I’ve heard a few people who struggled to actually get one of those. It features 4 ports, compared to the APA and Area 419’s 3 ports and Impact Precision’s 2 port design, and those ports do sweep back at an angle. Your observed Staying on Target results were very evident. But there was a long list of quality manufacturers also mentioned on the survey, including Silencer Tech who represented 9% of the shooters, Leviathan Suppressors who represented 6% of the shooters, among others. Stay tuned! Even if the closure is minute, any constriction WON’T help accuracy. I bet if he can release a version intended for these calibers and threads that had the effectiveness of the Little B* + top ports, it would take over. With some larger calibers, the recoil can knock you off balance -causing a serious negative impact on accuracy. They are clearly doing many things right. I’m surprised that Surefire is not on the list. It’s very unlikely you’d be disappointed with your investment. I think you’re wise to say you’re too heavily invested to chase the very best. Now let’s look at the suppressors that were most popular among the top shooters in the nation: Thunder Beast Arms Corporation (TBAC) leads the pack this year, representing 43% of the shooters who ran suppressors. It’s likely at least proportional to the number of people who said they only run … That is a great idea, but that means there is a right and wrong way the ports could be pointing. I have a StraightJacket barrel that is 1.25” to the muzzle, and it looks a little strange with a brake on it! The Hawkins Precision Tank Brake was designed for long-range shooting in the prone shooting position. Hmm. https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-308-muzzle-brakes-compensators Precision Rifle Parts Manufacturer. The SARS Remulak Self Timing Muzzle Brake, was designed with 2 major benefits in mind, of course reducing recoil, but also directing the muzzle blast in non stationary position. Went from a ABA Little Bastard to a TB Ultra 7. Cutting the kick by about half can mean the difference of a perfect shot or missing target by a dozen feet. This bolt action game really just has one thing driving selection: precision. For example, black indicates shooters who finished in the top 10 in the PRS, dark blue is those who finished 11-25 in the PRS, and the lighter the blue, the further out they finished in PRS Open Division season standings. tierney arms company. Quality Simplicity Simplicity. Cool. These precision muzzle brakes effectively cut recoil without bathing the shooter with concussion. I tested 4 very different muzzle brake designs that I had in 6mm, 6.5mm, and 30 caliber, which included the APA Little B*, Holland 1.25” Radial QD Brake, Impact Precision Brake, and West Texas Ordnance Brake. I check my email pretty much every day patiently waiting for the next one to show up. The decision to use a suppressor could also come down to the format of how they’ll be shooting. MTU Shop NOT to assemble the OPSINC muzzle brakes using a crush washer. Ray Sanchez from TBAC once told me that he wanted to prove how repeatable the point of impact shift was on TBAC suppressors, so during the Steel Safari competition he removed and reattached his suppressor between EVERY stage … and still got 1st place that year! The Tank ST features a self-timing, locking collar design made in collaboration with Greg Young at Southern Precision Rifles… All the test barrels were validated for accuracy before the muzzle brakes were installed. They’re actually the same guys behind Competition Dynamics, which puts on some of the toughest long range rifle competitions, like the Steel Safari and Sniper Adventure Challenge. I found a company in Colorado, Witt Machine and Tool . Or are the match stages such that there is only a small requirement for rapid shots. There are a significant amount suppressors represented, but muzzle brakes are far more common overall. Well, Heath, I couldn't disagree more. We can help make your experience easy! Perfect timing Cal! But, the Area 419 design includes a unique universal adapter as well, which you can see installed on the barrel in the photo below. Do you have any data on what the pros are using for cleaning bores and how often they clean? Best Muzzle Brakes & Suppressors – What The Pros Use, Vote For The Best 6.5 Creedmoor Match Ammo, Bullet Jump Research: Executive Summary & Load Development Tips. Some of these suppressor companies might make a GREAT product, but just don’t have good marketing, so it’s like winking at a girl in a dark room … you know what you’re doing, but nobody else does! I have them on three of my rifles and for $89.00 price cannot be beat. Area 419 Hellfire Street Price = $165, The Impact Precision Shooting Muzzle Brake was the next most popular among this group of top shooters, with 9% choosing to run this muzzle brake. We found this little recoil problem was a little more dynamic than … This brake also features an integral locking collar, which means it doesn’t have to be “timed” to barrel either. You should check out that data again: Muzzle Brakes – Ability To Stay On Target However, there were only 2 shooters who exclusively run suppressors among the top 50 in the NRL. They are MUCH more comfortable when it comes to concussion. It’s a great idea, and pretty easy to implement honestly. The Omega is 7” long and weighs 14 ounces. Let our experienced gunsmiths work with you to determine which style muzzle brake is right for you. And that will be true for my TBAC suppressor at some point too. The VG6 Precision Gamma 65 Muzzle Brake is proven itself deserving of the top spot on our list for plenty of good reasons. I also got a strong mirage after the first 10 shots. If you aren’t sure what I mean by “timing,” don’t worry – more on that later. This design seems virtually identical to the Alamo Four Star Cowl Induction design, which was the most effective muzzle brake I tested when it came to reducing recoil (see the data). Store. Recoil reduction DOES help you stay on target. In the data above, you can see 51% of these guys said they might run a muzzle brake or a suppressor depending on the situation. The amount of gas you want to send up will vary based on rifle weight characteristics and the cartridge you’re using, so being able to tune it makes too much sense. I think it’d be just one more compelling thing about that muzzle brake. Many DIY shooters bypass this custom “timing” process, by using shims, crush washers, peel washers, etc. I’m glad you asked. Cal
I really believe it’s the best suppressor money can buy. I guess the fact that these guys are using them with good results probably means they don’t affect the precision in any gross way, but I wonder if it’d be something that could be detected with an air gauge. I really appreciate you taking the time to share that insight. What you do is an amazing resource for the shooting community. In fact, I shot with Tyler Payne of the Army Marksmanship Unit last year and noticed he actually keeps track of his round count with a sharpie right on his barrel! They seem to have good marketing, so I assume there is a reason. This “Gen 2” muzzle brake design from APA was the first popular muzzle brake featuring an integral locking nut, which means it doesn’t have to be “timed” to a specific barrel. That likely discouraged some people from going that route. Thanks for the insights. Every precision rifleman faces the decision: Do I go with a muzzle brake or suppressor? Here are the most popular muzzle brakes among the top precision riflemen in the country. Guess I missed those. There are times I like the advantages of a suppressor over a muzzle brake. Thanks for sharing, Steve. Lots of guys running them on 6s. Only for the tactical crowd? I’m not sure what else it could be. The rifle shot consistent 0.8 100 yard groups without the brake. If you use a mirage cover, it will help … but you still have to stop to pull back the cover regularly and let it cool down. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this content, data, or other materials is strictly prohibited without prior express and written permission from the author. Cal is a life-long learner, and loves to help others get into this sport he's so passionate about. We also recognize that the sport is 100% learning curve. It was also interesting reading a recent issue of Recoil today and comparing their suppressor list to the list you compiled. Trijicon Ventus: Measuring Range AND WIND! The MDT Elite Muzzle Brake reduces recoil helps you to spot impacts. Jason being a fellow Texan was a plus, and he went out of his to ship me the brake even though he was busy with farm work. I noticed it has 4 ports instead of the 3 on the Little B*, but other than that the design appears to be very similar. That makes moving it from one barrel to another very easy, with no gunsmithing or hassle required. Both have their advantages, so I thought we’d start by looking at what these guys run: The various colors on the chart represent the league and rank of the shooters. These devices also add a little bit of length to the barrel of your rifle, which can be advantageous when seeking stability before making a complex shot. The Omega Suppressor typically sales for $1130, but I noticed EuroOptic.com currently has it on sale for $899! Another thing to point out is the two more popular muzzle brakes are priced 40% higher than this design, making it