Suppressor increases accuracy (At least this rifle)

[KYAggie]

Here’s the details: Origin short action, 300 WSM, 20” fluted barrel, Peak 44 Bastion stock bedded. This is a lightweight hunting rig and the barrel weighs 2.6#. I’ve kind of been pulling my hair our trying to get better than 1” average groups. I’m not going into detail, but I’ve tried a lot of bullet and powder combos and now have around 300 rounds down the tube. The best groups have been with 210 ABLR’s with 67.3 grains of R26 in Lapua cases with F215 primers; I’ve been annnealing after every shot giving single digit SD’s. Until now, my muzzle device has been an Area 419 Hellfire brake. I removed the brake last weekend and shot it with my Dead Air Nomad TiXC direct threaded on. It shoots so much better with the suppressor, I wish I had tried it earlier. I would just shoot it all the time suppressed, but as life would have it, the gun is in a commy state half the time, so no suppressor when there.

Weights:
DA Nomad Ti XC direct threaded: 9.3 oz
Area 419 Hellfire and adapter: 5 oz
2A Arms titanium brake: 1.7 oz

How do I make it shoot the same group size not suppressed as suppressed? Obviously, removing the Aera 419 Hellfire is a good start. Perhaps I should try it without a muzzle device? I could also try it with a 2A Arms titanium brake as well as its lighter and might have better barrel harmonics. Any other ideas as to how best accomplish this? Pics below show how much better it shoots with the suppressor.

Groups shot at 200 yards:

With 419 brake:

With suppressor:

Adjusted scope up 2 clicks. The group with the brake is .802 moa, quite a bit larger than the suppressed group.

500 yard group off tripod suppressed. The wind was calm and my Kestrel 5700 link with AB suggested .25 min left adjustment, obviously wrong, I need to sort that out.

 

[KYAggie]

I’m going to the range next week and will try the lighter 2A brake. The fact that more weight with the suppressor makes it shoot better makes me think that this barrel might actually benefit from some upward pressure at the front of the stock; I’ll give that a try too.

 

[diggler1833]

It is a weight at the end of a barrel that effects harmonics. Frequently it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

I think suppressors help the shooter more, or at least those that are recoil and concussion sensitive.

Brakes can also negatively affect accuracy. In your case, I agree that might be what you're seeing.

 

[3rdfocal]

You change the tune of the barrel in a huge way when you add/remove a brake/suppressor etc. Some barrels/loads care less than others. My only advice if you want it to shoot the same with/without the suppressor is to tune your load with the suppressor on, and then try using a tuner brake like the Cortina brake to tune the rifle without the suppressor. Hopefully you can adjust the tuner to get the rifle shooting well and then just leave your tuner setting alone when you add/remove the tuner from the rifle.

Or develop 2 loads, suppressed load, unsuppressed load. Probably not what you want to have to do though.

 

[3rdfocal]

In my experience, that hellfire brake is pretty violent for the shooter. Maybe different brake would help you shoot the rifle better.

 

[KYAggie]

Brakes can also negatively affect accuracy. In your case, I agree that might be what you're seeing.

This is the second time I’ve seen this issue with the Hellfire system, but the first time with the brake. I’ve had their flash hider cone throw shots with a 308. It will be interesting to see how the 2A brake changes things. A tuner might be worth looking into as well. I appreciate all the ideas.

 

[diggler1833]

In my experience, that hellfire brake is pretty violent for the shooter. Maybe different brake would help you shoot the rifle better.

^ That ain't a joke.

I've got a Hellfire that I've swapped between my 300WM and 7-300PRC. I've never done load development without it, so I tuned a relatively accurate load. However that concussion is a mo-fo. I hate shooting it prone unless I'm elevated a bit. It throws crap all over me, and I'm sure that is detrimental to my ability to shoot the rifle as well as possible.

But I can spot my impacts!