I acquired a Savage Striker in 300 WSM with the adjustable brake a few weeks ago. I took it out and tried it with the brake both on and off, just to get a comparison on the noise, concussion, and recoil reduction that the brake would add. I set up a video camera so that I could watch the gun (and because a number of people said I was going to kill myself with this gun
).
I was impressed with how effective the brake was at taming recoil, but the noise and concussion that it added were just unbearable. I've owned and shot a fair number of large caliber Contenders, Encores, and revolvers in calibers ranging from 375 JDJ, to Ruger level 45-70s in a BFR, and 500 S&Ws. None of these ever had muzzle brakes simply because of the added noise and back blast that they cause. Then again, they were all strictly hunting guns. I sat at the bench long enough to do load development, and then took them out to the field to shoot under "hunting" conditions. I envisioned the Striker as more of a plinking gun, so a brake doesn't seem like a bad idea.
I plan to swap barrels on the Striker anyways, so I'm trying to decide whether or not to have a muzzle brake add at the same time. I like the reduction in recoil, but I just can't tolerate the concussion that handgun brakes hit the shooter with. I'm thinking of just going with a heavier, longer barrel, and a little weight added to the forend to tame the muzzle rise, and not having a brake installed. The other option is to find an effective muzzle brake that is not as abusive to the shooter as far as the back blast, and go with a lighter contour barrel.
So my question is, what options are out there? I've followed Hammertyme's videos and posts on the Muscle Brake, and I've seen the videos and comments on the Holland brakes and Kirby's Pain Killer brake. I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any info on how well the individual brakes address the issue of the concussion.
Andrew
). I was impressed with how effective the brake was at taming recoil, but the noise and concussion that it added were just unbearable. I've owned and shot a fair number of large caliber Contenders, Encores, and revolvers in calibers ranging from 375 JDJ, to Ruger level 45-70s in a BFR, and 500 S&Ws. None of these ever had muzzle brakes simply because of the added noise and back blast that they cause. Then again, they were all strictly hunting guns. I sat at the bench long enough to do load development, and then took them out to the field to shoot under "hunting" conditions. I envisioned the Striker as more of a plinking gun, so a brake doesn't seem like a bad idea.
I plan to swap barrels on the Striker anyways, so I'm trying to decide whether or not to have a muzzle brake add at the same time. I like the reduction in recoil, but I just can't tolerate the concussion that handgun brakes hit the shooter with. I'm thinking of just going with a heavier, longer barrel, and a little weight added to the forend to tame the muzzle rise, and not having a brake installed. The other option is to find an effective muzzle brake that is not as abusive to the shooter as far as the back blast, and go with a lighter contour barrel.
So my question is, what options are out there? I've followed Hammertyme's videos and posts on the Muscle Brake, and I've seen the videos and comments on the Holland brakes and Kirby's Pain Killer brake. I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any info on how well the individual brakes address the issue of the concussion.
Andrew
