Matched muzzle brake-weight system for firearms

Abstract

A matched muzzle brake and weight system mountable on a firearm barrel is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the muzzle brake and weight are configured to have the same predetermined weight and center of gravity so that the point of aim of the firearm remains substantially unchanged when a user deploys either the muzzle brake or weight. The system permits convenient interchangeability between the muzzle brake and weight without the need for re-sighting the firearm thereby maintaining accuracy. In some embodiments, the centers of gravity of the muzzle brake and weight are located at the same position with respect to a common reference point defined by the barrel. A method for using the system is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A matched muzzle brake and weight system for a firearm barrel defining a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
 a muzzle weight configured for mounting on a distal muzzle end of the firearm barrel, the muzzle weight having a weight and a generally cylindrical body defining a first axial passageway configured for a bullet Or slug to pass through; and   a muzzle brake configured for mounting on the distal muzzle end of the firearm barrel, the muzzle brake having a weight and a generally cylindrical body defining a second axial passageway configured for a bullet or slug to pass through, the muzzle brake including a plurality of radially oriented venting holes in fluid communication with the second axial passageway for venting combustion gases;   wherein the muzzle weight and muzzle brake each have a respective center of gravity located at an identical point m three dimensions with respect to the firearm barrel to maintain a uniform point of aim for the firearm when either the muzzle weight or brake are interchangeably mounted on the firearm barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight have an identical predetermined weight. 
     
     
         3 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle weight and muzzle brake have the same length. 
     
     
         4 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm barrel defines a common axial reference point, the centers of gravity of the muzzle brake and muzzle weight each being at a same axial distance measured from the common axial reference point. 
     
     
         5 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 4 , wherein when either the muzzle brake or muzzle weight are mounted on the firearm barrel, the centers of gravity of the muzzle brake and muzzle weight are each coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel. 
     
     
         6 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 5 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight have an outside diameter that is the same. 
     
     
         7 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 6 , wherein the muzzle weight has a smaller wall thickness than the muzzle brake. 
     
     
         8 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight are each rotatably mountable on the distal muzzle end of the firearm barrel. 
     
     
         9 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 8 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight include a pair of opposing flats configured to engaged by a tool for mounting the muzzle brake and muzzle weight on the firearm barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm is a rifle. 
     
     
         11 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm barrel includes a rifled bore, the first and second axial passageways being coaxially aligned with the rifle bore when the muzzle brake or muzzle weight are mounted on the firearm barrel. 
     
     
         12 . A matched muzzle brake and weight system for interchangeable mounting on a firearm barrel having a bore and defining a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
 an elongated muzzle weight configured for mounting on a distal muzzle end of the firearm barrel, the muzzle weight having a center of gravity and cylindrical body defining a first axial passageway coaxially aligned with the bore of the firearm barrel when the muzzle weight is mounted on the barrel; and   an elongated muzzle brake configured for mounting on the distal muzzle end of the firearm barrel, the muzzle brake having a center of gravity and cylindrical body defining a second axial passageway coaxially aligned with the bore of the firearm barrel when the muzzle brake is mounted on the barrel, the muzzle brake including a plurality of radially oriented venting holes in fluid communication with the second axial passageway for venting combustion gases;   wherein when either the muzzle weight or muzzle is mounted on the firearm barrel, their respective centers of gravity are located at a same axial position with respect to a common axial reference point defined by the firearm barrel to maintain a consistent point of aim for the firearm when either the muzzle weight or muzzle brake are interchangeably mounted on the barrel.   
     
     
         13 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 12 , wherein when either the muzzle brake or muzzle weight are mounted on the firearm barrel, the centers of gravity of the muzzle brake and muzzle weight are each coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the firearm barrel. 
     
     
         14 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 12 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight each have a weight that is substantially the same. 
     
     
         15 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle weight and muzzle brake each have a predetermined length that is substantially the same. 
     
     
         16 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 15 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight each have an outside diameter that is substantially the same. 
     
     
         17 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 16 , wherein the muzzle brake and muzzle weight each have a sidewall thickness, the sidewall thickness of the muzzle brake being larger than the sidewall thickness of the muzzle weight to provide substantially the same weight of the muzzle brake and muzzle weight. 
     
     
         18 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 12 , wherein the muzzle brake is mounted on the muzzle end of the barrel via a threaded engagement. 
     
     
         19 . The muzzle brake and weight system of  claim 18 , wherein at least some of the venting holes each define a central hole axis that is offset by a distance from a transverse axis defined, by the muzzle brake that intersects the longitudinal axis of the muzzle brake and passes through the at least some of the venting holes to tighten the threaded engagement upon discharging the firearm. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using a matched muzzle brake and weight system for a firearm, the method comprising:
 mounting, the muzzle brake having a cylindrical body and first center of gravity on a muzzle end of a firearm barrel having a bore, the muzzle brake including a plurality of radially oriented venting holes;   coaxially aligning a first axial passageway defined by the muzzle brake with the bore of the firearm barrel;   locating the first center of gravity of the muzzle brake at a first axial distance measured from a common reference point defined by the firearm barrel;   removing the muzzle brake from the barrel;   mounting the muzzle weight having a cylindrical body and a second center of gravity on a muzzle end of a firearm barrel;   coaxially aligning a second axial passageway defined by the muzzle weight with the bore of the firearm barrel; and   locating the second center of gravity of the muzzle weight at the same first axial distance measured from the common reference point defined by the firearm barrel;   wherein a consistent point of aim for the firearm is maintained when either the muzzle weight or muzzle brake are interchangeably mounted on the barrel.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
 coaxially aligning, the first center of gravity of the muzzle brake with a longitudinal axis defining by the bore of the firearm barrel after mounting the muzzle brake on the muzzle end of a firearm barrel; and   and coaxially aligning the second center of gravity of the muzzle weight with the longitudinal axis defined by the bore of the firearm barrel after mounting the muzzle weight on the muzzle end of a firearm barrel.