Flashhider/muzzlebreak and accuracy

[1siktkt]

I'm looking to get an 18" or 20" (SPR/SDMR) upper. I was wondering if there is any degradation in accuracy using a muzzlebreak or flashhider compared to a target crowned barrel with not muzzle device?

I'm also having a problem figuring out what kind of upper to put on this RAW range queen

Thanks for the help.

[OutlawDon]

I'm looking to get an 18" or 20" (SPR/SDMR) upper. I was wondering if there is any degradation in accuracy using a muzzlebreak or flashhider compared to a target crowned barrel with not muzzle device?

I'm also having a problem figuring out what kind of upper to put on this RAW range queen

Thanks for the help.

Brakes/FH that are not as concentric in design will affect accuracy. As I've read, designs such as the newest Battlecomp with its closed bottom will alter accuracy so choose your muzzle device accordingly to your purpose and role. Look for something symmetric in its design so that gasses leaving the barrel will escape and vent more evenly and smoothly so as not to disrupt the bullet flight as little as possible when exiting the barrel.

[MissionMTMan]

Very true. I had to re-zero my FN SCAR when I installed my Battlecomp. I love the Battlecomp though so it was definitely worth it.

[JJ1911]

I would say muzzle devices affect Point of impact, at least with the ones I've tried. In terms of overall accuracy I couldn't really tell the difference,

[captbilly]

I have never heard of a target rifle with a break or suppressor

Everything I have read, though I have seen no actual data to confirm this, says that a target crown is the most accurate. Every muzzle brake or flash suppressor has the potential to degrade accuracy but there may be ways to mitigate this. The big problem with anything other than a target crown is that the gases leaving the brake or supressor are inconsistent and cause the bullet to slightly alter course in an unpredictable way.

Like everything in shooting it is a matter of degree. If you aren't shooting .5 MOA groups then it may make very little difference to you, but if you are looking to make 500 yard hits on a 6 inch target, you don't want a brake or suppressor (unless you do some serious testing and find something that really doesn't effect accuracy). Perhaps if you keep certain brakes or suppressors totally clean you could get a few shots out of them before the aim point started to shift. But what devices would be OK and how many shots until fouling messed things up is anyone's guess.

[swerv512]

Everything I have read, though I have seen no actual data to confirm this, says that a target crown is the most accurate. Every muzzle brake or flash suppressor has the potential to degrade accuracy but there may be ways to mitigate this. The big problem with anything other than a target crown is that the gases leaving the brake or supressor are inconsistent and cause the bullet to slightly alter course in an unpredictable way.

Like everything in shooting it is a matter of degree. If you aren't shooting .5 MOA groups then it may make very little difference to you, but if you are looking to make 500 yard hits on a 6 inch target, you don't want a brake or suppressor (unless you do some serious testing and find something that really doesn't effect accuracy). Perhaps if you keep certain brakes or suppressors totally clean you could get a few shots out of them before the aim point started to shift. But what devices would be OK and how many shots until fouling messed things up is anyone's guess.

even when a muzzle brake or other attachment is threaded on an existing barrel, the attaching threads are on the outside of the barrel. the barrel itself still has a crown on it, thats why people install FHs to protect the nice crown on the end of the barrel. attachments should only change point of impact not precision.