will have a lot to do with how the recoil is received.

 

[mikecockcroft]

This^

But pretty sure you meant .020” over bullet diameter

My bad. Thanks

 

[Iowa Fox]

Harrells has 11/16x24 radials.. They will open it up for the correct diameter for you so all you have to do is screw it on. I'm not sure what the open up charge is these days.