30-30 with a Oceania Defence muzzle brake

Hey guys,

I'm just putting together a replacement for my hunting AR which is now handed in. I'm going to go for a Marlin 30-30 dark which is 16" and pre threaded 5/8x24. I'm repurposing a QD Oceania Defence can and a VX-6 1-6 for it.

I already have the Oceania Defence Cyclone flash hider type Muzzle Device but thought for a 30-30 with a short barrel the two port brake might be better for recoil just if I want to shoot it without a suppressor, especially as my nephew may use this gun as well. I'm probably going to work up a load eventually with those Hornady polymer tip pointed projectiles and try to get the max range out of this rig so the bullet could be on the grunty end of the spectrum for a 30-30.

Has anyone used a muzzle brake like the Oceania Defence one on a 30-30 with this barrel length and if so how bad was the noise/concussion coming back?

Will end up something like this

Attachment 120504
Attachment 120505
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Two port ODL brake
Attachment 120507

will the muzzle break make it louder?

yes

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Originally Posted by Bill999

will the muzzle break make it louder?

yes

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I know that. My question was how bad it will be with this barrel length/calibre.

You’ll need decent earplugs let’s put it that way or your ears will ring for a long time. I recon an ASE sl5 suppressor would be better. Only 4” long.

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Originally Posted by Cowboy06

You’ll need decent earplugs let’s put it that way or your ears will ring for a long time. I recon an ASE sl5 suppressor would be better. Only 4” long.

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I see, I was looking at those Surefire ear plugs that let some noise in, but stop excessive noise, they seem to get quite good reviews, I'll have to get some. I don't like wearing my electric earmuffs in the bush.

Ase cans are mean, I've previously had two, but I like the light weight of the Oceania Defence can and dont mind the length as it's only 6.5 inches past the muzzle, and the rifle is quite short already. I'm a big fan of the QD system as I've had a surpressor come loose before...plus I already have the can and use it on a few other rifles.

Just use it with a can on it, the balance should be fine.

I have used the sonics a lot with terminator brakes and work fine being the shooter. Not as good if you are beside someone in the blast zone though. The safariland ones are a bit better or the top spec rated sonic. I have worn them all day a lot and a lot more comfortable than earmuffs. Still slow you to hear a bit. Hardy’s did have a digital ear plug style one too, don’t know how good they are.

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Originally Posted by Cowboy06

I have used the sonics a lot with terminator brakes and work fine being the shooter. Not as good if you are beside someone in the blast zone though. The safariland ones are a bit better or the top spec rated sonic. I have worn them all day a lot and a lot more comfortable than earmuffs. Still slow you to hear a bit. Hardy’s did have a digital ear plug style one too, don’t know how good they are.

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Thanks mate I will look into them.

With earplugs the rating of 20-30db may not cut a lot of noise out of a braked firearm which can be running 160-165DB+. Also earplug ratings are really only accurate for industrial noise, aka constant background noise. For impulse noise, like guns, scientists still cant agree whether we can even measure it accurately, and generally agree earplug ratings are even less for this sort of noise. Two sets of ear protection( plugs and muffs) dont double the ear rating, they just add 5-8db to the best ear plugs rating. This is because even blocking the auditory canal totally, you still get a lot of noise reaching the inner ear from vibration through the face, teeth, eyes and bones around the ear. Earmuffs with tight clamping force around the ear can reduce some of this vibration. Little kids skulls are about 10db softer than ours as well. Something to keep in mind letting them shoot at ranges with you all day. The amount of shots at a rifle range can expose you to more gunfire in a day than a lifetime of hunting after all. Sorry to be the old lecturer, severe case of tinnitus here, one blast too many with poor hearing protection.

my ears are ringing just looking at that brake....put the can on it...

My 16 inch 30-30 is very loud - no brake or can.

I can’t hear a thing you are talking about.

Hmm after these last comments I think I'll stick with the OD cyclone flash hider for now and shoot it suppressed most of the time @Cigar what's the recoil like on your 16" 30-30?

After reading @sixtus post....I think I have a solution.....

