muzzle break benefit?

[Wishbone]

Does a brake benefit a 223 bolt gun? I want to see my hits on prairie dogs. What do you guys recommend? What about a 204?

 

[people]

It does help. Granted when you are in a good position your rifle should not move very much any way with a 223. When you are in positions where you are not holding the rifle every much they are handy when you want to see the hits. I would suggest one with a closed bottom if you are going to be shooting off of the ground.

 

[Ackman]

A heavy barrel .223 works ok as is and hits are visible through the scope. Bigger than Rem. varmint contour works better, something like HV or maxHV or #6 or 7. But even on those a brake will turn it into something completely different. A #7 Shilen contour in .223 just sits there like a HB.22lr when it's braked, the muzzle doesn't even move. You barely feel the gun go off. When it's like that you can crank the scope to 24 or 32X, get right in on the target, and then see the whole show up close with each hit. I don't shoot .20's and have no experience with them. A .221 is fine with no brake. But .223's are just more fun to shoot when they're braked. All my heavy barrel varmint guns that are shot from bags, beginning with the .223, have muzzle brakes. For me they're definitely worth having.

 

[Wishbone]

Thanks for your information--what brake are you using on your 223? Do you swap them around or get one for each gun?

 

[Ackman]

Thanks for your information--what brake are you using on your 223? Do you swap them around or get one for each gun?

They were made by a fellow who I believe is now retired. Most are 4" long, 1-1/8" dia, 132 small holes and stepdowns inside. Each gun has it's own. But there are lots of other makes with larger holes and they work fine too. Harrell makes a really good looking brake at a terrific price. I use brakes with holes all the way around....belly shooting isn't my thing.

 

[Fordnutter]

If you are able to - suppressor! ;D Better recoil reduction, no hearing protection required & nearly always a reduction in group sizes. If you can put up with the increased length & weight yourl never regret a good suppressor.

 

[Hackberry]

A suppressor is a great idea, but in some locales they're not legal and you don't want to go down that road!

If you want to use a muzzle brake, have the holes cut to discharge only in a "V" pattern toward the sky so you don't blow dirt and crud up with every shot by using a muzzle brake with the holes cut all the way around the circumference of the brake. I was shooting prone and learned about down-facing muzzle brake discharge ports the hard way - it's dangerous and you also could lose your vision from flying debris.

 

[Wishbone]

I read that PD's carry fleas that carry plague and other diseases--their advice was to not shoot from the ground. You offer another good reason. Using a suppressor might work if I shot alone, but I anticipate I will be going again with friends (with loud guns)--plus I'd rather put my money into a good gun and scope. On my first PD trip, I found out that good optics with a means to avoid hold over (ie, a mil dot or other means) is important as the winds buffet light bullets a lot. Also learned that half the fun is seeing hit dogs flip. Interestingly, the next day there is no evidence of the hit dogs--what the birds and coyotes don't eat--they cannibalize--nothing is wasted it seems.

 

[Octopus]

I use the round Harral Brake on my 25 BR. With a 13# rifle shooting 87gr Berger bullets I can see the bullets hit at 300 yards. The brake does make a difference.