How Does an AK Slant Brake Work?

[PsychGuy274]

Ok, so I can't figure out for the life of me how an AK-47 slant brake works. Is it just called a brake or does it actually function as one? I could maybe see how it would work as a compensator by keeping the muzzle down somewhat.

Anyone?

[uns0b1ll]

I believe that particular slant muzzle brake designed to compensate recoil when using automatic fire.

The way it works slant muzzle brake using expanding gas at the muzzle to push the rifle muzzle down in the right direction to minimize muzzle rise and increase your chances to double tap or re-gain target in automatic mode

[PsychGuy274]

Well wouldn't that be a compensator then and not a brake?

[slomofo]

Yes, it's a compensator and.... it doesn't work. It's function is to reduce muzzle rise for right handed shooters during full auto fire. For 99% of Americans, it's only function is for appearance. The majority of my AKs run slant brakes because I like the way they look, even though I'm left handed and only shoot semi-auto, but they serve no real purpose for the semi-auto shooters.

[PsychGuy274]

Yes, it's a compensator and.... it doesn't work. It's function is to reduce muzzle rise for right handed shooters during full auto fire. For 99% of Americans, it's only function is for appearance. The majority of my AKs run slant brakes because I like the way they look, even though I'm left handed and only shoot semi-auto, but they serve no real purpose for the semi-auto shooters.

That's what I figured. Thanks.

[Turo]

Well wouldn't that be a compensator then and not a brake?

Both compensators and muzzle brakes redirect gas after it's left a barrel. They do it to either reduce recoil, or reduce muzzle rise, or both. Compensator and muzzle brake are synonyms.

The AK slant brake pushes the muzzle down when the gun is fired so it doesn't rise up so much during automatic fire, but it doesn't reduce felt recoil so much.

[PsychGuy274]

I thought that compensator=muzzle climb and brake=recoil, no?

[Turo]

Reducing muzzle climb reduces recoil and reducing recoil will reduce muzzle climb. They are two aspects of the same reaction caused by the gun firing. A compensator can reduce muzzle climb by redirecting expanding gases upward, which reduces the felt recoil because those gases aren't pushing the gun back toward the shooter. A muzzle brake can reduce recoil and in doing that reduces the moment caused by the force of recoil pushing above where the stock contacts the shoulder.

Some brakes and compensators may be better at reducing recoil or reducing muzzle climb than the other, but they both redirect gas and both reduce muzzle climb and recoil.