Is NO muzzle device best for bench shooting accuracy?

[SanDiego619]

Hello,

If I am shooting single shots and want maximum accuracy, is it best to have no muzzle device?

I am asking because I saw some recent threads about installing a muzzle device and the difference between shims, crush nuts, etc.

If I don't care about recoil and just want maximum accuracy with a single pull of the trigger, is the best option to have no brake installed?

[squeeze]

Hello,

If I am shooting single shots and want maximum accuracy, is it best to have no muzzle device?

I am asking because I saw some recent threads about installing a muzzle device and the difference between shims, crush nuts, etc.

If I don't care about recoil and just want maximum accuracy with a single pull of the trigger, is the best option to have no brake installed?

Do us a favor: next time at the range; take a brake and a couple of wrenches and do a with/without brake shooting test. Please let us know the test results.

[SanDiego619]

Do us a favor: next time at the range; take a brake and a couple of wrenches and do a with/without brake shooting test. Please let us know the test results.

I think for me, an amateur, there would be no discernable difference. But when I see threads by Randall showing machined brakes with zero runout, it makes me think there must be a reason for that. If the brake is off-kilter a bit can it affect the trajectory or wobble of the bullet? I suppose that is my real question.

I think the answer is yes since people like Randall machine brakes on to barrels to the point of perfection. I just want to know the reason for doing that.

[hermosabeach]

Hans vang says- shotguns fart

He ports shotguns so the pressure is reduced a bit so the blast does not pass the shot column as it exits the barrel. The gas passing the shot disturbs the pattern.

Some like a major brake as it helps keep the rifle from moving.


Many shooters are more accurate with a 22 LR then a full power rifle round.

Natural point of aim is one part of accuracy. The recoil of a gun moves the gun and impact. A solid natural point of aim makes this process repeatable so while you move, it’s consistent so the group stays small

A big break keeps the gun from moving much. Some can spot their shots through the optic as the crosshairs stay on target and you see the impact.


For new shooters- take classes and shoot in matches. Learn the proper techniques for shooting. Gear never fixes a bad set of human fundamentals.


If you can’t hold a good group at 100 with a 4x scope, then a 10x or 20x scope won’t make you shoot better.



Look at everything but really focus on learning correct shooting techniques

[SanDiego619]

Thank you, that is why I said for single shot only. I know of course a brake is beneficial for multiple shots because it reduces muzzle movement. But assuming you did not care about follow-up shots and just cared about a single shot, would no muzzle device be the best?

[ar15barrels]

If I am shooting single shots and want maximum accuracy, is it best to have no muzzle device?

I am asking because I saw some recent threads about installing a muzzle device and the difference between shims, crush nuts, etc.

If I don't care about recoil and just want maximum accuracy with a single pull of the trigger, is the best option to have no brake installed?

Depends on the barrel contour but the heavier the barrel, the easier it is to get a barrel to shoot better.
The best solution of course is a thicker barrel but screwing on a weight to the muzzle usually helps as well since a heavier barrel vibrates less and slower.
What the weight functions as (brake or flash hider or just a weight) probably matters little unless the weight also happens to make the rifle recoil less which makes it easier to see impacts.
Such benefit makes the gun nicer to shoot.

Whatever weight is added needs to be completely solid to the barrel because if the weight were to be able to move on the barrel, that sets off additional vibrations beyond the barrel's normal vibrations.
Additional vibrations are definitely bad.
No muzzle device would be better than any muzzle device that moves around on the barrel during the barrel's normal vibration as the bullet is moving down the barrel.
A firmly mounted muzzle device is better than no muzzle device because it adds weight.

[SanDiego619]

Depends on the barrel contour but the heavier the barrel, the easier it is to get a barrel to shoot better.
The best solution of course is a thicker barrel but screwing on a weight to the muzzle usually helps as well since a heavier barrel vibrates less and slower.
What the weight functions as (brake or flash hider or just a weight) probably matters little unless the weight also happens to make the rifle recoil less which makes it easier to see impacts.
Such benefit makes the gun nicer to shoot.

Whatever weight is added needs to be completely solid to the barrel because if the weight were to be able to move on the barrel, that sets off additional vibrations beyond the barrel's normal vibrations.
Additional vibrations are definitely bad.
No muzzle device would be better than any muzzle device that moves around on the barrel during the barrel's normal vibration as the bullet is moving down the barrel.
A firmly mounted muzzle device is better than no muzzle device because it adds weight.

Thanks buddy, exactly what I was looking for. That answers all my questions. Now, I with my PSA rifle, am not entering any marksmanship competitions but I wanted to know the benefit of a machined brake and if it would be better to have no brake.

Thank you again!

[Whiterabbit]

I have data that shows with-brake accuracy is better. Recoil moves a barrel during barrel time, less on a braked rifle.

But all you need to know is what competition shooters are using. If f-class shooters use brakes, it means they help.

[SanDiego619]

I have data that shows with-brake accuracy is better. Recoil moves a barrel during barrel time, less on a braked rifle.

But all you need to know is what competition shooters are using. If f-class shooters use brakes, it means they help.

That makes sense. I did not consider that the weight of the brake would reduce barrel movement.

[waveslayer]

Muzzle devices only TUNE a barrel... it can be tuned for the good or bad. Browning had the BOSS system for example and it was to tune your barrel to your ammo.

If you want the best accuracy your best bet is to reload your own ammo. You can then custom the ammo to your guns specific vibration "node" to get the best accuracy, muzzle device or not.

Now a muzzle break is recommended for recoil which is the number one cause for new shooters to have poor accuracy because of flinching

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[PachecoFTW]

From what ive read and been told by a couple competition shooters(turn bolts) any muzzle device affects barrel harmonics.
Ive read on snipers hide, that some guy bought a 2k barrel for some custom set up and his flash hider would not let him group sub sub moa, sometimes a flyer would show up, so after removing device boom sub moa on every grouping.
I mean why would you lie about that?
Honestly I could never get a 1.5 moa group on any rifle, so I never really cared.

[Whiterabbit]

That makes sense. I did not consider that the weight of the brake would reduce barrel movement.

The benefit extends beyond weighting. Again, if it did not, all competition shooters would be using simple barrel tuners.

[Brush Guard]

Muzzle devices only TUNE a barrel... it can be tuned for the good or bad. Browning had the BOSS system for example and it was to tune your barrel to your ammo.

If you want the best accuracy your best bet is to reload your own ammo. You can then custom the ammo to your guns specific vibration "node" to get the best accuracy, muzzle device or not.

Now a muzzle break is recommended for recoil which is the number one cause for new shooters to have poor accuracy because of flinching

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

^^^ this ^^^

[ar15barrels]

I have data that shows with-brake accuracy is better. Recoil moves a barrel during barrel time, less on a braked rifle.

But all you need to know is what competition shooters are using. If f-class shooters use brakes, it means they help.

F class does not ALLOW brakes.

Brakes do not reduce the movement while the bullet is still in the barrel because the bullet needs to leave the barrel before the gas can make the brake work.
What a brake does is reduce the movement AFTER the bullet leaves the barrel.
This is what allows us to see impacts easier.

[theLBC]

depends on the harmonics of the barrel with your applied load