Anything with weight helps. Brakes do a lot to redirect gasses sideways or slightly backwards. In some cases with pistols brakes, gasses are redirected upwards. Brakes usually don’t weigh that much unless you get into larger calibers, though. However, you might be surprised at how much moving a few ounces around can alter how the rifle shoots.
While I can’t say much about machine guns, my bench rest rifle is heavy at about 20lbs and I want to add a few more pounds. The heavier the rifle, the better forces are directed straight back, preventing the rifle from jumping. (That weight is all in the chassis though.)
Brakes change barrel harmonics significantly, so my preference is to keep its weight lower. (I am sold on tunable brakes. Some people aren’t. To each their own.)
Anything with weight helps. Brakes do a lot to redirect gasses sideways or slightly backwards. In some cases with pistols brakes, gasses are redirected upwards. Brakes usually don’t weigh that much unless you get into larger calibers, though. However, you might be surprised at how much moving a few ounces around can alter how the rifle shoots.
While I can’t say much about machine guns, my bench rest rifle is heavy at about 20lbs and I want to add a few more pounds. The heavier the rifle, the better forces are directed straight back, preventing the rifle from jumping. (That weight is all in the chassis though.)
Brakes change barrel harmonics significantly, so my preference is to keep its weight lower. (I am sold on tunable brakes. Some people aren’t. To each their own.)