Muzzlebrake?

[muzzleblast525]

Question of the day, at least for me?  

I've got a Remington, stainless, fluted 26" barrel, in .308.  Today, while shooting, it finally got the best of me and started kicking my butt.  I'm thinking of putting a R3 pad on it, and also thought about a muzzlebrake, but did not know if one could be put on a heavy barrel.

Anybody got one?

[cal sibley]

I don't worry about recoil when shooting at a game animal since we rarely feel it then.  Most of my shooting is at the range.  I don't like a muzzle brake because it's too noisy.  Even at the range other shooters don't like the noise.  I don't like it when hunting a farmers fields.  They don't like it either, but the major problem area is still the range.  I've resorted to using a Past Recoil Shield for anything larger than 6mm Rem.  It eats up the recoil much better than I would have thought.  The only problem is that it may make reaching your trigger a bit harder with some of our rifles.  With most of mine I'm okay, but I do have a couple of rifles that cut it close.  Just one mans opinion.  Best wishes

Cal - Montreal

[Redhawk1]

Question of the day, at least for me?  

I've got a Remington, stainless, fluted 26" barrel, in .308.  Today, while shooting, it finally got the best of me and started kicking my butt.  I'm thinking of putting a R3 pad on it, and also thought about a muzzlebrake, but did not know if one could be put on a heavy barrel.

Anybody got one?

Before you go and make that a loud ear blasting gun, try a Mercery recoil suppressor or a Simms pad or even a combination of both, if the recoil is that bad.  I would not put a muzzlebrake on any of my guns. I have a 300 Win Mag and a 375 H&H and would not even consider one. Now my 416 Rigby came with one, but if it did not come with it, I would not of installed it.

The Mercury recoil suppressor info is here. http://www.mercuryrecoil.com/suppressors/index.htm#top

[oso45-70]

Redhawk

 Don;t tell me you have a muzzle on your Itty Bitty 416 Rigby. Boy I didn't know that. You afraid its going to bite you, Sorry about that the Devil made me do it.

Now to the Gentlman who has a kicking problem. I like most true shooters Hate muzzel Brakes of any sort. Get the pad on your rifle updated or get you a past recoil pad that you wear and i think you will like it and i know the folks around you will. Good luck........Sorry Redhawk.....Joe   .....Joe

[kudzu]

A guy in Texas bought out Vias muzzlebreaks. A buddy of mine had one installed on a 7mmrum just like mine. He braged on the differance it made, recoil wise. My big concern was noice. We took both guns to the range. Rem 700 Sendero. To me his gun was less loud. how's that for southrn english. We also had 3 other guys standing off listening. they had no idea which gun was being shot, and everyone said that the gun with the break was less loud. I still haven't gotten on yet, but am stronglly concidering it. I too would not have thunk it if I had not beem there. To me the sound was not that noticablly differance as much as the tone. All I can say is that it was much easier on the ears.

[poncaguy]

I remember I got rid of a Remington 600 in 308 because of muzzle blast and recoil while sighting it in. Later, while climbing the mountains in Colorado hunting mule deer, I realized how stupid I was........... :cry:

[SuperstitionCoues]

I had the Simms Limbsaver recoil pads installed on all of my centerfire rifles and my shotguns after back surgery last year.  I also use the Past Recoil Shields (Mag or Mag Plus) between me and the weapons.  

A 30-06 doesn't feel like anything except a strong .22, and my Model 70 7mm WSM feels like a really good nudge.  I haven't herniated a disc or displaced a vertebrae, and my hearing is just fine.

I contemplated installing a brake on the 7mm WSM, but I found out after talking with Winchester and Browning week or two ago that they won't do it, and if I have an outside gunsmith do it, it will void any warranty or responsibility Winchester has for the barrel and possibly the action.  That was a big enough deterrent.  My advice?  Have the Simms installed by a gunsmith - they look better than the pre-formed, pre-packaged do-it-yourself ones, and really get into doing core strengthening exercises to build your back and gut muscles.  Believe it or not, you use those more than your arms or chest when shooting - think about the torsion that recoil induces, and you will see where I am coming from.

These are the best ways I've found to continue my shooting.  If you do these, I don't think a muzzle brake will be necessary.  Good luck!

[Redhawk1]

Redhawk

 Don;t tell me you have a muzzle on your Itty Bitty 416 Rigby. Boy I didn't know that. You afraid its going to bite you, Sorry about that the Devil made me do it.

Now to the Gentlman who has a kicking problem. I like most true shooters Hate muzzel Brakes of any sort. Get the pad on your rifle updated or get you a past recoil pad that you wear and i think you will like it and i know the folks around you will. Good luck........Sorry Redhawk.....Joe   .....Joe

You got me there oso45-70. I am looking into getting the Ruger in 416 Rigby and I know it does not have the muzzlebrake.    Did you notice I did not say 416 Remington... :-D  :-D

[IntrepidWizard]

http://www.galleryofguns.com/ShootingTimes/Articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=40

[james]

When the old shoulder gets to hurting I just put a small sand bag between the butt and my shoulder.  The only time I do this is when I'm sitting at the shooting bench.  
James

[Zachary]

A guy in Texas bought out Vias muzzlebreaks.

The designer of the Vais muzzlebreak is George Vais, and yes, he sold the rights to another fella in Texas.

