September 14th 2021. Many precision rifle competitors and hunters use muzzle brakes. These ported devices significantly reduce felt recoil. This makes a big difference in getting back on target quickly for follow-up shots. Although rifle owners are aware of the benefits of muzzle brakes and may be grateful for them, some rifle owners neglect their brakes, allowing powder residue and hard carbon to build up. This is not good. To remove carbon buildup and fouling, you should clean your muzzle brake regularly. Mark Edgreen wrote: “Carbon buildup on the crown and brake is a recipe to poor accuracy.” Another gunsmith said that customers complained about guns being “shot out too early”, but that they only needed to have their brakes cleaned. Jim See, a gunsmith and PRS/NRL competitor, recently reminded his Facebook fans about the importance cleaning muzzle brakes. Maintain your rifles. “Clean your muzzle brakes, people!” Jim, who runs Elite Accuracy LLC notes that brakes can cause hard carbon buildup which can seriously affect accuracy. Take a look at this example: Muzzle Brake Cleaning Techniques
There are many ways to clean brakes. We list several methods, but we recommend NON-corrosive ultrasound. Before you begin, remove the muzzle device. 1. Use Ultrasonic cleaning machine with cleaning solution. This is the most efficient way to clean your brakes: “I put my brake in the ultrasonic cleaner. Shiney is like new.” (Jim Moseley). 2. Use commercial Carb Cleaner to spray and brush. Apply anti-corrosion coating. 3. Half hydrogen peroxide, half vinegar. Suggestion: Let carbon melt off over night. Rinse off any carbon residue and then put the brake back on. Before mounting, apply anti-corrosive. 4. Use a 50/50 solution water/white vinegar to soak the leaves. Then, brush them. After soaking, apply an anti-corrosion coating such as Eezox. 5. Use stainless pins to stir the liquid solution. Comment: “Comes out slightly tainted, but perfect on stainless, non-painted brakes.” Warning! Do not do this with threaded brakes. Tumbling could damage the threads of screw-on brakes. Tumbling can also damage Cerakote or painted finishes. Gunsmithing tip: It is easier to clean carbon fouling from the barrel’s end by fitting the muzzle brake slightly forward. See photo
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