Muzzle brake question...

[acme_labs]

Has there ever been a study on muzzle brake design/head to head comparison? I am asking this because I have a friend who had cancer in his spine, and he has a remington pump 30'06, and it is too much recoil for his back. What would be the ideal muzzle brake for a sporting rifle like that?

 

[Request Dust Off]

I don't know. I don't think you'll find much in comparisons & not many objective opinions.

I do have a friend that had cancer & doesn't like much recoil due to a shoulder operation.

 

[spanky]

He might be fine getting a good recoil pad and putting that on top of a knoxx recoil reducing rifle stock.

 

[Richard in LA]

He might be fine getting a good recoil pad and putting that on top of a knoxx recoil reducing rifle stock.

bingo, and adding a good brake on top of that surely couldnt hurt. I'm guessing its a 7600, has he thought about maybe trading for/purchasing a7400/742 autoloader in similar caliber?

 

[SKYWLKR]

A brake aint gonna help a 30-06 for that application.


My Brother had to go to a .308 auto cause his 30-06 was to much.

 

[acme_labs]

Well, w/o the muzzle brake, the .50 BMG rifle would be un-durn-bearable, and I would think the .30'06 would benefit from a good muzzle brake. I have an old Cutts on an old browning light 12, and there is a difference.

 

[SKYWLKR]

I think the .50 has Plenty of gases that utilize the brake.

The 30-06 was not tamed for my brother with a back problem with a regular pad with a limb saver on it, then to an auto. so he went to a .308 auto with a Big pad.

 

[tmlowe]

Is he really set on a 30-06? What and where is he hunting? He may not need anything that big and could get away with a smaller caliber.

 

[CajunTim]

I would give this a try first if it doesn't work you can still add a screw on brake.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/muzzle_brakes.htm
There is another type of muzzle brake. These are "installed" by porting (drilling or cutting angled holes or slots into) the barrel itself. Such brakes avoid the added length and the slight bulge at the end of the barrel of a screw-on muzzle brake. They are a neater installation and cannot loosen with use. On the other hand, they slightly reduce bullet velocity, tend to collect fouling, make the barrel more difficult to clean, and, most importantly, cannot be removed.

Is he using this for hunting? Adding weight to the rifle itself will cut down on felt recoil. The cheapest way is to get some bits and start drilling some holes in the barrel, at the correct angle and spacing etc...

 

[acme_labs]

Well, he doesn't have a lot of disposable income, and typically hunts whitetail around here, and would probably do ok with a .308 auto. Money is the issue though. Anyone here hunt with an SKS?

 

[dmiculek]

The best recoil reducing brakes will have baffles that the gas will strike and vent out the sides. The Miculek, Cooley and JP brakes are some of the better recoil reducing comps on the market. They are mainly used on AR type rifles both 223 and 308, but the idea is the same.

I know a few folks that have taken quite a few deer with the sks. It does the job just fine. Just have to know your limitations with the rifle.

 

[LACamper]

There's not a whole lot of difference ballistically between .30-.30 and 7.62 x 39, and I've never heard anyone complain about using .30-.30 on deer.

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to download the .30-06 some? You're hunting deer, not elk or moose. I know people that hunt deer with .223 even. You really don't need that much power. Rather than buying a new rifle, switch to a lighter bullet and bring the velocity down. If you don't reload you could try the lightest bullet available.
I usually shoot .303 british in a light carbine, there's a noticeable difference in recoil between 150 and 180 grain bullet weights.

 

[SKYWLKR]

I hunt with an SKS on occasion, I use the 154 grain stuff.

Down loading the 30-06 is a great Idea! Why didn't I think of that!

I think there is a reduced recoil or Managed recoil load off the shelf!

 

[dantheman]

I hunt with an SKS on occasion, I use the 154 grain stuff.

Down loading the 30-06 is a great Idea! Why didn't I think of that!

I think there is a reduced recoil or Managed recoil load off the shelf!

I tried some REMINGTON reduced recoil loads for my son . There is a difference . That , along with a brake or porting might do the trick .

 

[acme_labs]

Yeah, the reduced recoil loads sound good too. Might see about a brake adapter for a screw on brake, a good pad, and he ought to be good to go. Thanks for the pointers!

 

[dawg23]

The best recoil reducing brakes will have baffles that the gas will strike and vent out the sides. The Miculek, Cooley and JP brakes are some of the better recoil reducing comps on the market. They are mainly used on AR type rifles both 223 and 308, but the idea is the same.

I know a few folks that have taken quite a few deer with the sks. It does the job just fine. Just have to know your limitations with the rifle.

I have the Miculek brake on my DPMS .308. I don't know if it's the muzzle brake, or the weight of the rifle, or the recoil system......or a combination of all three........but the recoil is about the same as my RRA .223

I'm pretty sure the muzzle has to be threaded to accept the muzzle brake....but based on what DPMS charges for the muzzle brake option, it can't be all that expensive.

 

[dmiculek]

Nice choice in comps! What type of accuracy are you getting from your LR 308?

 

[dawg23]

Nice choice in comps! What type of accuracy are you getting from your LR 308?

It depends on who's shooting it.

The only place I have shot it is at Hunter's Run...100 yards max. Not much of a testing site - bullet groups will make a single enlarged hole ..........if there's no wind.

Mine has the short (18") barrel. At the time I bought it the only choices were 18" and 24". The 24" with muzzle brake was just to long/awkward for hog hunting.

 

[vsound]

The best recoil reducing brakes will have baffles that the gas will strike and vent out the sides. The Miculek, Cooley and JP brakes are some of the better recoil reducing comps on the market. They are mainly used on AR type rifles both 223 and 308, but the idea is the same.

I know a few folks that have taken quite a few deer with the sks. It does the job just fine. Just have to know your limitations with the rifle.

+1 on the JP muzzle brakes for that application. www.jprifles.com

They show on their website an installation of the JP Eliminator brake on a .270 that he can hold up to his chin to shoot it. I have one on my HK SR9 .308 and it definitely works. JP can do the installation (for added price).

As for AR brakes, I'm partial to the Dreadnaught F2, but it falls in the grouping that has had no head-to-head comparison. The JP Eliminator is in a class by itself. http://www.dreadnaught-industries.com/parts.htm

 

[artabr]

Acme, your friend should think about trading his pump for a semi-auto, .308/.30-06 or some other appropriate caliber. A brake would help, but he might spend less on a used Rem. S/A.


Art