George Vais was a friend of mine.  He is Greek (like me) and he told me that he was interested in retiring.  I think he went back to Greece, although I'm not sure given that we have lost touch.  His shop was in my home town of Houston and he installed a few of his muzzle brakes on my rifles.  I have also installed the muzzle brakes from Answer Products (which are loud as heck), but the Vais brakes are much quiter than most other brands that I've tried.  The secret (if it is a secret) is that there are holes in the brake that run parallel to the barrel.  As such, gases (and thus noise) also escape forward as well as outward.  As a result, the Vais is not as "effective" in reducing felt recoil as most other brands, but it is much easier on the ears.

I do have a question for the original poster.  You want a muzzle brake on a heavy(ier) varmint rifle, and on top of that...on a .308?  I though I was recoil sensitive. :?   Listen to me.  After many years of flinching, I have learned that it is almost all mental.  Just make sure that you have enough eye relief from your scope, and that you hold the rifle snug to your shoulder.  If you do, then the recoil should not be that punishing.  A good recoil pad should also help quite a bit.  At the range, I can shoot about 20 shots from a .375H&H without feeling punished (although after that my shoulder does start to feel it. ).  But then again, that's a .375H&H and not a little .308.

I understand that everyone is different.  But although I'm 6' 0" and 180 pounds, I used to be a baby when it came to recoil.  Now it doesn't bother me that much anymore.

Let me also say that, although the Vais is a quieter brake, it's still louder than a non-braked gun.  Nowadays, I am no longer a fan of brakes because I just hate the noise.  And my not installing a brake on my .375H&H is a testament to my practice. :wink:

Zachary

[PEPAW]

I would suggest adding a Decelerator 1" Pad by Pachmayr and trimming the stock for a comfortable fit with heavy coats while in the field.   I would also suggest ear plugs AND ear phones while at the range.    They will help reduce the muzzle blast which increases the felt recoil.  
By the way, Remington does make Recoil Management Loads in the .308.   In my 7 mag the reduced factory loads feel like a .243.

pepaw

[Jimi]

Okay, I'm going to buck the trend here. I love my muzzle brakes. They allow me to shoot to my heart's content and as we all know, effective shooting in the field is greatly enhanced by practice practice practice. My PH doesn't want to be around them in the bushveld so I simply unscrew it when I go to Africa. No worries. But to hear people protesting them because they are too loud at the range? Come on, gentlemen... it's a rifle range. It's supposed to be loud! Kind of reminds me of guys at the gym who get disgusted if they see me sweating on the treadmill.

Never thought of myself as an offensive sort... but I may have to rethink that ;-)

[jro45]

I don't have a brake on my 416 Remington either but I do on my 338 RUM. The kind I can take off when hunting.

[kudzu]

When Ron (Texas guy who bought Vais) installs break, he does not cut any of the barrel, only treads it. Also gives you a cap that will screw on the barrel if you decide to take the break off. From what I've seen he does great work. You can't hardlly tell where it is put together.

I believe you can contact him at ron@muzzlebreaks.com (email)

[Lawdog]

Question of the day, at least for me?  

I've got a Remington, stainless, fluted 26" barrel, in .308.  Today, while shooting, it finally got the best of me and started kicking my butt.  I'm thinking of putting a R3 pad on it, and also thought about a muzzlebrake, but did not know if one could be put on a heavy barrel.

Anybody got one?

The best and healthiest advice I can give to anyone thinking about installing a muzzle brake on their rifles is DON'T INSTALL A BRAKE.  Doesn't matter what the make or model of the brake is they all increase the blast level to far beyond dangerous levels.  Proven fact.  There is no such thing as a quiet muzzle brake. Install a Decelerator or Kick Ezz(sp.?) recoil pad on that .308 and if it stills kicks to much have a small mercury recoil reducer installed in the butt stock(also cheaper than any muzzle brake too).  I use C&H Research brand in all of my rifles from .340 Weatherby up to my .450 Rigby(very near to the mighty .460 Weatherby).  After 30 years of law enforcement I have lost enough of my hearing to chance loosing any more.  Do yourself, your hunting partners and anyone else that may get around you while shooting a favor and forget the muzzle brake idea.  Lawdog
 

[Redhawk1]

You go Lawdog.  

[jmckinley]

:roll: Gentlemen I agree with Lawdog on this one. I went to the city range last week and the only bench open was in the MUZZLE BRAKE SECTION. I haven't felt those kind of shock waves since my wife found a new rifle in my closet., and she's only 5'2"!!! :lol: Seriously, those darn things hunt with my muffs on I can only imagine in the field. i lost enough hearing in the military. I don't like recoil either due to bad shoulders from football, baseball, rugby and other sports and i'll stay away form those ear busters. if the 308 kicks to much go to a 6.5 swede effective but gentle. In fact I find an 06 or 300win the upper limit of my my recoil tolerance. I shoot my 25-06 or 270 more than anything else and don't feel under gunner ever for Elk. I have the Simms on my rifles and they do reduce the recoil sensation a bunch. If your that sensitive to recoil shoot a smaller caliber or switch to a bow. I hunted bow for many a moon and just came back to the rifle world 3-4 years ago. I wish you luck because flinchitis is tough to cure.

                                                      Jess

[tanoose]

Muzzle blast a friend of mine uses the mercuryrecoil reducer in his single shoit handi rifle he has a bad neck and he said its a pleasure to shoot