223 Muzzle Brake - Is it really worth it?

F

Forest1488

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
31   0   0
Location
South of Toronto
So I am thinking of getting a decent brake for my bolt action 223. I completely understand the need for one on larger calibers but does it really make a difference on a heavy barrel 223 as far as accuracy goes?
 
I had a 223 Tikka Varmint with a Hinterland slip on brake.

Fit and finish was really good.

What it does is; yes it reduces the small amount of recoil, it enables the shooter to follow the bullet to the target as upon firing you don't lose your sight picture.

The rifle will exhibit better bench manners as well.

I think it is worth it.

http://www.hss.net.au/index.php?cPath=164

Delivery time is fairly short.
 
For 3 gun competitions, the brake is really effective for fast double taps on target. The brake doesn’t change the felt recoil very much. What is does do is keep the red dot/sights from bouncing around. Really helps stay on target when you’re moving fast. For a heavy bolt rifle, I would skip the brake. Like said above, they can have a negative effect on group size at distance.
 
The only way a quality brake will negatively effect precision (group size) is by changing the harmonics of the barrel so that whatever load you developed without a brake doesn't shoot as well with the brake. Just tweak your load, if necessary. Like Bcbrad said, a good brake ( I use Insite Heathens) will greatly reduce muzzle rise and make it easier to spot/follow your own trace. Is a brake "necessary'? Depends on what you're trying to achieve. It won't make your rifle more mechanically precise (as in shrink groups) but it will let you spot trace easier which goes a big way to helping you be more accurate (ie put more rounds on target).
 
rugbydave said:
The only way a quality brake will negatively effect precision (group size) is by changing the harmonics of the barrel so that whatever load you developed without a brake doesn't shoot as well with the brake. Just tweak your load, if necessary. Like Bcbrad said, a good brake ( I use Insite Heathens) will greatly reduce muzzle rise and make it easier to spot/follow your own trace. Is a brake "necessary'? Depends on what you're trying to achieve. It won't make your rifle more mechanically precise (as in shrink groups) but it will let you spot trace easier which goes a big way to helping you be more accurate (ie put more rounds on target).
Click to expand...

Brakes that are asymmetrical and have an asymmetric effect on the airflow at the muzzle can have negative consequences on the projectile as it leaves the muzzle brake. All the top quality brakes are made on CNC machines these days to a high degree of tolerance, so I can't imagine this is really much of an issue these days, not with most brakes anyways. The heathen is also my favorite brake, I've owned a few of the top self timing brakes, and I believe the Heathen is the most refined of the bunch currently out there.

Brakes help mitigate any exploitation of your lack of fundamentals through recoil. Obviously the more recoil there is, the more mitigation potential there is for a brake. You may find that a brake will help you stay on target better, and help you spot trace, but the benefits of a brake won't be as pronounced on a .223 as it would be on a .300NM for example.
 
...No. A brake will have zero positive effect on accuracy on a bolt action rifle. Potential for negative effects though. Best case scenario is that it's only as accurate as it was before before.

.223 Brakes are good for staying on target while shooting fast. This is not really possible while having to manipulate a bolt handle, at least to the extent that a brake will help.
 
Absolutely not! I tried one on my .223 didn't fell any different so I put it on my .270 and there is a real difference.
 
Forest1488 said:
So I am thinking of getting a decent brake for my bolt action 223. I completely understand the need for one on larger calibers but does it really make a difference on a heavy barrel 223 as far as accuracy goes?
Click to expand...

I doubt it will increase your accuracy on a .223. There is a possibility it may increase a shooters accuracy on heavy recoiling rifles if the shooters inaccuracy is due to handling heavy recoil.
 
Forest1488 said:
So I am thinking of getting a decent brake for my bolt action 223. I completely understand the need for one on larger calibers but does it really make a difference on a heavy barrel 223 as far as accuracy goes?
Click to expand...

I think it depends on how you define accuracy...

Lots of good comments above on bench accuracy, but I'm talking about real world, and to that point it depends on what kind of shooting you like to do.

These days lots of guys are into PRS and if that's what you're thinking, recoil mitigation is a total plus. A brake is even worth having on a 22LR.

Reducing recoil allows you to better spot your shots, hopefully in the air and if not, you want to see it hit the dirt, or better yet, where it hits your target. That' s all hard to do while everything is moving.

As long as on paper from a bench it still shoots well, I don't see a performance downside to a brake, (besides increased sound) but I do see less tangible advantages that can help you with your shooting.
 
Scotty454 said:
...No. A brake will have zero positive effect on accuracy on a bolt action rifle. Potential for negative effects though. Best case scenario is that it's only as accurate as it was before before.

.223 Brakes are good for staying on target while shooting fast. This is not really possible while having to manipulate a bolt handle, at least to the extent that a brake will help.
Click to expand...


I know when frank tested our brakes for the first time on snipershide…
the tikka he used for testing shot better groups with the same ammo on the same day with our brake on VS with it off
 
I'm surprised nobody mentioned this already...

Adding a muzzle device will change your intermediate ballistics.
Just keep that in mind.
 
For me, it’s a no. I use a .223 as a trainer. The little amount of recoil is welcomed. It’s similar to a braked 6.5. I shoot 80-90gr bullets and can’t think of a single reason I’d need less recoil.
 
DavenK said:
I'm surprised nobody mentioned this already...

Adding a muzzle device will change your intermediate ballistics.
Just keep that in mind.
Click to expand...

I haven't heard of this either. Please explain just how that would happen... A muzzle brake does not affect velocity to any degree... it may require a different load than a bare barrel... but how would it change any ballistics.
 
DavenK said:
I'm surprised nobody mentioned this already...

Adding a muzzle device will change your intermediate ballistics.
Just keep that in mind.
Click to expand...

I've also never heard of "intermediate ballistics"? There are internal and external ballistics (as well as terminal ballistics) but what are intermediate ballistics?
 
Yes. If you do competitions.
No if you don't.

Intermediate ballistics? lol... Tell that to our national service rifle champions...
 
Intermediate ballistics are from the moment your projectile exits your muzzle up to the point where it is no longer affected by the gases exiting your muzzle, that will lead into exterior ballistics.

Gases will still affect your projectile and its velocity a very small distance once it has left the muzzle, creating a Mach cone.
Intermediate ballistics are the reason you would use a flash hider to minimize flaming gases (your flash) or a muzzle brake to tame the recoil.

Crown will also affect Intermediate ballistics as to how your gasses are pushed behind the exiting projectile. If you go from a straight barrel to a muzzle device, that will play with your gasses exiting your muzzle so it will change your intermediate ballistics.

Not necessarily bad or good, just saying keep that in mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom