I've never owned a rifle with one so bear with me. I know they greatly increase the volume of the report, but what are the main contributing factors to thi sincrease? I've heard that lower muzzle velocity and lower pressure will equate to less increase in sound, is this true? For example if you put a brake on a .300 Wby (not that it needs it) and fired a 180gr bullet at 3200fps you'd get a certain increase in the blast you hear. If you put a muzzle brake on a .500 Nitro Express usinng a 570gr bullet at 2100fps would the increase in volume you hear be less?
Muzzle brakes
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"lower muzzle velocity and lower pressure will equate to less increase in sound,"
This doesn't apply to muzzle brakes, there is no change in velocity, unless the barrel is shortened to apply the brake. The increase in sound is simply the result of the gases escaping from the muzzle being ported back towards the shooter (moreso towards anyone beside the shooter). As for the difference between a 300 Wby and a 500 NE, in terms of decibals, it will have more to do with the speed at which the gas escapes from the bore and the bores effective area. FWIW - dan
This doesn't apply to muzzle brakes, there is no change in velocity, unless the barrel is shortened to apply the brake. The increase in sound is simply the result of the gases escaping from the muzzle being ported back towards the shooter (moreso towards anyone beside the shooter). As for the difference between a 300 Wby and a 500 NE, in terms of decibals, it will have more to do with the speed at which the gas escapes from the bore and the bores effective area. FWIW - dan
If people are looking for less recoil foff the bench,I suggest the lead sled .It cradles the rifle for bench shooting and will tame the recoil as much as a muzzle brake, you don't really notice recoil in the field anyway.
I hate muzzle brakes,I've had a few and there's just such an increase in noise and blast.
I hate muzzle brakes,I've had a few and there's just such an increase in noise and blast.
Be aware of two things when using a lead sled.The first being that they can effect the point of impact so if you sight in your gun using one, you need to verify your zero by shooting off sandbags as well.The second is that this type of device puts a great deal more strain on the stock and bedding.I personally know of two stocks that cracked while being used with this type of device.One was a wood stocked rifle and the other had a bell&carlson synthetic stock.
Thanks for the input. I am looking at ways to spend the inevitable Christmas money. I have no big bore rifles and was thinking of getting one. I have owned a .416 RM and a couple of .375 H&H's but I'd like something a bit bigger, I think. I've never had any rifle with a muzzle brake, and am hoping to keep it that way, so I've looked at the F990 recoil pad and mercury recoil reducers. I've also found that shooting off a shooting stick is far more comfortable than the bench, and with practice you can do quite well. I figure that I can deal with ~50ft-lbs of recoil in a properly fitting rifle quite well. So I thought a muzzle brake would put me into a whole new category of cartridges...
on the other hand, the Christmas money will probably go to bills....
on the other hand, the Christmas money will probably go to bills....
I have had the KDF brake put on few of my rifles and there great. Along with reduced recoil you almost eliminate muzzle jump. You can see the deer fall over in your scope , if a second shot needed , target is still in your scope , yes they are loud , makes my 280 sound like a 338 ,but recoil is less than a 243.
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I have had the KDF brake put on few of my rifles and there great. Along with reduced recoil you almost eliminate muzzle jump. You can see the deer fall over in your scope , if a second shot needed , target is still in your scope , yes they are loud , makes my 280 sound like a 338 ,but recoil is less than a 243.
I have had 2 braked rifles, both in 30-06. The first was my old BSA that was ported from the factory. It was designed to reduce muzzle "flip" more than straight-line recoil and worked quite well in that regard. It also was not so loud that a shot or two while hunting required ear protection.
The other rifle is my BOSS equipped M70. As a brake it works very - very well. You can watch 220 grain bullets impact the target through the scope. Felt recoil is in the .243 range. The noise however is something else! LoL A single shot without hearing protection will leave your ears ringing for hours. Even while hunting plugs or muffs are a "must have". The noise is so bad I decided the recoil was the lesser of the evils and bought the CR piece for the BOSS and the brake has sat in a drawer of my reloading bench for the last two years!
The other rifle is my BOSS equipped M70. As a brake it works very - very well. You can watch 220 grain bullets impact the target through the scope. Felt recoil is in the .243 range. The noise however is something else! LoL A single shot without hearing protection will leave your ears ringing for hours. Even while hunting plugs or muffs are a "must have". The noise is so bad I decided the recoil was the lesser of the evils and bought the CR piece for the BOSS and the brake has sat in a drawer of my reloading bench for the last two years!
They're loud, and I think anyone that sits next to you at the range and starts blasting away with one is damn inconsiderate, they should at least find an empty corner or not shoot at all. There was this jackass at the range a while back that was shooting a ported 45-70, he was hitting people on both sides with bits of burning powder. Having said that, I think they're pretty cool cause they allow you to enjoy bench-shooting virtually any catridge, and if you double up your hearing protection (muffs and plugs underneath) the noise is bearable.
I just sold a Rem 700 with a Vais brake on it in 300 win mag.Recoil was like a 270 but I would never shoot it without hearing protection.Our shooting benchs are covered in with a tin roof if I shoot it in the winter it will make all the frost fall off the inside of the roof.
