Best Self-timing Muzzle Brake out there?

[man32ahan]

Looking for the most effective muzzle brake at reducing recoil.
Had an Area 419 and loved it. Probably going to go that route again, but also really like the PVA Jet Blast and may consider giving it a try.

Are these the top two self timing brakes or are there better options out there? Let me know.

 

[PhOnEpHrEaK]

Area 419

 

[MElank]

Area 419 or anything from PVA

 

[earthquake]

I have been shooting through a PVA Jetblast for a year+ and have tried a few others. None imo compare. I always switch back to the PVA Jetblast.

I do like the toolless removal of the Hellfire, and being able to quickly change back and forth from it to my suppressor. But for absolute recoil reduction etc., I always put the Jetblast back on for matches.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

PVA jetblast

 

[Andy T]

APA little bastard - less parts (since it's not a 2 piece system like 419).

 

[Bulletsmith]

Area 419 without a doubt.

 

[CShooter92]

Insite Arms Heathen Brake

 

[Wrongtarget]

Wish I had more to compare it to but my Helfire has been great.

 

[Troy G]

Muzzle Brakes and More brakes are really efficient.

 

[Jeffd]

AREA 419

 

[Stpilot12]

Area 419 and APA Lil'bastard.. Both are about equal in recoil management. I like the mounting system of the 419 stuff.

 

[gnatmm]

my favourites so far are: Insite Arms Heaten, Area 419 Sidewinder and Norwegian Vertebrae muzzle brake.
All outstanding pieces of engineering, IMHO. I will test the lil bastard and the cadex mx-1 soon.

 

[Ccollins02]

APA little bastard - less parts (since it's not a 2 piece system like 419).

I'll second the APA Gen ii's...

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Area 419 was my choice and I'd do it again.

VooDoo

 

[Changed]

The 419 has a significant amount of back blast. The PVA doesn't have nearly as much.

I do, however, prefer the look and functionality of the 419.

 

[earthquake]

The 419 has a significant amount of back blast. The PVA doesn't have nearly as much.

^This.
I RO'd the GAP Grind last year and got an up-close and personal experience with about every brake available. After a while, when I noticed a Hellfire or LB brake come up, I had to back off or line up directly behind the shooter to avoid the blast. It was rough.

 

[nfoley]

Piercision 5 port! Extremely effective and not obnoxiously loud!!

 

[kthomas]

I own the or have owned APA Lil Bastard Gen 2's, Area 419 and Insite Arms Heathen.

The Insite Arms Heathen wins hands down.

 

[TheMammoth]

Area 419 is really good but as others have said, people on the line are going to hate you. One of the really nice advantages to them is that they offer silencer mount adapters for their kit. It's pretty nice and everything I have gotten from them has been really high quality and carefully packaged. I like them as a company quite a bit.

 

[Troy G]

I own the or have owned APA Lil Bastard Gen 2's, Area 419 and Insite Arms Heathen.

The Insite Arms Heathen wins hands down.

Could you be more specific on the Heathen brake? What does it do better? Recoil reduction, mitigation of muzzle blast, eliminating muzzle jump, etc.

This is one brake I have yet to try and Insite is Canadian so I'd love to support them.

 

[kthomas]

Could you be more specific on the Heathen brake? What does it do better? Recoil reduction, mitigation of muzzle blast, eliminating muzzle jump, etc.

This is one brake I have yet to try and Insite is Canadian so I'd love to support them.

It does just as good of a job of reducing recoil as the other two brakes I mentioned, if not slightly better, while reducing concussion to the shooter. Not near as much of the blast is directed back at the shooter. So it's a win-win: top of the line recoil reduction with minimal blast to the shooter.

Matt Brosseau, the current #1 PRS shooter (and #1 overall last season) doesn't have a brake sponsor and can shoot any brake he wants, and he chooses the Heathen.

Everyone that I know who has tried multiple different brakes seem to prefer the Heathen. They nailed it with this brake.

 

[Rangerbob33]

I love my Area 419

 

[Anzac]

Went from an APA G2 Lil Bstrd to a Brads Precision Rifle BFF and never looked back.

 

[308pirate]

Or you could buy any of the many AR-10 5/8-24 brakes out there for as little as $30 and add a $5 5/8-24 locknut behind it.

