Muzzle Brake?

[richardnmarais]

In South Africa it is legal to hunt and shoot with and does not require any paperwork, but I am speaking under correction..

 

[gizmo]

I have a Ruger guide gun in 416 ruger that I'm hunting lion and buff with this summer. It came with a factory break installed. I enjoy shooting it with the break and will keep it that way. As far as "real men" are concerned I do not have the need to try and over compensate for coming up short in other areas. I was a boxer for several years and could take any punch that was thrown at me. That being said I wasn't going to stand there and just let someone hit me in the face just to show I could. It's much the same with rifles. Why take an a$$ kicking from a rifle just to show you can. To me the break makes it much more enjoyable to shoot and it still handles very quickly.

 

[gizmo]

Also, I guess muzzle breaks is another topic to add to the list of topics one shouldn't bring up at dinner parties. Right along side religion and politics. Some here appear to really have their drawers in a wad over this topic.

 

[johnnyblues]

Hello guys this is a very intresting post....

Firstly I would also like to qoute that big boys do not use pansy equipment! If your man enough to face a buff or lion your surely man enough to take a bit of punishment from your gun. The chances of you feeling the recoil when shooting at a buff or lion or any big 5 animal is minimal because of the adrenaline!

But I can also give my you my personal believe on why I do not use brakes on my big calibres I use for hunting dangerous game. When hunting dangerous game, the last thing you want is a gun that is as long as a bamboo or fishing rod. and any brake extend your gun considerably. Personally I think the shorter the gun the better for the quicker shots at something that is actually just point and shoot it is also a hassle carrying around a gun that hooks to everything for hours through thick brush etc.

Lastly I do not like them because I stand next to clients almost every week when they shoot at their fream trophy's and it just's blows you away! Even if you cover your ears it still get's you. When a client walks out of the chalet with his gun and it has a brake on it I usually put some aspiren in my hunting jacket..... But at the end of the day if it makes you more comfortable and accurrate with the specific gun why not use it? Only my opinion.

Jacques, this is an interesting conversation. I love muzzle breaks. I have them in my 270 wsm, 300wsm, and I recently bought a Ruger guide gun in 375 Ruger. What made it attractive to me was the break does come threaded so I can place the cap on it, also it has a 20 inch barrel making it easy to maneuver in the field. The gun was specifically made for dangerous game. So to address concern's the some members have stated here it cover's all bases. I don't like recall and I for one need to be sure at the bench my gun is spot on so if I miss it's my fault not the gun's. Confidence in the field with my firearm is huge to me.

 

[johnnyblues]

I have a Ruger guide gun in 416 ruger that I'm hunting lion and buff with this summer. It came with a factory break installed. I enjoy shooting it with the break and will keep it that way. As far as "real men" are concerned I do not have the need to try and over compensate for coming up short in other areas. I was a boxer for several years and could take any punch that was thrown at me. That being said I wasn't going to stand there and just let someone hit me in the face just to show I could. It's much the same with rifles. Why take an a$$ kicking from a rifle just to show you can. To me the break makes it much more enjoyable to shoot and it still handles very quickly.

I m with ya Gizmo. I just bought the same gun in 375 Ruger. I completely agree with you.

 

[Hank2211]

In South Africa it is not uncommon for hunters to shoot from a rest on top of the cab of the hunting truck. In fact, many if not most are set up for that purpose. On a recent hunt (where I did not use a muzzle break on my .404) my PH told me he had a hunter who had a muzzle break on a big bore (can't recall exactly what it was, but likely a .375 H&H),. When he leaned over the cab and took a shot, he broke the "windscreen."!

 

[gizmo]

I m with ya Gizmo. I just bought the same gun in 375 Ruger. I completely agree with you.

I love that gun. After clients are done for the season I'm going to give the hogs hell with it.

 

[ZG47]

I despise muzzle brakes, except on artillery pieces. Flash hiders are bad enough when you are doing an AWQ with everyone shooting Steyr AUGs. Years ago, I used to do a bit of outdoor .rimfire competition shooting with a club that also allowed centrefire practice shooting and one of the guys had a Model 70 264 Win Mag. A previous owner had removed several inches of barrel and fitted a muzzle brake. It was the kind of rifle that you want to have several metres away y from you when being fired. Also, being a carpenter, I get enough muzzle blast when using powder actuated nail guns to attach timber to concrete or steel! Why pay for such an unenjoyable experience?

The first time I saw it, I was put in mind of the BSA Featherweight, introduced in 1958, the first rifle to be offered with an optional muzzle brake, the BESA. These rifles were available here over 50 years ago and were quickly tried and discarded by professional shooters. Most had the integral brakes cut off, according to my understanding and when they were rebarrelled it was with standard barrels. I have only ever seen one original BSA Featherweight for sale and do not expect to see any more examples.

The Gibbs rifle company offered the Parker Hale Scout, based on 1200C components and fitted with a standard muzzle brake, in the early 90s but by the turn of the century how many people had actually heard of, or even seen one?

 

[johnnyblues]

In South Africa it is not uncommon for hunters to shoot from a rest on top of the cab of the hunting truck. In fact, many if not most are set up for that purpose. On a recent hunt (where I did not use a muzzle break on my .404) my PH told me he had a hunter who had a muzzle break on a big bore (can't recall exactly what it was, but likely a .375 H&H),. When he leaned over the cab and took a shot, he broke the "windscreen."!

