This may be a very obvious question and I know the obvious answer is yes, but I'm considering a brake on my .308 5R to help assist with faster follow up shots. If it's installed by a top-notch smith, should it net me the same accuracy as before? Should I also need to come up with a new load once the barrel has had a brake installed?
Gunsmithing Can installing a muzzle brake decrease accuracy?
- Thread starter djarecke
- Start date
Personally, with my 18" AAC-SD 700, I didn't see any change in accuracy after getting a brake. Sub-MOA groups stayed sub-MOA.
I didn't need to modify my hand loads either. Or rather, I didn't, because I didn't see anything that warranted working up a new load.
I didn't need to modify my hand loads either. Or rather, I didn't, because I didn't see anything that warranted working up a new load.
It can definetly change the harmonics of a barrel, but it shouldn't help or hurt the level of accuracy your rifle is capable of. It's very possible a load that shot well before will have to be tweaked once you install the brake.
In most cases it helps with accuracy. As bward says, it can affect the harmonics (ie Browning Boss) but in most cases the added weight slow down the whip and make it shoot better. Not to mention the ease of mind the shooter gets knowing it isn't going to rattle their teeth.
Yes they can, my PSS dosn't like the one brake - ok with a different make......... strange ??
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Is that a question or a statement?
The answer is usually no, however the accuracy problem might be you. I found this out the hard way. I had a break installed on one of my rifles ten or so years ago and my accuracy plummeted. I had a buddy shoot my rifle and it shot lights out; however every time I shot the accuracy was awful.
My buddy set up a video camera and recorded me shooting with and without the muzzle break on. Without the brake my shooting fundamentals were rock solid, a couple times he would take a round out of the chamber without telling me to see if I would flinch dry firing. With the break on I had a built in flinch, no matter how hard I tried and though I didn’t feel like I was flinching, I’d flinch, the video camera in slow motion never lies! We figured it had something to do with extra sound and pressures being directed back towards me. Subconsciously my brain was reacting to something and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t overcome it. I’ve tried over the years with other guns with breaks and it’s the same thing so I’ve given up.
My buddy set up a video camera and recorded me shooting with and without the muzzle break on. Without the brake my shooting fundamentals were rock solid, a couple times he would take a round out of the chamber without telling me to see if I would flinch dry firing. With the break on I had a built in flinch, no matter how hard I tried and though I didn’t feel like I was flinching, I’d flinch, the video camera in slow motion never lies! We figured it had something to do with extra sound and pressures being directed back towards me. Subconsciously my brain was reacting to something and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t overcome it. I’ve tried over the years with other guns with breaks and it’s the same thing so I’ve given up.
Very interesting! I shot a .338LM with a brake and didn't mind it, but wondered if it might help me enjoy the .308 a bit more. I hate to mess with a good shooting rifle, and I'm getting less than 1/2" groups consistently. Sounds like I might need to leave well enough alone!
