Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
The Pendleton D kicker has been here forever. It came over on Noah's Ark.
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Muzzle brake question
- Thread starter Gmann
- Start date
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The Pendleton D kicker has been here forever. It came over on Noah's Ark.
Will Mathieson
Active Member
Muzzle brakes for hunting rifles not good for the ears and not necessary for performance/accuracy since one or two shots is all you'll get at game usually. Target guns and shooting a different story, you're not readjusting position for repeat shots as much.
Some SMG's have not brakes but compensators to help prevent muzzle rise.
When you look at brakes on howitzers they have angled ports to maximize forward force. Many rifle sized brakes are only milled at 90 degrees to the bore (cost savings) which lowers their effect.
Brakes on howitzers were made to shorten recoil needed at higher elevations of shooting angles so you don't have to dig a deep trench for the breech. They do not aid in accuracy and only reduce/shorten recoil.
I have a brake on my AR .223, it came that way but only makes shooting it louder. Smaller cals do not have significant recoil to make brakes really worth the cost, like anything for sale, much is marketing, create a "want" or make one dissatisfied for not having one.
It's obvious many are just machined to look "cool" with no real R&D done.
I see most brakes they sell today as a fashion option, and like high heels can hurt with prolonged use. Looks cool but hate to shoot it. I don't see older generations running to have brakes installed on their firearms. Marketing aims at mostly the youth, and they believe "looks" is just as or more important than function. How many take of their brakes before shooting their guns? Brakes installed on Win Mod 70's and such only decrease value like the dial a duck compensators of the 60's, 70's did with shotguns. Modifying a firearm from original configuration usually does this.
I should get a "blast' for some of my views but then again the brake does give that "blast" that brakeless guns don't have.
I'd like to hear any comments on why brakes on hunting rifles could be a plus.
Always room to learn.
Some SMG's have not brakes but compensators to help prevent muzzle rise.
When you look at brakes on howitzers they have angled ports to maximize forward force. Many rifle sized brakes are only milled at 90 degrees to the bore (cost savings) which lowers their effect.
Brakes on howitzers were made to shorten recoil needed at higher elevations of shooting angles so you don't have to dig a deep trench for the breech. They do not aid in accuracy and only reduce/shorten recoil.
I have a brake on my AR .223, it came that way but only makes shooting it louder. Smaller cals do not have significant recoil to make brakes really worth the cost, like anything for sale, much is marketing, create a "want" or make one dissatisfied for not having one.
It's obvious many are just machined to look "cool" with no real R&D done.
I see most brakes they sell today as a fashion option, and like high heels can hurt with prolonged use. Looks cool but hate to shoot it. I don't see older generations running to have brakes installed on their firearms. Marketing aims at mostly the youth, and they believe "looks" is just as or more important than function. How many take of their brakes before shooting their guns? Brakes installed on Win Mod 70's and such only decrease value like the dial a duck compensators of the 60's, 70's did with shotguns. Modifying a firearm from original configuration usually does this.
I should get a "blast' for some of my views but then again the brake does give that "blast" that brakeless guns don't have.
I'd like to hear any comments on why brakes on hunting rifles could be a plus.
Always room to learn.
Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
Only three advantages I can think of is: 1) You can spot your own shots at shorter distances. 2) you can stand to shoot a lighter rifle in a given caliber. Only #1 seems to be much of an advantage in anything less than a .300Mag. I shot an unbraked 8MM mag wildcat for years in about an 8# rifle. Didn't know any different, and always said the thing killed on one end and wounded on the other. 210gr bullets @3200 kick in a rifle like that and take a lot of practice to shoot without flinching. Impossible to spot your shots at any sane range, but it never seemed to matter. Whatever I shot with it would be laying there when I recovered. This rifle would have been much more fun with a brake. 3)They have been a godsend for my girls. Allows them to shoot a bigger gun than they would be able to otherwise, cuts down on my hunting after they shoot.
Disadvantage: Blast, noise, dust signature shooting prone, and even sitting with a radial brake.
Greg 300 Ultra
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2017
- Messages
- 1
I agree with BIGGEN I have Vais breaks installed on my 300 RUM/6.5-300 weatherby/7mm STW Makes them into rifles my kids can shoot. Helps muzzle jump! I can keep sight picture with all 3 rifles. Less noise then some other types also !!
Copper Basin
Well-Known Member
I have a Vais on my 300 WinMag done by George before he left for Greece. I have put on 15 lil beasts from 3 ports to 5 ports. I have them on my My other 300 WinMag. I like Nathan's brakes better. Just my opinion and the feed back I get from my muzzle brake customers. Keeps everything from jumping out of the sight picture. I have put on a few Vais brakes from Vais Arms Inc. They worked well and my customers were happy with the slimmer profile. These are just my experiences. 5 port on a 300 WM
Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
This kind of post reminds me of one of my favorite saying: Sounds like like of experience.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Back then The two most common mediu/big game rounds in the US were the 06 shooting 165's or 180's and a 30-30 140-160gr bullets.
The few people shooting magnums almost never shot more at the range than just enough to sight in good enough to maybe hit a 6" pie plate.
A good brake has a lot of benefits not the least of which is making the recoil so tolerable people spend much more time working up truly accurate loads and honing their skills.
Will Mathieson
Active Member
I'd put a brake on my bolt action 458 Win Mag but it's too much fun watching others shoot it with 500 gr solids.
I'd be interested in accuracy with the same rifle, ammo with and without brake. My bet is no difference. Brakes do stop the jumping around so you keep the same line of sight.
I'd be interested in accuracy with the same rifle, ammo with and without brake. My bet is no difference. Brakes do stop the jumping around so you keep the same line of sight.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking there's a word missing here?
It reads like someone to me that never learned to take earplugs of muffs with him when shooting and never shot a rifle with a good enough brake or suppressor to see his hits.
Seeing that first hit, especially at long range is priceless because particularly if you're alone it's the only way to know for sure if a follow up shot is needed and if so exactly how much you need to adjust.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Good one's also pretty much eliminate flinching or otherwise anticipating recoil.
On the 458 it wouldn't make enough difference to pay for itself . Straight wall cartridges don't really generate enough pressure or use slow burning powders so brakes don't make a lot of difference recoil wise but can help with muzzle rise if they have large top ports.
xsn10s
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2016
- Messages
- 7,683
I used to hate muzzle brakes. But all my AR's (which are my general purpose truck and duty rifles) have brakes/ flash hiders. I cannot shoot, or hammer even nails, without hearing protection so muzzle brakes make sense now. I hunt alone so like previously said you can spot your own shots with brakes.
Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
Ever try a .454 revolver?