You have to admit that's funny....Sorry NY sense of humor

 

[Clayton Holland]

Zg47 I had one of those BSAs with a BESA muzzle break in 222. It would have been a vicious kicker without it.

 

[Hank2211]

You have to admit that's funny....Sorry NY sense of humor

I thought it was funny too!

But seriously, I think muzzle brakes are a great training tool on bigger calibre rifles, especially if you shoot off a bench. I just don't think you need then in the field. Apart from every other problem listed in this thread, I've never noticed recoil when I've been shooting at an animal, and I don't know anyone who has. And before anyone tells me I'm wrong, I don't know anyone who's ever shot a .577 Tyrannosaurus!

 

[johnnyblues]

I thought it was funny too!

But seriously, I think muzzle brakes are a great training tool on bigger calibre rifles, especially if you shoot off a bench. I just don't think you need then in the field. Apart from every other problem listed in this thread, I've never noticed recoil when I've been shooting at an animal, and I don't know anyone who has. And before anyone tells me I'm wrong, I don't know anyone who's ever shot a .577 Tyrannosaurus!

I like I have that option to install the threaded cap on the muzzle. Guess I ll just ask the PH what he prefers me to do.

 

[gizmo]

I like I have that option to install the threaded cap on the muzzle. Guess I ll just ask the PH what he prefers me to do.

I think thats very reasonable. If the ph doesnt want u to use it and in the case of the guide gun that has the muzzle weight it can be removed. Me personally, I have had clients with muzzle breaks, they dont bother me. I just make sure I plug my ears. I'd rather have a client confident in his shooting ability than worried about recoil and pulling a shot.

 

[johnnyblues]

I think thats very reasonable. If the ph doesnt want u to use it and in the case of the guide gun that has the muzzle weight it can be removed. Me personally, I have had clients with muzzle breaks, they dont bother me. I just make sure I plug my ears. I'd rather have a client confident in his shooting ability than worried about recoil and pulling a shot.

That's what I m talking about. I doubt I would be thinking about recoil at the moment of truth but hey I don't want to think about anything else but making a good shot.

 

[gizmo]

This whole discusion boils down to personal preference. If u like them use them if you dont then dont. The story above is pretty funny though.

 

[Rob404]

I owe the permanent ringing in my right ear to a 416 with a muzzle break. penetrated right thru my Hearing protection from 3 benchs down. Now I always look before I set-up and if someone shows up with one I asked them politely to move a bit farther down

 

[Royal27]

I thought it was funny too!

But seriously, I think muzzle brakes are a great training tool on bigger calibre rifles, especially if you shoot off a bench. I just don't think you need then in the field. Apart from every other problem listed in this thread, I've never noticed recoil when I've been shooting at an animal, and I don't know anyone who has. And before anyone tells me I'm wrong, I don't know anyone who's ever shot a .577 Tyrannosaurus!

This!!!!

They are a great training tool, period. I put one on my .375 and very early on used it a lot. Then I took it off and it will likely never go back on the rifle, unless for someone else to shoot. But, it got , me the confidence I needed! I now have a .458 Lott with no brake. No problem. I worked up though.

I also personally wouldn't hunt with a brake, but have no issue with someone who wants to.

 

[johnnyblues]

As I said if the PH or outfitter asks to kindly remove the brake ( if possible) I would have no problem doing it. I personally just don't like recoil on the bench weather I m sighting in a new rifle or rechecking before a hunt. I guess I m a little superstitious in a way if I shoot my 270 wsm and I group much better than my 300 wsm I ll use that on a deer hunt here in the states. No if they both shoot well ( or I should say if I do my job) I m really screwed.

 

[ActionBob]

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SAYING? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Seriously, I was running out to get some range time in before dark, it is winter here so had a thick stocking hat on and in my excitement to get shooting, popped off a round from my wife's 375 Ruger Guide Gun with the brake and about blew out my left ear drum, been many days and still have a little buzzing going on. May have done permanent damage?

She has a 30-06 that we never put the brake on... and shoots it well. But after watching her shoot and get beat up by my 375 H & H, I thought it best to have the brake on for her 375. With it there is not more kick than the '06 and it really controls the muzzle jump... But she has never shot this gun well and now is struggling with her '06.... I wonder if the blow back has her flinching or something? In hind sight, I wonder if just having a stock that fits her better (the M70 H & H is too long for her) and no brake would have been a better way to go? She is not into shooting in cold weather so we'll have to see what comes when it warms up.....

So love the recoil and muzzle jump reduction, hate the noise and air/powder/exhaust blast.

AND, I sure wish the manufacturers of AR style guns would offer them with a thread protector standard and better yet no brake and 2" more barrel! A few are starting to "get it". I have an AR10 that the damned blast is way worse than any felt recoil from an automatic in 308!

So hate/love/mostly hate muzzle brakes.

 

[ack]

We have one on each of our 06's which makes them very pleasant to shoot..I would not have a kicker without one ..Rifles are light and easy to carry all day..Stand side by side with a rifle and you get blasted by any of them..It's the shooters gun not the by-standers..As we get close to 70 less recoil matters and I hit what I shoot at...Don't like 'em fine,don't use 'em..I guess some have a need to prove how tough they are.