New barrel purchase….add a tailored muzzle brake, thread and cap the barrel or target crown the barrel?

[want2learn]

Hi, i'm purchasing a new barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I’ve been vacillating as to whether or not to have the barrel manufacturer install a muzzle brake or just thread and cap the barrel or target crown the barrel.

I’ve done a little bit of searching and found some conflicting information. It should be noted that i struggle with recoil sensitivity, hence the 6.5 Cr.

I’ll never be a run and gun kind of athlete…more of a sedentary bench, prone kind of shooter...... so effecting small groups at intermediate to longer range distances are my goal.

Unfortunately suppressors are not allowed in my home state.

Appreciate your counsel.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Don't put a brake on that little cartridge.

 

[Brux]

Brake it. It will shoot like a cream puff.

 

[Carlos Danger]

I put one on my friends 6.5. Now he enjoys shooting it much more.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

OMG

 

[Steel head]

Brake it. It will shoot like a cream puff.

This.
I’d highly recommend a Heathen, good recoil reduction without being blasty to others.

 

[jcmullis2]

I’d go with the threaded barrel. It gives you options. Sometimes a barrel isn’t as accurate when you add a brake. You might be able to deal with the recoil easier than loss of 1/2 moa or whatever if any. If you reload you can work loads up for either. Just my humble opinion

 

[msstate56]

Get it threaded 5/8x24. That allows you to pick from a multitude of available brakes. Just pick one. Sure some are a little better than others, but it’s not a huge difference. Get a 3 or 4 port brake, don’t get a “radial” brake that has holes 360 degrees. It has nothing to do with “how hard it kicks.” 6.5 recoil is not bad, but a brake keeps it on target. There’s a reason that everyone at a PRS match is running a brake (or can). It helps keep the rifle on target so you can spot your impacts.

 

[ColinW]

Even with proper recoil management, the 6.5cm is mild enough to shoot and keep eyes on target during recoil movement. It’s in your best interest to conquer your flinch and recoil sensitivities. Dry fire a million times!

 

[LawnMM]

Are you recoil sensitive, or noise sensitive? I'm tempted to say brake it, because that will definitely reduce recoil the most.

It will also make the recoil less 'pushy' and more 'snappy' to say nothing of the increase in noise and muzzle blast.

Do you have a suppressor? That may be best of both worlds for you.

 

[want2learn]

wish we could have a suppressor, i bet that would have been the best solution.... unfortunately they are not allowed in our state.

i'm certainly not terribly fond of the noise, i wear ear plugs and electronic muffs but i don't think that's it. I don't believe i flinch. My groups, while i don't seem to get all the shots in one hole i am shooting .4 MOA to .6MOA with regularity.


I find shooting the .308 a very uncomfortable experience....absolutely not fun after 3 shots. It's not a matter of getting sore but i really don't enjoy it. Something about the recoil impulse characteristic.

I can shoot my 6.5x47L quite well, it does have and integrated muzzle brake but i always wonder if the brake is contributing to diminished accuracy...and the noise isn't all that favorable, though tolerable.

 

[jcmullis2]

Are you sending your action out to be rebarreled or are you going with a prefit?

 

[Deleted member 10043]

When did we become "sensitive" If you're behind the rifle, concentrating, using fundamentals, the recoil is an afterthought. The recoil plays an important roll in letting you know you sent that bullet down range correctly.

 

[want2learn]

it's an older Tikka model called the 595....Master Sporter. I couldn't tolerate it in .308 so i just sent it off to Benchmark, they will remove the old barrel and place a new barrel. I ordered a threaded muzzle, 27 inch heavy barrel in their standard finish.

the intolerance or punishment is experienced immediately after firing. It surprises me that i should find it so punishing and unfavorable because in my mind i feel i've got a good handle on things. I set up carefully etc.

I'm shooting pretty well in my opinion, likely not as good as some of the one hole shots i so often see posted here but certainly respect and aspire to.... as i reference others at the range i'm generally shooting the tightest groups.

Interestingly i can shoot a 12 gauge over and under just fine, i shoot the 6.5x47L with a brake fine as well. Something about calibers above that level that do not do well with my physiology.

 

[ColinW]

I couldn't tolerate it in .308.

Interestingly i can shoot a 12 gauge over and under just fine, i shoot the 6.5x47L with a brake fine as well. Something about calibers above that level that do not do well with my physiology.

You can’t tolerate a .308......You can shoot a 12ga OA shotgun fine.....But, a 6.5x47 is pushing your level of comfort? Am i tracking correctly here?

