Question for those using muzzle brake?

[PigButtons]

I needed to take off the muzzle brake on one of my rifles. What I found should have been expected but wasn't. There was a heavy carbon coating on the crown and a thin membrane of carbon in the brake itself.
It took some solvent and a lot of scrubbing to get all of it out. My question is this: How often do muzzle brakes need to be cleaned? I know that it will be powder and caliber dependant, but any insight would be great.

 

[Twitchy]

One round before it becomes a problem.


Seriously, nobody can give you that answer. Clean as needed. If accessing the crown is an issue, you can soak the muzzle (dependent on barrel/brake finish) in CLR and it will turn the carbon into a sludge that can be wiped off rather than scrubbed or chipped off.

 

[Preacher]

I clean my breaks whenever I clean the barrels......

 

[pikespeakgoat]

I clean my breaks whenever I clean the barrels......

This^^^^

 

[ballisticxlr]

You get this value just exactly like you find out how often you need to replace the brakes on your car. You find out by looking at the thing periodically and taking appropriate action based on what you find.

 

[Juppe12]

I remove brake every time after shooting. One and only reason is carbon coated crown.

 

[std7mag]

There is also the fact that running a patch through the bore, is not going to clean the ports for escaping gasses on the brake.
Aka what makes them work to begin with.

 

[Stan Taylor]

I back bore all my brakes to prevent building up carbon on the crown, I don't have to clean as often but when I do clean ,it's just a matter of wiping the muzzle with a patch no scrubbing at all.

 

[Paul Hilgedick]

I use back bored brakes as well. Made a huge difference. A little polish on the crown also goes a long way in how they clean. Brake goes in the ultrasonic cleaner after every match.