A muzzle brake apparatus comprises a main body having a central bore and a plurality of peripheral bores about the central bore, the central bore extending a flow path for a projectile from a barrel of a firearm and an exit for the projectile and a brake backing plate coupled to the main body, the brake backing plate constructed and arranged for coupling to a distal end of the barrel of the firearm, the brake backing plate including an air chamber that provides an interior volume for receiving a flow of gas in the flow path of the barrel, wherein the peripheral bores output a first portion of gas from the firearm, and wherein a second portion of the gas is returned to the barrel from the air chamber.