Supressor vs Muzzle Brake

[Silvertp]

Looking for the practical (not legal) comparison.

Just put a Brake on my .338 LM. Helped a lot with recoil but introduced a whole new level of muzzle blast to me and is pretty tough on the guys using the benches next to me as well. If the Brake were replaced with a Supressor would it provide any noticeable recoil reduction on the same gun...how about muzzle blast reduction?

Talking real world here, not theoretical. Appreciate any info you can provide.

Silvertp

 

[ogremccloud]

Yes a suppressor would Aid in recoil as well as muzzle blast. all the gases Are directed forward of the muzzle as the suppressor bleeds off.

 

[SidecarFlip]

... and having fiddled with a few, they change the ballistics of the particular round plus they have a definite lifespan and need to be rebuilt. A brake don't.

I can relate quite well to the 338 and the brake effect on 'innocent' bystanders....lol

I do like the double report (when heard from a distance).

I don't like standing beside one.......

 

[D.ID]

If you can squire one legally where you live, I would highly recommend one as they do the opposite of a brake in regards to muzzle blast. A good one will cost an arm and a leg but on a bolt rifle should last a very long time................. WARNING: they are addictive and if you do this you may feel the strange urge to have one on everything you own. Don't say I didn't warn you......................Good luck

 

[SidecarFlip]

You can here (own a muffler) with a special license and corresponding fees but but it's still a big hassle for limited return. It's like having a Class 3 Collectors license. I get to play with full auto firearms but don't be verbal about it.....

Cycling 1200 rounds a minute is fun but oh so expensive, especially when you have to buy the stuff. We ain't the government where its free from the taxpayers......

I prefer to watch that activity on U-Tube. It don't intrude on my wallet...... It's my opinion that everyone interested in firearms shoud be able to select fire at least one time, so long as they pick up the tab for the ammo.

Same applies to mufflers.

To me, it's more fantasy than reality.

The brake does exactly what it's designed for, brake's the felt recoil at a price.

 

[D.ID]

I have also owned some full autos and shot a great deal more of about every variety but found owning and feeding them to be educational, expensive and wildly impractical for any purpose other than fighting someone equally equipped. I long ago sold off my automatics but all the suppressers I have owned.....I still own....$200 tax and a couple months for background really is not as much hassle as it sounds. I love them more than I buy them but often wish every firearm had one.

 

[Silvertp]

Thanks everyone for the information, I really didn't know what to expect from a suppressor. I have always thought I'd like to try one out but wouldn't know what rifle / caliber to start with.

D.ID Im fortunate to hang my hat in Idaho as well, so no problems with ownership, just paperwork and expense.

SidecarFlip...you commented that a can wound "change the ballistics" of a round. Is that change significant enough that new load development is in order? Or more of a tweek / sight adjustment? Also, in your experience does a brake alter ballistics / point of impact? Im thinking of using the brake on my 338 LM for load development and taking the brake off in hunting season when I go for my walks in the mountains.

Silvertp












d

 

[brentc]

Are you talking sound "suppressor" or flash "suppressor"?

If flash suppressor, the answer is no, it will not decrease felt recoil. It will only reduce the muzzle flash signature when firing in dim conditions. Although to the untrained eye they may look similar to a muzzle brake, they will not function like a muzzle brake.

If you mean sound suppressor, the answer is yes, it will decrease the felt recoil, and it will reduce the noise to "no ear protection levels." This is the best option for what you're describing, but there are downsides. First, there are several legal steps you have to go through to legally posess a suppressor and right now it takes close to a year to get a tax stamp from the ATF to legally own one. Second, you have to figure in physical length. A suppressor will add at least 8 inches to the end of your barrel. If you run a 30" barrel already, another 8" could be a serious consideration for running a sound suppressor.

 

[rscott5028]

SidecarFlip...you commented that a can wound "change the ballistics" of a round. Is that change significant enough that new load development is in order? Or more of a tweek / sight adjustment? Also, in your experience does a brake alter ballistics / point of impact? Im thinking of using the brake on my 338 LM for load development and taking the brake off in hunting season when I go for my walks in the mountains.

The supressor will add some velocity in a lot of cases as if the barrel was a tad longer. It will also change the harmonics with extra weight on the end of your barrel.

It won't necessarily increase or decrease group size. But, your POI will definitely shift when shooting with/without the supressor. I suggest you develop your load which ever way you intend to hunt. And, use the suppressor for practice. Don't forget to re-verify and zero before hunting.

-- richard

 

[Silvertp]

Brentc...definitely talking noise suppression. Im trying to decide if a silencer will allow me to fire in a hunting situation without hearing protection and enjoy reduced recoil as well. Sounds like your experience is that both recoil and muzzle blast are reduced significantly. My hearing is already going down hill fast and I'd like to keep what little I have intact.

Silvertp

 

[Silvertp]

The supressor will add some velocity in a lot of cases as if the barrel was a tad longer. It will also change the harmonics with extra weight on the end of your barrel.

It won't necessarily increase or decrease group size. But, your POI will definitely shift when shooting with/without the supressor. I suggest you develop your load which ever way you intend to hunt. And, use the suppressor for practice. Don't forget to re-verify and zero before hunting.

-- richard

OK...exactly what I was trying to determine. Sounds more like a sight adjustment / verification of POI is in order when / if switching back and forth. The more I think about it perhaps I'd be better off just leaving the supressor on the rifle and hauling the extra weight in the Mts.

Your info is appreciated.

Silvertp

 

[rscott5028]

OK...exactly what I was trying to determine. Sounds more like a sight adjustment / verification of POI is in order when / if switching back and forth. The more I think about it perhaps I'd be better off just leaving the supressor on the rifle and hauling the extra weight in the Mts.

Your info is appreciated.

Silvertp

It's not legal for hunting in all states. So, you best check.

TX is just now considering legalizing suppressors for hunting game animals.

-- richard

 

[SidecarFlip]

It all depends on the round. It will take some 'trial and error' on your part but it will change the ballistics of the bullet path because..

The muffler directs the gasses escaping from the muzzle as the bullet passes through the muffler in a different direction (usually outward into the packing) so flight characteristics of the projectile are altered. Instead of the gasses following the bullet path, they are mostly removed/redirected. Just like a muzzle brake. If you shoot without a brake and install a brake, the ballistics change. This will really come into play with long range shots.

I would imagine some issue in changing from a brake to a muffler for different situations. Will probably take different loads for each scenario, brake, muffler and nothing, not that I'd be keen on lighting off a .338 with a bare barrell. The recoil would be punishing......

Not to mention the adverse effect on optics.

It's very possible to actually build a 'homemade' muffler from PVC tubing, disc packing and some ingenuity to give you an idea of just how much of a change there will be before shelling out the bucks for a factory muffler.... Just be discreet and don't show anyone.

There are also other inexpensive options out there, however, the letter of the law is very explicit. Better to not circumvent the law.

I know nothing.........