Muzzle Brake Question

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’m finshing a Marder IIIM and have started building an M18 Hellcat. I see pictures of the M18 both with and without the Muzzle brake. I have 4 M18 model kits, so will probably build them both ways. From what I’ve read, the muzzle brake was a design enhancement that dispersed the smoke/blast effects to the sides and reduced recoil impact. Was there ultimately a determination that the muzzle brake was not effective, or that there was an unwanted side-effect produced? I ask because it looks like the muzzle brake was eventually phased out. Or was it replaced by a more effective device that is not visible from the outside of the barrel?

Thanks a bunch,

Larry

2

A lot depends on the type of ammo being used. I’m not sure if that is the case with the M18, buit it is a factor. The higher velocity the ammo, the more need for a muzzle brake to dissipate recoil. Dispersing the smoke is not really a factor, but an added side effect or benefit of the muzzle brake.

3

I may have usefull information for you, check your e-mail.

4

Wouldn’t a discarding sabot get hung up on a brake? That’s what I had figure the reasoning was. You’ll not that artillery still uses muzzle brakes.

5

It is a factor for modern tanks, but the M18 didn’t use Sabot ammo, it wasn’t even around then. That is one reason the Abrams, and most other modern tanks don’t use them. Also, recoil systems have been much improved since WWII.

6

Generally, a muzzle brake is used to help with the recoil, it deflecs sideways or rearward some of the high pressured gases. If your recoil is weaker with a muzzle brake, you can use more powerfull ammo without changing too much of the gun basic structure.

J-M

7

That was what I was getting at. I knew that the brake, which is also called a blast deflector, helped with the recoil. I was asking about modern tanks, I should have been more specific.

8

I see photos of 76mm shermans with and without the muzzle break. All the photos of M26s I see have muzzle breaks. So the need to/ no need to have a muzzle break probably occured about the performance level of the 76 mm gun. Greg.

9

The 90mm came well after the 76mm. By the time we see the 90mm being fielded in M36s, M18s and M4A1,3(76) were getting muzzle brakes. It was just a performance improvement like any other development that occurs over time. The brakeless M4s and M18s are usually of earlier production.