Muzzle brake

[darat100]

Ok, I have been reading around on the internet and talked to a couple of people. Is there really any such thing as a muzzle brake that doesn't blow your eardrums out of the water.  I always wear hearing protection when shooting, but really don't want to while hunting.  From what I have heard, on some of these brakes it only takes one shot to do tons of damage.  Don't need that.  

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks

[trotterlg]

Quiet and Muzzle break are not in the same universe, I will not even sit next to one at the range, and there is some talk at the range I use to restrict them to a few lines at the far end.  They are just plain evil things.  If you can't stand the recoil of the rifle you bought just sell it and buy one that you can handle.  Larry

[myarmor]

I personally like my 30-06UltraComp barrel and am looking forward to my 270 soon. Not specifically for hunting mind you, but for target/plinking/FUN, it's great. With proper ear protection you can shoot all day with that thing and suffer no poundings.
I see trotters point though. The blast off the thing is intense, and loud. But I don't shoot around a lot of people, mostly by myself and another friend. Several companies have used a "turn on-turn off" muzzle break, like Browning and Savage. That way you can practice with it on, and come time to hunt, turn it off so you are exposed to as minimal sound as possibile....always still loud though :x  :-D  And if you have an UltraComp barrel you can always get a thread protector made. As I am reminded many times :wink:  
-Aaron

[darat100]

myarmor

do you know anything about the on-off types.  are they as effective?  sounds like a good idea to me.

[trotterlg]

They are effective, however they don't shoot to the same point of aim on and off.  Larry

[rifleman61]

Tell me tell me tell me tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a 30/06 Ultra and want a muzzle break for it, where can I get one.
As for sound, I don't really care; if a shooter is on the line without hearing protection, well it really sucks to be him.  At the moment of the shot peak DB value is 140+, whether or not you have a muzzlebreak is irrelevant; that is bad for your ears and will damage them.  If someone is dumb enough to go to a "hot" line and shoot without proper hearing protection well he deserves anything that happens to his ears whether there is a muzzlebreak or not. I run the rifle range at our R/GC and I make no special provisions for anyone.  It's downright rude to expect someone who is on the line to make a provision for "you" because "you" were stupid enough to operate your weapon in an unsafe manner.  Good hearing protection is every bit as much an aspect of shooting safety on the line as muzzle discipline.  it is a constant source of amazement to me that people will spend copious amounts of money on everything concerning a rifle from triggers to actions, from finish to polishing the chamber.  They will bankrupt themselves for a  Redding progressive reloader and Sierra MatchKing bullets, but they won't spend 69.95 for a good set of 30DB "Mickeymouse ears"; they are not serious about good rifle practice.  Amateurs really make me laugh.

Anchor's Away/Semper Fi
CPO Bull

[myarmor]

I personally haven't shot a rifle with the on-off muzzle breaks, just seen a lot of them and buddys that have them. I have only shot fixed and modified brake rifles myself.
I agree with rifleman61, ear protection is an absolute MUST. I like hearing and plan on keeping it too.

[handirifle]

Tell me tell me tell me tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a 30/06 Ultra and want a muzzle break for it, where can I get one.
As for sound, I don't really care; if a shooter is on the line without hearing protection, well it really stinks to be him.  At the moment of the shot peak DB value is 140+, whether or not you have a muzzlebreak is irrelevant; that is bad for your ears and will damage them.  If someone is dumb enough to go to a "hot" line and shoot without proper hearing protection well he deserves anything that happens to his ears whether there is a muzzlebreak or not. I run the rifle range at our R/GC and I make no special provisions for anyone.  It's downright rude to expect someone who is on the line to make a provision for "you" because "you" were stupid enough to operate your weapon in an unsafe manner.  Good hearing protection is every bit as much an aspect of shooting safety on the line as muzzle discipline.  it is a constant source of amazement to me that people will spend copious amounts of money on everything concerning a rifle from triggers to actions, from finish to polishing the chamber.  They will bankrupt themselves for a  Redding progressive reloader and Sierra MatchKing bullets, but they won't spend 69.95 for a good set of 30DB "Mickeymouse ears"; they are not serious about good rifle practice.  Amateurs really make me laugh.

