Muzzle Brake on a Big Bore

[meigsbucks]

Just my opinion... Unless you need a muzzle brake on a .375 for medical reasons (eyes, shoulder, etc), I’m against hunting with them and not high on them at a public range. For hunting, if you can’t handle a larger round like a .416 without a break, you should down size to a .375 without a break. Most people can learn to handle an un-braked .375.
I shoot at a public range and if a shooter is within three benches with a brake, I can usually tell. There are some brakes on 6.5 Creedmoors that make them sound like cannons. If you are shooting by yourself, it doesn’t matter and practicing with a brake reduces the pounding.
In the field, you don’t want your ears, your PH’s ears or tracker’s ears ringing from the blast. In fact I’ve queried both of my PH’s on the topic and both preferred that rifles not have them.

 

[Pheroze]

Never ever had a rifle bothered by a lead sled - ever. And I shoot a bit. A couple of friends develop loads for customers with the the clients' rifles and use the lead sled extensively - never ever an issue with thousands of rounds an hundreds of rifles. You would think Caldwell would be out of business long ago with all the destroyed big bores fired from their rests.

With respect the muzzle breaks, unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from managing your rifle, then NO.

And no matter how much you tip them, your PH and tracker will be grateful.

Whew, and there's another bullet you've dodged in your life!

I don't actually like brakes on rifles at the range generally. It was suggested to me by the fellow who made a stock for me so I relented. In reality I am in no position to debate it at all, and I will defer to experience every time....just not sure who's!!

 

[CAustin]

BRAKE, BRAKE, BRAKE BRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT BREAK!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and NO TO BRAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Says you brother! For me on that 416 it’s great. Don’t use on my 375, 458 Lott or the 470 NE. I get it some people think the noise is too great. However, I will point out that In The open field most of the noise is dissipated really well.

 

[ActionBob]

Says you brother! For me on that 416 it’s great. Don’t use on my 375, 458 Lott or the 470 NE. I get it some people think the noise is too great. However, I will point out that In The open field most of the noise is dissipated really well.

Yea Charlie, it's dissipated right into anyone standing anywhere nearby
I live with cconstant ringing in my ears because of forgetting to put in plugs and wear muffs for one shot out of my Ruger Guide Gun in 375 Ruger the last time I shot it with that damned brake on it

Go hunt without a brake, with people who don't know you own one and ask for honest opinions of they really think

 

[CoElkHunter]

What are some of my fellow hunters opinions about the use of muzzle brakes on big bores? I have a buddy who swears by his brake on a 375 Ruger. I don’t run one on any hunting rifle as I’m looking to push blast away from me.

Should a person consider this for a safari rifle? What cons should I be considering in that role? Thinking dangerous game rifle.

My son has one on his .300WM. It’s LOUD! I don’t have one on my .338WM, .375 h & h or .458 WM and won’t! I’ll take the recoil for the small number of rounds I shoot for practice and sighting in. BTW, the Limbsaver recoil pad I have on the .375 and .458 reduces the felt recoil (to me) significantly! But, I haven’t hunted in Africa YET. However, I’ve seen some very good deals on large bore rifles with the included muzzle brakes.

 

[sestoppelman]

Brakes, not "breaks" are wonderful for the guy shooting the rifle but murder on everyone else within a half acre! If a guy cant shoot his rifle IN THE FIELD without a brake, he cant handle it, and should shoot something he CAN handle. Further more, if he needs to have a brake on his rifle to sight it in, he should own his own private range, as the noise and blast from stupid braked rifles just about empties the bench on either side of the shooter. While back some ignorant boobs plonked down on the bench next to me and blasted off a braked rifle and it was so loud and the blast in my face so fierce I literally thought their rifle exploded. When I saw it just because of a STUPID brake, I barked loud and told them to move somewhere else, like the other end of the line! Looked at me like I took their dinner away! They moved. Yes, I HATE muzzle BRAKES!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I own the Ruger 375 guide rifle. I personally don’t like recoil, I can handle it just don’t like it. That being said I like the brake. Most PH’s don’t and understandably so. So on this much debated topic here on AH my opinion is go for it.

+1

 

[TiberiusCassius]

I wear active in-ear protection anyway, so I don't care about a muzzle brake.
You have to consider though that most PHs don't wear ear protection and when most people buy a rifle they don't know whom they are going to hunt with.

So the answer is very easy in theory: Choose a calibre/ rifle combination which you can shoot without a brake. Have a muzzle thread on it. You can shoot it off the bench for initial load development with the brake. If your PH is fine with the brake you have the advantage of quicker follow-up shots. If he objects you can still use the rifle without the brake.

Regards!

 

[PeteG]

Mine will be another vote for No to the brake.
Most people will manage the recoil from a 416 down with the right technique and shooting position quite easily.
I used to think that my 300WM was a lot of recoil, then i figured the 375H&H was alot, now i shoot my 416rigby like a pop gun.
its all about technique and getting accustomed to the firearm.

If it is just the recoil that bothers you, perhaps consider a different rifle stock or so.
I have shot a 30-06 with a brake, recoils like a SOB and sounds like an angry SOB.
No thanks!

 

[MLindsay]

Just my opinion... Unless you need a muzzle brake on a .375 for medical reasons (eyes, shoulder, etc), I’m against hunting with them and not high on them at a public range. For hunting, if you can’t handle a larger round like a .416 without a break, you should down size to a .375 without a break. Most people can learn to handle an un-braked .375.
I shoot at a public range and if a shooter is within three benches with a brake, I can usually tell. There are some brakes on 6.5 Creedmoors that make them sound like cannons. If you are shooting by yourself, it doesn’t matter and practicing with a brake reduces the pounding.
In the field, you don’t want your ears, your PH’s ears or tracker’s ears ringing from the blast. In fact I’ve queried both of my PH’s on the topic and both preferred that rifles not have them.

