Interesting responses and opinions had by all here in regard to this subject or muzzle brakes. I'm sure many of you have more african hunting experience than myself, I have only been on 2 african safaris, one in Namibia and the other in Mozambique for dangerous game. I have however hunted extensively throughout North America and have used rifles with and without brakes. That being said I have 17 years of experience in the american firearms industry working with many different rifle manufacturers and optics companies, (both american and german). From this experience I have gained a pretty strong opinion that one good case for a muzzle brake is that heavy recoil creates an opportunity for optics to fail. If you think because you have a $2000 german piece of glass on top of your prized 375, 416, or 458 that you don't have to worry about your scopes erectors falling apart, you are wrong. I agree that muzzle brakes are "loud", but the fact is they provide a shooter some very real advantages from a equipment reliability and shot to shot recovery and accuracy standpoint. There is a reason why combat rifles across the world have some sort of "flash hider or muzzle brake" on the end of the barrel. After hunting buff in the swamps of Mozambique, I'm convinced that's as close to combat as I'll ever get. I think the use of a brake is completely individual preference, rifles are loud no matter what, especially if the wind is in your face like it should be, coupled with the fact that everyone should more or less be behind you when you're shooting. The following is just my 2 cents on the subject:
1. Lightweight "magnum rifles" with thin pipes shoot a lot better with a brake on the end of the barrel, whether it be because it allows the shooter to "handle the recoil", or just not flinch and follow through correctly....both are important
2. The above mentioned rifles without a break will make you develop a flinch a lot faster than a 11lb 416.
3. My 10.5 lb scoped 458 Lott has a brake on there and I'm thankful for it. It was built by one of the most well known custom firearms manufacturers in the US for his own personal use, I assume he new what he was doing. I can shoot it really well, (scoped or unscoped), operate it quickly to get back on target for a second shot a lot faster with the brake. For that reason I use this 458 with the brake on it when on safari.
4. Repeated heavy recoil will break any optics erectors over time, quicker on some than others.
5. Where there is a big bore and a giant powder hungry rifle cartridge, there will be a guy claiming he can shoot it effectively, but fact is most guys can't in a repeatable fashion.
I have spent a lot of time training retail salespeople in the US how to handle and shoot firearms, I'm sure that the guys on this site have a lot more experience afield than most of them. But honestly, many of you fellas that are using words like "sissy" and "wuss" are probably not handling that recoil as well as you think, sorry to damage your ego. When I reached the age of 40, I wasn't willing to stand there and take that punishment like I was when I was 25, whether it be the aging shoulder injuries from a decade of football, or just the wisdom that you don't have to endure that sort of thing to get the objective accomplished....which is a clean precise one shot kill.
While I respect any PH's opinion that a "muzzle brake" is not classic or traditional, (and I agree), I personally show up knowing my equipment and why it's set up the way it is, and that I know how to use it....which will translate to a much better hunt for everyone in the long run, especially if any of the big uglies are on the menu. For those of you that think putting a couple of boxes of shells through your big bore rifle prepares you for the opportunity of a lifetime on a trophy animal or even worse renting a rifle you are not familiar with, I disagree. Let me know how your shoulder and brain feel after putting 300-400 rounds through that big bore without a brake.
My commentary is not intended to be argumentative, I would hope that all of this communities members opinions are accepted gracefully as just that "opinions". And to the less experienced hunters looking for information, to some degree valuable.
Thank you!!! My bad, much appreciated.. 
Makes perfect sense of course!!!!