Anchor's Away/Semper Fi
CPO Bull

People like this in my opinion are what ruin a decent day at the range.  No one was talking about being on the range WITHOUT hearing protection, the comment was made about the side BLAST.  I have literaly had my hat blown off by the 300Win Mag next to me with a brake.  Now you're talking powder debris, metal fragments etc., not to mention the concussion to your face or eyes.  Like was said get a caliber you can handle.

The difference in side blast from a braked barrel vs a non braked is astounding.  For those that love to shoot braked and have NO CONCERN for their fellow shooters, I say ban the brakes.  Our range bans high rate of fire and full auto, the reason being that others are there to test their rifle, their skill or both and you can do neither when some clown is rippin them off as fast as his trigger finger works.

Brakes would be HIGHJ on MY list to remove.  To me, they are a way of allowing a shooter shoot a caliber he would most likely not shoot otherwise, more than likely more than he needs.

Sorry for the rant but attitudes like those really set me off.  I don't pay to go to the range and suffer eye damage cause someone else cannot handle the recoil of what they shoot.

[Sourdough]

Bought a new rifle two weeks ago with a removable brake.  Shot it once without the brake, will not do that again.  Gun came with a screw on ring to protect the threads, when the brake is removed.  

I for one have always been an anti brake person myself.  Never liked them.  Always felt accepting recoil was a matter of conditioning.  Decided I'm willing to make an exception in this case.  When at the range I position myself away from others.  When someone comes along and decides to utilise the bench beside me, I warn them about the muzzle blast.  In most cases after experiencing it once they decide to use another bench.

My partner has an Encore pistol with a Howitzer style brake on it.  The pistol is in 45-70, but recoil is comperable to a .22WMR.  This style brake absorbes 98% of the recoil, but the muzzle blast is tremendous, far more than any other style brake.  It is not removable, and hearing protection is required period.  Here's what the manufactor has to say.

  Muzzle Brakes
   JP Howitzer/Sherman Tank Muzzle Brake
  Large, double baffle surface area captures forward moving gases to actually pull the gun forward... nearly canceling out rearward recoil completely. Almost 100% recoil reduction... Without question, the most effective muzzle brake we've ever seen.

[quickdtoo]

Here's some info on muzzle brakes...

http://www.eabco.com/cssmb.html

[rifleman61]

My dear "handi' I'm the professional; your'e not.  The attitude of safety is a top down consideration, period, end of sentence.  It has nothing to do with the size of your caliber, that is unless people such as youself suffer from "caliber envy", then of course as a matter of logic [yours] it does.
Any line that allows a legally owned firearm to be used on it then must allow for muzzlebrakes to be used, whether its an M1D,AR-15/M-16 match rifle, or a M1A SuperMatch. If you are speaking of that, well then you must be speaking of yourself; I'm not overgunned.  They all have muzzlebrakes, a muzzlebrake helps those of "us" who are good riflemen and who shoot "Expert" with "MasterPoints" and who have "Distinguished" to become better riflemen and to distinguish ourselves from those, even setting ourselves above them by our on line/on trarget performance, from mediocre and average riflemen who suffer from "caluiber envy", such as yourself.

Anchor'sAway/Semper Fi
CPO Bull

[qajaq59]

Would I shoot a brake if I needed one? Yup, absolutely. But would I try and do it further down the line away from others if I could. Yup again. For the same reason I try not to sit next to kids firing a .22 cal rifle with their Dad when I'm shooting a 300WM with heavy loads.

[darat100]

Guys, honestly, I didn't want to start a pissing match.  I don't shoot at a range, I shoot on my farm.  I am looking for real information on the ability to use one, not whether or not you like the guy sitting next to you using one.  