 

[Hogpatrol]

When the PHs sign up for the job or when any individual goes to the range, be it public or private, they need to expect being with braked rifles. Nowadays, they're a fact of life. As far as those that say "if you can't stand the recoil, don't shoot it", I say if you can't stand braked rifles or noise, maybe you should take up another hobby or build yourself a private range. Aside that, most of the PHs I hunted with are ALREADY DEAF!

Just for reference, here's a REAL MAN shooting a braked rifle without ear protection.

 

[MLindsay]

I have a modified brakes on my 375,450 Ackley and my 500 A Square. I have shot them hundreds of times with and without the brakes. A couple of things I and numerous professional hunters have determined, the noise level on relatively low muzzle velocity rounds is nowhere as loud as 3000 fps+ calibers. Also my brakes with the vast majority of the openings on the top half of the brake does little to eliminate recoil but really works to keep muzzle rise down.

 

[BnC 04]

With the craze of "bigger is better" mentality that I'm currently seeing at the range and the amount of the higher calibers that wear a brake nowadays they are indeed here to stay, Unfortunately.

 

[ack]

I have a break on my 416 Ruger and like it. Not a single PH has obtected to my use of the break. All of them have had the sense to stand behind me or to cover their ears.
If your paying for the hunt the PH can use plugs......take some along as hand outs.

Won't have a rifle without a break..Never had a complaint...They stick fingers in ears has been my experience

 

[BeeMaa]

You will want to make sure your PH has as much ability to hear as possible.
To that end, no brake while hunting is my vote.
For practice...practice the way you want to hunt is my opinion.
If you can't handle the recoil, increase the weight of the rifle/download the cartridge/step down in caliber...etc.

And just because your PH is to polite to say anything doesn't mean he agrees with you having a brake.

 

[Desert Dog]

Leave em off your hunting rifles. If you need a brake, you can't handle your rifle for various other reasons (rifle is too light for cartridge, poor stock design, poor shooting technique, bench rest shooting without a pad, fear, or combination of several reasons). If you are victimized by an injury, shoot an easier recoiling cartridge, wear a past pad, or learn to be an ambidextrous shooter.

It saddens me that some hunters are of the opinion of; "I paid for the hunt so Fock em"! You will likely be hunting with a PH, trackers, and maybe a government observer who need to communicate right up to the shot and can't afford a $500 set of electronic game ears. And just because some people are afraid of a little recoil, they completely disregard the safety of the hunting party; and just because they "paid their fees", they think they are entitled to send serious muzzle blast and concussion into the faces of the hunting party. Sad and inconsiderate in my opinion.

And many PHs or trackers can't stick their fingers in their ears because they need to watch your animal in the binos to track it if it runs after the shot. AND, do you really think sticking fingers in your ear is gonna help when a braked 416 rem goes off next to you? The concussion is just as bad as the noise.

 

[sestoppelman]

Leave em off your hunting rifles. If you need a brake, you can't handle your rifle for various other reasons (rifle is too light for cartridge, poor stock design, poor shooting technique, bench rest shooting without a pad, fear, or combination of several reasons). If you are victimized by an injury, shoot an easier recoiling cartridge, wear a past pad, or learn to be an ambidextrous shooter.

It saddens me that some hunters are of the opinion of; "I paid for the hunt so Fock em"! You will likely be hunting with a PH, trackers, and maybe a government observer who need to communicate right up to the shot and can't afford a $500 set of electronic game ears. And just because some people are afraid of a little recoil, they completely disregard the safety of the hunting party; and just because they "paid their fees", they think they are entitled to send serious muzzle blast and concussion into the faces of the hunting party. Sad and inconsiderate in my opinion.

And many PHs or trackers can't stick their fingers in their ears because they need to watch your animal in the binos to track it if it runs after the shot. AND, do you really think sticking fingers in your ear is gonna help when a braked 416 rem goes off next to you? The concussion is just as bad as the noise.

THIS!!!!

 

[Hogpatrol]

And many PHs or trackers can't stick their fingers in their ears because they need to watch your animal in the binos to track it if it runs after the shot. AND, do you really think sticking fingers in your ear is gonna help when a braked 416 rem goes off next to you? The concussion is just as bad as the noise.

And the blast from an unbraked big bore or any short barreled rifle isn't mind numbing and deafening? C'mon guys. Let's get real here. A brake is at its worst off to the side or in front of it. If the PH is in that position on ANY shot, he's in trouble.
Here's my take for those that hate brakes. Somewhere along the line, you weren't paying attention, got hammered unexpectedly and you're still pissed off.

 

[sestoppelman]

The blast from any big bore rifle braked or not is of course deafening if nearby and ears unprotected. The blast from a braked rifle of almost any description is exponentially worse by far!! C'mon man, get real!

 

[Hogpatrol]

The blast from any big bore rifle braked or not is of course deafening if nearby and ears unprotected. The blast from a braked rifle of almost any description is exponentially worse by far!! C'mon man, get real!

Ses, I shot my .17 Fireball at a springhare at night and the PH was standing a skosh in front of me but off to the side. afterwards, he said, "Tell me when you're going to shoot! That thing is LOUD"! The blast from that tiny cartridge got to him.
Yeah, he was watching through the binos. Next shot, he was well behind me.