a great choice for those on a tight budget. looking at your measurement comparison data, just doesn’t seem to add up to the the significant performance advantage the TANK has. By reducing recoil up to 66% the follow-up shot speed and accuracy is greatly improved while a straight cut through the rear baffle reduces concussive forces. I do think that design you described is pretty ideal. Options available The threads and distance to shoulder could vary by barrel, so you typically have to repeat this hassle when you switch barrels to ensure the ports are facing correctly. That is one of the biggest reasons the military snipers use suppressors and not muzzle brakes. If you were to purchase a muzzle brake for your 300 Win Mag, you need to consider how well it performs in reducing recoil and muzzle flinch. Customer Review Price: Low to High Price: High to Low Categories This is really more of a question regarding barrels and maintenance. Also didn’t care for the mirage over the barrel after a string of shot. It seems by one of your above posts that someone else is also working on a similar idea. Fast & Free shipping on many items! SHOT Show 2020: Leica PRS 5-30×56 with PRB Reticle! TBAC has been one of the most popular suppressor manufacturers since I started collecting this data in 2012. It’s clear when you walking around most major precision rifle competitions that the majority of rifles have a muzzle brake on them. I’ve been shooting with a top shooter running that and one of the guys was giving him a hard time, saying it looked like a “sexual device” in the end of his barrel! REMULAK Self Timing Muzzle Brake, Dixie Precision began in 2010, during this time period, Dixie Precision has installed and manufactured muzzle brakes of all styles and shapes. For more info, check out. In all seriousness, I appreciate you sharing that. Ultimately they may not be as lightweight or may have slight performance reduction over others, but it’s easy for us to focus too much on gear. Sorry for the confusion, Tony. That model is 7” long and the direct thread model weighs just 11.5 ounces! And yes, leave the mirage cover on while you’re shooting and slide it back off the suppressor as soon as you finish to let it cool. The tests were conducted in strict accordance with goverment standards using identical test equipment. I do enjoy the content though, keep it up! Last year we tested four of the major 338 suppressors to make an informed, data-driven decision on a suppressor to submit to SOCOM for the ASR program, and TB easily won out on every technical measure. Yep. The majority of the shooters are using a muzzle brake. Notice that on the “Ability To Stay On Target” test the lowest performers were the same ones that didn’t reduce recoil well either. for the first time will really appreciate this article. In their first year on the scene, the Impact Precision Shooting Muzzle Brake became one of the most popular brakes used among the top shooters Precision Rifle Series. But most see their match rifles as tools, and within this group of guys many of the tools have that well-used look! Sound right? You’re making me question everything now! I still have my JEC … you couldn’t buy it from me if you tried! © Copyright 2021 PrecisionRifleBlog.com, All Rights Reserved. either they want to stay on target or want recoil reduction) – those things are related! They’re often in a hide inside a building, and if you shoot a 300 or 338 magnum in a confined space with a muzzle brake, it is PUNISHING!!! I’d never thought of that before. I actually did ask questions about their cleaning regimen, which I’ll share in an upcoming post. 33 Comments, This article covers the muzzle brakes and suppressors the top 170+ precision rifle shooters in the country are running. Trick out or upgrade your firearm with the largest gun parts selection at eBay.com. 25% of the shooters using suppressors said they use a SilencerCo suppressor. © Copyright 2021 PrecisionRifleBlog.com, All Rights Reserved. I’m hoping the idea spreads. This article is based on a survey of 100+ competitors and shares what brands and models these guys trusted to make first-round hits. While their initial use was primarily in larger rifles – including the traditional elephant guns – they have become more popular lately with long distance shooting and hunting. I’ve melted a cover onto my suppressor before, so that’s an important tip! I rewatched your test video thinking it had to be something with the way you where shooting but i could find nothing in the video to fault. They are very inter-related. You bet, Steve! A 26” MTU barrel is 0.93” diameter at the muzzle and a M24 is 0.90”, so it looks great even on those heavy barrels. It’s likely