Nowhere Man
Member
Should I put a muzzle brake on my Mini 14 Ranch Rifle or am I wasting my money?
Thanks,
Dave
Thanks,
Dave
Mini 14 muzzle brake
- Thread starter Nowhere Man
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AirForceShooter
Member
put a madsen on mine. increased the accuracy
afs
afs
Nowhere Man
Member
Do you have a link?
Dave
Dave
atlanticfire
Member
ut-oh! 
watch the brake threads Mr Arty might close it.
watch the brake threads Mr Arty might close it.
stchman
Member
I have a muzzle break on my AK and cannot tell the difference in shooting it with it on or off.
A muzzle break is intended to vent gases from the muzzle in a direction to help reduce muzzle climb in full auto weapons. Since your Mini-14 is not full auto you will not benefit much from a muzzle break.
Muzzle breaks also help in the recoil department, as the .223 or 5.56 round is not that powerful it is also unlikely you will benefit from a muzzle break.
Now to some muzzle breaks add to the look of a rifle.
A muzzle break is intended to vent gases from the muzzle in a direction to help reduce muzzle climb in full auto weapons. Since your Mini-14 is not full auto you will not benefit much from a muzzle break.
Muzzle breaks also help in the recoil department, as the .223 or 5.56 round is not that powerful it is also unlikely you will benefit from a muzzle break.
Now to some muzzle breaks add to the look of a rifle.
Maverick223
Member
Definitely a waste, leave the brake (for gawd sake it's a .223, there are pellet guns that have more recoil) go with a flash hider instead.
Maverick223
Member
No that is a compensator, a brake will vent the gases back towards the shooter to help with recoil. That said, often times a brake will act as a compensator as well (having holes on top for this)...and the misnamed AK "slant-brake" isn't a brake at all, it is a compensator. I don't mind a compensator as they have no significant impact on the loudness, a brake is loud and directs blast towards the shooter making it unpleasant even with a small caliber rifle such as .223Rem.
stchman
Member
Unless you are covertly shooting at night what good does a flash hider do you?
stchman
Member
A muzzle break does both.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_brake
As I said I shot my AK with and without the muzzle break and could not tell a difference.
IMO, people putting muzzle breaks on their rifles do it to have the tacticool appearance which is fine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_brake
As I said I shot my AK with and without the muzzle break and could not tell a difference.
IMO, people putting muzzle breaks on their rifles do it to have the tacticool appearance which is fine.
MIL-DOT
member
So what of the brake/compensator/flash hider ( which is it,really? ) on the Mini-14 tactical model. Un-necessary appendage, or does it serve a useful purpose ?
) on the Mini-14 tactical model. Un-necessary appendage, or does it serve a useful purpose ?
stchman
Member
It is a flash hider. I would say it is more for tacticool looks. Unless you plan on doing a lot of covert firing at night a flash hider is un-necessary.
Maverick223
Member
Wrong, while some brakes both reduce recoil and compensate for the angular motion of the rifle it DOES NOT by definition. Wikipedia is not always (or WRT some subjects often) right...and because the terms are often used interchangeably, it does not make it right (see quotes on "clips" and "magazines", "caliber" and "cartridge", et al).
Furthermore a flash hider does serve a purpose...it reduces the muzzle flash and blast outwards rather than blinding the shooter.
stchman
Member
As I have said before unless you plan on doing some covert shooting at night a flash hider is nothing but for looks. Just my opinion.
Why do you see people putting flash hiders on 10/22 rifles? Me thinks it is for looks. Not as though .22LR belches a huge ball of flame.
A muzzle brake and a compensator do the same function, they re-direct gas from the muzzle.
Why do you see people putting flash hiders on 10/22 rifles? Me thinks it is for looks. Not as though .22LR belches a huge ball of flame.
A muzzle brake and a compensator do the same function, they re-direct gas from the muzzle.
dagger dog
Member
Take a shot at a coyote, with your MINI in the dark , and you will see why you need a flash hider.You're lucky if you can see the sights to get off a second shot! Has nothing to do with covert.
Carl N. Brown
Member
On a military collectible, if it was part of the original military equipment, a flash hider, muzzle brake, compensator or even a grenade launcher tube is a legit collector's item.
On a Mini-14 ranch rifle, its an optional accessory and should be judged on utility: does it perform a useful function? Some folks claim to get better accuracy, kinda like those harmonic balancers on the Browning bolt action rifle barrels; if it works, go for it.
On a Mini-14 ranch rifle, its an optional accessory and should be judged on utility: does it perform a useful function? Some folks claim to get better accuracy, kinda like those harmonic balancers on the Browning bolt action rifle barrels; if it works, go for it.
for the money,
a mini 14 will get more bang for the buck from a glass bedding job
cliff
www.texasgunowner.com
a mini 14 will get more bang for the buck from a glass bedding job
cliff
www.texasgunowner.com
stchman
Member
How are you going to see the coyote in the dark? Do you have a night vision scope?
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I just got a new mini 14 tactical with the flash hider, looks nice but not much use for it. the muzzle brake would be a waste of money, since like mentioned before the recoil is nil and it will only make it louder.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Somebody once gave me a stainless muzzlebrake for my Mini 14. It's held in place by the front sight's pin. It didn't seem to hurt anything, and the price was right. I've read here and at TFL that for some, it helped in reducing group size. I don't recall any change from my usual three shots into 1.5 MOA.
I've read here and at TFL that for some, it helped in reducing group size. I don't recall any change from my usual three shots into 1.5 MOA.
dagger dog
Member
stchman,
Ever heard of a SPOTLIGHT? You set in the dark under concealment your buddy does the same but in a differnt area . You call the coyote when the spotlight guy sees movement he lights up the target and you shoot. The flash from a 16" barrel .223 will flat blind the shooter!
Ever heard of a SPOTLIGHT? You set in the dark under concealment your buddy does the same but in a differnt area . You call the coyote when the spotlight guy sees movement he lights up the target and you shoot. The flash from a 16" barrel .223 will flat blind the shooter!
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benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Ever shot hot .223, NOT using low-flash powder, out of a 16" barrel, with no flash suppressor? I have. The orange fireball is annoying even in the daytime.
As far as shooting at night, it has nothing to do with being "covert" and everything to do with not flash-blinding your own dark-adapted vision in low light. The flash suppressor moderates the flash and directs it forward along the bore axis instead of radially, so much less flash occurs in the shooter's line of sight. If you have a carbine that does double duty as an HD gun, a flash suppressor is a good idea.
Maverick223
Member
Exactly...if you don't want one. that's fine...but they have a purpose (flash + hider = hidden flash, at least partially), and FWIW it is just as bright for those in front of the rifle, so being "covert" has nothing to do with it.
stchman
Member
Then what purpose does a flash hider do on a 10/22? I have seen them.
Maverick223
Member
Unless it is ridiculously short (SBR)...not a dang thing, but there is quite a bit of difference between .22LR and .223Rem. (which is what the OP was referring to).
stchman
Member
I still maintain that flash hiders are more for the tacticool looks. If you or the OP wants one then get it, get 5 while you are at it.
I have shot my Mini in broad daylight, dusk and muzzle flash is of no consequence.
I have shot my Mini in broad daylight, dusk and muzzle flash is of no consequence.
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