To brake or not to brake...

[Rockin Double B]

Situation:
I travel a lot in the western US and do a lot of critter shooting - usually by myself.  In order to cut down on bulk I got an encore with standard taper barrels in .243,.204 & .223.  (Of course I fell in love and am hooked!) (I thought this site would be support and the voice of reason but it is an enabler - I have bought a contender too....) Anyway,
Dilema:
Because I shoot alone and because the rig is so lightweight, muzzle rise on the .204 and .243 prevent me from seeing the shots make thier mark - or - half the fun of critter shooting.  I'm getting custom walnut stocks made so don't want to ugly up the gun with wierd weight adding measures.
Question #1
How best would you reduce barrel rise?  Would you put a brake with upward pointed vents on a .243 and .204?  Seems odd for small calibers but it might help me see the shots.  I don't care about noise because I have my own range and usually shoot alone.  

 Thanks for any suggestions.

[Grumulkin]

I shoot a Contender with a Fox Ridge Outfitters walnut thumbhole stock and am able to see the bullets hit through the scope but then, I'm shooting a heavy barrel.  Once you're using the heavier stock, you may not have a problem with the 204 Ruger.  The 243 Winchester, will be another matter.

For what you want to do, I would have brakes installed at least in the 243 Winchester.  With cartridges of such low recoil, just about any brake out there should be satisfactory.  T/C will install their Muzzle Tamer on their barrels (but not barrels by other manufacturers) for a bit over $80; this is probably the cheapest route to go and probably the one I would choose if I were in your situation.  Various other barrel makers will also install brakes; if I were to go with one of them it would probably be with SSK Industries.

[Graybeard]

I am NOT a fan of muzzle brakes...but having said that...the SSK Arrestor brake I had added to a 14" .358 JDJ completely remove ALL muzzle rise. The gun did not lift off the bags at all with the brake. Prior to it the gun lifted high from the bags and twisted to the point it hurt my arthritic wrists badly. Afterward there was zero lift and zero twist.

Of course in that case all recoil then came straight back into the web of my right hand and I couldn't take that either. In my case it was just more recoil than I as able to deal with. On a rifle tho and especially a .243 the recoil it shifts back into the shoulder shouldn't be of consequence.

[yooper77]

I don't advise or use muzzlebrakes or porting for myself, since they are very loud.

I use both 24" T/C Encore barrels in 223 Remington and 243 Winchester.

After the shot, I can easily see the animal is hit.

Some people tell me they cant shoot a pistol barrel without it, but also complain about the muzzleblast.

yooper77

[Rockin Double B]

Thank you for the replies Grumulkin and Graybeard.

Robb

[iiranger]

While the question specifies brakes... the shotgunners have a few trick to remember. There are those mercury filled recoil reducers fitted into the stock. Adds weight but spreads out recoil. I think there was one with a piece of lead on a spring... For that matter you could wrap lead wire around the barrel. (Or action or ) Then there are the much larger, cushionier pads...

Or add a handle of sorts to the stock to "hold down" the gun as it fires... Rube Goldberg would be out front on that idea....

As said, brakes add noise up close. Makes hearing protection that much more important. There is a full line out there. eabco.com has pictures of a wide variety. I have always admired the one that looks like the ones used on WW II tank barrel muzzles. Silly me. Your bucks. luck.

[onesonek]

I shoot brakes only on my varmint rigs as to see bullet placement like you are describing. The JP brake that iiranger mentioned is my favorite. It looks a little weird, but  it is the best in my mind. I don't worry about appearances. I haven't tried on larger calibers, the largest I do use it on is my 26" 6mm AI. It has zero muzzle rise. It also reverses rear movement, actually pulling away. They say this will do the same up to 30-06 sized rounds. I don't find any major blow back, but they still are very loud. I use both plugs and muffs when shooting them. I know one guy using the JP on a Encore 16" handgun  factory contour, and he says it has very little if any movement either up or back.  The OPS is another baffle style brake, and I hear they are pretty good, but are reported only 80% effective on muzzle rise,,,might do the trick on .204, but the JP is your best bet for the .243. I'll find out, as I'm having a OPS put on a XP 17" 6mm AI, if it don't do enough, I'll replace it with a JP.

Dave