Pics of new Small 3 port Painkiller muzzle brake from APS...

Fiftydriver

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Just wanted to drop a line letting you guys know that all three sizes of the PK muzzle brakes are now in stock and ready for purchase. I installed two of the small 3 port PKs on a couple rifles this past week and was able to test them and was very happy. One was on a 257 Wby which had previously had a radial port muzzle brake similiar to a KDF installed.

I shot the rifle before and after the installation of the PK and there was a dramatic difference in felt recoil even with the relatively mild recoiling 257 Wby chambering.

The finish of that brake was polished to match the barrel finish and the pics I took did not come out well because of the glare so I decided to not post those pics.

The other rifle was one of my custom 7mm Allen Magnums based on a Nesika Bay Model M receiver and a #5 contour Lilja barrel. This barrel is about perfect dimension for the small 3 port PK brake.

Many have contacted me concerned about the size of the PK design and worried it would not look good on a lighter barrel. I wanted to post pics so that you all could see for yourself and decide what you think.

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This barrels has a muzzle diameter roughly 0.705" in diameter for a reference to the size of the brake.

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This pic gives a bit of perspective showing more of the barrel for comparision. In my opinion, not overly large at all.

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Finally a pic of the entire rifle for comparision. I was VERY happy with the brake on the 7mm AM, even in this relatively lightweight rifle. I only tested the new rifle at 500 yards but it was easy to see the impacts on my steel gongs even at that relatively close range. That is something I have not been able to do with other brake designs. Had to be 800 yards or out on this weight of rifle before I could see impacts, not anymore!!!

All in all, I think I am more satisfied with this small PK brake then even the other two larger ones. Not because its more effective then the larger ones, just that it exceeded my expectations for this small brake.

Wanted to design an aggressive recoil reduction system that was compact and eye appealing. I think this brake does that well. Here are a couple pics comparing it to the Holland QD brake with same 9/16" thread size.

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As you can see the PK is dramatically shorter then the Holland.

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In this pic you can see that the PK and Holland QD brake are the exact same width but the advantage of the slab style PK brake is that its ports are dramatically larger in surface area then the Holland for the same size width lending to its more aggressive recoil reduction. The top ports are slightly smaller then the Holland brake by design. For very lightweight rifles, I have often had the sensation that the barrel was being forced down by the holland brake.

I wanted to control muzzle jump but not cause a negative jump problem, the smaller ports on the PK seem to serve their purpose extremely well. Neither the 257 or 7mm AM rifles did anything but sit rock solid and level when testing.

Weight wise, many would say the PK will be much heavier then the Holland class brakes because its larger horizontal spread. That is not true, great care was taken to make this brake as light as possible while retaining proper strength. In fact, it weighs in at 1.95 oz and the Holland measured 2.02 oz on my scale.

I am certainly not condeming the Holland brake in any way, its a great brake for sure. Its kind of the standard on lightweight, compact, highly efficent partition style muzzle brakes so it was a good choice for comparision purposes only, not to detract from its quality.
 
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Just wanted to drop a line letting you guys know that all three sizes of the PK muzzle brakes are not in stock and ready for purchase.
Kirby: Did you mean they "are now in stock and ready for purchase."???

Great looking brake, but then I'm a little biased as I've got one "slightly bigger" than the 3 port on my 7mm AM and it works fantastic. See ( http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/testing-aps-painkiller-muzzle-brake-31231/ for testing and comparisons.) Recoil reduction is super and spotting shots/hits is a piece of cake now.

I've had several people look at my brake, the 5 port and their initial comments were about size, however when you look at it compared to the QD it's only really larger horizontally and after they shoot the gun they just grin and are amazed that that much powder, pushing that heavy a bullet, feels that mild when you're behind it.
 
Dick, I'm pretty sure that Kirby meant that they are NOW in stock.

Killer looking brake Kirby!!! I have a Holland QD on my 6mm Ackley Improved and love it. I noticed that your "baffles" angle backwards which is like a .50 BMG's brake so I can only imagine that your design most likely would be more effective except for more noise to the shooter and spotter.

How about posting the FIVE PORT design on a HV weight barrel??? I'd love to see it.
 
When I did the testing of the PK and QD brakes on my rifle, my wife stood behind me and also to the side and said there was no difference in noise but she thought the PK brake was a little softer and not so sharp/loud. As the shooter, wearing hearing protection, I noticed no difference in sound only in the greater recoil reduction of the PK brake.
 
What a typo!!!

Yes they are all IN STOCK READY TO INSTALL OR SHIP!!!

Feable mind at work here.

