Muzzle Device for a bolt action .223?

[BigBL87]

I recently bought a 20" heavy barrel Weatherby Vanguard in .223, and it happens to have a threaded barrel. The tinkerer in me feels like the threaded barrel is being wasted. A suppressor is out of the question, as they're illegal even with a tax stamp here in Illinois. My main use will be hunting coyote and general plinking. I am absolutely fine with leaving it as is, just looking for input on what anyone else has done in a similar situation.

I was thinking about a linear compensator, but from what I've read with a 20" barrel the difference in perceived noise/concussion would be minimal. I don't want a brake because my J-Comp (which despite the name I think acts more like a brake than a compensator) on my AR can already be unpleasant for fellow shooters if they're next to me. A flash hider seems like it might not be a bad idea, especially if I'm hunting at night and want to preserve my night vision?

Anyway, like I said, I'm fine leaving it how it is but my curiosity and need to tinker is calling out to me.

 

[BigBore44]

About the only thing that makes sense to me l, given your location and the fact a 223 has basically zero recoil, is a flash hider.

 

[LoonWulf]

I run brakes, and linear comps. Id probably go with the linear comp on that gun. I've found little advantage for the shooter with a blast can or linear comp, but it makes a difference for bystanders.

 

[Ks5shooter]

This ^^^^

 

[doubleh]

I wouldn’t do a thing to it except shoot it. A suppressor or brake will have an effect, anything else is pretty much for looks.

 

[TonyAngel]

Leave the thread protector on it and shoot it. What’s the point of a brake on a rifle you can’t do triple taps with and who are you hiding a flash from?

 

[greyling22]

what about one of those krinkov diverters? I've heard (ha) that they sort of function like a single chamber suppressor and do actually reduce some noise, and are perfectly legal.

 

[Varminterror]

I’m a fan of Kaw Valley Linear Compensators when I want a little noise and recoil reduction, without the expense of a suppressor.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I put a pronged flash hider on my single shot H&R 300 AAC just to annoy all the black rifle haters here in California. It looks cool to me, but evidently makes any gun evil -- like the infamous shoulder thing that goes up.

Of course there's seldom any flash to hide with this barrel length and cartridge, but they don't know that.

 

[TonyAngel]

If you aren’t worried about the effects on accuracy, I run a levang linear comp on my AR. Someone commented yesterday that my rifle is quiet, relatively speaking.

 

[LoonWulf]

Leave the thread protector on it and shoot it. What’s the point of a brake on a rifle you can’t do triple taps with and who are you hiding a flash from?

I like them on guns where I'm calling my own shots. Even a .223 if it's light enough, will bounce the sight picture ......Never shot a heavy .223 so no opinion there.

I found a decent brake almost necessary on my heavy 6.5creedmoor when plinking at unknown yardage by myself. I'd know more or less where the round landed, but with the brake installed I could get sometimes measure it with my reticle.

I don't like them on any gun I might shoot next to someone else tho, so pretty much all of mine have come off, and only go back on for range use or when I'm hunting alone.

 

[cougar1717]

I would run it as is. Adding barrel length can turn a handy, compact rifle into just other sporter. The rifle was made for suppressor use in mind and it's ok to have functionality, but not use it. I get the use case for linear comps, but if it is only 3-4 db's difference for 223 Rem...... you're still choosing to wear hearing protection or you're choosing not to in a loud environment. It is still going to be loud.

 

[TonyAngel]

I like them on guns where I'm calling my own shots. Even a .223 if it's light enough, will bounce the sight picture ......Never shot a heavy .223 so no opinion there.

I found a decent brake almost necessary on my heavy 6.5creedmoor when plinking at unknown yardage by myself. I'd know more or less where the round landed, but with the brake installed I could get sometimes measure it with my reticle.

I don't like them on any gun I might shoot next to someone else tho, so pretty much all of mine have come off, and only go back on for range use or when I'm hunting alone.

I didn’t even think of that.

 

[LoonWulf]

I didn’t even think of that.

Neither did I till VT pointed it out in a thread a while ago, and I tried it.

 

[doubleh]

I put a tanker style brake on my AR just to see what effect it would have besides increasing muzzle blast. The rifle barely moves with the brake and I can see my shots land thru the scope. Lots more noise in your face but I wear good ear protection. There are plenty of people shooting braked rifles at my range and I've even been there when a couple of times when one was a 50 cal. Now that gets everyone's attention instantly. My point is I'm not concerned about the increased noise as it's a pretty common thing. We do have the courtesy to inform everyone that it's going to be extra loud when one of us is shooting something with a brake..