Can anyone recommend a muzzle break that is both effective and the accuracy of the rifle is maintained? I am considering purchasing a Ruger M77 in Stainless from a friend that says it kicks like a mule. This is for my son.

Thanks

Ted

Tsiero

Muzzle brakes have the subject of much debate on this forum.

The ones who are against them do not like the added muzzle blast/noise.

The ones who are for them like the benefit of reduced recoil.

I have installed quite a few muzzle brakes in my shop in the last few years and here is what I have learned.

All muzzle brakes are loud some more than others. All of them seem to reduce recoil, some quite a bit more than others. They must be installed with exacting precision, you must use a gunsmith who is capable of very high precision machine work. I have seen a few installed by other gunsmiths that were down right dangerous, others just performed poorly.

For best performance with the least amount or muzzle blast Vais is number one. If you don't have a good gunsmith near by you can send the gun to Vais in San Antonio, Tx and he will install it.

For the most recoil reduction without regard to muzzle blast KDF wins hands down. It has four and some five expansion chambers compared to others having one and it makes a noticable differance.

For good performance and average muzzle blast in a single chamber design and a little less expensive try the Shrewd muzzle brake sold through Brownells.

As Craftsman has said the person installing the brake is the difference between a goo/bad muzzle brake as far as accuracy goes.I also agree with his assesment that the design of the brake can make it more effective. I install more KDF muzzle brakes for this reason. All require hearing protection.

You didn't mention what caliber it is but I would consider buying another rifle if it's going to require a muzzle brake for your son to shoot effectively. There are a lot of calibers in the .243 to 7mm-08 range that can be shot by a youngster effectively. When I shoot a braked rifle I find myself reacting a lot more to the muzzle blast than the recoil. I know that if I shot a braked rifle for any length of time then I would start flinching from the percussion effect you get from it. I'd stay away from the brakes and move to a smaller caliber.

tsiero,

I have owned a rifle with a very good muzzle break, it was very accurate, and reduced the felt recoil amazingly well. It was a factory M70 with a "BOSS" on it. I thought it was the greatest idea ever to come from the minds of men...UNTIL I FIRED IT IN THE FIELD!

The added noise from the muzzle blast was excruciatingly loud. Even these words do not do justice to the real pain I experienced. I was stone deaf for the rest of the day. I was ready to cut the break off my gun with a pair of tin snips. That's how much my opinion changed.

I never hunt with hearing protection on, and I never will. It's the choice that I made for me. We are assuming this rifle for your son is for hunting, and not target use. If it was for range use, then no problem with noise at all. If it is for the field, then we have some important issues.

Do you know for a fact that your son will always, always, use good hearing protection in the field, and not just until you can't see him, or until it gets hot/uncomfortable? No one but you and him can know that one. I know that if I was to continue to use mine with the break on it I would indeed have permanent hearing damage. Food for thought when you think of your son's hearing, and a lifetime of hearing loss.

You don't really mention his age or size, or the caliber of the gun. I fired a M77 once in 7 mag with that crappy ruger synth stock on it with the scalloped butt and "Ruger" on the side. It kicked the #$%# out of me. I would say for a field gun, get a high quality stock for it that will handle the recoil better, or mercury dampeners in the stock, instead of a break. Or get a smaller caliber gun and have him shoot it until he's proficient. You don't want his first (?) gun to be a real kicker, or too loud, the resultant bad habits will take years to correct, and could turn him off to hunting. Now that would be tradgic.

I also reccomend no brake. If it kicks to much get a smaller caliber. You can use a 308 for any game in the country, .243 also. Theymay not be optimal but it will work fine. Starting a kid out with a hard kicking ear splitting rifle is a bad idea. You shoud be emphasizing shot placement, stalking, and self control. A break is loud, any break. It will induce a flinch and thus poor marksmanship. You can't safely hunt with your shooting muffs on. Super flat shooting ultra high velocity cartridges are not for beginners. Forget the muzzle break idea.

tsiero,

i would have to agree with the others, the only experience i have had with muzzle brake
left my ears hurting and ringing even with a pair of shooting muffs on. could cause more harm than good. try a different calibre or a different stock if it is one of the ruger synthetic stocks.