Not to be intrusive, but how old are you? Can you pick up your own body weight? Such as, in a deadlift format or can you carry several fully filled up grocery bags without making a second trip back to the garage from the kitchen? What is your body weight? I’m just trying to get a level of your fitness capacity. Because it doesn’t add up that you can shoot a 12ga. shotgun but a .308 gives you trouble. Help us out, so we can help you better! I suggest giving a listen to David Goggins audiobook “Can’t Hurt Me.” He was a Navy SEAL who went through Hell Week 3 times in 1 year, after previously being very overweight and very physically abused as a child. Your body is capable of so much more than what you’re telling yourself. From the sound of it....Your mind is telling yourself that you’re too soft to handle a little recoil, when in fact you can withstand far, far greater discomfort.

 

[want2learn]

great insight

the 6.5x47 is fine, i'm comfortable with it....were it cheaper and more readily available commercially i would stick with it.
the .308 i can not tolerate...hence the desire to change to a more forgiving caliber
it is interesting to me as well but for some reason the recoil impulse of the 12 gauge is quite tolerable....the sharper impulse of the .308 is not. perhaps i got used to it from many years of shooting trap?
To further confuse the issue, i could not tolerate the .308 well prior to my spinal injury....as a result i never shot the Tikka and i changed my Sig from .308 to 6.5x47L. At that time i was quite vigorous physically.

Most recently I suffered a spinal injury which has left me with challenges to both strength and balance. Shooting prone works best for me. Have pretty much given up shooting shotgun. I love shooting pistol and hope to continue, as such i try to establish a wall or support to lean on which helps stabilize my core and allows me to shoot. Thankfully my brain is still working well.

No doubt improving my physical state would help. I must work harder. Not making excuses, i appreciate your recommendation.

 

[Steel head]

Get the 6.5cm
Put a good brake on it
Add some weight if you want
Enjoy the great ballistics and mild recoil
Ignore the brake haters and recoil masters

this is my sub 13# savage in 260.

It’s name is buttercup, she’s gotten over a dozen shooters in the 1000 yard club.
It’s an absolute pleasure to shoot just like a similar rifle in 6.5cm would be

 

[Onewolf42]

If OP had said they only want to shoot out to about 800yds I would suggest trying a 6.5 Grendel. Even less recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor but pretty good out to 800 yds.

 

[want2learn]

thanks everyone

 

[Hawk in WY]

One thing that might help is giving some thought to how your body absorbs recoil.

A free recoiling rifle depending on caliber and rifle weight will move maybe six inches under recoil.

There is a big difference in that energy being absorbed by an immovable object versus being absorbed by an object which will move and absorb the recoil over that six to twelve inches.

You shooting prone is the immovable object. You standing to shoot a shotgun is you absorbing the recoil over distance.

The answer might be to shoot sitting rather than prone or from a bench or prone with the front rest and your shoulder higher off the ground.

Good luck.

 

[Snuby642]

I agree the 6.5g is a pleasure to shoot for old and or beat up folks like me.

My 20 inch upper in 6.5g has about the same recoil as a 16 inch 223 upper.
No break necessary .

Only thing is it's not really competitive.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Our company language is changing, "cream puff", "butter-cup"...

 

[Sniperwannabee]

everybody i ever shot with either has a supressor or for the unamericans , a brake, I cant remember the last time i saw someone shoot without either one

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Stop going to the gay gun club.

 

[want2learn]

it's good to laugh...thanks

ok, will at least get the barrel threaded....there goes another $100 to purchase a muzzle brake

how about this question.......optimal rifle twist for the 6.5 Cr....someone on the forum once advocated an 8 to 7.5 twist rate rather than the more commonly discussed 8 twist throughout. What say you esteemed counsel?

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Stop going to the gay gun club.

are you short?

 

[Snuby642]

Well damn @Culpeper

We have some disabled veterans on here that may take exception.
We have some old folks that still like to shoot.
I have a grandson that may never shoot larger caliber rifles.
Plenty of young shooters that have to start on something.

There are a lot of reasons that cream puff rounds are popular.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

are you short?

Frank ain't gonna like that comment.

 

[want2learn]

The Great Equalizer....

A Quote By Ronald Reagan “The gun has been called the great equalizer, meaning that a small person with a gun is equal to a large person, but it is a great equalizer in another way, too. It insures that the people are the equal of their government whenever that government forgets that it is servant and not master of the governed.

Education: The “Great Equalizer” Horace Mann, a pioneer of American public schools in the 19th century, famously called education the “great equalizer of the conditions of men.”