Accuracy issues with muzzle brakes

[rdavies]

Can a muzzle brake affect accuracy if it's too tight?

I have a Savage 12 and an RPR that have both gone from reliably shooting .5 MOA to shooting well over 1 MOA with the same ammo after adding brakes.

There is so much conflicting information about how tight to torque brakes. I'm afraid I went too hard.

[NYT]

i have heard of it but usually have the manufacturer or randall add the brake i want.

[NorCalFocus]

Usually your groups get better from the reduction of the recoil.

Factory threads are not always cut square to the bore, you could be getting a slight strike on the brake. Take a cleaning patch with some copper cleaner and wipe the baffles of the brake. See if it turns blue-green from copper.

[rdavies]

I inspected the brakes and couldn't see any marks from bullet strikes but I'll try that copper cleaner method tonight. Thanks for the tip.

[longrange1]

the torque(how tight it is)does not affect accuracy...the weight of the brake has changed the barrel harmonics...if shooting hand loads a little tuning will bring accuracy back.

[LynnJr]

Longrange1 hit the nail on the head.
When you tune your handloads you are looking for the upward swing of the barrel right before it peaks for best accuracy. Slower rounds take longer to exit the barrel but the barrels muzzle is rising so they exit at a higher departure angle and converge on the target with the faster rounds.
Faster rounds leave sooner so they exit with less muzzle rise and when you add a tuner that is what it does. The tuner dampens and widens the FPS range where the slower and faster rounds will converge.

[rdavies]

the torque(how tight it is)does not affect accuracy...the weight of the brake has changed the barrel harmonics...if shooting hand loads a little tuning will bring accuracy back.

There are countless posts and threads on forums about over torqued muzzle devices causing accuracy issues. Not saying they're right but totally dismissing it seems foolish.

Both of these guns shot fantastic groups both with bare muzzles AND different brakes.

[kcheung2]

Can a muzzle brake affect accuracy if it's too tight?

I have a Savage 12 and an RPR that have both gone from reliably shooting .5 MOA to shooting well over 1 MOA with the same ammo after adding brakes.

There is so much conflicting information about how tight to torque brakes. I'm afraid I went too hard.

There are countless posts and threads on forums about over torqued muzzle devices causing accuracy issues. Not saying they're right but totally dismissing it seems foolish.

Both of these guns shot fantastic groups both with bare muzzles AND different brakes.

So you answered your own question.

[longrange1]

There are countless posts and threads on forums about over torqued muzzle devices causing accuracy issues. Not saying they're right but totally dismissing it seems foolish.



Both of these guns shot fantastic groups both with bare muzzles AND different brakes.

Well then(and not being a dick or smart ***)try torque tuning your brake and see where that gets you.

I have had brakes basically hand tight and have one on a barrel I just pulled that's so tight I'm not sure I'll get it off and EVERYONE has shot groups as big as the neck of a loaded case...I've never heard of a overly tightened brake causing accuracy issues.


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[symbology]

Well then(and not being a dick or smart ***)try torque tuning your brake and see where that gets you.

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Seems like a reasonable thing to do. Especially, when one seems certain that it is the root cause.

[longrange1]

Seems like a reasonable thing to do. Especially, when one seems certain that it is the root cause.

The only problem(IMHO)is he will just be wasting time,barrel life and chasing his tail but i guess in the end it will be a learning experience.


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[newbutold]

Exactly why the Boss system is adjustable.

[Sig Marine]

When you say "same ammo", what are we talking about, factory or handloads?

As for brakes and torque, all of mine are basically hand tight. Other than POI shift, there is NO difference in accuracy, or their ability to group, with or without a brake using my handloads.

[Switchbarrel]

Both of these guns shot fantastic groups both with bare muzzles AND different brakes.

A question comes to mind....

If you had muzzle brakes on them before, I'm sure you put the old ones back on (or simply removed the brakes) and re-tested. Did the accuracy come back?

-Rick

[LynnJr]

Put the old brakes and the new brakes on a scale.
I think you will find the new brakes weigh more than the old brakes.
Most muzzlebrake are not heavy enough to drastically affect the rifles tune but anything weighing 6 ounces or more will definitely change the grouping capability.
The picture shows a couple of my 600/1000 yard Benchrest rigs and a pile of shaft collars used as incremental weights to determine the correct amount of weight.
On the overtorquing you want the most constriction in your barrel at the muzzle.