Model 41 muzzle break found, need help

[Jebus35745]

Have a barrel with no muzzle break and currently have a WTB add looking for a factory muzzle break. Is there any other options with aftermarket muzzle breaks, I know they are threaded. My barrel is drilled and taped so not destroying a mint barrel. See a lot of muzzle breaks on eBay that may look cool on the barrel. Anyone go a different direction with a muzzle break? Larry

 

[xb40]

Check eBay, there was a 41 muzzle brake on there a while ago. Not sure now.

 

[USBP SW]

I don't recall that the model 41 muzzle brake was threaded, I seem to remember that it slid over the barrel extension and was attached with a small screw. The older model 41's also had an aluminum piece that covered the barrel extension and was also attached with the small screw.

 

[Drm50]

Yes, brake not threaded it is held on by the same screw that holds muzzle cap on the old 7 3/8” barrel. There is not enough barrel to thread if you wanted to. I have 3 with brakes and 2 without and I can’t see any difference of any kind. Suppose to help muzzle flip during rapid fire events.

 

[T44spl]

Larry, I have to ask did your model 41 originally have a muzzle brake and it was removed at some time in the past? I only ask because the muzzle brake feature was eliminated in 1979? when the model 41 was standardizd to the 5 1/2" heavy barrel or the 7" without the muzzle brake.
I Don't know if the post 1979 model 41 guns with the 7" barrel will accomodate the muzzle brake. These barrels may Not be drilled & tap to take the attachment screw for the brake. Btw in your other WTB post,
you state that you are looking for a brake, first make sure that your barrel will accomodate the brake. The brakes come up on ebay from time to time, they average about $150 and may or may Not come with the screw. I didn't want to get censored for banter by supplying that bit of information. So being that they are related posts I'm responding here to help you. Good Luck

 

[walter o]

wHAT EVER HAPPENED TO mR.bECKWITH >? HE WAS THE GO TO PERSON ON MODEL 41 .i THHINK THAT THEIR WAS SOME SHOP THAT MADE AND SOLD THAT PART.I was lucky and found a member that had one from a gun he had sold it fits fine on mine.

 

[Mike0251]

My 1965 brake/cap slide on and attach with a screw that screws into the counterweight. The counterweights shown are either aluminum or steel based on what you want to install. They are the piece that has the threaded hole for the screw, not the barrel. So without one of counterweights installed there would be no way to secure the brake or cap.

 

[Tom S.]

My 1965 brake/cap slide on and attach with a screw that screws into the counterweight. The counterweights shown are either aluminum or steel based on what you want to install. They are the piece that has the threaded hole for the screw, not the barrel. So without one of counterweights installed there would be no way to secure the brake or cap.

The counterweight is pretty simple. It's 3/8" in diameter with 3/8" NF threads on one end and a drilled and tapped hole on the other end with a slot cut across the face to use a screwdriver to install/remove the weight. If needed, one could make one or have one made pretty easily.

 

[diyj98]

I have 3 with brakes and 2 without and I can’t see any difference of any kind. Suppose to help muzzle flip during rapid fire events.

The only difference I found was the extra step in sometimes cleaning the brake.

 

[Pisgah]

If you really want a muzzle break, bring it over to my shop and I'll put it in a vise and beat it with a hammer...

 

[Jebus35745]

I bought the barrel in the classified by itself, have no idea of its history. My 41 has a 5” heavy bbl. Just wanted to finish off the end of the barrel and I like the looks of the muzzle break. Was curious if the aftermarket breaks could somehow be made to be mounted on my bbl. The aftermarket market breaks are threaded and the end of the barrel isn’t. Larry

 

[chief38]

Forgive me (up front) for even asking this, but after owning a M41 since 1979 I am wondering why one would need a muzzle break on a heavy .22 pistol?

I understand that some like extra weight - while I personally do not, I can accept that from those who do. But a muzzle break??? Seriously, am I missing something? I will fully admit I have never shot a M41 with a muzzle break, so quite possibly could be in the dark on this one.

 

[Tom S.]

Forgive me (up front) for even asking this, but after owning a M41 since 1979 I am wondering why one would need a muzzle break on a heavy .22 pistol?

I understand that some like extra weight - while I personally do not, I can accept that from those who do. But a muzzle break??? Seriously, am I missing something? I will fully admit I have never shot a M41 with a muzzle break, so quite possibly could be in the dark on this one.

Gil Hebard did a test on the Model 41 muzzle brakes decades ago and found they actually had a negative impact on accuracy. Still, they do have a certain "cool" factor.

 

[WR Moore]

Back in the last century I looked at factory .22 muzzle brakes from a couple of sources. High Standard and another I can't recall. The picture of the S&W brake looks like a higher quality item.

Since the brake becomes the new muzzle, I can believe they might badly affect accuracy unless closely fit to the barrel. The HS unit had a bullet opening much larger than it needed to be and very much larger than the port. I'd expect it had minimal ability to limit muzzle rise. It did appear to be mostly for the cool factor. The size of the ports in the brake for the model 41 are grossly oversize for the amount and pressure of the gas for a .22 lr. Mind games?

 

[rockquarry]

The only difference I found was the extra step in sometimes cleaning the brake.

Best answer. I had an early 41 with a brake. Tried to find a difference with or without; never did so I ended up leaving it off.

 

[Jebus35745]

Chief, at the end of the 41 barrel is a round shank the break fits on. I just want to finish off the muzzle if the muzzle break works or not. It doesn’t add weight, it’s aluminum. Larry

 

[gmborkovic]

Tom S, nice to see someone remembers Gil. He always had a great annual catalog and was always a delight to deal with. Lots of great info.

 

[rockquarry]

Tom S, nice to see someone remembers Gil. He always had a great annual catalog and was always a delight to deal with. Lots of great info.

Still have his book "Pistol Shooter's Treasury". Much useful and factual information.

 

[Jebus35745]

Got a call from someone coming to the NE Ohio Bunch September 7th. Has the muzzle break, cover, weight and screw. Amazing how things come together once in a while. Thanks Bill, Larry

The barrel I have has a weight installed, took it out to make sure it was removable.

 

[Jebus35745]

Got the muzzle break at the NE Ohio Bunch today. Went to install it and it was hard to push on. It’s a very tight fit and didn’t want to force it all the way flush with the end of the barrel. Removing it would have been impossible. Should they be so tight sliding on, what can I do to make it easier to install and remove? Larry