What claim is often made about muzzle brakes?

Muzzle brakes are devices attached to the muzzle of a firearm that redirect propellant gases when the bullet is fired. The primary purpose of a muzzle brake is to manage the recoil experienced by the shooter. When gases are redirected, they create a counteracting force, which reduces the felt recoil significantly, often cited in the range of 75-80%. This reduction in felt recoil allows shooters to maintain better control of their firearms, improving overall shooting performance, particularly during rapid firing or when returning to target quickly.

Other claims related to muzzle brakes, such as improving accuracy or reducing noise, are less consistent or are misattributed benefits. While some might experience improved accuracy as a secondary effect of reduced recoil, the primary function is recoil reduction. Noise levels can also be affected, but rather than decreasing significantly, some muzzle brakes can actually increase the perceived noise to the shooter and those nearby due to the nature of gas expansion and redirection. Similarly, muzzle brakes do not influence the trigger mechanism, thus not contributing to a smoother trigger pull.