To all who have helped, thank you.  Your knowledge is greatly appreciated.

We are all entitled to our own opinions.  That is what this great country is founded upon.  Surely we could just be a little more friendly in asserting them.  Life is too short to get so jumpy.

[myarmor]

Here is a good read also on Muzzle Breaks:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/muzzle_brakes.htm
I don't shoot at ranges either. I would if they where around I suppose, but I mostly shoot on the Family farm and friends farms here in Virginia. With this in mind, I have always been happy with braked rifles. Give one a try :toast:
The only thing hurting might be your wallet, but your shoulder won't thats for sure.

[RackWrangler]

I agree with darat.  

Personal insults have no business here.

I agree with Rifleman that everyone has the right to shoot what they want, but I also think Handi's point about being respectful of other shooters is a valid one.  Sitting next to a guy with a large bore braked rifle is no fun.  It makes you shoot poorly because you are hurried trying to shoot a good shot before he booms another one down range.

If I am shooting my Mag rifle (without brake) at the range, I look at the other people in the lanes.  I try to position myself either away from others, or nearer to other guys shooting big guns.  If neither is possible, I let the people sitting next to me know that I'm going to shoot.  With big rifles you can't shoot that many times before the barrel gets too hot so this is not a big inconvenience for me.  This way the guy next to me doesn’t get 3/4 way through a squeeze and jump the last 1/4 because of me.  The last thing the guy shooting his 223 wants, is to have his cloverleaf screwed up because he flinched.

Shoot what you want, but shooting is supposed to be a family sport...try teaching (by example) the younger shooters respect for others.


RackWrangler

[50 Calshtr]

Rifleman 61
    It's attitudes like yours that get people upset.  You call yourself a "professional" but you don't know the difference between a flash suppressor (M-16/M-1A) and a muzzle brake.  Just because you are a decent shot does not mean you know how to run a range. I shoot on a range where brakes are allowed only with the consent of any other users, it works well, most brake users find a time when no one else is around to shoot. I also have 25 yrs military experience and supervise an organization that runs 139 ranges from small arms to tanks, artillery and missles, so don't lord your experience over others, some of us ain't buyin' it. Now if someone wants to use a brake on their private land or in a situation where it won't disturb others then let em have at it. If it's on a range I'm on, somebody is leaving, I've lost enough hearing working around tanks and artillery.

[rifleman61]

Is not muzzle brakes though that is ostensibly what it is.  The issue is hjearing safety, period end of sentence.  When you are on a line that is hot and you do not have hearing protection the last thing you should bve complaining about is a muzzle brake.  the other riflemen should be conmplaining about your lack of hearing protection. it smacks of rudeness to ask someone who is doing nothing out of the ordinaery to "move down" to the other line, because you are so dumb and rude as to expect to shoot unaccountable for even your own most minimal personal safety measures. You want to play games about brakes and flash suppressors go ahead, you miss the point. I can tell you from Q'town to Lejeune, to Pendleton and all points in between, you show up on a hot line and expect to shoot without PPE [Personal Protection Equipment] you will be told to leave in no uncertain terms, usually rudely.  I don't care what you "manage", your management expertise here is not the issue.  And if you use "it" as some sort of source authority then you are as much a bully and lack the force of your arguments as I am "arrogant".
This "debate" is over.

Anchor's Away/Semper Fi
CPO Bull

[50 Calshtr]

No, I'm afraid you miss the point. Hearing protection is a given, or at least it should be.  However with brakes the problem is  overpressure and the directed nature of the muzzle blast, ie noise.  To subject an unwilling partcipant to either or both is absolutely RUDE.  To say that another shooter should have to use extraordinary protective measures because you can't handle your rifle is the height of pig headedness.  If you can't shoot in a manner that does not disturb with others then go to the other end of the range or come back when others have left.  It's called being considerate of others.