Muzzle brake VS Accuracy

[squirrelsnpr]

I was wondering if by adding a muzzle brake you adversly effect accuracy. I am mainly concerned with the JP Recoil Eliminator (http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.2_re.php). I don't see many people running with a muzzle brake and just wondered why. If you have any input on the JP Recoil Eliminator, or other muzzle brakes, a quick reply is greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Mitch

 

[MarkS]

squirrelsnpr,

I have added brakes to existing barrels with no loss in accuracy. I have use Harrells and one made by Leonard Baity, but I have not used the JP.

Mark Schronce

 

[fdshuster]

Mitch: I recently had a muzzle brake installed on a Tikka barreled 308, by one of my highly experienced 'smiths. Without the brake, my 308 loads ( 45.5 Varget, 155 Sierra #2155) would easily hold 1 1/4" to 1 1/2", 5 shot groups at 300 yd. Add the brake, and with the identical ammo & conditions "groups" became "clusters" in the 4" to 5" category. But, there's a happy ending to the story. Took the barrel & brake (mounted on one of my switch-barrels) back to the 'smith & he re-cut the crown, and opened up the brake bore diameter by an additional .010"/ .005" additional clearance on each side of the bullit. As if by magic, the rifle turned into a tack-driver, actually producing slightly smaller group sizes than it did before the brake, and load combos that were "average" before are much improved. So, in my case, a little "tweaking", and it turned out extremely well. Recoil is now just a gentle "push" straight back and to the rear, without the torqueing/twisting I was getting before. Now a pleasure to shoot off the bench. Muzzle blast to the side is more noticable, so not as "friendly" for other shooters on either side.

 

[Preacher]

I have installed a few Harrells brakes and never noticed a loss in accuracy as long as the barrel had a nice new crown, and was dialed in 100%..
I always open them up to .020 over the bullet diameter....
@ $30.00 it's hard to beat the price of the Harrells, it even includes shipping, and I've never seen a better one that gets the same job done...

 

[therifler]

I manufacture brakes for my custom rifles and yes sometimes they have to be adjusted for some rifles . But they are the rare occasion rather than the norm.