MUZZLE BRAKE

[Road_Clam]

I strongly recommend anyone contemplating getting a muzzle break spend a little time investigating the different kinds.
You might find that a Vias or Holland type is more to your liking, if you still want one.

When I was thinking about putting one on a rifle I owned my local gun store lent me a 30-06 with one on it. Two friends and I went to my gun range and shot it about 10 times!

I took it back to the gun store and got that nonsense out of my head, just because of the sound level !!
That was me, maybe it won't affect you guys the same way.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

Depends on the caliber. My .308 w/ a brake is not that bad. A 300 WM with a brake is..... well.... "robust". Most all serious shooters at my 200 meter use a brake. The guys that don't will shoot about 10 rounds , then start rubbing their shoulder and call it a day.

 

[fdshuster]

rpierce: First thing I did when the accuracy problem surfaced was to return it to my very experienced gunsmith. He indexed the brake with the bore and there is a difference of .0005". I believe it was pre-bored for 30 caliber, but to what diameter, I do not know.

The bore is .020", and he said he would not open it further. He has installed dozens of these brakes, so along with his existing record of reliability with me, I trust what he says. It would be interesting to see what the side discharge would do if a tuner were somehow added.

My other 308 brake is the same design as the Harrell's with discharge holes around the circumference, (but no tuner), and accuracy actually improved when it was installed.

Bottom line: when adding a brake it may (or may not) affect accuracy. At least that's my experience.

 

[Steve Blair]

Frank, any and all load testing must be done with whatever will be attached to the barrel installed. It might be better to say that installing the brake changed accuracy rather than degraded it. Another load could well (and likely would) improve after installation. Just as a tuner affects barrel harmonics, so does a brake. Correctly installed, a symmetrical brake with adequate bore clearance should not affect potential accuracy.

 

[fdshuster]

Steve: I absolutely agree ! But I have several loads that are giving me outstanding consistant accuracy, (all well under 1/2 moa), with chronographed numbers of 8 for SD and 18 to 20 for ES. Velocities with the 168 SMK's and 44.8 of Varget and 43.5 of IMR 4064 average 2710 fps, all very good numbers.

When I've arrived at that point, I'll not continue to burn up components and barrel life in a never ending search for "something better". The tuner has made it possible for me to quickly verify a load combinations compatability with the barrel tuner.

My first experience with barrel tuners, and I'm impressed. I continue to learn.

 

[rpierce]

fdshuster: Sounds good I was just throwing a possible reason out there that you didn't have good results with it. I also agree with Steves post about harmonics. Glad you got everything worked out now.