Muzzle Device for a bolt action .223?

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

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..