Testing the Halbek Device

The Halbek Device was an interesting clamp-on muzzle brake designed by two Rhodesians, Douglas Hall and Marthinus Bekker. It was patented in Rhodesia in 1977 and in the US in 1980, and manufactured in small numbers for the Rhodesian military. I have seen these occasionally, and doubt they are actually very effective. But during a filming trip to South Africa I had a chance to actually try one on a select-fire R1 FAL, complete with high speed camera to find out for sure. So, let’s see what they really do…

10 Comments

  1. When Red Army was looking for new sub-machine gun (it will be PPS) commission after examining delivered sub-machine gun designs noticed that
    Presence of compensator itself do not solve problem of increasing accuracy, when other factor as counterproductive, overly strong compensator might actually lower accuracy, as shown by АртАк 1 обр
    from https://warspot.ru/3300-neizvestnye-soperniki-ppsh

  2. The M14 had a very similar device that slipped over the flash hider and was retained via the bayonet lug. It definitely has a noticeable effect in semi auto.

  3. It appeared the conjunction of the (surprisingly effective) device and Ian’s full-auto technique combined to lead to the muzzle dipping. I expect that given sufficient practice with the device it’s likely the technique would alter to allow for it, with less need overall to physically hold the muzzle down. I was also surprised with what I saw in the video. Muzzle devices don’t seem to generally have such noticable effects, apart from blast 🙂 Good stuff. Thanks.

  4. “The M14 had a very similar device that slipped over the flash hider and was retained via the bayonet lug. Really….25 years on active duty and I never heard of it – you sure it wasn’t a silencer or the grenade launcher ? Here’s the GL https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=441BFCD359CA1B11CC4FF05F9F768A2572070F92&thid=OIP.UfjIbaszlUuKT-SyhOU-RwHaEE&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bevfitchett.us%2Fm14-m14a1-rifle-marksmanship%2Fimages%2F3186_83_74-beretta-silencer.jpg&exph=501&expw=911&q=m14+grenade+launcher&selectedindex=28&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0,1,2

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