AK 47 MUZZLE BRAKE-COMPENSATOR AND ITS PURPOSE

AK 47 Muzzle Brake compensator (DTC) - a special device for reducing the impact of fire- arms , using the kinetic energy of the propellant gases that exit from the barrel behind the bullet or projectile fired. In addition to reducing the level of recoil when fired (at the level of 25 to 75 percent, depending on the design), the muzzle brake-compensator reduces the toss of the barrel of the weapon, leaving it on the line of sight, which reduces the time required to produce the next shot. Today, such devices are widely used in artillery and small arms, mainly in automatic weapons. Click here for more information about muzzle brake.

The AK 47 muzzle brake was known even before the start of World War II, but it was during the war years and after its end that this device became most widespread. Initially, DTKs were used in artillery, but with the development and widespread distribution of automatic small arms, they began to be used on small-caliber weapons. Today, almost all modern machine guns and assault rifles are equipped with a muzzle brake-compensator by default. DTK redirects powder gases and really reduces the recoil and toss of the barrel of the weapon when firing. They are in demand not only in models of military weapons, but also in civilian models used by sports shooters. At the same time, by changing the direction of movement of the powder gases, the DTK can amplify the sound of a shot that the shooter or artillery crew hears. Wherein, the more effective the device, the louder the sound of the shot. For athletes, this is not a particular problem, they usually use headphones, but in the army, personal hearing protection is more of a luxury. Therefore, very often, the designers of army small arms deliberately limit the effectiveness of the DTK.

The AK 47muzzle brakes existing today use the energy of some of the powder gases that come out of the bore following the fired bullet. Muzzle gas devices are more advantageous in terms of energy, they do not worsen the ballistics of the weapon, in addition, they are distinguished by high reliability and simplicity of the device. The efficiency of using such devices depends to a significant extent on the speed, quantity and direction of movement of the backward propellant gases. At the same time, an increase in the efficiency of their work is usually accompanied by a strong effect of powder gases on the shooter or installation, making it difficult to aim, as well as on the ground, which provokes unmasking due to the formation of dust that rises with powder gases.

All muzzle brakes can be divided into three main groups according to their effect on the weapon:

- axial muzzle brakes, they provide a reduction in the recoil energy of the weapon or the barrel only in the longitudinal direction;

- muzzle brakes of lateral action, they provide the effect of a lateral force directed perpendicular to the axis of the barrel bore. Such muzzle brakes are often also called compensators, they are usually used in handguns, in which an overturning moment can occur, deflecting the axis of the bore in the lateral direction;

- muzzle brakes of combined action, they provide both a decrease in the recoil force in the longitudinal direction and the creation of a lateral force that compensates for the overturning moment of a firearm. Such muzzle brakes are called compensator brakes. They are used primarily in modern small arms.

According to their principle of action, muzzle brakes are divided into models of active action, reactive action and active-reactive action.

Active AK 47 muzzle brakes use the impact of a gas jet coming out of the barrel bore on the surface that is attached to the barrel of the weapon. Such a blow forms an impulse of force directed against the action of the weapon's recoil, thereby reducing the recoil energy of the entire system.