• Recoil reduction (rearward force)
• Muzzle rise reduction (vertical force)
• Increase in noise
• Downward blast (very important for prone shooters)

I compared the performance of the Axelson ROC brake to that of a bare muzzle, first with all allen screws still installed then with all removed.  With all screws still in, I was able to feel a significant reduction in recoil, though muzzle rise remained unchanged.  Sure, the rifle was a bit louder and had a sharper bark, but that was outweighed by the reduced recoil and lessened concussive effect.  Once I removed all allen screws, there were 10 more vents for gas to escape upwards, pushing the muzzle back down: muzzle rise had indeed been reduced, allowing me a better look at the impact of my rounds when I had the scope’s magnification dialed up a bit.  The side vents on the ROC brake had little-to-no downward component, so I can’t say I noticed any significant dust kick up from the ground.

While the ROC competition brake did a pretty good job of taming this Ar-10 a bit, I can imagine it being exponentially more effective on smaller calibers.  I can see it being a little too effective with all ports open, which is why having the ability to tune the brake to fit your rifles blast impulse is such a luxury, and of such importance to competitors.  One can easily see why a competition shooter would opt for a brake like this, reducing recoil and speeding up the shooter’s ability to make rapid follow-up shots.  If you’re in the market for a solid muzzle brake, the folks at Axelson have made a product worth checking out.  The ROC competition brake retails for $149.95.

This article was originally published on the Loadout Room and written by Rex Nanorum