308 recoil and muzzle brakes

[WelshShooter]

I have a Tikka t3 in 308 and find that there is a lot of muzzle flip when shooting. This makes it difficult to spot hits as the targets I shoot at are still knock down fig11s. By the time I get back on target it's come back up! Recoil is OK, I shoot 8mm Mauser fine.

I fancy putting on an aftermarket stock, specifically the manners t4. Will this reduce muzzle flip and recoil so that I can keep on target after firing?

[ovenpaa]

WelshShooter, as much as I like the Manners stocks I doubt they will improve muzzle flip much if at all.

[Blu]

I have two Tikka T3's, one in .308 and the other in 270WSM. To be honest I can't say that I have noticed much muzzle flip in the .308, the 270WSM has a tunable muzzle break on it which not only reduces muzzle flip/ recoil but is also designed not burst the ear drums of other shooters near by.

Blu

[WelshShooter]

Thinking about it I was shooting off a bag. I have a Harris bipod, will that make much difference, even if I "lean" into it? Thanks ovenpaa.

[ovenpaa]

Leaning into or 'loading up' is a bit of an art to get right however it certainly works, I shoot with a Versapod on my Accuracy International and loading it up slightly makes a significant difference to my style of shooting. You do not need to put a lot of weight into the bipod, just enough to tighten things up slightly.

My recommendation is head down to a 100 yard range and shoot some groups using varying techniques with your bipod. try it on a piece of wood, on the grass, leaning well into it and just very slight pressure and see how it changes your groups and how it feels to shoot.

[Maggot]

Bit off piste but this reminds me of an incident (?) with a muzzel break (actually a small flower pot with holes in and no more effective than a...ineffective thing).

Chap turns up to shoot with nice ...not shiny but verty black rifle.

"Hope you dont mind mate, its got a muzzle break"

I had a quick look and said, "What is it, .338 lapmag? Oh a .50 Beowilf then?" (like a Beowulf but from Cleethorpes)

"oh no came the answer...its a .223"

Err, ok, so he fired it. It made .223 like noises, and I shook off the rubble and replaced my ear deffenders...not

"No, I'm fine with that" and released the No4. Now, these are not excessively loud rifles, but when it is right next to you (he insisted on being close, he could have gone to the left of the trench and laid there but no), anyway, I swear he jumped about an inch (not easy from the prone but he was quiet slight".

Heh heh heh

Mind you when I asked why? wtfwtf he at least had the honesty to say "Cos it looks better", and he's a good bloke as well

[WelshShooter]

Bit off piste but this reminds me of an incident (?) with a muzzel break (actually a small flower pot with holes in and no more effective than a...ineffective thing).

Chap turns up to shoot with nice ...not shiny but verty black rifle.

"Hope you dont mind mate, its got a muzzle break"

I had a quick look and said, "What is it, .338 lapmag? Oh a .50 Beowilf then?" (like a Beowulf but from Cleethorpes)

"oh no came the answer...its a .223"

Err, ok, so he fired it. It made .223 like noises, and I shook off the rubble and replaced my ear deffenders...not

"No, I'm fine with that" and released the No4. Now, these are not excessively loud rifles, but when it is right next to you (he insisted on being close, he could have gone to the left of the trench and laid there but no), anyway, I swear he jumped about an inch (not easy from the prone but he was quiet slight".

Heh heh heh

Mind you when I asked why? wtfwtf he at least had the honesty to say "Cos it looks better", and he's a good bloke as well

I can see that point of view, I have a few rifle's which are threaded and only have a protector on the end. A muzzle brake would look nicer but if I were to get one for this purpose I'd get one that's designed to aim gas perpendicular to the direction of bullet travel, so that it wouldn't disrupt shooters next to me. I've shot next to some guys shooting 308, 338 and 50bmg with a diagonal muzzle brake and it's not fun having hot gas and sand in your face!

[paulbradley]

I was on short Siberia, load testing about a month ago. A chap set up next to me and while I was in the middle of a string, BAM! 300Winmag gases straight into my face. I asked him if he alerted the range office to the muzzle brake and he said yes but his body language said the opposite. After about 10 more shots I loudly suggested I might fetch a hacksaw from my car. He then changed rifles to something more sedate. After being blasted my eye constantly watered and it made it impossible for me to finish load testing. By the time I arrived home my left eye was bright red and the pupil was dilated noticeably. There is a reason the military are introducing regs for muzzle brakes and being in their vicinity.. Because its bloody dangerous. Eyeballs don't like being pelted by hot gases full of chemical particulates. Much more care should be taken when they are used on ranges and in my opinion they should never be used next to anyone else or be so designed that gases are not aiming at anyone next door (the latter is unlikely as mentioned above, most are more concerned with cool looks than safe function).

[ovenpaa]

.........most are more concerned with cool looks than safe function.

Bravo Paul, I agree entirely.

Hope the eye cleared up quickly

[Blu]

The tunable muzzle brake I have on my 270WSM is designed to expel the gasses up and also out in the direction of bullet travel, the slots on the break are cut at an angle as opposed to being cut straight in the way you find on most brakes. This isn't one of the cheapo brakes either, the brake alone cost me around $250, thing is I like the rifle and the round for hunting plus without the brake the recoil aggravates an old neck injury.

The brake works very well and does what it's designed to do, I've also never had any complaints from others around me while at the range with it though in all honesty I tend to do most of my shooting in my own backyard on my own or with my wife or kids. I don't believe muzzle brakes are a bad thing especially for those sportsmen with old injuries who might otherwise have to give up shooting certain calibres but I also think that if one is going to use a brake then some thought and consideration needs to be put into which type of brake to use.

Blu