Vais Muzzle Brake Installation

April 2, 2014 Bill Marr Gunsmithing 0

Vais muzzle brakes provide shooters excellent recoil reduction in a low profile package.  I’ve had them on a number of hunting rifles over the years.  In this article, I’ll be installing a stainless steel Vais varmint brake on a Remington 700 chambered in 22-250 with a varmint contour barrel.  The Vais varmint brake has a .875″ outside diameter.  Brownells carries other models to fit a wide variety of calibers and contours.

I ordered the following parts from Brownells:

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This is the Remington varmint contour barrel and the Vais varmint brake that will be installed on it.
This is the Remington varmint contour barrel and the Vais varmint brake that will be installed on it.
I begin by mounting the barrel through the head stock and dialing in the bore. I am using a range rod and a .0005" indicator followed by a .0001" indicator.
I begin by mounting the barrel through the head stock and dialing in the bore. I am using a range rod and a .0005″ indicator followed by a .0001″ indicator.
The chamber end of the barrel is secured in a spider on the rear of the headstock.
The chamber end of the barrel is secured in a spider on the rear of the headstock.
I used a right hand high-speed steel insert tool to turn a shoulder, .400" long and .625" in diameter. This brake attaches to a 5/8-32 thread.
I used a right-hand high-speed steel insert tool to turn a tenon, .400″ long and .625″ in diameter. This brake attaches to a 5/8-32 thread.
The tenon is coated in Dykem. A high-speed steel insert tool is used to cut the threads.
The tenon is coated in Dykem. A high-speed steel insert tool is used to cut the threads.
With the threads cut, a small relief cut is made in between the threads and the tenon shoulder to allow the brake to tighten up flush against the shoulder.
With the threads cut, a small relief cut is made in between the threads and the tenon shoulder to allow the brake to tighten up flush against the shoulder.
The brake is screwed in place. Note the outside diameter is larger then the end of the barrel.
The brake is screwed in place. Note the outside diameter is larger then the end of the barrel.
With the brake installed, I verify it is aligned with the bore.
With the brake installed, I verify it is aligned with the bore.
Since the bore may not be in concentric to the outside of the barrel, I use an indicator to dial in the outside of the barrel. This ensures the brake will blend with the barrel after its turned.
Since the bore may not be in concentric to the outside of the barrel, I use an indicator to dial in the outside of the barrel. This ensures the brake will blend with the barrel after its turned.
I quick pass on the lathe brings the brake down to the same diameter as the barrel.
One quick pass on the lathe brings the brake down to the same diameter as the barrel.
The brake is polished with 120, 220, 320, 400, 600 and 1,000 grit abrasive cloth lubricated with Viper's Venom cutting oil.
The brake is polished with 120, 220, 320, 400, 600 and 1,000 grit abrasive cloth lubricated with Viper’s Venom cutting oil.
Vais varmint brake installed.
Vais varmint brake installed.

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