Least Offensive Muzzle Break Options

[Avtech850]

masan and Avtech850, I just want to be clear. Are you guys saying the Vais brake is quiet for a muzzle *brake* (which would not be saying much in my opinion) or that it is quiet for any muzzle device type (other than a suppressor)?

Joe Mamma

I'm simply saying that it is very quiet for a muzzle break. It will be louder than not having anything at the muzzle, but it is much quieter than any other break I have used.

[masan]

The vais is quiet for any muzzle device shy of a can. If i can find it, I will link a study done showing the dB increase with and without the vais versus other muzzle brakes, but the general idea of it was that the Vais was far quieter than any of the other brakes tested and not much louder than just a plain barrel.

[unclerandy]

The vais is quiet for any muzzle device shy of a can. If i can find it, I will link a study done showing the dB increase with and without the vais versus other muzzle brakes, but the general idea of it was that the Vais was far quieter than any of the other brakes tested and not much louder than just a plain barrel.

Id like to see that study if you can find it.

[masan]

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/...43/m/803107706

this is the study where a link can be found directly from the Vais website. The one I am referring to is another, and for the life of me I cannot find it which leads me to believe that the hosting website may no longer exist. Regardless, the dB changes found in the linked study very closely mimick those found in the study I cannot find, showing a 1-2 dB increase with the Vais brake versus no brake at all.

[Plasman]

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/...43/m/803107706

this is the study where a link can be found directly from the Vais website. The one I am referring to is another, and for the life of me I cannot find it which leads me to believe that the hosting website may no longer exist. Regardless, the dB changes found in the linked study very closely mimick those found in the study I cannot find, showing a 1-2 dB increase with the Vais brake versus no brake at all.

Those numbers don't look right and the whole post leads me to believe that the SPL meter used wasn't capable of accurately reading the short impulse response of a gun shot. Your average SPL meter from the hardware store isn't capable of this kind of measurement and you need to go to more expensive models that have peak detectors.

[Warg]

Those numbers don't look right and the whole post leads me to believe that the SPL meter used wasn't capable of accurately reading the short impulse response of a gun shot. Your average SPL meter from the hardware store isn't capable of this kind of measurement and you need to go to more expensive models that have peak detectors.

Exactly. Most inexpensive SPL meters cannot measure peaks above 120 db and employ frequency weighing filters that might not capture very short impulse peaks. Smartphone apps/phones are notoriously inaccurate above 95 db.

[masan]

If any of you could recommend a good SPL meter and where I could purchase or borrow one to test with I may be willing to do some informal testing myself, as I have the Vais for both a .223 and 300wm.

OP, I apologize for hijacking your thread with this, and hope that whatever you choose fits your needs.

[Warg]

If any of you could recommend a good SPL meter and where I could purchase or borrow one to test with I may be willing to do some informal testing myself, as I have the Vais for both a .223 and 300wm.

OP, I apologize for hijacking your thread with this, and hope that whatever you choose fits your needs.

Read this (http://www.elcaudio.com/decibel.htm) starting with the paragraph in red text. Note that the SPL meters referenced in my link are > $3K and they still had to be some distance away from the shooter.

You "might" be able to get by using a reasonably priced SPL meter that can measure peak pressure at some distance away from the muzzle without overloading the device, but I'm not sure if inexpensive unit can measure peak impulse accurately. Ideally a local shop that rents high quality SPL meters would be the best place to start. They'll likely have a the units calibrated as well.

[BufordTJustice]

Read this (http://www.elcaudio.com/decibel.htm) starting with the paragraph in red text. Note that the SPL meters referenced in my link are > $3K and they still had to be some distance away from the shooter.

You "might" be able to get by using a reasonably priced SPL meter that can measure peak pressure at some distance away from the muzzle without overloading the device, but I'm not sure if inexpensive unit can measure peak impulse accurately. Ideally a local shop that rents high quality SPL meters would be the best place to start. They'll likely have a the units calibrated as well.

Absolutely true, but the most accurate spl meters use condenser diaphragms, which are inherently fragile. One could easily end up paying for the high end meter if it were returned with a ruptured diaphragm.

It would be better to use a radio Shack spl meter on c-weighting, fast response, at an appropriate distance. Believe it or not, the digital model can be decently accurate for most uses.

[Ned Christiansen]

Here's the one I was talking about, the brake with the aluminum thread-on shroud. The audio was at least as stunning as the visual. This is so extreme it might seem fake. I assure you, I sat through at least a couple hundred rounds of this thing being fired nearby and the picture is real. It was punishment.