Ten Year Of Brakes

By Les Voth - Bix'n Andy USA

Have you been properly “braked”?

Before my introduction to PRS competition I was dead set against brakes. I never owned one. I never even used one until I shot a Thompson Encore in 300 Winchester Magnum with a JP Howitzer Brake installed. That was the extent of my “braking” experience. 

That Howitzer brake proved the effectiveness and usefulness of shooting with a brake, but my shooting comrades that day threatened my wellbeing if I ever shot that thing anywhere near them, again.

It was a very light single shot rifle that never hurt a bit, and it wasn’t even terrible behind the gun when the concussive wave passed me, as a shooter, but if you got outside that small protective space the shooter occupied, the blast was horrendous! I would never shoot something that loud without ear pro, or hunting, so never gave brakes much more thought for a few more years.

Joining the sport of PRS, the need for recoil mitigation became instantly obvious, so I snagged a brake off the prize table at the first opportunity.  I became braked in practice and competition from then on!

I owned some, borrowed, gifted and rejected brakes. Then I got a favorite. It held my rifle down - pretty much kept my reticle centered - which is all you can really ask for, right?

But, then, talk in the industry among shooters began to center around the concussion associated with brakes. It was described that some brakes were more prone to concussing the shooter than others. That’s the truth. I own some of them. Some of them have nasty names on the websites that sell them - and they’re right!

Lately there has been an effort made by brake innovators/manufacturers to protect the shooter. The guy off to the side of the gun gets the same blast as before - sometimes more - but the shooter, the guy actually closest to the blast, is now being considered.

For a few months now I’ve been running Corson Piper’s Demigod Precision brake. This brake was designed originally to be effective as a muzzle brake and recoil mitigator. In this it has succeeded. 

What it has also succeeded at is shielding this shooter from concussion. In the two matches I’ve shot with Corson’s brake since making it a part of my kit, the worst part of my head’s experience has been the tightness/grip of my new AXIL ear muffs clamped to my gourd.

I’ve been able to see my strikes/impacts as close as 300-350 yards, and walk away from matches without a headache, or even “that” tightness in my cranium. That’s a new and welcome experience.

Corson Piper is a top level shooter in the PRS, an innovator and a machinist himself. A few years of ”on the PRS circuit” practical testing has gotten Corson to be able to confidently offer his brake under his DEMIGOD PRECISION name, as practical, helpful, useful and certainly not harmful to the shooter.

I have a new favorite. From seeing impacts at close range, to not getting my bell rung, with Corson Piper’s DEMIGOD PRECISION muzzle brake - I am properly braked.