Need advice on gas block vs brake

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I am getting a rifle length barrel for my 223

Should I spend 50 on a good brake aero precision vg6 or get a better tunable gas block (50 vs 100 bucks )?
 
I would go the brake route. Gas blocks are nice but in my opinion unless your handloading and working on lowering recoil pulse not worth it. You will enjoy the brake. People shooting next to you won't lol. I have surefire brakes on all of my ARs.

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I do reload my own ammo. I am just curious how much control do you get with those adjustable blocks.

Is there any difference in those that are 50 vs 75 or 100?
 
In the gas blocks it varies. Noveske switch block is very nice. Some of them only have a few adjustments. Ease of adjustment is a big thing to think about as well considering access is usually limited under the handguard.

Some of the newer brakes are adjustable as well so you shouls check that as well. Lancer makes a nice one. May want to look into that. Surefire brakes are very very effective however extremely loud.

As always you get what you pay for I wouldn't expect to pay any less than 100 bucks or so for a good brake.

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VG6


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A guy running one of these on the mat next to mine literally blew the hat off my head with his first shot.

I'd go with a gas block. Getting the proper gas flow to your rifle is important.
 
A guy running one of these on the mat next to mine literally blew the hat off my head with his first shot.

I'd go with a gas block. Getting the proper gas flow to your rifle is important.

No doubt they throw gas. I'm usually in the camp that adjustable gas blocks are just don't tune it as much as people think. I've run all types never saw a notable difference in the way the rifle shot but that's subjective anyway.

Ps: if OP would like a lantac dragon (also very loud but very effective) I could hook him up.


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Recoil reduction? Standard or LW BCG?
Standard, brake, doesn't have to be an expensive one.
LW BCG, adj gas, and a low cost brake.
IMO getting the reciprocating assembly balanced right makes the biggest difference in recoil on an AR.
 
if you mean rifle length gas. It'll help with recoil more than you realize. You could also add a heavier buffer. I'd try that with a gas block before I did a brake. But the gas system length with a heavier buffer may help quite a bit. If you tame the recoil going that route and want to reduce muzzle rise I'd check into a comp vs brake. It'll help with muzzle rise and won't blow the hat off the guy beside you
 
Depends on gas port size in barrel. What barrel is it?
I would get the brake first, and shoot the gun.
If it shows that it is overgassed with a regular buffer, I would then do a gas block.
Just my opinion.
 
Depends on gas port size in barrel. What barrel is it?
I would get the brake first, and shoot the gun.
If it shows that it is overgassed with a regular buffer, I would then do a gas block.
Just my opinion.
http://www.graniteridgeoutfitters.c...de-SPR-SS-Rifle-Length-Barrel-BABL223021P.htm
http://www.graniteridgeoutfitters.c...Muzzle-Device-Bead-Blasted-SS-APVG100012A.htm

I got these, and a regular gas block, I'm going to put the adjustable on my 300blk pistol 1st cause I shoot subs and supers on it
 
I've never tried an adjustable gas block, but have seen guys struggling to adjust them at the range. I've never felt I needed one on any of my builds.

Two of my rifles have brakes, a DD that came on my M4V11 Pro and a Lantac dragon. They both work very well to help eliminate muzzle rise for follow on shots, but their not so great that I feel I need to have them on all my rifles.

Watching the vids on the VG6, it would be my last choice. I like having eyebrows.....
 
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I run JAL brakes from ARPerformance on most of my rifles. They are linear brakes that throw sound down range and reduce recoil. Length is around 1 1/4" so they don't add much length.

As for adjustable blocks, the Andersons get good reviews. They adjust from the front, and cost around $60.
 
For my competition gun, I have both. As others have said, a brake is going to upset people around you (and toss your stuff around if you're testing loads)- but it does make for really nice followup shots. For me, the gas block only adds to this. I have my gas block metered almost all the way down, so the recoil is light and the brake takes the excess.

I don't run a muzzle brake on anything else. Some of my guns have factory adjustable gas blocks, which is nice with my suppressor (Adams Arms and FS2000 both have them).
 
I would only go adjustable gas on a rifle length barrel for these reasons:

1. Gas port is too big and gun is overgassed (brass going forward of ejection port door, usually)
2. Using a suppressor (will cause gun to be over gassed with can on)
3. Rifle is a race gun/3gun type rifle with a low mass BCG and low mass buffer system.
In the last instance, people are also often reloading for the gun. So tuning gas is nice).

If your barrel is properly gassed, and is ejecting the brass you use smoothly, and you have a decent brake, you are chasing small diminishing returns after that. As Combat Diver noted, rifle length gas is very smooth feeling to begin with. And, with some heavy barrel rifles, a brake ain't doing much as the muzzle stays pretty flat anyway.

A good brake is going to do 90% (or more) of what people want for recoil reduction.
The Low mass system with adj. gas block will reduce the impulse of the BCG and Buffer unlocking and going to the rear and bottoming out and then the impulse of it all returning and locking back up, which can be exacerbated by heavier buffers/BCGs.

I like having adjustable gas on my match rifle. Just want every ounce of control and flatness I can get. And, it's a very light rifle so it makes a very noticeable difference. I do have other rifles where it wasn't really needed, and they have regular GB's. On the barrels I have used adjustable blocks, I always set it for my softest ammo, and leave it alone. Once it is set I don't screw with it too much. Just my non-expert opinions.
 
I've never tried an adjustable gas block, but have seen guys struggling to adjust them at the range. I've never felt I needed one on any of my builds.

Two of my rifles have brakes, a DD that came on my M4V11 Pro and a Lantac dragon. They both work very well to help eliminate muzzle rise for follow on shots, but their not so great that I feel I need to have them on all my rifles.

Watching the vids on the VG6, it would be my last choice. I like having eyebrows.....

VG6 can't be too much louder than the Lantac! Dragon is painfully loud, lol.
 
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