MUZZLE BRAKES!

[antelopedundee]

Do they affect accuracy if put on a rifle where their use could be justified? If so then by about how much normally?

I suppose I could Google it, but I'd prefer to ask those who have direct experience with them.

 

[The boogalorian]

Check this out. Interesting read.

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/08/21/muzzle-brake-summary-of-field-test-results/

 

[antelopedundee]

I didn't see anything where he compared group size with and without the brake attached. I'm asking merely because someone on another forum made a blanket statement that they reduce accuracy.

 

[300_whisper]

I didn't see anything where he compared group size with and without the brake attached. I'm asking merely because someone on another forum made a blanket statement that they reduce accuracy.

They may change point of impact a little but not accuracy. I have shot my guns braked and unbraked with a small shift in POI. Nothing happened to group size. It’s a simple experiment tell the guy making the claim to do one.

 

[D-4297]

Simply put ; any time you attach ANYTHING to your barrel , it will have some effect on accuracy . How much depends on the size and weight . Attaching a mirage deflector , as light as they are has a effect on changing POI . It changes the barrel harmonics . And usually requires a adjustment on a re-zero of your scope . Generally not a major change .

 

[Steve Donlon]

I have tunable muzzle brakes on all my target rifles that are attached with threads and pinch bolts. I have been using Bartlien T-twist barrels and I find that if I mount the brake about 3 degrees to the right it shoots better. If I go to the left, I notice a drop in accuracy. This system also seemed evident is strait twist barrels as well. It just fine tunes it.

 

[Mark W]

I didn't see anything where he compared group size with and without the brake attached. I'm asking merely because someone on another forum made a blanket statement that they reduce accuracy.

Someone on the other forum is definitely wrong. Like others here said, it could help and it could hurt.

If you work up a load without a brake and then add one it could definitely shoot worse, but that could also work the other way.

I know from experience that a loose muzzle brake will have you chasing your tail!!

 

[FeMan]

As stated, it almost always changes the POI. In rifles where adding a brake has opened up my groups (a rarity), I have always been able to tweak the load and tune them to shoot as well with the brake as without.

 

[Rob01]

Yup the advantages outweigh any slight change in accuracy that can be adjusted for anyways. I have shot rifle without a brake and then added one and they shot just as accurately but a small POI shift. Have changed brakes and got the same. Don't stress it.

 

[AckleymanII]

I have several different kinds of muzzle breaks. All barrels shoot tiny holes with a tremendous increase in the pleasure of shooting the rifle due to less recoil. More pleasure equals smaller groups, as a rule.

Get a brake of your choice, work up loads, expect small groups, expect more joy from shooting. Wear good ear muffs.

 

[Ken]

I used Muzzle Brakes on all my rifles while shooting prairie dogs for years. I couldn't see any reduction in accuracy. I worked up loads with the brake. I liked the recoil reduction/stay on target aspect of them. I now use suppressors and am totally satisfied.

 

[Deleted outa08]

Do they affect accuracy if put on a rifle where their use could be justified? If so then by about how much normally?

I suppose I could Google it, but I'd prefer to ask those who have direct experience with them.

I have two brakes from Witt Machine. One clamp on for a HB 700 rem. in .308. The other is a brake for a AR in 5.56. Both work great and have not seen a decrease in accuracy or POI. Nice reduction in both, both are loud so muff up. AR is like shooting a .22lr. Ahhh. Jeff

 

[msinc]

I didn't see anything where he compared group size with and without the brake attached. I'm asking merely because someone on another forum made a blanket statement that they reduce accuracy.

I don't believe a "blanket statement" that they reduce accuracy is fair. By and of itself, a brake does not reduce accuracy, unless it's flopping around lose on the muzzle or grossly overtightened. In fact, I have tried many brakes and compensators {same thing} and found none of them mechanically reduced accuracy at all. I will say that for me they reduce "shoot-ability".
By that I mean I shoot less accurately {not the rifle} because I just personally cannot get used to the extra loud noise, back blast and puff of gas in my face. Some guys have no problem, others don't like every time they pull the trigger your off eye is getting a glaucoma test and causing a flinch.
Suggest before you invest in one you find someone that has a "braked" rifle and try it. I can definitely see someone saying they like a suppressor...no blast and no back gas, but that is a different animal.

 

[kimbergoldmatch]

I put a factory brake on my Sako TRG 22, I had to dial an extra 1-3/4 MOA in elevation but it not did affect windage or accuracy.

 

[Outrider27]

A humorous addition to the info above; I have one braked rifle, an obvious candidate, a 338 Lapua Mag. Recoil is on the low side, no more than a 10-11 pound 308 Win being fed 150gr loads. Very accurate, especially at longer ranges, but I swear that a 155mm howitzer makes less noise.

 

[4xforfun]

POI change.......yes. It also will change your tune. If you shoot your BBL both with and without the break you may need to have 2 seperate loads. Of course...that depends on what you are using it for.

 

[Mike 243]

I'm saying they don't effect accuracy. A large percentage of 1000 yard benchrest shooters run a muzzle break.

 

[4xforfun]

I'm saying they don't effect accuracy. A large percentage of 1000 yard benchrest shooters run a muzzle break.

The way the OP reads to me is that he wants to put a break on an existing tube. In that case, he will need to re tune. Adding a break will 100% affect the accuracy of a proven load....It may get better....it may get worse...until you re tune. I personally believe that the accuracy of the SHOOTER will get better through better recoil control with a break. I run them on all of my 1K equipment except for my 85 pound heavy gun.

Tod

 

[Mike 243]

The way the OP reads to me is that he wants to put a break on an existing tube. In that case, he will need to re tune. Adding a break will 100% affect the accuracy of a proven load....It may get better....it may get worse...until you re tune. I personally believe that the accuracy of the SHOOTER will get better through better recoil control with a break. I run them on all of my 1K equipment except for my 85 pound heavy gun.

Tod

The post doesn't say anything about installing a break on an existing barrel to me.

 

[Siko12]

If installed incorrectly 100% it will affect the accuracy. If the design of the brake is good and installed correctly then no it won't affect your accuracy.