Can muzzle brakes alter the barrel accuracy?

[Lefty Trigger]

I have never shot a rifle with a muzzle break till I bought this 6br barrel and it came with one. Was told to remove it and try shooting without it as some of them can really mess with the blast at the barrel crown and screw up accuracy. Every rifle I own has a 11 degree target crown and no break, so now this has me thinking...

 

[Nightraider]

Yes, but it's only a tune away, it doesn't change it permanently unless there are other underlying issues. ... it's about a requirement to double check your powder node and seating depth after adding one. Assuming everything is going to be the same is a bad idea.

 

[BRGUY]

I own 36 rifles and 18 hunting handguns, and every one of them have a muzzle brake on them!

I do not shoot competition, so I don't have to worry about "annoying" anyone else when I am out shooting.

I prefer a muzzle brake on my guns because it allows me to be able to watch the bullet strike it's target looking through the scope, so I know exactly where the bullet hit everytime I pull the trigger.

Having a muzzle brake also keeps the muzzle crown protected.

Also, I have never seen a rifle that was less accurate with a muzzle brake, as they seem to more accurate with one! Even on guns with minimal recoil, a muzzle brake seems to change the vibrations and harmonics enough to enhance the accuracy of a gun, but I have never seen a muzzle brake have a detrimental effect on accuracy, unless the muzzle brake was improperly installed, then it will kill the accuracy of the most accurate rifle or handgun!

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I have been talking with the guy that told me this and he said "some" muzzle brakes can cause issues. It seems its a problem with how they seat against the end of the barrel, some are tight (good) and some leave a huge gap of threads between the end of the barrel and the first lip of the break (bad). I guess that "gap" causes the blast gasses to collapse around the bullet as it's leaving the barrel end.
I don't know that's why I'm asking....

 

[rammac]

I have been talking with the guy that told me this and he said "some" muzzle brakes can cause issues. It seems its a problem with how they seat against the end of the barrel, some are tight (good) and some leave a huge gap of threads between the end of the barrel and the first lip of the break (bad). I guess that "gap" causes the blast gasses to collapse around the bullet as it's leaving the barrel end.
I don't know that's why I'm asking....

I agree with your friend, if the brake creates a chamber that is larger than the bore then you'll see a negative effect on your groups. But as others have said, it's easy to test the brake, simply verify your groups with and without it.

I found out about the chamber effect when I started tuning M1A SOCOM rifles. The factory brake has that chamber and when I replaced it with an after market adapter and brake my groups improved quite a bit. And before somebody says that the SOCOM is a 3 MOA or worse rifle let me state that I get no worse than 1 1/4" groups at a 100 yards and with a couple of different kinds of ammo (some hand loads and some commercial) I can get sub-MOA groups out to 300 yards pretty reliably. I might be able to get that kind of performance beyond that range but I've never tried since my SOCOM is my hunting rifle.

 

[theallcineyes]

It's a muzzle brake, not break. Shouldn't affect accuracy at all. A brake simply redirects the gasses after the bullet has left the barrel. Doing that changes how the exiting gases affect the recoil action of the firearm. Mostly how the muzzle moves under recoil.
Making 'em is really easy. Best to have the hole just a few thou over bullet diameter. I'd be thinking .270ish for a .264" bullet. After that the choice will be holes or slots. Drill angle of the holes matters some. Threads, of course, will depend on what the barrel has. Or you can silver solder it on.

 

[FrankG]

.006" over bullet diameter is too tight on clearance. I've seen muzzle brakes with either not enough clearance or the work not properly done and you get bullet strikes on the i.d. of the brake.

Brakes not installed properly can cause accuracy issues. Too tight and you can constrict/change the barrels bore dimensions in the worst spot...right at the muzzles crown. If the brake becomes loose it will effect vibrations and effect accuracy as well.

Even with muzzle brakes on barrels I've seen damaged to the muzzles crown.

Also depending on how the barrel is made...if there is any residual stress at the muzzle end....when you do the muzzle threading you can make the bore go sour/open up. This will have a negative effect on accuracy.

I only run a brake if it's a really big caliber with a lot of recoil and or setting the rifle up for a suppressor attachment.

I'm not totally against running them. So take what I say as what can happen. Just make sure the work is properly done and double check the bore after the work is done to make sure nothing changed on you.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[Lefty Trigger]

My plan is to shoot without it to see if it is having a negative effect on accuracy. Really I'm not too sure a 6br even needs one but it does have a cool look to it. Just in case it is an issue I ordered a thread protector to replace it.

