T3x 308 Muzzle Break, Yes or No?
- Thread starter LukeW
- Start date
I like the option of a brake, you can always remove it for hunting if you so desire.
A brake will allow you to stay on target more and normally see your hits or misses, as far as noise you should be using hearing protection at all times anyways...JMHO though. YMMV
A brake will allow you to stay on target more and normally see your hits or misses, as far as noise you should be using hearing protection at all times anyways...JMHO though. YMMV
For me it's not the noise. It's the feeling you get, like getting slapped in the chest every time the guy fires the rifle.
Brakes have a purpose, and for the most part I don't care, at my current range I can usually just sit somewhere else if someone has a brake. At my old range in PoCo things were often pretty busy and I had quite a few trips that were not at all enjoyable due to having to sit next to a guy with a brake.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I’d rather have the choice of using a suppressor than a brake, but ohhhhh nooo our overlords say it’s too dangerous.
OP is better off buying a better recoil pad than anything, they work wonders for taming any felt recoil.
OP is better off buying a better recoil pad than anything, they work wonders for taming any felt recoil.
It sure does. The brake directs the blast back toward the shooter and bystanders. It's similar to standing ahead of the muzzle when someone else is shooting. The difference can be dramatic.
I don't think they make the gun any louder, but they change how that noise is perceived. By redirecting the blast back towards the shooter it can feel louder, especially if you're off to one side of the shooter.
This, IMO.
It redirects gas, thus blast and sound, outwards and/or back
A linear comp on a short barreled rifle is the opposite effect. Gather it up and send it all downrange. Doesn't lower the overall sound of the rifle but its less concussive and maybe a couple decibels lower at the ear of the shooter.
Ill normally set up on an outside bench when shooting a braked rifle at the range, I'll also set up an ammo box beside the brake to reduce the blast if someone is beside me.
My 338 Lapua has blown the ammo box off the bench if I don't have enough weight in it, so yes the blast is excessive for sure.
And I thank you for your consideration of others.
As much as I stated a page or so ago, a brake is not worth it, I can see the merits of using one on a once-in-lifetime hunt or at extended ranges.
Far better to keep on target with the reduced recoil of a brake, rather than scramble to attempt to re acquire the target in the reticle due to recoil, adrenaline etc.
Where I have issue per say is.. Some of the factory over-sized Gill Brakes over a Radial Brake (I’m looking at you Browning and your HAWG brake) or users adding in said abominations on hunting rifles that have little recoil
If it flows in with the taper of the barrel like the Tikkas or Weatherbys it’s atheistically pleasing and doesn't look too out of place. Those adding in “tactical” style Gill Brakes? not so much.
I’m really not sure why the Gill over the Radial craze currently….I can’t decide if todays newer shooters are more worried about their shoulder from recoil or less worried about tipping over their Organic Frappe-Latte-Mochachino that’s sitting on the bench next to them…
Far better to keep on target with the reduced recoil of a brake, rather than scramble to attempt to re acquire the target in the reticle due to recoil, adrenaline etc.
Where I have issue per say is.. Some of the factory over-sized Gill Brakes over a Radial Brake (I’m looking at you Browning and your HAWG brake) or users adding in said abominations on hunting rifles that have little recoil
If it flows in with the taper of the barrel like the Tikkas or Weatherbys it’s atheistically pleasing and doesn't look too out of place. Those adding in “tactical” style Gill Brakes? not so much. I’m really not sure why the Gill over the Radial craze currently….I can’t decide if todays newer shooters are more worried about their shoulder from recoil or less worried about tipping over their Organic Frappe-Latte-Mochachino that’s sitting on the bench next to them…
If it looks like it belongs on the end of a Barrett or something, hard pass for me too lol.
That Weatherby brake is ###y. IDGAF. The slim Tikkas too, for sure.
Think the Tikka brake that came on my 6.5 Roughtech was like .338 cal ID lol Would be damn nigh useless even if I did want to use the thing.
That Weatherby brake is ###y. IDGAF. The slim Tikkas too, for sure.
Think the Tikka brake that came on my 6.5 Roughtech was like .338 cal ID lol Would be damn nigh useless even if I did want to use the thing.
