Brake or Suppressor?

[long40shot]

I've been doing some reading about the question in going to ask and I haven't found a real one way or the other answer. So I thought I'd ask all of you the following question. When shooting long range for accuracy and repeatability, is there a case made for either using a muzzle brake instead of a suppressor, or vise versa? Specifically, I will be running a 300prc, about a 11 pound gun for shooting steel at 1000yds +. Am i losing any accuracy with running a suppressor compared to a brake? One thing that i know of is the first round's POI out of the suppressor is different than the others when shooting a group. Now, having said that, I can document the difference and make adjustments for it. Not a big deal at 100yds, but an 1" difference at 100yds is going to be 10" at a 1000yds and so on. Or am I just putting to much thought into this whole exercise?

Thank you
Matt

 

[dantiff2]

Muzzle brakes are more effective at reducing recoil and the recoil impulse is better, more controllable with a brake vs a suppressor. That being said, you can use either. You be the judge what works best for you. I do not like to target shoot with my suppressor on because after just a few shots, the heat mirage coming off my can is unimaginable, and takes forever to dissipate. Also, the recoil impulse is lowered with a suppressor vs none at all- but the impulse is longer and I get a lot of torque in my guns while shooting suppressed. I use my suppressors solely for hunting and subsonic shooting nowadays

 

[60723]

Accuracy should not degrade with a brake or suppressor but zero will change with either. 3 separate guys local have destroyed suppressors shooting the 300 PRC. No details on suppressor type.

 

[Clancy]

Why is your first shot 1” off at 100 yards? Hint….. it’s not the suppressor.

 

[long40shot]

Why is your first shot 1” off at 100 yards? Hint….. it’s not the suppressor.

What makes you say that?

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you are shooting out of a clean barrel, there is usually a pretty good difference in velocity and POI than subsequent shots after the barrel is fouled.

Depending on your accuracy expectations, it might not be enough to worry about. Only you can decide that.

 

[Clancy]

What makes you say that?

Several hundred cold bore groups with 7 different suppressors by 3 manufacturers on 4 different chamberings and I’ve never seen that- nor do I know anyone who has.

Sounds more like a carbon barrel’s behavior.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

In my Family we have, 4 PVA, Jet Blast or, Back Country Brakes on Our Hunting / Steel Practice, Rifles and have experienced NO,.. "Cold Bore", POI,. "Shifting".
We are getting group's from, the Low 3's to, 1/2 MOA in, 6.5 Creed / 6.5 PRC, .270 WSM, and 7mm PRC.
2 Barrel's are, 24" Factory Tikka's, 2 Barrel's ARE, 24" CF Sendero, Proof's. ( we LOVE, the Max,.. Velocities ! )
The PVA Brakes "Direct", the Concussion / Blast, AWAY from, the Shooter,.. Better than, ANY brake that, we've tried and only, some GOOD Ear Plug's, are needed.

 

[long40shot]

Several hundred cold bore groups with 7 different suppressors by 3 manufacturers on 4 different chamberings and I’ve never seen that- nor do I know anyone who has.

Sounds more like a carbon barrel’s behavior.

Well shoot. It's a new barrel, maybe it's settling in or maybe it's just me all together. I have it in my head that the cold bore shot on my suppressed guns is a little low and left. I will pay more attention to that on my next range trip. So I guess back to the original question, brake or can?

Thanks
Matt

 

[Clancy]

Well shoot. It's a new barrel, maybe it's settling in or maybe it's just me all together. I have it in my head that the cold bore shot on my suppressed guns is a little low and left. I will pay more attention to that on my next range trip. So I guess back to the original question, brake or can?

Thanks
Matt

Soooo much easier to shoot with a suppressor.

More recoil, sure, but the guns are so much more “shootable.”

 

[kyotekiller25]

I prefer brakes if you want maximum recoil reduction and shootability, or shoot more than 3 shot strings. The only negative of a brake is noise. Suppressors are heavy, bulky, ugly, expensive, put off a lot of heat/mirage, and less loud.

Yes guns are loud, brakes are louder, we all know this. That's why they make ear protection. And by the way, you still need ear protection with suppressors. It's not like the movies...

 

[dantiff2]

I prefer brakes if you want maximum recoil reduction and shootability, or shoot more than 3 shot strings. The only negative of a brake is noise. Suppressors are heavy, bulky, ugly, expensive, put off a lot of heat/mirage, and less loud.

Yes guns are loud, brakes are louder, we all know this. That's why they make ear protection. And by the way, you still need ear protection with suppressors. It's not like the movies...

Learned a long time ago to put plugs in under my ear muffs. A 50 BMG will get you quick if you only choose one of the two agree, still need ear pro, even with suppressors.

 

[Quant]

There suppressors with brakes on them too. I have a TBAC RR Magnus on a 300 Win mag. I would compare the recoil reduction to that of an old school radial brake vs a bare muzzle. The repeatability is excellent…no zero shifts or cold bore fliers. My targets say my guns are more accurate suppressed, but it’s probably more true that I just shoot better without the concussion of a brake.

The mirage is annoying, but I can usually shoot a five shot string using a good suppressor cover before having to let it cool down.

 

[BuffaloBill]

Somewhere on this forum I recall reading about accumulation of soot & carbon build-up on a brake affecting harmonics, etc. I’d think a suppressor would be capturing much more debris magnifying that effect?

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Only negative with a suppressor is that they heat up after longer strings especially with magnums and then the mirage coming off the can is a real pain, you can "manage" it with all the different suppressor covers but its still there and especially in high power scopes its a pain

As mentioned before if your losing accuracy with a suppressor on its not the suppressor by itself

 

[NF1E]

Don't shoot any long distances anymore, but I use suppressors most of the time. A tool worth having.
Whatta Hobby!

 

[moondog]

Really, only you can decide. On my 300PRC I've shot it both ways. One barrel shot significantly better with a Brake. Others have shot better suppresed. And not always the same suppressor. I've played musical cans with other calibers and found this to be true. I'm convinced it's just a harmonics thing. I actually prefer shooting bigger calibers with a Brake as they offer better/different recoil reduction. My cans are all TBAC anywhere from Ultra 7 up to 338.

 

[Dave Zander]

I shoot 6 bra and 223 out to 1000 yards in monthly competitions . Use a thunderbeast ultra 7 always. Load development done with suppressor also. Shoot prone. Wish everyone shot suppressed.