 

[theallcineyes]

When installing just make sure not to over tighten the brake. If you do the muzzle can get pinched ever so slightly and have a detrimental affect on accuracy. In fact in some circles like NRA Service Rifle the competitors glue the brakes on the threads rather than tighten them down. Any more pressure that about 35lb-ft is not needed and probably not desirable, with 20-25lb-ft about optimal according to many brake/comp manufacturers.

 

[Mark W]

In my experience muzzle breaks have always change the point of impact for a given load, but accuracy has always increased. Some people don’t like brakes because they are sensitive to the blast. I’m more sensitive to recoil on don’t mind the muzzle blast from a brakes rifle.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Tubb's brake is kick ass. I love that thing. I am installing 10 of them... haha

It is not particular loud either.

 

[AckleymanII]

Guns with brakes have always shot more accurately than the same guns without a brake.

I have brakes on my 223, 223 AI, and 6 BR's. I want to see my exact bullet impact on the varmint and twirl knobs accordingly on colony varmints.

I have a couple of large brakes made by Joe Wagner years ago, they look like lawnmower mufflers, and they are heavy. Every rifle I have put these heavy brakes on has shot very tiny groups.

It maybe possible that weight on the barrel has a positive effect on dampening harmonics...I am clueless in this area...just an observation from the number of rifle barrels that have shot extremely well.

 

[mikeinct]

IDK if muzzle brakes effect accuracy. My first brake was installed on an old Adams & Bennit bargain 243 win. Varmint taper. That old barrel was a one holer & it could smoke GH's . You could see the hits at any distance. Pretty cool. Back then I only had regular varmint type hunting stocks. They ride up some even with minimal recoil. I only have one LR Benchrest type rifle w a brake right now. 260Rem A.I. It is still a decent shooter, I can't wait to rebarrel it W a new & better stock. The muzzle brake is going to go on it. The oddest barrel I have w a brake is slow twist 22-250. Not needed there, but I think the darn thing shoots better w the brake. mike in Ct

 

[mike06]

Here is the effect that my new Witt Machine clamp on brake had on my 25 year old Rem 700 308 VSSF yesterday. Loads are all with ArComp 3 shot groups at 100 yards. New Nosler 168 RDF

 

[mike06]

Great Brake good people to deal with.

 

[msinc]

I have never used one. I cannot stand the back blast. Hearing protection is one thing, getting slapped simple by a blast of redirected air is something else. Personally, I either shoot a rifle that has manageable recoil or I get a heavy/heavier barrel and or rifle. I am not going to say a brake will necessarily make a rifle less accurate, but I have not seen one, by and of itself, make a rifle shoot better either. You might shoot the rifle better if you are recoil sensitive...but, you can shoot worse if you don't like the back blast. The rifle can shoot worse if the brake is too tight and distorts the rifling at the muzzle. Rifling at the muzzle is the last thing to touch the bullet and can have a profound effect.

 

[mike06]

I have never used one. I cannot stand the back blast. Hearing protection is one thing, getting slapped simple by a blast of redirected air is something else. Personally, I either shoot a rifle that has manageable recoil or I get a heavy/heavier barrel and or rifle. I am not going to say a brake will necessarily make a rifle less accurate, but I have not seen one, by and of itself, make a rifle shoot better either. You might shoot the rifle better if you are recoil sensitive...but, you can shoot worse if you don't like the back blast. The rifle can shoot worse if the brake is too tight and distorts the rifling at the muzzle. Rifling at the muzzle is the last thing to touch the bullet and can have a profound effect.

I thought exactly the same thing before adding the Witt brake. I have not notice any back blast in my face as I do with a couple others that I have.

 

[mikeinct]

The Witt brake is a Douzy. It works too well. I wish they made a clamp on radial design my club allows. mike in ct

 

[msinc]

I thought exactly the same thing before adding the Witt brake. I have not notice any back blast in my face as I do with a couple others that I have.

The Witt brake is a Douzy. It works too well. I wish they made a clamp on radial design my club allows. mike in ct

Sounds like I need to get one and give it a try. I am always open to something new if it works the way I want it to. Thanks fellas!!!

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I shot 5 shot groups last night at 200 yds with and without the brake. I'm not the best shooter but in my opinion it grouped tighter without the brake installed. There is a really noticeable difference in the recoil without the brake so they clearly do work but at what expense? I'm sure there are way better brakes out there that have no affect on accuracy. I'm going to retest tonight at 300 yds.