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Load change after brake/suppressor

wboggs

Gold $$ Contributor
Do you need to retune your load for accuracy after installing brake or suppressor?
I'm not worried about POI.
Thanks
Bill
 
Most of my rifles had little to no change on group size or velocity just had to adjust POI. One rifle though my 6XC hunting rifle gained 80fps when running through a suppressor. No idea as to why but the groups actually got better so I am not complaining at all.
 
You'll only know by trying with/without on each rifle/load combo.

My can, only POI changes and that varies by rifle and load however group shape and size stay the same for the most part.
 
I am doing load development for a customer's 300 PRC that is normally shot suppressed. Since I don't have his suppressor, I thought I would do the load workup with a brake. It really did not shoot well and the target board didn't look like a normal load workup. I went out this morning with my suppressor on the rifle and it shot a LOT better. I have seen little to no change adding the suppressor to my other rifles, but this one was a pleasant surprise.
 
I think the answer to this question really depends on the can. I primarily shoot with a brake so any load development is done with the and then I put the can on for suppressor only matches a couple times a year. With my can, POI shift is normal, but the accuracy is not negatively impacted.

What I have experienced is rapid fouling that resulted in overpressure with certain powders with the can on. This was with loads which were well within safe pressure otherwise and had been water tested. This is also can dependent in my opinion. Changing powder helped, but with that can I have to clean after every 100 rounds or it will start to pressure up due to fouling.
 
wboggs said:
Do you need to retune your load for accuracy after installing brake or suppressor?
I'm not worried about POI.
Thanks
Bill
Click to expand...
My opinion and, as said above, the rifle tells the tale.
Examples:
I do not own an AR-15 that does not shoot more accurately with the suppressor attached. Barrels are sub-14" to 18" and twist rates 1:9 down to 1:7 and one barrel is a 5R configuration. Maybe an anomaly but (if so) I don't mind being "lucky".
The weight of a suppressor will change POI just about every time, regardless of the construction and metal make up of the can. Most all my suppressors will move the POI downward a couple inches and slightly left.
While it should make sense that the vibrations of the barrel are changed enough to affect the "tune" it has always been my unproven theory that the extra dampening of recoil benefit compensates for the mostly slight tune difference. That said, My 20" Vudoo 22LR flies in the face of that theory. It really has no discernible recoil but it has proven over time that no matter how a brand, lot or speed of 22LR performs without the can it always shoots improved groups with the YHM Stinger suppressor screwed on. That says to me in this particular rifle the can acts as a tuner.
So (maybe I should have just said this without all the yak) you will just have to shoot it and find out.
 
Bill,
I have had to tweak a little after putting a brake on or removing it but not usually. I have no experience with silencers.
Wayne
 
ToddKS said:
What I have experienced is rapid fouling that resulted in overpressure with certain powders with the can on. This was with loads which were well within safe pressure otherwise and had been water tested. This is also can dependent in my opinion. Changing powder helped, but with that can I have to clean after every 100 rounds or it will start to pressure up due to fouling.
Click to expand...

If I shoot TrailBoss subs and then switch to regular loads, those regular load will have excessive pressure problems.
 
I can't speak for suppressors, but with muzzle brakes I never had to re-tune a load and 95 % of the time after slapping on a brake the groups got even smaller.
 
Like any change in the rifle/bore or load data, you should see how your rifle accepts previous loads, watch for pressure signs and adjust load as needed, for both pressure and accuracy.
 
JB10 said:
So far i have tested 4 of my rifles with a suppressor and they all have shot same group size with or with out. Loads were worked up before i even had a suppressor. As you already know poi did change and that was it.
Click to expand...
This is spot on for my rifles. If anything, groups may have slightly improved with the suppressor installed. I think the design of the suppressor internally, matters more than the actual weight. Just my take on it.
Paul
 
I have 3 rifles with muzzle brakes. POI is different without them attached, and I do not think they are as accurate without them, because in part, the brake is tuning the rifle. YMMV
 
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