Thread: 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

Two port ODL brake

will the muzzle break make it louder?

yes

Originally Posted by Bill999

will the muzzle break make it louder?

yes

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

Originally Posted by 308mate

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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?

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?

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