Guys, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m pulling my hair (what’s left of it) out over this.
I've had a 308 Tikka 595 for a while now, and although I like the stock, detachable mags, slick action and accuracy – I’ve never really liked the snappy recoil of the 308. I asked Mark/Streetfighter to fit a Holland muzzle brake, thinking it would solve the recoil issue. Now my problems have really started!
Now, Mark has done a good job of fitting the brake, and it has eliminated most of the recoil, but there is a lot of blast - It’s like a small nuclear weapon detonating 3 feet from my head each time I pull the trigger. Coming home from a days shooting, my shoulder doesn’t hurt, but I now have a headache - and if its doing this to me, whats it doing to the other shooters on the range?
Having the brake fitted was, I now realise, a mistake. I figure that I'm left with 3 options:
1/ Sell the rifle to someone who wants a braked 308, and buy myself a 223.
2/ Replace the brake with a suppressor – this would make it quiet, but what about the recoil/blast? (I’ve not shot a suppressed 308)
3/ Rebarrel the rifle (unbraked) in a more ‘recoil friendly’ calibre still using the 308 bolt and mags.
Option one will give me the greatest choice.
Option two (if it works) will probably be the cheapest.
Option three is expensive, but could give me a big improvement in ballistics. I would require performance at least on a par with a heavyweight 223 bullet out to 600yds and occasional 1000yds.
What should I do?
thanks,
Steve / limey1