Changing between brake and moderator?

[jacre1993]

for those with experience in doing so … does changing between a moderator and muzzle brake affect group sizes/impact points much?

I know this could effect harmonics but curious if anyone keeps the same load and regularly swaps between the 2?

Thanks

Jamie

 

[DavyG]

for those with experience in doing so … does changing between a moderator and muzzle brake affect group sizes/impact points much?

I know this could effect harmonics but curious if anyone keeps the same load and regularly swaps between the 2?

Thanks

Jamie

Definitely affects group sizes…you’ll no longer be part of a group
DG

 

[Foxyboy43]

Definitely affects group sizes…you’ll no longer be part of a group
DG

Correct but you will have plenty of space either side of you on the range - not that you will see it because of the dust storm….

 

[Heym SR20]

It may or may not. Each rifle is an individual and you will need to try it.

I despise muzzle breaks. Yes they might tame recoil but you better have good eye protection as if the ground is at all dry and dusty you will get a face full of grit. I know this having found out the hard way.

Muzzle breaks are also very loud.

 

[Malxwal]

Muzzle brakes have their place and purpose.
But to your original quest, this evening I found my muzzle brake fitted to my rifle resulted in no noticeable grouping change, but a 0.3MRAD shift up in POI , compared to the standard zero using an ASE SL7i moderator. It's something you just have to test for yourself I think.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Muzzle brakes have their place and purpose.
But to your original quest, this evening I found my muzzle brake fitted to my rifle resulted in no noticeable grouping change, but a 0.3MRAD shift up in POI , compared to the standard zero using an ASE SL7i moderator. It's something you just have to test for yourself I think.

Hmmm.
Is the MB lighter than the ASE?

 

[Malxwal]

Hmmm.
Is the MB lighter than the ASE?

Considerably

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Yes, has a very large difference on my comp rifle.

With a mod (load was worked up using this) I was seeing 0.1-0.25MOA groups.
When I changed to a Sako TRG Brake I was loaned to try using a brake I found that the POI changed and the groups opened up to 0.75-1MOA despite the velocities still being low ES/SD.

I personally went down the tuner brake route and managed to find settings which seemed to match (and even improve on) the moderators harmonic profile. This was very beneficial for PRS competitions where haze was an issue with Mods so brakes were a game changer.

Ultimately you could get lucky and it has no effect, but it's definitely something to be tested.


Ben

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Is the MB lighter than the ASE?

Ahah!
Same thing happens between my T8 and Stalon - I assumed this was simply because there is a greater “curve” in the barrel due to the differing moderator weights. Happy to stand corrected of course…

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Ahah!
Same thing happens between my T8 and Stalon - I assumed this was simply because there is a greater “curve” in the barrel due to the differing moderator weights. Happy to stand corrected of course…

Each moderator will constrain the muzzle gases to a different degree. You may be lucky and see little difference between your two moderators or you may not. Serious load development as Ben notes above, needs to be with respect to a specific muzzle device.
Regards
JCS

 

[Foxyboy43]

Each moderator will constrain the muzzle gases to a different degree. You may be lucky and see little difference between your two moderators or you may not. Serious load development as Ben notes above, needs to be with respect to a specific muzzle device.
Regards
JCS

Interesting - I may just chrono the two mods….

 

[old 30-06]

My shooting buddy has a moderator called "a little bastard". I have shot alongside him at Hythe open air ranges. There is no "little" about it. It is deafeningly loud, and the blast, even from his 6.5 Creedmore, is truly awful. I built a barricade of range bags, gun slips, etc, but the very next shot knocked it down. I gave up, got out of the trench, and walked off. It will allow more shots to be fired than a moderator, but should not be used in company.

 

[gixer1]

I once put a trigger cam on my moderator equipped rifle. We then swapped it onto a similar rifle with a muzzle brake and we noticed a considerable reduction in movement of the scope view when on the muzzle brake equipped rifle.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[NullMac]

Ahah!
Same thing happens between my T8 and Stalon - I assumed this was simply because there is a greater “curve” in the barrel due to the differing moderator weights. Happy to stand corrected of course…

Changing the weight at the end of the barrel will (probably) change the harmonics of the barrel as it vibrates and the timing of the arrival of the bullet at the muzzle during this oscillation will (may) change the POI.

Depending on calibre I would have expected groups to shrink if anything due to the reduction in recoil but give the post above that is obviously a bit simplistic. I guess you would have to rework the load due to the different vibration between the two.

 

[C h r i s]

Yes. It will indeed alter your point of impact, sometimes quite considerably depending on barrel weight. Do some testing, won't take more than half a dozen rounds to see the difference between the two.