Yet in Weatherby’s infinite wisdom… The Cals they offer that are regularly 26” sans brake now become 28” with one. That’s a lot of barrel out in the field getting caught on branches, foliage etc. I also wonder how it affects the over all balance of those rifles. I’m assuming (ya I know..) that their market research says most of the users are open or high country hunters where it’s not a concern. Still… 28” of barrel is a lot of un-needed steel to be swinging, carrying around imo
The actual Tikka made brake is way too large, but easy to index, the mirage shield screw is dumb. There are much better options.
Brake bore diameter should be 20thou give or take cal you are shooting, most 308 brakes are bored out way too large, like they can handle a 35cal sort of large.
Rear facing ports suck, never found they did anything more vs 90 degree ports except blast you in the face with concussion.
My favorite is the Badger Thruster, but requires gunsmith install to bore/time/turn down to your preference. With a heavy barrel 308, blended to the barrel works just fine. Larger powder burners can be tapered and leave a bit more meat for gas. No crush washer, no double threaded indexing stuff, just 1 and done.
My 7mm mag is like a 223 with a Thruster on it. There are other good brakes I've used, but nothing like one fit to the bore.
I recently picked up a Heathen 4 port for a 18x1 6.5PRC, they have a pretty solid sale on the 3&4 ports, $150 for most common threads. Unfortunately they sent me a 6mm brake, but I can confirm they bore them tight. A .264 bullet barely clears, .277 won't fit. They were really cool about it, willing to take it back, bore it, remove the 24cal stamp, recoat it in cerra, but my Smith will bore it out on the lathe for $20 so I said all good to the owner. Not worth my time or theirs for something so minor.
Heathen looks good, first port is big and 90 degrees, the other 3 have some rear facing to them, but it looks like the design is good for concussion with the first 90 degree port, we'll see, not much in 18x1 out there, I did try an MDT 5/8x24 308 (way over bored) on a bunch of guns I have here, useless on the 7mm mag, pretty useless on any long barrel 30 cal, only thing it sort of worked on was a 16" 308, but face blast sucked, so it's sitting in a box lol.
Brake bore diameter should be 20thou give or take cal you are shooting, most 308 brakes are bored out way too large, like they can handle a 35cal sort of large.
Rear facing ports suck, never found they did anything more vs 90 degree ports except blast you in the face with concussion.
My favorite is the Badger Thruster, but requires gunsmith install to bore/time/turn down to your preference. With a heavy barrel 308, blended to the barrel works just fine. Larger powder burners can be tapered and leave a bit more meat for gas. No crush washer, no double threaded indexing stuff, just 1 and done.
My 7mm mag is like a 223 with a Thruster on it. There are other good brakes I've used, but nothing like one fit to the bore.
I recently picked up a Heathen 4 port for a 18x1 6.5PRC, they have a pretty solid sale on the 3&4 ports, $150 for most common threads. Unfortunately they sent me a 6mm brake, but I can confirm they bore them tight. A .264 bullet barely clears, .277 won't fit. They were really cool about it, willing to take it back, bore it, remove the 24cal stamp, recoat it in cerra, but my Smith will bore it out on the lathe for $20 so I said all good to the owner. Not worth my time or theirs for something so minor.
Heathen looks good, first port is big and 90 degrees, the other 3 have some rear facing to them, but it looks like the design is good for concussion with the first 90 degree port, we'll see, not much in 18x1 out there, I did try an MDT 5/8x24 308 (way over bored) on a bunch of guns I have here, useless on the 7mm mag, pretty useless on any long barrel 30 cal, only thing it sort of worked on was a 16" 308, but face blast sucked, so it's sitting in a box lol.
If you go this route, be sure to check poi with each.
Sometimes things change.
"Sometimes"........................
Hunter1970
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- in the shadows behind you
For me, no brake, just a limbsaver pad. That said, I grabbed a T3X in 308 for the wife as a hunting rifle last year. Put a LS pad on it and sent it off to PR Cook for a sweet hunting brake. The thing recoils like a 223 now, but plug your ears if you are not the operator...
- Location
- Haliburton County, Central Ontario
If you go this route, be sure to check poi with each.
Sometimes things change.
"Sometimes"........................
I was wondering about this...
If you go this route, be sure to check poi with each.
Sometimes things change.
"Sometimes"........................
My Christensen Traverse in 6.5PRC , displayed a change in POI of over 3" at 100m, when I took of the brake. The brake has been in the box, ever since I obtained a thread protector.
