Suppressed Magnums

For my 300WM, a suppressor cover only delayed the inevitable by 1 or 2 shots.

A Ryobi battery powered fan across the suppressor while I shoot helps alot.

Hate to say it, but I stopped shooting suppressed in local matches (.308) because of the mirage. A good brake worked better for me.

I'm all ears as well Mr. A-tip.

shootnpoke said:

To the OP, I had the same problems as you. Not much I can do about the recoil but grin and bear it. As to the mirage, I have found a good can cover works wonders. I have a Coletac HTP and it does a great job stopping mirage from the can. However it also takes longer for the can and barrel it is attached to to cool down. To aid in cooling down between groups I use a barrel cooler. The best one I have is a cheap one I think I got on Amazon. When its really hot out I also take along an insulated bottle of ice water, and wet a rag or small towel to rub the barrel down to speed cooling. Coletac also makes a light weight mirage shield that is inexpensive. Hope this helps.

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The ASR brake for my Silencer Co. Omega 36m on a .340 Wby doesn't cut the recoil like my Area 419 4 port sidewinder brake, but for hunting I want to protect what hearing I have left and the ASR does help. I agree for target work the brake is better, but a can on a hunting rifle may save your future. What?

For clarity, the PRB article indicated that PRS shooters prefer braked over suppressed because they put a premium on spotting their shots. Less recoil improves their corrective shots. Not necessarily the same priority for hunting. The reason I have the suppressor on the 7 PRC is it groups slightly better. I wear Herman Noize hearing protection while hunting so I can manage a single breaked shot with no concern for my hearing.

txaggie1 said:

what can are you running in that 338-378, i'm getting one in apex and considering a can;

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I did a form 1 can on it but I'm waiting on the thunderbeast to come back in stock and I'm gonna pick one of those up. It's an awesome round and shoots great.

Yep, i think im gonna put my brake back on for target shooting. Then apply the suppressor when hunting. If i ever get a tag. Thanks all for the input!

I tried shooting magnums with a can for awhile. Then thought one day I'd just go back to brakes due to recoil. That lasted about 10shots and I put the can back on.

My new solution. Put on a slip on recoil pad over my buttstock on top of the other pad for target shooting/ preseason cold bore practice. Before I started that I tested it quite a bit at distance to make sure it wouldn't change my poi using 2 pads and a longer lop.

I have the can on my 300wm wrapped to reduce mirage on follow up shots.

At the range I use a electric air pump to pump air thru the barrels and suppressors to help cool them quicker, especially when it is hot.

I have the Kuhl from Magneto Speed for normal cooling, but when I want to move alot of air for hot barrels and cans I bought a $20 battery powered blower off Amazon that takes 20v dewalt batteries that I already have. Then I got some clear plastic tube from Home Depot and for $30 I have move a fair amount of air.

I also put heat strips on the magnum barrels at the chamber yo monitor barrel temps vs ambient.

txaggie1 said:

what can are you running in that 338-378, i'm getting one in apex and considering a can;

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I have an ab raptor 10 for it in 338 as well and those cans are dedicated to those 2 rifles

A-Tip said:

Yep, i think im gonna put my brake back on for target shooting. Then apply the suppressor when hunting. If i ever get a tag. Thanks all for the input!

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Just be aware that barrel harmonics might change and affect the POI between the two muzzle devices.

A-Tip said:

I have the Omega 300 with the brake and its cool but im getting irritated with the whole suppressed magnum thing.

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I run that can as well

Is your can titanium? Or something heavier like Inconel or stainless steel? Titanium cans heat up much faster but they also cool down FAST. I can see where you'd want a heavier steel or Inconel can on a magnum to take advantage of the increased weight to soak up some recoil and because they take longer to heat up and give off alot of mirage - until it's time to carry it awhile. Leave the bolt open for awhile between shots from the bench and maybe get a barrel cooler. A thermal cover works for mirage but I would think it would keep a titanium can from cooling off quickly. Bring a spare water bottle for the barrel, doesn't even have to be that cold.

Warrenoliver said:

I shoot steel weekly with multiple rifles with Thunderbeast suppressors. After 2-3 shots I begin noticing mirage. I prevent it by using a small rechargeable battery operated fan that I set on the bench next to the barrel and blowing on the suppressor. Works great!

Amazon.com

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The fan you linked to is currently unavailable on Amazon but my solution has been the DeWalt 20v model they came out with several years ago.
Dewalt Fan on Amazon

It's pretty expensive now at almost $100 and although I like it very much if you'll index DeWalt fans on Amazon you'll find several inexpensive fans that run on DeWalt batteries and they're a fraction of the cost of the DeWalt fan. I imagine they're all made in China but isn't everything that doesn't cost an arm and a leg these days? <sigh>

Some of them appear to be much lighter and smaller than the DeWalt fan and are probably a smarter, smaller, and lighter solution these days.

If you're a fan of DeWalt tools and already have a bunch of 20v batteries like I have you're in luck and the number of tools and accessories that now work with DeWalt batters is staggering.

There are other battery run systems similar to DeWalt and people that own them seem to be very happy with theirs, I just got started with DeWalt several years ago and it is so useful and I own so many tools and batteries I'll never switch to another brand.

Just one man's opinion.

CA48 said:

I tried shooting magnums with a can for awhile. Then thought one day I'd just go back to brakes due to recoil. That lasted about 10shots and I put the can back on.

My new solution. Put on a slip on recoil pad over my buttstock on top of the other pad for target shooting/ preseason cold bore practice. Before I started that I tested it quite a bit at distance to make sure it wouldn't change my poi using 2 pads and a longer lop.

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I've been using Pachmayr Decelerator slip on recoil pads for years now on almost all my bolt action rifles. I slip them on over the factory pads and they provide a LOT of recoil reduction and, since I'm a stock creeper that can't seem to find rifles with a long enough LOP that fit me well, they help with that too adding what is probably about an inch to LOP.
Pachmayr Slip On Pad on Amazon

By the way I can't STAND muzzle brakes and they're a sure way to **** off other shooters on adjacent benches at the rifle range, not to mention the greatly increased muzzle blast that erodes what hearing I have left way faster than non braked rifles.

More and more shooters are now showing up with suppressed rifles (me included) now that the wait time is usually less than a week and that's a blessing.

By the way.... I don't have any idea where the Amazon message comes from that I'm a paid associate but I guess it's unavoidable when you post an Amazon link. Nobody has ever rewarded me even once for recommending any product at all.