Thread: What to put on the end of the barrel?

For some time now I have been researching suppressors and muzzle brakes. I'm buying a 7mm Rem Mag and tossing up between the two (brakes and suppressors)? If I went muzzle brake I would go terminator t2........but suppressors are confusing me because there is the most costroversy around them. I am nervous i'll choose a suppressor and not enough recoil will be tamed and I'll flinch.......with the muzzle brake it may be too loud? What would you guys chuck on a 7mmRM? I am looking at DPT magnum baffle supressor or Hardy gen 5/stealth.......with a suppressor I am mostly looking for recoil reduction...... What would you guys pick and why?

What would I put on a 7mmRM? What DID I put on my one? A suppressor. There are strong reasons for and against booth and I am sure you will get many different views. My views come from my experience and my requirements and what I was intending using the rifle for.

Flinch from recoil is not all about the shove you get from the rifle accelerating towards you. It is your body's defensive reaction to an explosion inches in front of your face that creates a loud noise and rearwards impact at the same moment. Ironically, the louder it gets, the more explosive (bigger) the body thinks it is, thus while suppressors don't reduce the physical amount of recoil anywhere near as much as a brake, they reduce the perceived or "felt" recoil every bit as much if not more. While a brake is louder, it physically reduces the recoil by redirecting the explosion to push the rifle forwards to counteract the recoil.

Before you decide I would suggest trying rifles of the same calibre with one and the other. I found a suppressor more comfortable, but you may prefer the brake.

Brakes are lighter and less bulky and in the wise words of one called "Sledgehammer" they are a LOUDNER....

Suppressors are heavier and bulkier but reduce the noise considerably.

Both make a guns recoil easier to shoot. But with a brake, you should really wear hearing protection as well.

For hunting and use stalking I would suggest a suppressor, but in situations where time is available to set up and put on earmuffs etc, a brake can prove more effective. For example if it is at a range and everyone is wearing earmuffs, a brake will possibly be the better option.

In all personal honesty, I would not put the 7mmRemMag as a calibre that NEEDS a reduced recoil. Then again, I use a lightweight 375 H&H without brake or suppressor......

Originally Posted by timattalon

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Both make a guns recoil easier to shoot. But with a brake, you should really wear hearing protection as well.

You have to wear hearing protection with a brake, you should wear hearing protection with a suppressor.

If you are hunting with a dog definitely get a suppressor.

The lighter your rifle is & the heavier the projectile you use the more it will recoil.

Here's my take. I've got a mate who uses a suppressor (dpt) on a 7 Rem mag and it's nice too shoot. I use a brake on 7saum and it's noisy but nice to carry and nicely balanced (you must wear hearing protection or guaranteed instant hearing damage will occur). When walking around I take the brake off and use it for closer shots (still fu$king noisy though). Brake goes on for a longer shot.

All my other centrefires are suppressed and I'm a big fan of them (I use a dog).

If your intent is alpine hunting only I'd go brake but if you are going to bush hunt as well I'd cut the barrel to say 20 inches and suppress it. Still have plenty of poke to 5 or 600 yards.

Good luck.

Of course if its actually a hunting rifle you could resist the temptation to be a follower of fashion and not use anything - neither are essential or arguably even useful, except perhaps if you have a dog . . .

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

You have to wear hearing protection with a brake, you should wear hearing protection with a suppressor.

^^^This^^^ - and as others will point out: there are several things that will induce a flinch...

I have both, and swap depending on the situation.

Here's my 2 cents, my first rifle was a 7mm rem mag and I got it suppressed which made it nicer to shoot, I wouldn't say it reduced recoil much but certainly reduced the boom however it made it heavier and more awkward to carry and without a bipod or some form of solid rest it was horrible to shoot as it was barrell heavy. This in part was my fault going for a completely barrell forward maximus suppressor it was long and unwieldy like carrying a pool cue on your back forever getting hung up on shit.
I have recently picked up another 7mm rem mag as they are just so devestating and good for longer range.
I agonised about suppression or braking and decided my end goal is a light weight hunting rifle that will in likelyhood not often be fired more than twice in quick succession. In the interest of keeping it light balanced as compact as a long rifle can be I decided on a brake.
Both have there pros and cons but different horses for different courses.
I shot it without and depending on what projectile the recoil is not bad 150g softpoints no worse than my suppressed 308 with the same load, 164g ssts dramatic increase in felt recoil and boom. I have gone with the brake for a couple reasons
1 they look cool (not important)
2 I'd eventually like my 11 yr old sone to shoot it
3 keep it compact and balanced
4 I intend to do some load development and will likely be running heavier than 150g pills

I've never used one so will be interesting, if I hate it then I can always change to a suppressor.
If you decide on a suppressor and it's not a bench/range only rifle then my advice would be go for a over barrell type as to keep the weight as far back from the end of the barrell as possible it makes a big difference. You can test this st home by taping 400gms of weight on a peice of pvc pipe and sliding it on the end of your barrell and try holding it steady, then try sliding that weight further back towards the fore grip.
I'm certainly no expert and this is just my experience and as others have pointed out ALWAYS USE EAR PROTECTION

I've had/have about 6-7 different brands of supressors on a heap of different calibres, the biggest being 7mm magnums. I have also have/had several braked rifles in bigger magnum calibres. My thoughts:

(Good) Brakes are more effective at reducing recoil than supressors, at the expense of being offensively loud to anything around you. As @Ginga said, for a pure alpine type long range rifle where you have time to put on ear protection, a brake is my choice. Also for bigger magnums where the size and weight of a supressor becomes a pain to manage.