Mindcrime,

when dealing with a muzzle brake, there is a protective cone that is directed back from the muzzle brake. If your in this cone, as the shooter is, the muzzle blast is not dramatic. If you are in close proximity to the brake outside this cone, your going to get the full brunt of the blast.

Muzzle blast intensity is determined by several things but when dealing with a brake its mainly caused by muzzle pressure when the bullet is released from the crown and the velocity in which the escaping gases leave the brake itself.

The higher the exit velocity, its my theory that the sharper the crack will be to the shooter and bystanders.

The smaller your ports, the higher your muzzle pressure and escape velocity will be and as such, the sharper the crack you will hear and feel.

Going into this project I wanted to try to do something to decrease this sensation. I am not saying my brakes are quiet but with these final designs, they do seem to be much less intense then some of the standard partition style muzzle brakes we commonly use. How can this be possible you say?

Well, my brakes have ports with alot of surface area, they also have alot of volume in each port compared to more conventional 90 degree ports. It was my theory that if we used larger volume ports more gas volume could be contained in the brake for a longer duration of time.

Now it is true that the higher the muzzle pressure the better the brake will work, so if the gas pressure is dropped by larger exhaust ports, one would think the brake would be less efficent which comparing apples to apples that would be true but that is where the larger surface area and 30 degree back angle on the ports come in to compensate for this lower escape gas velocity that the larger volume ports create.

Make any sense???? Probably as clear as mud.

Basically, I increased the volume of the ports to decrease the escape gas velocity to reduce the intense crack you hear and the intense slap you feel from some muzzle brakes.

Then the larger surface area and 30 degree back rack on the ports compensates for any loss in recoil reduction caused by the slower venting of the muzzle gas pressure.

In shooting all three of these brakes head to head against brakes such as the Holland QD and DE 3 and 4 port brakes, I know this theory to be true.

Again, I am not saying my brakes are any quieter because the back angle on the ports does narrow the protective blast cone that the shooter is in, BUT, I can tell you for a fact, when you shoot a Holland or DE brake, the blast from the brakes is very directed and high velocity. All you have to do is watch one being fired and the escaping muzzle gas comes out of the brake VERY aggressively. The escaping gases also reach out much farther because they are more focused and confined so you get that jetting effect coming off the brake.

When you shoot a PK brake, the escaping gas is dramatically slower coming out of the brake, not nearly so directionally defined. In fact, its common to shoot a PK brake and then look up and see gas and smoke rolling out of the brake for a significant time after the shot has been fired. This tells me that the escaping gas is much lower velocity then the other brakes.

As far as the big 5 port PK, here are some pics, this one is fitted to one of my Allen32 contour barrels with a muzzle diameter of roughly 0.960", not overly small.

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Certainly a much larger brake at 4" in length compared to 1.8" length for the small port. Still on the appropriate barrel, they do not look out of place at all and when you shoot them, they look even better!!!:D
 
Man Kirby, first you tease, then you jerk the rug out! ;) I guess that I'll have to take pics without the glare. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Vanguard that is heavier, but without a brake. I could have sent more boolets if you wanted them.

It looks like I'll be in a load developing frenzy the next couple of weeks. I'd like to get the Bergers to shoot in both of the .257's, and a buddy's .300 WM.

Thanks!
 
Essup

If that is your 257 Wby Kirby worked on then ask him to include a box of 130 gr Wildcat HP RBBTs in the package when he ships it.

I can give you some load data for it.
 
I for one think you got that "eye appealing" thing nailed. That brake looks sweet :cool:. I was thinking about asking you about one for the 7mm AM you are building for me, but was worried about weight. But seeing as it weighs less than the Holland, there goes that concern. Awesome work Kirby! Can't wait to try one out for myself.
 
The brake looks great Kirby, Whenever i have you build that 6.5x47 for me I will have you throw that sweet little piece of machinery on the end of the bbl for me.

I gotta be jealous of the scenery you get to take those pics in, whenever i draw that goat tag up there by you i cant wait to experince it my self
 
Esshup,

Sorry for not getting any good pics, I assure you yours turned out well also!!!

By the way, you should see it from the USPS Friday or Saturday!!

Let me know what you think, I think you will be happy.
 
Lerch,

Just last weekend we jumped an 80" class pronghorn just 300 yards from where those pics were taken. Stood there just 200 yards as we drove by. Unfortunately, he will not make it through this years season if we see him!!! LOL

THat said, if you get the permit we will find you a mature goat to take home.

Whats the deal with your business title, what happened to Gene Sears Supply? Send me an e-mail and fill me in.
 
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