My experience has been good with the BattleComp, but it's not a typical brake. I didn't buy it to reduce recoil. I bought it to control muzzle rise, which is what slows your followup shots. Typical brakes are loud, especially to the folks standing next to the shooter. The BC is a little louder, but not by much. I didn't really feel a major reduction in recoil when I started shooting it, but the muzzle tends to stay put.
I have two carbines with the same barrel that are essentially the same weight. One has the BC, and one has an A2 flash hider. A few weeks ago, I took a buddy to the range with both rifles and a buttload of ammo in loaded mags. We grabbed a couple of lanes at Stones River. Except for a couple of cool-down periods, we shot continuously until we ran out. We swapped rifles a couple of times during the session.
All that to say that I have a good feel for what the BattleComp does vs a stock rifle. It really does reduce recoil, and does the muzzle control function VERY well. I tend to step away from the firing line when somebody in the next lane is using a brake. I didn't have a problem shooting next to the BC.
I know it's about the most expensive muzzle device out there. If I decide to put a compensator on my other rifle, it will be another BC.