 

[want2learn]

308pirate, does the nylon in the lock nut hold up over time given the heat/vibration? thanks

 

[308pirate]

308pirate, does the nylon in the lock nut hold up over time given the heat/vibration? thanks

Not talking about a nyloc. Talking about a regular nut that you back up and tighten against the brake once the brake is timed right.

My bad, should have called it a jam nut which is more accurate.

 

[davsco]

i just sanded down (made thinner) a crush washer until the brake was almost timed, then turned the brake that final little bit until it was timed. no nuts.

 

[308pirate]

i just sanded down (made thinner) a crush washer until the brake was almost timed, then turned the brake that final little bit until it was timed. no nuts.

Yeah that's another way of doing it, although a little more PITA to remove and reinstall the brake.

I think the problem here is that self-timing has taken a meaning far too narrow from what it really is. A self-timed brake is one where you don't need a gunsmith or a lathe to skim metal off the barrel shoulder to time the brake. The term is not limited to expensive brakes with integrated, tool-less nuts/collars/collets/whatever.

Whether it's done with crush washers, peel washers, a separate jam nut, an integral jam nut, or some other way, they are all self-timed because the user can time it himself.

People lose sight of that and before you know it noobs think you have to pay $120+ for a self-timed brake when that is far from the truth.

 

[Pinmaster]

Another vote for 419

 

[308pirate]

I like VG6 brakes

Gamma if you don't mind using a crush washer or separate jam nut, Lambda if you want tool less.

 

[NateVA]

Favorite is Insite Arms Heathen

 

[houndog]

Area 419 is really good, but don't have experience with the other two.

 

[Haz251]

I just got my VG6 Lambda in today. Fit, feel, and finish is pretty damn good. Pretty damn sizable.

As soon as my barrel nut arrives I'll head out and get a feel for it. Buddy put on his 308 and the reduction was pretty damn rad. Anxious to see what it does on a 6.5

 

[308pirate]

I just got my VG6 Lambda in today. Fit, feel, and finish is pretty damn good. Pretty damn sizable. View attachment 6936264As soon as my barrel nut arrives I'll head out and get a feel for it. Buddy put on his 308 and the reduction was pretty damn rad. Anxious to see what it does on a 6.5

Damn that's a BEAST! I have a Gamma 762 on my 308 Howa/KRG and it's really effective. That thing looks like it will blow the Gamma out of the water.

Where did you get it? Everywhere I look it's out of stock.

 

[Haz251]

Damn that's a BEAST! I have a Gamma 762 on my 308 Howa/KRG and it's really effective. That thing looks like it will blow the Gamma out of the water.

Where did you get it? Everywhere I look it's out of stock.

https://www.armorally.com/shop/vg6-lambda-prs65/

Once in cart it's like $105. Super fast shipping too. 3 days I think?

 

[Hippy_Steve]

Area 419 is good

 

[want2learn]

thank you, great idea

 

[sgtsmmiii]

Area 419 for me.

 

[FredIII]

Scott weichel of live oak accuracy is making a very effective brake I will link my 338 edge video in a few



Prone in the dirt is no problem. Plus these things self time come with a wrench and eat recoil for lunch.

 

[CuTm]

How is the heathen on kicking up dirty?

 

[CuTm]

How is the heathen on kicking up dirty?

Dirt*

 

[NateVA]

How is the heathen on kicking up dirt?

It doesn't kick up any dirt. No ports on the bottom. May get a little to the sides but not nearly as bad as most others.

 

[308pirate]

Does anyone besides VG6 use fluid dynamics modeling to design brakes? Or is everyone else flying by the seat of their pants and doing trial and error?

 

[FredIII]

More pic of the brake on a .820 spout.

 

[.30kal]

Anyone have any experience with Spartan Precision Rifles Kopis Muzzle Brake?

https://www.shortactionprecision.com/products/spartan-precision-rifles-muzzle-brake

Kinda looks like the Badger Ord brake that did well in the Precision Rifle Blog test, as well as looks like a less concusive option for a compact build.

 

[Mtndog05]

I have been happy with mine from muzle brakes and more. Just as effective good machining and less expensive.

 

[bjay]

Ryan pierce new brake

 

[Stoweit]

419 was easy to install and works great so far.

 

[FredIII]

Anyone else try the self timing brake from live oak accuracy