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Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

crossgun

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Sep 2, 2008
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I just wanted to share my thoughts and experience. Placed an order for a Surefire 7.62 can so I needed to modify my trusty
26" .308 Rock 5R barrel with Badger FTE brake to except the Surefire Muzzle Brake and Suppressor Adapter.

While on the way to the gunsmith's I decided I also would make my stick just a little more "tacticool" and cut her back to a 22".

Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on the new combo and can honestly tell you in my opinion that the Badger FTE brake is a far superior brake to the Surefire if you’re just looking for a brake. When the FTE was on board the rifle did not move and the push, if any, was straight to the rear. The rifle honestly sat right back down on target and in most cases I could see the impact at 100yds almost immediately. The Surefire, without the can, pushes the rifle all over the place and it appears to jump up. It leaves the target and I no longer can watch for the impact or get a call.

I need to spend some more time behind the Surefire and may have to work on my body position a little to help with the recoil but I can assure you that if you’re looking for a brake you will be happy with the Badger FTE. Hopefully the can will calm it down some as well.

Think I may just have to build another rifle seeing as I have the FTE sitting here staring at me. Next time I will have a cap/thread protector made so I can remove the FTE and play along with the F Class guys. They seem to think brakes are rude!

Just my thoughts...
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

I can relate to your comments on the FTE for a .308, however the Thruster is even better in my experience. The FTE doesn't come in to its own until you start using it on Magnum cartridges. I have only used the Surefire comps on 5.56 ARs, they perform on par with the Thruster in that application.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

I use a Surefire on my 24in barrel AR-10,. The recoil is not nearly as bad as you post makes it sound,. I can't see the two inch difference in barrel length making that much of a difference,.... The can will help alot but you shouldn't be having that much of a problem with recoil,. The brake is installed properly right?
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

I had my TRG22 308 cut back to 22", installed the Surefire Flash Hider/ Suppressor adadptor . Shooting without the suppresor installed, the rifle torques over and up to the right, will not stay on target to watch for impacts. With the can installed, recoil is cut quite a bit and rifle moves around less . Am thinking about buying the Surefire brake and seeing if it helps with torque issue when using the can.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crossgun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just wanted to share my thoughts and experience. Placed an order for a Surefire 7.62 can so I needed to modify my trusty
26" .308 Rock 5R barrel with Badger FTE brake to except the Surefire Muzzle Brake and Suppressor Adapter.

While on the way to the gunsmith's I decided I also would make my stick just a little more "tacticool" and cut her back to a 22".

Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on the new combo and can honestly tell you in my opinion that the Badger FTE brake is a far superior brake to the Surefire if you’re just looking for a brake. When the FTE was on board the rifle did not move and the push, if any, was straight to the rear. The rifle honestly sat right back down on target and in most cases I could see the impact at 100yds almost immediately. The Surefire, without the can, pushes the rifle all over the place and it appears to jump up. It leaves the target and I no longer can watch for the impact or get a call.

I need to spend some more time behind the Surefire and may have to work on my body position a little to help with the recoil but I can assure you that if you’re looking for a brake you will be happy with the Badger FTE. Hopefully the can will calm it down some as well.

Think I may just have to build another rifle seeing as I have the FTE sitting here staring at me. Next time I will have a cap/thread protector made so I can remove the FTE and play along with the F Class guys. They seem to think brakes are rude!

Just my thoughts...
</div></div>

before you go and discount the surefire adapter as an effective brake, you must also consider you removed 4" from your barrel length. that will make the rifle a bit snappier creating the impression of more felt recoil. from my experience, any error in shooting position seems to be amplified when shooting with a shorter barrel.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Booty, no there are some types that clamp on such as the Roedale brakes </div></div>

Do the Roedale clamp on brakes work good? Does somebody stock them in US?
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

This seems a little apples/ oranges to me.

The surfire is a brake+QD suppressor mount whereas the FTE is a dedicated brake. I bet the surefire is a whole lot better at interfacing with a QD suppressor than the badger is...

Not to shit on your thread or opinions. They are valid, albeit redundant.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crossgun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just wanted to share my thoughts and experience. Placed an order for a Surefire 7.62 can so I needed to modify my trusty
26" .308 Rock 5R barrel with Badger FTE brake to except the Surefire Muzzle Brake and Suppressor Adapter.

