Muzzle Brakes

[kory]

What are the pro's and con's of muzzle brakes on a 223 rifle? I have a detached retina and I need to keep the recoil as low as possible. Do they effect accuracy in any way?

Regards,
Kory

[stubblejumper]

They reduce recoil but drastically increase noise levels for the shooter.They normally have no effect on accuracy.

[johnch]

I agree little or no accurey change but a big increase in noise , IMO NEVER shoot a rifle with a drake or porting without hearing proctecion !

[Georgetownboys]

Kory. . .yep they reduce kick but a .223 doesn't have much anyway IMO. Unless you have the porting done by a hack rather than a good gun smith it should not effect shot groupings. But like the other guys pointed out it will rock your world if you shoot with out ear protection. I was foolish enough to shoot a .260 that has been ported from inside a blind last season. My ears rang for 2 weeks.

I am not a big fan of breaks. But I understand your concern. They can easily change POI and open up accuracy. Your putting turbulance in a critical path for a bullet.

I think Vais's break is the most effective I have shot.

[USMC PMI]

I am curious if there is an article out there concerning the effect of muzzle breaks on accuracy. I know that the bench rest folks are still fighting over it, some swear by them, some hate them. If they are still fighting over their effict I think the degree of potential change may not be measurable. Has anyone seen or experienced anything different? I have found little documentation on this subject and most have conflicted each other. All agree that the blast or release of gasses at the muzzle can effect the bullet path for upto 15 ft. but there it stops. One source says un-disturbed gas flow is not good, that the break is the way to go since it diverts the gases away from the bullet path and reduces the chance of disturbing the bullet flight. The other says just to opposite, disrupting the gas flow and causing turbulance will adversly effect bullet path. Go figure? Maybe I will try a few tests on my own and post results if I get a chance.

I had a Weatherby Accumark with weatherby break in 300Wby Mag. Shot really nice consistent, 1.2" groups @100 yards or so without muzzlebreak, but always got flyers with muzzlebreak. Also made the gun rediculously long with a 26" barrel. And the sound, Then you got the cleaning to deal with in getting your patches thru. So I sold it. Decided if I needed a break, I shouldn't be shooting it.

[USMC PMI]

Those 300 WBY mags are kicking machines! Had one myself that did not have a break, was going to install the break but decided to sell the rifle as well, not worth the trouble. For what it is worth; I did read an article that said starting at the 300 WBY mag level and up that you should not fire these caliber guns on a regular basis as their recoil may cause retinal detachment! Has anyone had this happen, I noticed that Kory said he had a detached retina?

I fire a 300RUM almost every 2 weeks or more that has a tad more recoil than a Wby Mag. I have been shooting these big recoilers for a while, at least 5 years, and never had any trouble.

Thats the first I have heard of that problem.

[stubblejumper]

I also shoot 300ultramags with no brake on a regular basis.Again no problems at all.