I recently experienced 2 situations where I was shooting my rifle equipped with a muzzle brake and I over shot the target. Both times the barrell was very close to the ground (3-4 inches) and kicked up a lot of dirt. Is it possible the muzzle brake blast making contact with the ground could make the bullet over shoot the target?
can a muzzle brake cause errant shot
- Thread starter lambo1099
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I'm not a physics major, but my thoughts in brief: A projectile's velocity (and the gases that propel it) are at their utmost at the end of the muzzle. Since any gases bouncing off the ground are going to be dispelled, and at much lower velocity, I would guess that it's not likely they would have any noticeable effect.
There are many more likely explanations of why a round would be high - change in type of ammunition, bad zero/disturbed zero, breathing while pulling the trigger, for example.
I'm not a physics major, but my thoughts in brief: A projectile's velocity (and the gases that propel it) are at their utmost at the end of the muzzle. Since any gases bouncing off the ground are going to be dispelled, and at much lower velocity, I would guess that it's not likely they would have any noticeable effect.
There are many more likely explanations of why a round would be high - change in type of ammunition, bad zero/disturbed zero, breathing while pulling the trigger, for example.
mljdeckard
Member
We need more info, were you experienced with this rifle before, did you change ammo, at what distance were you shooting, what type of brake, etc.
If the barrel/muzzle/muzzle brake of a rifle is in contact with something hard (or contacts something hard as the gun fires) it will tend to bounce away from the hard object when the gun fires and that will tend to throw the shot away from the hard object.
3-4 inches doesn't seem close enough. The muzzle blast would need to be reflected, traveling a total distance of at least 6 inches. The bullet is presumably traveling faster than the blast, so should have fully exited the muzzle brake before the reflected blast could disturb the muzzle.
Kimber45acp
member
Based on my experience, the muzzle brake has nothing to do with missing the target.
The rifle in question is a 300 wby mag built by Hart using a model 700 remington action w/their barrel and brake. I have hunted with this rifle for 9 years and have taken 21 different species of North American animals without incident. On a recent hunt, using wby. factory ammunition, 180 grain Barnes triple shock, I over shot at 175 yards and 300 yards at different targets. Both times the barrell/brake were within 3-4" on the ground using a backback as a rest. There was no pressure involved in either shot and my nerves were calm. Later in the hunt I was successful on a 315 yard shot made from shooting sticks and the rifle shot dead on at 300 yards at the range after I returned from the trip. I shoot this gun reguarly and typically shoot 2-3" groups at 300 yards. I was thinking the blast pushing against the ground might have exerted upwards pressure on the barrel. Sounds out there put I am at a loss for another explanation.
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DoubleTapDrew
Member
I wonder if the difference of weight on the end of the barrel could change the harmonics enough to be off at those ranges. Or a different barrel crown if the barrel was modified.
fireman 9731
Member
Might be an odd scope issue as well....
Zak Smith
Member
It's much more likely you're holding it differently in that "low" prone position and it's moving differently during recoil, or that different pressure on the front of the rifle is changing the POI.
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