While on the way to the gunsmith's I decided I also would make my stick just a little more "tacticool" and cut her back to a 22".

Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on the new combo and can honestly tell you in my opinion that the Badger FTE brake is a far superior brake to the Surefire if you’re just looking for a brake. When the FTE was on board the rifle did not move and the push, if any, was straight to the rear. The rifle honestly sat right back down on target and in most cases I could see the impact at 100yds almost immediately. The Surefire, without the can, pushes the rifle all over the place and it appears to jump up. It leaves the target and I no longer can watch for the impact or get a call.

I need to spend some more time behind the Surefire and may have to work on my body position a little to help with the recoil but I can assure you that if you’re looking for a brake you will be happy with the Badger FTE. Hopefully the can will calm it down some as well.

Think I may just have to build another rifle seeing as I have the FTE sitting here staring at me. Next time I will have a cap/thread protector made so I can remove the FTE and play along with the F Class guys. They seem to think brakes are rude!

Just my thoughts...
</div></div>

before you go and discount the surefire adapter as an effective brake, you must also consider you removed 4" from your barrel length. that will make the rifle a bit snappier creating the impression of more felt recoil. from my experience, any error in shooting position seems to be amplified when shooting with a shorter barrel. </div></div>

Uh, ya. Pretty sure that hunk of steel you blatantly circumcised from your previous/proper barrel length may have something to do with additional recoil.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OFIS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This seems a little apples/ oranges to me.

The surfire is a brake+QD suppressor mount whereas the FTE is a dedicated brake. I bet the surefire is a whole lot better at interfacing with a QD suppressor than the badger is...

Not to shit on your thread or opinions. They are valid, albeit redundant. </div></div>

A good point.

Keep in mind that the FTE can easily be taken off to allow a can to be threaded on. Its not "QD", but its better than nutting. OH, and the FTE can be put back on without issues with "timing".
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

As I stated, I have a can coming and I wanted the Surefire. The Surefire Muzzle Brake / Suppressor Adapter was about the only option so it is what it is.

I can also say that I see a lot of guys and custom rifle builders putting this brake on rifles that will never be shot with a can. It’s a very popular brake for some reason with the 3-gun crowd as well. Probably because of marketing and "coolness".

Again my point is it’s not a Badger FTE when it comes to recoil and muzzle reduction so know what you want.

I don’t think the lost barrel length really had anything at all to do with the recoil change seeing guys are running 18" barrels without issue and I also have a 20” that doesn’t “push” the rifle but thanks for your thoughts.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

crossgun, I run a Surefire brake on my 3 gun rifle ... WHY? Because it is an effective brake that meets the rules size requirements.

I have shot my 16 inch upper on a lower with a happy switch in it and the SF brake .... the rifel never moved on rock and roll. I shot a 20 inch gun with the SCAR brake on it on the same lower and in rock and roll, the SF upper stayed on target better and was more effective that the other brake. Both uppers were shot with XM193 as well. The SF brake kept the upper on target better.
 
Re: Badger FTE vs. Surefire Brake IMO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crossgun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As I stated, I have a can coming and I wanted the Surefire. The Surefire Muzzle Brake / Suppressor Adapter was about the only option so it is what it is.

I can also say that I see a lot of guys and custom rifle builders putting this brake on rifles that will never be shot with a can. It’s a very popular brake for some reason with the 3-gun crowd as well. Probably because of marketing and "coolness".

Again my point is it’s not a Badger FTE when it comes to recoil and muzzle reduction so know what you want.

I don’t think the lost barrel length really had anything at all to do with the recoil change seeing guys are running 18" barrels without issue and I also have a 20” that doesn’t “push” the rifle but thanks for your thoughts.
</div></div>

is your other 20" set up exactly the same and shooting the same loads as this one?

i have shot my 18" barrel 308 with and without the surefire brake and i can say that it is indeed very effective. i have not shot the same rifle with a fte so i won't pretend that i know which one is more effective.

i really don't think you are giving a fair comparison between the two when you removed 4" of barrel length at the same time as changing brakes.