Muzzle Brake on a Big Bore

[analog_peninsula]

The right answer to this thread is to use a suppressor over the brake and enjoy the best of both worlds. Of course, our political overlords who learned everything they need to know about firearms from Hollywood movies disallow the use of and convenient travel with anything so practical and useful.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I shoot a 26 Nosler with a brake and have carried it around the world on many Ovis and Capra hunts.

On those hunts, I always have time to put in hearing protection prior to shooting.

I did forget once shooting a Coues deer on a desert bighorn hunt and my ears were bad after. I try and use hearing protection and always carry some for the guides and insist they use (they don't always listen).

I do like the brake though. it makes the gun kick like a really loud blasting .22 LR. It is quite accurate and follow up shots if needed are nice.

This said, in a DG situation you may not want to have hearing protection in or may forget due to stress and I can see the thinking (which a few guys mentioned) behind not having a brake in these situations being sound logic.

That said...... I think a .375 Ruger with a brake and a 20" barrel would be an amazing Moose/Bear/DG/PG rifle that would carry well in a scabbard, in a boat, in the willows or across Africa in thick stuff.

Someone who doesnt like recoil could shoot further out (in a moose/bear/PG situation) accurately without recoil prone or off sticks.

I would personally consider trying it without the brake and seeing if the recoil was manageable. I think as long as you had a conversation with your outfitter, and the guide was ok to get his hearing protection in you are being respectful.

I do not like rifles that recoil and sold my .500NE after shooting it one time.

I am ok with being a

Due to having lost a lot of hearing due to shooting I have no desire to.make it worse. More than that, I have no desire to abuse friends, PH or trackers with that much muzzle blast. I say there s no good reason to use a muzzle brake while hunting. It's not just about you being a wimp.
Now having said that, my .458 was a vicious kicker. I even broke my nose with it when it slipped under my shoulder on the bench. I had it Magnaported. The ports direct the gas, blast and noise up and down but not to the side. The PH told me that he couldn't.tell any difference between mine and any other .458, and he hates muzzle brakes. It does make a difference in felt recoil and muzzle rise.