Can I get some opinions on Muzzle brakes in a competition..

[mikeinct]

Presently at our long range rifle club we allow the use of radial style muzzle brakes,unrestricted during benchrest match competition.. any caliber up to & including the 338LM..The side/top venting & or clamp on styles are dealt with on an individual basis..Their use is "Discouraged" by some competitors...I was tasked this W/E with formalizing a set of rules for all to vote on & abide by...I would like to keep all on the range happy..So I'm asking you guys to let me have your suggestions to a set of rules all/most can be happy with..Please "fire away" [grin] I'll keep looking in on this thread for suggestions...Thank You, Mike in Ct

 

[Sniper338]

Im suprised you havent got any replies yet. Most guy will say no because it sends muzzle blast back towards the guys on either side of you. And getting hit with muzzle blast gives me a head acke fast.

Easiest compromise is the radial kind though, and not the side discharge only IMO. Depends how close the benches are together too..

In the end its easiest to use standard set benchrest rules with none allowed.

A suppressor on the other hand reduces recoil and doesnt have muzzle blast back towards shooters.. Id be 100% for suppressors used in competitions, doesnt bother anyone else one bit and is easier on everyones ears and reduces recoil, its all win win there..

Jmo...

 

[BT1]

Im suprised you havent got any replies yet. Most guy will say no because it sends muzzle blast back towards the guys on either side of you. And getting hit with muzzle blast gives me a head acke fast.

Easiest compromise is the radial kind though, and not the side discharge only IMO. Depends how close the benches are together too..

In the end its easiest to use standard set benchrest rules with none allowed.

A suppressor on the other hand reduces recoil and doesnt have muzzle blast back towards shooters.. Id be 100% for suppressors used in competitions, doesnt bother anyone else one bit and is easier on everyones ears and reduces recoil, its all win win there..

Jmo...

Very well stated. We even allow 50 cals with the rearward brakes on the main line, although starting to discourage them. I would be all for mandatory suppressors! I know that is a bit harsh, but it would make for a much better environment especially for new shooters and spectators.

Steve

 

[Alex Wheeler]

IBS rules allow muzzle breaks so long as the ports are perpendicular to the bore. The can not have back rake to them. Real simple, if your shooting Benchrest, make the guys follow Benchrest rules. That also takes the heat off the club if anyone gets upset. It is the competitors responsibility to understand and follow the rules, not the club's to bend them. Always amazed me when a guy would get upset when he showed up with illegal equipment as if somehow it was the clubs fault.

 

[AckleymanII]

" Always amazed me when a guy would get upset when he showed up with illegal equipment as if somehow it was the clubs fault"= ADULT CHILDREN

 

[Dgd6mm]

I get the understanding that this is an informal br match, I could be wrong.
If you have enough benches allow a bench or two between the different style brakes.
Or run separate relays for the different brakes.


Don Dunlap

 

[mikecockcroft]

At Pine Valley I installed plywood baffles between the benches that are angled and shaped like ^ The widest part is fastened to the bench on either side so the blast does not hit the other benches on each side of braked rifle.
Took two pieces of plywood and put two hinges between them so they fold up if I want to take then down and lay them flat for storage. open them up between the benches and they will stand there on their own but I fasten then to a small eye bolt that is screwed into the bottom of the concrete top. very simple and not very expensive.

 

[chkunz]

What about putting competitors with muzzle brakes on one relay and those without them on a separate relay?

Edit: I think this is what Don is recommending in reply #6 above.

 

[Nowhere Man]

It's the "Nazi MD's" fault for not allowing a shooter to make his own rules.

 

[Judd]

I don't like recoil, plain and simple. I build my guns as heavy as I can and I muzzle brake them all. No side port, only radial. I've never had anyone complain but the side port brakes are just plain obnoxious and not meant for bench type shooting.

 

[dcali]

Personally, I don't like them. Our hearing is under enough battering as it is. But Alex is right. Save yourself some headaches and pick a rule book. Match directors already catch more crap than they ought to over little things.

 

[mikecockcroft]

One thing I have learned since building my range is no matter how hard you try to have the best match possible someone's not going to be happy. Used to bother me but I have learned to just do my best and move forward. You are working with lots of individuals and they all have a different take on how it should be. Just do your best and try not to take anything to personal like I did when I got started. You can't make everyone happy when you start forming rules.

 

[DennisPA]

Mike and I shoot together and part of the problem is the layout of our range. Our firing line is so long that some of the benches are angled to the next bench. So even with side discharge or radials I was blasting the guy next to me. To the point I was blowing stuff off their bench.
But I've been on the receiving end too. I had a couple matches next to a side discharge that was throwing something out and hitting me. The only thing I can figure is was built up carbon on the brake.
The last thing I would want to do is discourage a new shooter because of the equipment they had. If I had may way I would say run what you got! But if you have any type of brake use some type of clamped plywood blast panel provided by the range because of our odd layout.
Id be glad to design and build something that would work on our benches.

 

[mikeinct]

Consider yourself volunteered..I ran that blast shield idea by a few of the old dudes..It is sounding better every time I hear it ...Thanks Denny...ML

 

[hauserjj]

Consider yourself volunteered..I ran that blast shield idea by a few of the old dudes..It is sounding better every time I hear it ...Thanks Denny...ML

I kinda like the idea of not creating a new rule book. Use existing IBS rules; at least as a starting point.
I also like the idea of Denny (using only DeWalt tools) building and bringing a few blast shields to be set up as needed. He probably has Dewalt interns he could assign to the job. Even make a neat TV commercial outta this project.

 

[M14AMU]

I like the idea of going back to 'sling and elbow' and NRA HP Match Rifle Rules! That way we can get the 'youngsters' eyeballs out of scopes and teach them how to use aperture sights!!

 

[chardog]

Every time I have to shoot next to someone with a muzzle brake, I want to drag out my AR-30 .338 Lapua Mag. and retaliate. Then they will Know what a pain they are! I don't shoot it around anyone as it will take the paint off stuff.