Choate SKS muzzle brake - UPDATE range result also with a ScoutScope scope mount

louthepou

louthepou

Snow-White Le Mod<br>Moderator
Moderator
Rating - 100%
792   0   0
Location
Aylmer, QC
Hi folks,

I recently acquired a Choate SKS muzzle brake, wanting to get a good quality brake for my SKS-D. Why? Just for the fun of it. I like to get quality parts, and the cheap $10 brakes everyone is selling usually get mixed reviews (at best). And my boys are starting to shoot centre fire, so a brake is an idea that they like.

Tried hard to find a Canadian source, without luck. So, I found a place in the States which accepted to ship to Canada. I ordered two brakes, to spread the shipping and export fees a bit. Still cost me an arm and a leg for shipping and export fees... :mad: But hey, now I have a Choate muzzle brake. :)

It does feel like it's a quality product indeed. Solid steel, decent machining, a few surface marks on the finish though. One of the two brakes I received looks like it has a finger print on the surface finish :confused:

The brake slipped on the muzzle with some light tapping of a mallet - so a perfect fit. The last thing I would have wanted would have been for the muzzle to fit loosely. the bolt securing the brake in place goes through the cleaning rod hole (rod needs to be put away), and a lock nut is provided. Would have been nice for the nut to be blued, like all the other parts.

Didn't try it at the range yet, but that's coming soon. Considering that it seems to be a good product, I'm happy. Less happy about the fact that it ended up costing me... $65!!! So hopefully if you wish to get one, you can find a cheaper source.

Oh by the way, the second brake is up for grabs... At the same ridiculous price which I paid for it... :(

Picture147-1-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Went to the range today, with my two boys. Among other guns, we packed my SKS-D with the Choate muzzle brake, on which I installed the ScoutScope no-gunsmith mount as well.

Here's the video of me using my SKS-D with the Choate muzzle brake installed; it was a fun day at the range, not too cold, with my two boys. Here, it's a bit of rapid shooting, with the goal being to see how fast I could bring the red dot sort-of-back on target at 100 yards. By the way, it is weird to be left-handed with the SKS-D. Once I figured out that the right hand should be used to keep the bolt open to put the mag on, it was a lot easier... ;) NOTE: some French language may be heard! :D
[YOUTUBE]x2ookP1hDOU[/YOUTUBE]

Here's my 10-year old son doing the same. Note my 12 year-old not being happy with spent cases hitting him, and showing discontent voicing some other discomforts. :) He also had a good time shooting with the rifle.
[YOUTUBE]nKFX7dDHRos[/YOUTUBE]

Here is a 100-yard target (which wasn't done rapid fire, mind you!), typical of the results today when making reasonable efforts at aiming.
Picture193.jpg


Final verdict for the Choate muzzle brake: It is mostly useful to reduce muzzle climb. Not sure if it could be called a true recoil compensator, although I think there is some effect on that side. But for muzzle climb, there's a definite effect. And it is indeed rock solid.

For the ScoutScope mount: it worked really well. I shot with it on the gun a few weeks ago. Removed the scope after that; put the scope back on the gun today; the zero was almost the same. I blame the difference (maybe a couple of inches) on the different ammo used (commercial vs surplus). Of course it's not a cheap no-gunsmith mount, but it works.

So, a really fun day, with positive results from two accessories proving that they may be expensive but they do their job really well. Cheers!

Lou
 
yeah, your 10 yo sure looked like he was having a good time.

btw , i noticed your 10yo is also a lefty?
 
Yup, south paw like me, which is a bit of a pain for milsurp bolt actions; as for the SKS, we do have to watch where we place our right hand's thumb so it doesn't get git by the bolt handle!

Lou
 
Curtton said:
yeah, your 10 yo sure looked like he was having a good time.

btw , i noticed your 10yo is also a lefty?
Click to expand...

I visited Lou this past Saturday afternoon & the the SKS-D is lovely! As for the Choate brake, looks very good. And the target he shows for 100 metres looks good. The range BTW was Danford Lake, west of Kazabazua.

Now Lou's 10 year old is one on my pets (and Lou has 3 great dogs too) in English, he responds to William. He is not large for his age and to see him handle that SKS is remarkable. As far as shooting left handed, I am of the opinion that Lou carries a dominant gene for left handed shooting :eek:, but not necessarily for writing :confused:.

I am unsure which is William's master eye but with that great optic, it could be either. In any event I applaud Lou, his expertese and his family values. :):dancingbanana:
 
Thanks Sly, you are much too kind :) and the admiration is mutual ;)

Guillaume's dominant eye is (maybe unfortunately) the left one, like myself. Otherwise I wouldn't have condemned him to a live of working those right-handed milsurp rifles! :D

Lou
 
louthepou said:
Thanks Sly,....

Guillaume's dominant eye is (maybe unfortunately) the left one, like myself. Otherwise I wouldn't have condemned him to a live of working those right-handed milsurp rifles! :D

Lou
Click to expand...

So, OK, the dominant gene for the dominant eye must be involved. But I take from what Lou did said. "do as I say, not as I do" did not work. So be it, some of must be left handed/dominant left eye, not that there is anything wrong with that -- ;). Seriously, at the local milsurp shoots, I am surprised how many shooters are lefties, and still beat me :eek:.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom