Factory Muzzle Brake

[Code4]

I'm looking at one of these: Savage 10FCP 308 Win 24" with brake 4 shot.

How effective is the factory muzzle break ?

[J.Baker]

I"m going to say not very since Savage doesn't offer the 10 FCP in .308 with a brake from the factory. Only the 10 FCP in .338 Lapua comes with a brake.

[Code4]

They are available here in Australia.

Do you have any experience with the Savage muzzle brakes ?

[bootsmcguire]

The "gil" style factory brake I had at one time on a 308 factory barrel was quite effective. Felt like a 22-250.

[Code4]

Thx Boots.

[J.Baker]

Must be an export model then as the ones here state-side don't.

As for the factory brakes, if we're talking the on/off type, in my experience they're not that useful as they don't offer the port area volume to bleed off gas fast enough to be effective. The factory screw-on type are a little better, like those found on the Long Range Hunter model, but a good aftermarket brake will still put it to shame as far as efficiency and recoil reduction goes.

[sharpshooter]

The brakes that I tested were nothing more than noise enhancers. The on/off style brakes would only yield about 18% at best. The fish gill type on the BA's wasn't much better @ 35%.

[big honkin jeep]

The 10 BA in .308 comes with a factory gill style brake in the US, and though I was able to score a takeoff 24" fluted heavy threaded barrel from one, The original owner kept the brake and said it worked very well.

There are some guys chiming in with far more R&D type experience than I have, but I love the factory AK style (on /off) brake and can really tell a significant difference on my shoulder in 30-06 and 300RUM.
I can sit down and spend a day benching 100 rounds of 30-06 with no discomfort at all which says a lot in my book. I've found numerous rounds from the RUM is too much even with the brake and a slip on recoil pad for my old bones even though it doesn't bruise my shoulder. No one has to tell you whether the brake was on or off when you squeeze the trigger on that one LOL. There may be more effective brakes on the market but I have been very happy with the Savage factory adjustable brakes. I rarely ever seem to find em for sale in the classifieds. Not when I want one anyway.

Most brake threads go a lot like this with some absolutely loving them and some absolutely hating them.

[devildogandboy]

I have the factory on-off style on my 300wm and it helps quite a bit (IMO). I can shoot the thing all day long without flinching or hurting my shoulder. I would get another one!

Bruce

[bythebook]

I have had shooting experernce with 3- 7mm rem. and 1- 308 ,1- 338 WM. and a 300 RUM.with one of them installed and it seemed to me that it worked good on all of them.