at least proportional to the number of people who said they only run muzzle brakes compared to the number that say they only run suppressors, which was 4 to 1. There were very few running a straight contour, but it does look a little retarded on those if they are 1.25” at the muzzle. That is a really cool feature that makes installation even easier, because it keeps the brake from turning as you torque the collar to lock (watch video showing that). With some larger calibers, the recoil can knock you off balance -causing a serious negative impact on accuracy. That last part isn’t really an option for military guys, so they go with a suppressor. It was within 2 MOA of being in 4th, and just 4 from being in 2nd. Looks like its going to be a break for my target rifle and a can for hunting until I can figure a way to manage these issues better with the can. Went out today with my first suppressor. I took a peak at them, and that’s an interesting design. That is what I’ve personally used for a couple of years, and I’d highly recommend it. Two years ago SilencerCo was the most popular suppressor, but it didn’t make me feel like the TBAC Ultra-7 I had just bought wasn’t as good. It’d be interesting to see how it stacked up in terms of objective performance. And don’t let what these guys are using steal the joy of using what you already own. There were 17 more designs in addition to those I’ve already named. Glad it was timely! I remember when I’ve switched barrels with that brake, I’d have to make sure to send it to the gunsmith. Do they remove the brake to thread on the can? Hey, Bobby. That’s what they’re running. And the APA brake was one of the best for recoil reduction, but it definitely wasn’t the worse for staying on target. They aren’t running larger calibers. SHOT Show 2018: Really Right Stuff’s New Products, Online Precision Rifle Training from Top Shooter, Jake Vibbert, Extreme Long Range Tips 2: Spotting Shots & Ranging, Wyoming ELR Scopes & Mounts – What The Pros Use, Extreme Long Range Tips 1: Optics & Mounts, How To Measure The Distance To The Lands On Your Rifle Barrel, process of acquiring a silencer tax stamp, APA Gen 2 Little B* Self-Timing Muzzle Brake, recoil test system with high-speed sensors. That’s why these self-timing muzzle brakes have become so popular! So it’s not an either/or thing (i.e. That’s one of the drawbacks of publishing something like this, while it’s interesting it can also make people less content with what they have. The test involved three production samples of each product, so sample bias was not likely a factor. Another reader asked a very similar question, and I answere... Heath: You’re pretty much regurgitating Bryan Litz’s books with this particular present... Joe Bellicini: Once again, well done. I’m not saying they are NOT precise, but I’d think they’d be durable. Congrats on the TBAC Ultra-7. Despite Creedmoor rifles’ reputation for heavy recoil, the VG6 muzzle brake is able to dramatically cut down on the felt recoil to deliver a much more comfortable shooting experience. All right, let’s take a lot at the particular brands and models of muzzle brakes these top shooters were running: The most popular brand of muzzle brake was American Precision Arms (APA) again this year, representing 31% of the shooters using brakes. If the majority of shooters are using suppressors and the majority of shooters are using the APA Little B, how does that work? So it sounds like when shooting, to leave the cover on. Honestly, I can tell this is one of those things that I’ll wake up 6 months from now thinking about! I think I called it a “tunable” design or something, but you totally get what I’m saying. then looking at the recoil data it would seem to follow that the level of recoil attenuation and muzzle rise would be correlated, which it seems to be for every brake but the TANK! The MDT Elite Muzzle Brake has 35 degree angled baffles for increased recoil reduction while keeping a more streamlined design. They allow you to skip the hassle of timing a brake AND shims, and it still gives the rifle a “finished” look because there isn’t a visible gap between the shoulder of the barrel and the muzzle brake (like you might see if using shims or washers). (I’d be happy to share my analysis score book with you if you are interstest,, just another tool for the toolbox). They have several brakes, my favourite is the Muzzle Rise Eleminator, I like the design where there are exhaust ports on the sides and on top of the brake to keep muzzle rise down. Rifles with supersonic and powerful ammunition tend to have high recoil rates. Or does that brake have external threads that I’m not seeing? Or if no solid data do you have any opinions or