PTRS 14.5mm A/T rifle: Muzzle brake question?

**Adrian Stevenson** · 09-19-2013, 11:05 AM

Hi Guys, as most of you know, I own a PTRS. They are quite rare to find.

Earlier this year I saw one in the Resistance Museum in Warsaw, Poland. It had a muzzle brake which differed from the usual circular design and was very similar to that found on the PTRD bolt action A/T rifle. I initially wondered if this was some kind of post war mod done by the Poles?????

However, this week I encountered another PTRS with this same design of muzzle brake. It was in the collection of the MoD here in the UK. Much of the kit they hold are WW2 bringbacks. It now makes me wonder about the origins of this version. Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Cheers, Ade.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 09-19-2013, 11:07 AM

This is the usual version encountered.

**KriegMann** · 09-19-2013, 11:27 AM

My guess is that it is a late war mod because by the looks of it the PTRD break looks to use less material. That and it almost looks cruder. I'm no expert on these but that's just what my guess is.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 09-19-2013, 11:29 AM

That is fair comment and something that had crossed my mind too. The gun I photographed was 44 dated.

Cheers, Ade.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 09-19-2013, 11:59 AM

Just found a pic of one with this muzzle brake in the Patton Musuem.

Here is another in a rather nice bit of film:

Russian PTRS 14.5mm anti tank rifle - YouTube

**Adrian Stevenson** · 09-19-2013, 12:30 PM

Documentary Film in Russian. This one has the "conventional" muzzle brake :

ÐÑ€ÑÐµÐ½Ð°Ð» ÐŸÐ¢Ð*Ð¡ - YouTube

**big ned** · 09-19-2013, 12:45 PM

I agree with KreigMann, it's far easier to fabricate a few pieces of sheet metal and weld them together than machine a muzzle brake from a steel billet. One job is semi skilled whilst the other is skilled. At that stage of the war expediancy was a much required solution to production quota's.

Regards, Ned.

**Gunny Hartmann** · 09-19-2013, 01:04 PM

by big ned

I agree with KreigMann, it's far easier to fabricate a few pieces of sheet metal and weld them together than machine a muzzle brake from a steel billet. One job is semi skilled whilst the other is skilled. At that stage of the war expediancy was a much required solution to production quota's.

Regards, Ned.

Sounds logical!.....