There are any number of 'better' muzzle brakes, the SEI Coast Guard brake being just one. If you get the Delta P adapter, you can swap brakes at will, and decide for yourself which one works best for you.

Delta P M14 Muzzle Adapter

 

Recoil impulse and muzzle rise - is of course subjective - but I think the SEI Coast Guard muzzle brake does slightly reduce muzzle rise, at least on my heavy SuperMatch M1A. I don't know if the Navy did empirical testing on it or not, but it's probably worth a try:

PN 2001: M14 US Coast Guard / Navy Muzzle Brake - Smith Enterprise

Made from 8620 steel with 60RC surface hardness and salt bath nitrited, corrosion-resistant finish. Rear mount made from 1144 Stressproof® cold drawn barstock steel for greater durability, tensile strength, and yield characteristics. Not for use with SEI M14DC Sound Suppressor.

www.smithenterprise.com

I found mine used on this forum for a little less. Again, I think the effects are small, but it seems to make a small improvement. My 2cts.

 

what is that thing on the sight area?

 

3rd vote for the SEI Coast guard.

 

Brakes have side ports and reduce felt recoil. Compensators have top ports and reduce muzzle rise. The SEI Coast Guard muzzle device does both.

 

There are 2 styles of SEI muzzle brake, the short Coast Guard brake and the N.M. brake which is the same length as the M14 flash suppressor. -Lloyd 🍻

 

Search Youtube..
There are vids out there someone did testing on a crap load of brakes /compensators. Put them on a table and remote set off the triggers and measured the distance the rifle slid back.
Changing brakes / compensators will affect your POI.. so for you target shooters, the best b / c that gives you less felt recoil may not give you your best accuracy

 

I have an SEI NM muzzle brake. Very noticeable decrease in felt recoil.

 

When it comes to chasing rainbows, I admit I wonder about if there is a better muzzle brake out there and I'm missing out. Right now I have the Springfield Armory (SAI) flashhider clone/ brake as sold on Scout M1A. I am pleased with it but is there a better brake to be had...Smith brake ?

Anyone with M1a range time behind "better brakes" please rattle my cage on your findings. Thank you.

Be advised that your range buddies hate brakes. I am constantly harassed.

 

Not on our 1000 yd line, we all got brakes , 50 firing points and always less than 15 people on the line. However, a public crowded range, no loves being near you LOL LOL if you got a brake. ...Then again if you're out there with general public they're spaying 556 expended brass like rain all over so a little TLC from my brake just is "Pay Back".

 

I took mine off scout too loud…linear compensator

 

its only a 308. I would rather use a flash suppressor. I may put a brake or comp on if letting a small woman or child shoot it though.

 

I like the original flash hider. Protective of my hearing, I have had to move a number of times because of shooters using brakes.

 

is a flash hider the same loudness as a brake?

 

Taming muzzle rise so I can see strike of bullet on target is how a brake works on my M1A or my long range precision platforms. Recoil is not the reason for installation of a brake but for some it could be. I must admit , after 40 rds of 208 Gr Bergers out of my 700 Rem 3006 LR rifle, the joy of recoil isn't "rewarding" and I'm glad I got a brake on that rifle to make it less "rewarding".

 

Failed to say, yes recoil with M1A isn't like the recoil of my 308 Tikka 308 which has a brake on it (as does my 3006 long range rifle). Still, regardless of caliber, I find the brake keeps muzzle flat so I can shoot and see strike of bullet on target and I am aiming at 4.5 inch diameter skeet birds on a bare dirt bank...no hit..you see bullet strike and can compensate for winds / mirage or validate you threw the shot due to inattention . That said, brakes do recoil reduction and I don't tire of recoil shooting my M1A in 308. THose bolt guns with steamy loads...I do tire of that recoil and glad to have brake dampening it.

We shoot 1000 yds one day a week at Quantico, I shoot a minimum of 50 rds 308, 3006 and I always bring two rifles to the line. A great day is shooting 150 rds if time permits. I shoot prone and all recoil is generously transmitted aft to me. If there are those here who are recoil proof and 100 rds doesn't matter in recoil absorbed, I want to grow up and be just like you. Yeah...brake and recoil reduction isn't a liability for me.

I used to shoot two days a weekend, expend 250 hand loads of 190 gr BTHP out of the Tikka and not even notice recoil....those days in rear view mirror.

 

I've found the SEI compensator on a delta p or sei 5/8x24 threaded front site to be much more effective than their coastguard brake at keeping the muzzle from rising. If it is a battle RE the loudest, hands down the coast guard wins.

Anyone ever compare it to LRB's design, which is intentionally non symmetrical?

 

I've got a .22-250 Rem M700 with a muzzle brake on it. It's not for the recoil, it's for the muzzle rise so that you can see the red mist when you hit the 'target.'

 

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Friend, I shoot with uses an LRB M14 a fair amount of the time and mentioned to him a muzzle break was available that utilizes the bayonet lug to hold it on the flash hider and he bought one I believe from Fulton Armory. He shot with me earlier this week and tells me it reduces the felt recoil quite a bit. He did not want to take off the original flash hider and the break he put on is a bit noisy but likes the end results very much. May well have to get one of those gadgets my self.

 

I have a brake on my Fulton 18" and really softens recoil. With ear pro the noise issue is a moot point. My M1a standard now feel like a 12 gauge in comparison.

 

Regarding compensator vs brake; the top holes and absence of bottom holes does push muzzle down, reducing muzzle rise as stated. Both SAI muzzle devices, the flash hider and muzzle brake have no holes on the bottom and openings on top. I've never compared the two, but my SE Coast guard sure looks like it would be more effective than SAI brakes. I keep the SAI brakes for originality on the older rifles.

 

I'm using a Precision Armament Hypertap Muzzle Brake on one of my rifles ( Springfield Victor in .308 ) right now and I'm impressed. This uses the most efficient 4 port design, the best compromise in effectiveness and size of the brake. They include undrilled ports that you can drill yourself to tune the brake to eliminate muzzle rise.