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Muzzle Brakes

Vodoun daVinci

Old Salt
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Dec 17, 2017
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    I'm building a precision gun (my first) based on a Savage 10 FCP-SR in 6.5 Creedmoor. 24" fluted barrel already threaded 5/8ths 24.

    I'll be adding a brake soon and kinda like the Precision Armament M4-72 but realistically this is a guess. Ideas and opinions are solicited.

    And appreciated in advance!

    VooDoo
     
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    Not familiar with that one, but the Heathen and APA Little Bastard are both good to go (have one of each). I think I might prefer the Heathen simply because it is tool-less to install. I would love to try an Area 419 Hellfire my next go 'round.
     
    I’d skip on the m4-72. Had one, the washer timing deal looks like shit in my opinion.

    hell fire
    mad scientist
    little bastard/
    hollands
    jp’s
    terminators
    etc etc


    Tons of great brakes out there. I run mad scientist but the hell fire is the best for ease of timing and works great in general.
     
    The APA "Little Bastard" and that DPMS Miculek Brakes are at the top of the list as well....the Little Bastard must be good as it seems rather expensive for what it is. Is it safe to say that pretty much all effective brakes increase report and pressure wave to the shooter and folks beside them or are there brakes that minimize this effect?

    Alamo Four Star in now: https://zrodelta.com/

    Right?

    VooDoo
     
    Last edited:
    The APA "Little Bastard" and that DPMS Miculek Brakes are at the top of the list as well....the Little Bastard must be good as it seems rather expensive for what it is. Is it safe to say that pretty much all effective brakes increase report and pressure wave to the shooter and folks beside them or are there brakes that minimize this effect?

    Alamo Four Star in now: https://zrodelta.com/

    Right?

    VooDoo

    Yes. They are.. but I’m not sure if the design changed when the company name did.
     
    I had the Little Bastard on my my 308 barrel and it did a good job. I have the Area 419 Hellfire on my 6.5 Creedmoor barrel and it does a excellent job. The ease of installation of the Hellfire, not that the Little Bastard was hard and the ability to switch to a suppressor with ease. Of course the dream of a suppressor on a bolt gun is a dream here her in New York.
     
    Insite Arms Heathen. Just as effective as the APA, yet easier on the shooter as it doesn't direct as much blast back to the shooter. Bonus that it doesn't require a wrench.

    The Area 419 brakes are also supposed to be effective, but they look like they direct more blast back towards the shooter (like the APA) judging by the direction of the ports.
     
    Lots of great info here....super thanks for everyone's opinions as it really helps a lot. It was 60 here today and we got out to the range with some Gun Buddies. I got to try out an Area 419 Hellfire brake on a .308 Savage and now I'm stuck.

    http://www.area419.com/product/hellfire_st/

    Seems really effective when shooting but does seem to increase shot report to those stationed laterally. I didn't notice a lot of back blast but it sure did cut recoil in half. I'm having one of these for my 6.5 CM build.

    VooDoo
     
    A brake on a 6.5 creed? Sounds like a waste of money to me unless it's on a lightweight hunting contour rig....
    But everyone is affected by recoil differently so maybe some do need one on extremely light recoiling rifles.
     
    I was at the range almost two weeks ago w/ a couple buddies. The three of us were set up prone to start. I was in the middle w/ a SUREFIRE MB762 brake on my gun. My buddy to the left was shooting a 6.5 CM w/ an Area 419 Hellfire & my buddy yo the right was shooting a 308 w/ a ALA Little Bastard. There was approximately six between us & to be honest I think the Lil Bastard pounded me a little more than the Hellfire. The concussion was definitely there. It actually turned the pages in my data book a few times.

    As the shooter, I can’t say which I prefer between the two. They’re both loud & mitigate recoil incredibly well. Spotting my own impacts was not an issue either. FWIW, I could own either & be fine w/ each.

    It’s worth noting that my SUREFIRE brake did very well also. It may not have mitigated recoil quite as well as the other two models, but I’m still able to spot my own impacts.
     
    I've had many of the brakes listed above (little bastard, mad scientist, Surefire) and actually like my M4-72 better than all. The shim set works better than any other shim timing, although not as easy as a self timing brake like the mad scientist.

    The M4-72 certainly has muzzle blast, but it's more of a gust of hot air as opposed to teeth rattling concussion like some of the others.

    That being said, my next will be an area 419 because I want to test out its suppressor adapter.
     
    A brake on a 6.5 creed? Sounds like a waste of money to me unless it's on a lightweight hunting contour rig....
    But everyone is affected by recoil differently so maybe some do need one on extremely light recoiling rifles.

    I find it a lot easier to spot my own impacts with reduced recoil. The less the better and for another $160 - $200 on a $2000ish rifle it's a no brainer for me.

    YMMV.

    VooDoo
     
    Ordered my Area 419 Hellfire in 6.5 black nitride finish Friday. It's shipped Saturday so I'll post a pix or two and try and show the installation. I'm loving the self timing feature - that's worth the price of admission right there.

    VooDoo
     
    I just ordered a PVA Jet Blast for my 308. I'll see how it compares to the JP Tank brake I'm using now. Is PVA still making the Mad Scientist? They were unavailable when I ordered the Jet Blast.