I have a 30-06 Encore with a LH Thumbhole stock.The rifle has the lighter 22 inch barrel.The rifle has a Swaro A-Line 3-10 scope on the rig. I load a 165 grain BT bullet with a bunch of RL22 for a pretty hot load. The rifle shoots consitently 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards. I am very happy with the accuracy and handling of the rifle. It has actually become my go to deer rifle for the last three or four years.

The problem I have is when I shoot the rifle off the bench it jumps up and hits me every once in a while. This never happens when I practicxe off handed or when I hunt. It only happens when I shoot off a tripod.

The recoil is not any problem. The problem is the muzzle flip. I want to reduce or get rid of the muzzle flip. Lowering the recoil would be alright, but my main concern is muzzle flip.

I have a 340 Wby.that was Magna-Ported(4 ports). It handles great off the bench, but it is a heavy rifle to start with. The only other rifle I have with a Muzzle Brake is another Encore with a 6.5X284 Heavy Barrel. The stock design is exactly the same as my 30-06. I have a picture of the 6.5 below.

The reason why the 30-06 has substantial muzzle flip(IMO) is twofold. The weight of the rifle(with lighter barrel), and the fact that when you shoot an Encore you need to balance the tripod as close to the action as possible.

Does anyone have any opinions on whether to Magna Port, Full Muzzle Brake, or what else?? Tom.