For me, suppressors are a nice convenience. In smaller calibres they are realitively light and provide some decent recoil reduction and acceptable sound levels. I generally wear ear protection still but am happy to take a quick shot without if need be. As important to me is that supressors mask your location when varminting/culling. Animals often stand around and look as their mates get picked off as they can't work out where the danger is coming from.

The biggest negative for supressors in this use is heat, it doesn't take a lot of rounds to see heat mirage...

If you are undecided, get an ASE Borelock. Brake with a supressor that fits over the top. I think ODL has one like this too? I had an ASE on a 7mmRM, recoil reduction and noise suppression was impressive however it was a bit heavy

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Originally Posted by Tentman

Of course if its actually a hunting rifle you could resist the temptation to be a follower of fashion and not use anything - neither are essential or arguably even useful, except perhaps if you have a dog . . .

couldn't agree more.
Comes down to the gun too. Some rifles in calibres that shouldn't kick, just do.
Others that should sort of don't. Except for the obvious heavy and fast calibres in a lite weight stock that probably will.
Crap stock design doesn't help either.
Haven't shot a 7mm mag much. only time was an acquaintance euro with hog back stock and open sights. I was expecting the worst but underwhelming. I wasn't putting a lot of shots down range either. I'd buy one and probably not put either on it even though I would like something with a suppressor.
Same goes for a little Spanish 308 Mauser. I was expecting kick from being told it kicked like a mule but not so much-I'd have another in a heartbeat.
Do you know anybody with one you could try first

I've got a 7mm mag xbolt that is being threaded for a t2 terminator this week. You're more than welcome to try it in the next few weeks once its ready

Originally Posted by timattalon

What would I put on a 7mmRM? What DID I put on my one? A suppressor. There are strong reasons for and against booth and I am sure you will get many different views. My views come from my experience and my requirements and what I was intending using the rifle for.

Flinch from recoil is not all about the shove you get from the rifle accelerating towards you. It is your body's defensive reaction to an explosion inches in front of your face that creates a loud noise and rearwards impact at the same moment. Ironically, the louder it gets, the more explosive (bigger) the body thinks it is, thus while suppressors don't reduce the physical amount of recoil anywhere near as much as a brake, they reduce the perceived or "felt" recoil every bit as much if not more. While a brake is louder, it physically reduces the recoil by redirecting the explosion to push the rifle forwards to counteract the recoil.

Before you decide I would suggest trying rifles of the same calibre with one and the other. I found a suppressor more comfortable, but you may prefer the brake.

Brakes are lighter and less bulky and in the wise words of one called "Sledgehammer" they are a LOUDNER....

Suppressors are heavier and bulkier but reduce the noise considerably.

Both make a guns recoil easier to shoot. But with a brake, you should really wear hearing protection as well.

For hunting and use stalking I would suggest a suppressor, but in situations where time is available to set up and put on earmuffs etc, a brake can prove more effective. For example if it is at a range and everyone is wearing earmuffs, a brake will possibly be the better option.

In all personal honesty, I would not put the 7mmRemMag as a calibre that NEEDS a reduced recoil. Then again, I use a lightweight 375 H&H without brake or suppressor......

Thanks mate.......a lot of help!

Originally Posted by Ginga

Here's my take. I've got a mate who uses a suppressor (dpt) on a 7 Rem mag and it's nice too shoot. I use a brake on 7saum and it's noisy but nice to carry and nicely balanced (you must wear hearing protection or guaranteed instant hearing damage will occur). When walking around I take the brake off and use it for closer shots (still fu$king noisy though). Brake goes on for a longer shot.

All my other centrefires are suppressed and I'm a big fan of them (I use a dog).

If your intent is alpine hunting only I'd go brake but if you are going to bush hunt as well I'd cut the barrel to say 20 inches and suppress it. Still have plenty of poke to 5 or 600 yards.

Good luck.

Yeah I want to go tops hunting.....

have you tried putting a possum's face on the end of the barrel?

Originally Posted by dannyb

Here's my 2 cents, my first rifle was a 7mm rem mag and I got it suppressed which made it nicer to shoot, I wouldn't say it reduced recoil much but certainly reduced the boom however it made it heavier and more awkward to carry and without a bipod or some form of solid rest it was horrible to shoot as it was barrell heavy. This in part was my fault going for a completely barrell forward maximus suppressor it was long and unwieldy like carrying a pool cue on your back forever getting hung up on shit.
I have recently picked up another 7mm rem mag as they are just so devestating and good for longer range.
I agonised about suppression or braking and decided my end goal is a light weight hunting rifle that will in likelyhood not often be fired more than twice in quick succession. In the interest of keeping it light balanced as compact as a long rifle can be I decided on a brake.
Both have there pros and cons but different horses for different courses.
I shot it without and depending on what projectile the recoil is not bad 150g softpoints no worse than my suppressed 308 with the same load, 164g ssts dramatic increase in felt recoil and boom. I have gone with the brake for a couple reasons
1 they look cool (not important)
2 I'd eventually like my 11 yr old sone to shoot it
3 keep it compact and balanced
4 I intend to do some load development and will likely be running heavier than 150g pills

I've never used one so will be interesting, if I hate it then I can always change to a suppressor.
If you decide on a suppressor and it's not a bench/range only rifle then my advice would be go for a over barrell type as to keep the weight as far back from the end of the barrell as possible it makes a big difference. You can test this st home by taping 400gms of weight on a peice of pvc pipe and sliding it on the end of your barrell and try holding it steady, then try sliding that weight further back towards the fore grip.
I'm certainly no expert and this is just my experience and as others have pointed out ALWAYS USE EAR PROTECTION

Yeah 7mm Rem Mag will be my first rifle......let me know how u get on with the brake.