muzzle brake bore diameter

[ir3333]

Hi guys.
I am considering a muzzle brake for my .223 bolt gun and am looking at a muzzle brake with a bore
that is larger than .223. With a larger bore on the muzzle brake some of the blast will still be able to exit forward.
How will the sound be affected..more diffused? And i have read conflicting posts suggesting accuracy may be affected.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Any gasses or flame that goes out of the exit bore is wasted energy in terms of brake effectiveness. Some is inevitable and unavoidable but you have to decide if chasing the effects that you mention are worth testing vs the known effects it has on brake performance. In all honesty, you won't "feel" a big difference if you keep the exit hole diameter within reason but it is measurable. I like the way you're thinking outside of the box but there's a cost to what you're after. So get to testing and let us know how it goes.

 

[ir3333]

TX...i was just wondering if a slight reduction in recoil could be gained without out too much extra muzzle blast and also give the gun a more finished look? Another option may be this Midway piece?
Anybody have any experience with this?

Strike Industries WarHog Comp Muzzle Brake 5.56mm 1/2-28 Thread Steel

The Strike Industries WarHog line of affordable, no nonsense, high performance muzzle brakes expands the line of high efficiency single chamber...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Ranger188]

What is it you want to accomplish with a brake on a 223?
It doesn't have much kick as it it.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

TX...i was just wondering if a slight reduction in recoil could be gained without out too much extra muzzle blast and also give the gun a more finished look? Another option may be this Midway piece?
Anybody have any experience with this?

Strike Industries WarHog Comp Muzzle Brake 5.56mm 1/2-28 Thread Steel

The Strike Industries WarHog line of affordable, no nonsense, high performance muzzle brakes expands the line of high efficiency single chamber...

www.midwayusa.com

As I understand it, you're proposing opening the exit hole of a brake properly fitted to a .224 bullet(.244 exit hole). The brake design does play a role but is a different question entirely as opening exit diameter will have a proportionate affect. You first need to decide on my first post before worrying about my second. If ya want a generic answer, it's to try it and report your results. More specifically, though...you'll have to try it and report your results because you're wanting the best of two worlds. The two are directly relative to one another.

Testing is half the fun!

 

[ir3333]

What is it you want to accomplish with a brake on a 223?
It doesn't have much kick as it it.

I confess i've only been shooting and loading my .223 for a short period of time. I have read posts where muzzle braking a .223 allows you to see your impact...at the cost of excessive muzzle blast. I am not sensitive to recoil but wondered if there was some middle ground with these devises.

 

[CNC-Dude]

I shoot my 300 WinMag and can get back on target to see the impacts from it at 100 yards. I doubt you'll have any issues with a .223 without a brake. But if you want to satisfy your curiosity, try it and see....

 

[ir3333]

Really, I am pleased with the gun the way it is! And I agree there is only one way to find out As i said, i have been loading and shooting this new rifle for a short period of time. Really looking forward to trying the new 62 gr. VT's when available!

 

[JSH]

I have not really been a fan of brakes. As far as I am concerned they amplify the blast, maybe because of dispersion. I have had a couple of different ones, even on a fairly heavy 223. My suppressor works as good as any of them, with the added ++++ of removing some of the “bark”.

If your whole purpose is to see impacts, weight is your friend.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Really, I am pleased with the gun the way it is! And I agree there is only one way to find out As i said, i have been loading and shooting this new rifle for a short period of time. Really looking forward to trying the new 62 gr. VT's when available!

Again, I applaud you for thinking the way you are. This is a site where just about everything has been tried by somebody but there are so many members, you invariably get different answers to questions like...is it sunny or cloudy outside. Lol!

I've tested what you're asking and my advice is to either go for recoil reduction or go for something else. They are hand in hand. The most efficient at everything is probably a suppressor but you didn't list that in your options and I'm not a big suppressor guy, but rather, someone who has tested just about every brake imaginable, commercial, homemade or otherwise.

Brakes, by design and physics, are compromises. I don't argue with physics but I like it and I try to adjust my thinking to agree with it when I have some hairbrained idea that defies physics. Lol!

Lots of good info on here but for the same reason the best brakes are loudest, applies to your logic, too. And yes, other factors apply to what is an acceptable compromise.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

I shoot my 300 WinMag and can get back on target to see the impacts from it at 100 yards. I doubt you'll have any issues with a .223 without a brake. But if you want to satisfy your curiosity, try it and see....

This must be a fairly heavy rifle, or you have exceptional control. Everyone has a different comfort levels for how tightly they grip a gun. I find if I hold too tight I introduce a lot of wiggles into it.

 

[CNC-Dude]

This must be a fairly heavy rifle, or you have exceptional control. Everyone has a different comfort levels for how tightly they grip a gun. I find if I hold too tight I introduce a lot of wiggles into it.

Shooting benchrest is how I am able to do it. Offhand, no way....

 

[urbanrifleman]

It was tested. Didn't make any difference. Effect of the brake was unchanged for the most part.