muzzle brake symmetry and accuracy?

[kennyg]

I read an article on accurate shooter somewhere that stated a muzzle brake with holes all the way around will always be more accurate then a brake that has no holes on the bottom. I want to be able to shoot prone with a brake; will i loose accuracy if I go with a brake with out bottom ports? Will a brake that only has ports on the sides (like badger thruster) be more accurate then say a Holland with side ports and holes in the top? Thanks for the help!

 

[WayneShaw]

From an unscientific standpoint, anything that is symmetrical should be better when a bullet spinning at 300K RPMs is concerned. I've heard that the solid bottom brakes weren't as accurate, but I've never tested them either, so I voice no opinion on them. If it were me, and the rules of competition allow them, I would go with the side discharge brakes shooting prone.

 

[Larryh128]

I would 2nd Wayne's opinion on the side discharge. I haven't seen them negatively effect accuracy. If you didn't want a gill brake, you could also port only the 2 sides, this does however make it mandatory to establish top center on the barrel or the use of a jam nut which I prefer not to use.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

If your shooting prone a vertical port can be anoying as well. I can see the heat coming out of my barrel on a hot day here in FL threw the scope. switched it out with a badger brake side discharge only and it got rid of that.