compensators? illegal or just don't work

[constructor]

Are compensators illegal to use in most competitions? I am not talking about benchrest.
Do you feel like they hurt accuracy?

 

[M700]

Muzzle brakes are not legal in NRA highpower competition.

They are generally allowed in most tactical comps. I can't remember a tactical competition that didn't allow muzzle brakes.

I've seen incredibly accurate rifles with muzzle brakes.

Regards, Guy

 

[Asa_Yam]

Muzzle brakes are not legal in NRA highpower competition.

Actually, they're banned from most forms of NRA rifle competition. This includes highpower, smallbore, and metallic silhouette,both centerfire and smallbore).

Brakes are banned from CMP sponsored rifle matches as well.

Since NRA and CMP sanction a sizeable fraction ,i.e., >50%) of all rifle matches in the US, I have seen very few braked rifles in competition over the last 15 years.


At the other extreme, brakes are MANDATORY at .50 BMG matches. This is because it is extremely dangerous to fire most .50s without one. Nearly all .50 BMG rifles weigh less than 100 lbs., with most weighing 50 lbs. or less. Fire one without a brake or suppressor installed, and at best, you might walk away with a concussion. This makes a .50 match a noisy place - some competitors have taken to wearing motorcycle helmets during such events to help protect their sinuses.

 

[JERRYHM]

Asa,
Are your sure brakes are banned? Allan Warner had a brake on his "F" class rifle and it was approved by the NRA. I was told as long as the gases were directed forward they were OK...........
Jerry

ps: It was funny looking!

 

[constructor]

I can see using them for 3 gun tactical shoots on 16-18" barrels but It doesn't seem like they would be that beneficial on 24" or longer barrels.
Do you think they hurt or help accuracy?

 

[Asa_Yam]

Are your sure brakes are banned?

Jerry,
100% positive. From http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-w03.pdf

3.16.1 Compensators and Muzzle Brakes — The use of compensators or muzzle brakes is prohibited. ,Emphasis mine.) An extension tube that has been installed on the muzzle of a rifle to extend the sight radius shall not be considered a “muzzle brake”. The extension tube must have an interior diameter of .5 inches or greater and may have 1/4” x 1” slots cut at 12 and 6 o’clock to remove cleaning patches. Threaded holes along the top of this tube for the installation of sight bases will be allowed.

This rule applies to ALL highpower competitors, both traditional and F-Class.

 

[AlanWarner]

Jerry:
The devise I used was not a brake by the conventionaly accepted norms of what a brake actually is. No organization I've looked at has a description of what a brake IS or ISN'T !!

The unit I tried diverted gasses away from the normal path, but still in a forward direction in an attemp to reduce the concentration of blast the bullet has to travel through. Reduced muzzle blast is my goal, sans the annoyance of a side exiting brake.

This first attemp worked to a degree, but not in the manner I'd hoped for. There was a back pressure that actually slowed the muzzle velocity. With the unit removed, I had to reduce elevations at 1000 by a minute and a half, - same load. Further R&D may prove to be of some value, but only time and trials will tell.

Back to the cad system or drawing board in my case.

SO, what actually is a muzzle brake??

Added:
Jerry:
I had no sanction from the NRA for its' use. I only made a couple members of the HP Commitee aware of same. I only ran a few test rounds thru it during a practice session.

Alan

 

[Hoser]

Where I mainly shoot, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, there are many more non-NRA matches than NRA matches.

The most polite muzzle break is a suppressor.

I shoot my smallbore rifle with one and my guess is that it has acted like a tuner of some sorts. The occasional non-called flyer is almost gone and when they do leave the group, its not nearly as far.

And dont forget that while a suppressor is legal in a majority of the states, the NRA bans them using a "Spirit of the game" clause.

As most NRA type matches you are all on a firing line right next to each other, the ban on breaks/compensators is a good rule. However, I am still bitter and angry over the suppressor back-doored ruling.

 

[rstreich]

Well, I'm still bitter and angry that suppressors are such a PITA to obtain for those who can and impossible for those of us that live in one of those states that prohibits them.