Attachment 120550

Pretty much, its accepted by the military now even soldiers shooting with hearing protection may get hearing damage. But I'd be careful posting suggestions like that publicly 308mate, the way things are going our governments might make it mandatory :D

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Originally Posted by 308mate

I know that. My question was how bad it will be with this barrel length/calibre.

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short barrels are bad enough on their own, it brings the noise closer to your ear while shooting, add a brake that directs even more back toward the shooter it would make it very unpleasant and down right painful in a range booth

with the weight of the rig running 3030 loads the recoil will be very comfortable without it and even better with the suppressor fitted

how bad? if i have to make up a scale ill give it a 7

plinking or bail loads with a light load of trail boss will be awesome,noise will be ok....but a full blown load would be painfull to say the least. once you bugger your hearing THERE IS NO GOING BACK....ITS STUFFED,people have to shout so you can hear....the Mrs whispers a sweet nothing in your ear,and you cant hear it....look after your ears,you only get two of them.

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Originally Posted by 308mate

Hmm after these last comments I think I'll stick with the OD cyclone flash hider for now and shoot it suppressed most of the time @Cigar what's the recoil like on your 16" 30-30?

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It has a decent recoil but not bad. I’ve been shooting it since I was 16 and weighed about 60kg and never really noticed it. The recoil is more of a push than a sharp jab, and definitely better than my 308 which is a similar weight.
The loudness of the bark can make the bite seem worse than it really is, I find hearing protection is great at reducing felt recoil

at 20 i had already lost 50% hearing in my left ear. pre employment heath check showed it. bought the first supp shortly after

the ringing is noticeable when things are quiet. thanks to a mate shooting a 7RM muzzle break at high altitude. right beside me, felt like someone putting a knitting needle in my ear

I'm keen to see how this project goes, thinking about doing the same myself.
Will you look at loading subs or just supers?

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Originally Posted by Beetroot

I'm keen to see how this project goes, thinking about doing the same myself.
Will you look at loading subs or just supers?

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Probably just Supers due to the fact I'll work out a good load worth those Hornady lever evolution projectiles and get the CDS made up for the Leupold scope so I can just dial in the distance on them.

I may look at subs later on but was hoping for a Troy PAR 300blk for that or maybe even a 45'70 like @300_BLK

I've only just got the rifle and bits all together so hopefully take her for a shoot in a few weeks.

Attachment 120875
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Hornady Lever Evolution on the left. Let's you use pointed bullets in tube magazines.

Attachment 120882

And Sierra 125 in the middle?

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Originally Posted by 308mate

Hornady Lever Evolution on the left. Let's you use pointed bullets in tube magazines.

Attachment 120882

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dont think its fat enough for the 125...they are pretty stubbie. the speer 170grn has always had a huge following in the .30/30 cause it just works.

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Originally Posted by 308mate

After reading @sixtus post....I think I have a solution.....

Attachment 120550

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jeez, i have heard of safe sex but that ridiculous :P

if it was me ( which it's not ) i would throw the LOUDNER away . . get the mag cut back to the wood ( 3 rounds are plenty ) now the suppressor can come back for better balance

load up some lead bullets to 1600fps . . now you have a well balanced rifle combo that is very pleasant to shoot, not loud with plenty of grunt . . my 2c

good luck

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

if it was me ( which it's not ) i would throw the LOUDNER away . . get the mag cut back to the wood ( 3 rounds are plenty ) now the suppressor can come back for better balance

load up some lead bullets to 1600fps . . now you have a well balanced rifle combo that is very pleasant to shoot, not loud with plenty of grunt . . my 2c

good luck

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The muzzle device is a QD cyclone brake more like a flash hider so it's not as bad as a normal brake, I'll probably shoot it suppressed mainly. I probably wouldn't shorten the barrel any more than it is to move the suppressor back as 16" is probably as short as I would want 30-30. It feels quite nicely balanced as it is now, he suppressor only weighs 170grams. Will see how it shoots next week. I want this thing to have a reasonable amount of legs for a .3030 so I don't want to cut too much weight off it for recoil reasons. I may thrown a limbsaver on the back and I think that and the Oceania Suppressor will take a bit of the bite out.