What muzzle brakes are you keeping you on target the best?

The best store bought I've ever used, were Darrel Hollands. I now build all my own, which seem to me to outperform his. One thing I have seen while shooting w/a break installed, that has top discharge holes. If using a thin barrel any cant you induce while shooting will sustainably open your groups up, unless said cant is the same every-time. I've seen this with most guns that have a 5.5 taper like the Remington varmint, an smaller.
 
Another vote for the Insite heathen here. I have one on my .308 and my sight picture through the scope does not budge. It also doesn’t blast the shooters beside you much at all because the rear ports are basically 90 degrees (straight to the side not back).

Also worth noting, the heathen is manufactured so you can install different caliber inserts in the front of the brake. These cost a little extra of course, but nothing close to the cost of another brake for a different caliber.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: kthomas
Full sized Fat Bastard on my LMT MWS .308...I can easily see impacts on steel out at 400 yards and can get follow hits nearly as fast as I can pull the trigger.

I've tried many other brakes, this is what works best for me.

Also, of course, a brake will not make up for poor fundamentals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie112
MDT elite are doing great on all of my rifles.
But keep in mind, that no brake, as good it may be, can compensate for a bad position or hold.
Your fundamentals are essentiel, the brake is just an aid.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tono
“Also, of course, a brake will not make up for poor fundamentals.”

WTF? You mean I actually have to practice? Yea, I ain’t doin that shit.


LOL...the best way to work through these issues is keeping buying more gear and avoid live fire practice. That way, you'll have the most awesome potentially accurate rifle money can buy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: PinesAndProjectiles
LOL...the best way to work through these issues is keeping buying more gear and avoid live fire practice. That way, you'll have the most awesome potentially accurate rifle money can buy!

EXACTLY!
Kinda like the ole Indian feller in Josey Wales with the hard rock candy.....it’s not for eatin....it’s just for lookin through.
Thats what I do with all my rifles. Take em to the line and let everyone see em....but never shoot em.....don’t want to dirty the barrel. ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
Really depends on what caliber we are talking about but for 6.5 Creedmoor I like the Patriot Valley Arms "Jet Blast" self-timing brake the best. It reduces recoil by 50 - 60%, prevents muzzle rise so I can see target impact through my scope and re-engage if need be, and the blast is vented forward to the side so I don't get complaints from the next lane other than the usual muzzle brake loudness comments.
 
Any of the top tier self timing brakes coupled with proper fundamentals will accomplish what you want. Proper fundamentals will go a longer way for recoil control then trying to chase down a product that's going to do all the work for you.

I've own/owned a few of the big ones: APA lil B, Area 419 and Insite Arms Heathen, and in my opinion, the Insite Arms Heathen is the best all around brake. When you factor in recoil mitigation, concussion mitigation, features and overall quality, the Heathen comes out on top for me.

Lots of good suggestions here for muzzle brakes. Working on your fundamentals and getting professional training will pay dividends over trying to purchase gear that will mask poor fundamentals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
Lots of good suggestions here for muzzle brakes. Working on your fundamentals and getting professional training will pay dividends over trying to purchase gear that will mask poor fundamentals.
Everyone says that, but nobody defines it. What exactly are the "fundamentals" of post-shot re-acquisition of a target ... that are different from the basics of just shooting well (i.e. sight alignment, sight picture, breathing control, cheek weld, trigger control, etc.)?
 
Everyone says that, but nobody defines it. What exactly are the "fundamentals" of post-shot re-acquisition of a target ... that are different from the basics of just shooting well (i.e. sight alignment, sight picture, breathing control, cheek weld, trigger control, etc.)?

Biggest thing for maintaining/reacquiring sight picture/alignment is properly loading the bipod, and being straight behind the rifle, with a natural point of aim where you intend to hit. Can't tell you how many times I have buddies lay 45*-60* (maybe exaggerated) behind the rifle, without loading the bipod, and you can watch the rifle recoil diagonally away from their body, as you'd expect. Then they complain about a poor brake, or too much recoil (out of a 6.5/260).

Regardless of the position you're shooting from, the butt should push into the shoulder evenly on both sides of the butt. Sometimes this requires canting the butt pad (all depends on body shape and shooting position), or raising/lowering the butt pad for proper engagement. A nice, grippy material on the butt can help as well. Maintaining/reacquiring sight alignment should be easy if your natural point of aim is correct, and you manage the recoil of the rifle so you don't move and adjust your natural POA. Easier said than done of course, especially with big caliber rifles...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stoweit and kthomas
Biggest thing for maintaining/reacquiring sight picture/alignment is properly loading the bipod, and being straight behind the rifle, with a natural point of aim where you intend to hit. Can't tell you how many times I have buddies lay 45*-60* (maybe exaggerated) behind the rifle, without loading the bipod, and you can watch the rifle recoil diagonally away from their body, as you'd expect. Then they complain about a poor brake, or too much recoil (out of a 6.5/260).

Regardless of the position you're shooting from, the butt should push into the shoulder evenly on both sides of the butt. Sometimes this requires canting the butt pad (all depends on body shape and shooting position), or raising/lowering the butt pad for proper engagement. A nice, grippy material on the butt can help as well. Maintaining/reacquiring sight alignment should be easy if your natural point of aim is correct, and you manage the recoil of the rifle so you don't move and adjust your natural POA. Easier said than done of course, especially with big caliber rifles...
Interesting ... never really thought of it that way. I use a Gen-3 APA Fat Bastard and shoot from a bench, and I can't seem to prevent the muzzle from "hopping" left putting the target to the right in the sight after a shot. Now that I think about it, the way the bench sits, I'm always positioned with my body on the left side, with most pressure from my shoulder shoulder pushing left to right in line with my body. This totally explains why the right push of my uneven body, would take "butt right" and "muzzle left" causing exactly what I'm seeing. Need to pull out the mat, go prone, and test this theory with a straight body and shoulder weld behind the rifle ... and see if my target "hops left" (or not). THANK YOU !!!
 
I run them on my 6creed, dasher and 308 reason being they are all match rigs and I’ll take every little advantage I can get with awkward positional shooting situations. Now all my hunting stuff is target crown, but I’ve run my 308 and 6creed without brakes in a few situations and they are tame.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SonicBurlap
Why does anyone think you need a break on a 6.5 or 308 in the first place, is my question?

IMG_3341.JPG


.... with their muzzle brakes.
 
there are numerous comparisons online, one of them with a camera through the scope.
while it may not be a top rated model in these tests, the Surefire – MB762SSAL/RE I am using works well for me.
 
At the moment I believe the Little Bastard Gen 3 is the best. The adjustable ports take a few tries to nail it down, but after adjustment there is almost no movement on the reticle.

The ability to tune it to the gun is the key.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TACC
I shoot my .223 with a supressor or no device at all to ADD recoil. Lol
Only 5.56 I've had a break on was a XM177e2 I owned. The break I built for it turned it into nothing but a water hose on F/A. Once I revamped it into a M231 I had to change the break slightly. Many a guy shot them an to a person said it was weird to have a F/A like that.
 
At the moment I believe the Little Bastard Gen 3 is the best. The adjustable ports take a few tries to nail it down, but after adjustment there is almost no movement on the reticle.

The ability to tune it to the gun is the key.
I run this on my 6.5cm, works like a champ.