general feel of what the community is using regarding cleaners and lubricants. Pretty convenient. In fact, one of the reasons those fans aren’t more effective (although they help a little) is because there is very little surface area inside the bore of a barrel … but there is a lot of surface area in a suppressor, so I wouldn’t be surprised if those chamber fans aren’t measurably more effective at cooking suppressors than barrels. Loved the comfort of shooting suppressed but felt like my recoil management was reduced significantly compared to my muzzle break which I believe was shown in some of your prior articles. Recoil compensators, aka ‘muzzle brakes’, have been around for over half a century. It’s common for muzzle brake designs to simply a one-piece metal tube with ports drilled in it. These muzzle brakes are typically removable if youre looking to upgrade or choose another type of brake. While their initial use was primarily in larger rifles – including the traditional elephant guns – they have become more popular lately with long distance shooting and hunting. Using a brake indoors, even on a 5.56/.223 will not make any friends. In-line recoil path manages recoil directly from the rear of the receiver to the buttstock, not through a traditional bedding … where you able to test the TANK on any other cal within the scope of the stay on target test? If you’ve ever used those, you know they aren’t the most precise or repeatable solution. That is very interesting. Why do you think this is. It’s based on a recent survey I conducted of the top 125 shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and top 50 shooters in the National Rifle League (NRL), which are points-race leagues based on the biggest long-range, field-based rifle matches across the country. I have the Ultra 9 and on my 6.5 creedmoor bolt rifle, it is completely hearing safe with no ear pro. Great deals on Muzzle Brake Rifle Parts for .22LR. The spiral port outlets along with the parabolic internal taper significantly reduces recoil while not making it overly loud. They also say it’s the best-selling rifle suppressor in history. Suppressors & Muzzle Brakes, What The Pros Use
1. offer a suggestion as to how to summarize various tests into an Apple to apples comparison without missing the nuances (and the hard work you put in) HA! 10% said they only run suppressor (i.e. It was first released for 223, and is only available in 1/2×28 threads at this point … but I continue to hassle Jered every chance I get to come out with a Little B* model with those same top ports, because I’m with you. EuroOptic.com currently has it on sale for $899! This isn’t like the integral locking nut or collar on these other brakes, but effectively provides the same function without worrying about the brake turning as you torque it down. This data is very unique, because it is a wide sample of the most elite marksmen and experts in the field. So the majority of the pros are saying that Recoil reduction is the most important quality in a brake for them over Staying on target. That seems like a compelling design. 2. pick you brain: Cal Zant is the shooter/author behind PrecisionRifleBlog.com. Muzzle Brakes – Ability To Stay On Target, https://precisionrifleblog.com/2019/01/28/best-gunsmith/#comment-67977, Statistics for Shooters – Executive Summary, Precision & Group Size – Statistics for Shooters Part 3, Muzzle Velocity Stats – Statistics for Shooters Part 2, How To Predict The Future – Statistics For Shooters Part 1, Tactical Scopes: Field Test Results Summary & Overall Scores, Powder Temp Stability: Hodgdon Extreme vs. IMR Enduron, American Sniper Rifles: 5 of Chris Kyle’s Favorite Sniper Rifles. American Precision Arms makes one of the most popular muzzle brakes among the top-ranked precision rifle shooters – and they just released a new design that made it ever better! Tags American Precision Arms APA Little Bastard Area 419 Crux Suppressor Dead Air Suppressor Harold Vaughn Hawkins Precision Hellfire Muzzle Brake Impact Precision Insite Arms Kahntrol Muzzle Brake Lane Suppressor Leviathan Suppressors Mack Brothers Suppressor Masterpiece Arms MBM Beast Patriot Valley Arms Piercision Rifles PVA Mad Scientist Muzzle Brake Silencer Tech SilencerCo Omega Spartan Precision Rifles Sure Shot Precision Rifles TBAC Ultra-7 Suppressor Thunder Beast ZRODelta. When you’re reaching out to that kind of distance your scope and mount must be rock-solid! Absolutely love your articles. CHEERS !! Maybe reliability/durability is up there, but precision is the highest priority. 40 of the riflemen who finished in the top 50 said they regularly use a muzzle brake, and this data reflects what brake those 40 shooters said they used.