Muzzle Breaks.

[tj3006]

I know l am just an old fart who does not understand.
But I hate the damn things on a hunting rifle. I don't even like the threaded caps on the end. On. Fighting gun I understand. The reduced recoil flash hiding and all, but on a hunting rifle ? Why? I almost never shoot at a public range anymore cause of the damn things.
If you don't like the recoil shoot a different cartridge ! I see Ruger Marlin has a threaded cap on the New SS 1895 SBL.
On that gun I only cringe a little.
But if they put that on the blue steel gun's it might be time for me to take up golf. ...tj

[rufus]

Agreed just got back from a hunt in Mississippi and I saw several rifles wearing them. Give me a break it’s one shot

[Encore64]

Muzzle Brakes are just like any other feature, it's an OPTION. Ok for those who want them, ok if anyone doesn't want them.

Some people don't like synthetic stocks, stainless guns, etc. Would be a sad forum if we all liked the same thing.

I find they have their place on some scope killing TC Contender Calibers. But, usually don't opt for them.

I generally go on hunts instead of paid harvest shoots. So, other hunters aren't a problem.

[pleadthe2nd]

What I like about muzzle brakes is that it helps keep the barrel from jumping off target, for a fast follow up shots, sometimes it just takes more than one, especially when it comes to big game like, elk, and moose. I have my order in for the Ruger/Marlin, I'll probably try one on it, but haven't decided yet. I do hate the extra noise they produce.

[bradshaw]

The muzzle brake is here to stay.

And here I stand, grateful the historic days of handgun silhouette were not plagued by muzzle brakes. The cacophony of concussion of 5 or 10 or 20 powerful pistols, touching off side-by-side, turns your body into an ear canal. Rotten enough, trying to space your shot next to a competitor shooting in the same cadence. Now test your cool against a whole ine muzzle brakes.

Early into the era of muzzle brakes, Chub Eastman of Nosler Bullets told me of outfitters refusing to guide the hunter whose rifle had a pickle on it. Without question, a brake cuts the vicious out of recoil. Allowing the shooter to handle more power.

Were silhouette to make a comeback, the brake should be prohibited. Too much concussion, especially under a covered firing line, or shooting on concrete or caliche.
The hunter must decide for himself or herself.
David Bradshaw

[tj3006]

Guy's I never said anyone has no right to own them, But they actually cause me pain, some more than others, I don't shoot full house magnum hand gun rounds at an indoor range . cause I have seen the way others react. as for follow up shot's , While I am sure it helps some, can it really make that much difference ? My Hunting buddie, has a 300 win, he almost never shoots.
He like his Remington 742 in 30,06. He likes  follow up shots too.
Once you are out in the woods hunting it is up to you for sure, but at the range you should think about the folks around you. I was 3 lanes over from a guy shooting a 338X378 Weatherby. I tried to block it out, but I just packed up and left.
I (and probably most of you) have significant hearing loss already. and yes I use hearing protection. I got most of my problems at a deep purple concert in 1975, But shooting has likely not helped at all..tj

[Encore64]

With the trend of long range rifles, I have to agree with Bradshaw. They are here to stay.

As I eluded to in my first post, I don't do public ranges.

I can relate, but when you include the "Public" you get what you get.

I've got two rifles with brakes. A Ruger 338 Winchester that is easily removed and used with a cap.

The second a 300 Wby Mag with a fixed brake.

I'm about as fond of public ranges as I am public pools, no thanks...

[potatojudge]

We'd all be better off with suppressors mitigating recoil rather than brakes.

I have brakes on a few guns, and sometimes it is a necessity. Specialty pistol in a large caliber with a rifle scope with a lightweight gun. Ultralight hunting rifles.

Of the issues you run into at public ranges, brakes fall way below safety concerns.

I'll take shooting next to a bolt action with 22 inch barrel and a brake over a 7 inch 223 AR any day, and short ARs are the norm nowadays.

We should all be wearing plugs and muffs regardless, but the whole body becomes an ear canal sentiment is a good way of describing a firing line.

[leadhound]

Bring back easily obtainable Suppressors, Two birds with one bush on a battleship.

[tj3006]

I do not object to suppressors at all !
I actually plan on getting a suppressed 22 for grouse while Elk hunting...tj

[parallaxbill]

I shoot in military style rifle matches and there's nothing I hate more than having my position on the firing line beside, or much worse between two shooters with muzzle brakes. Sometimes they can cause you to send rounds down range on their muzzle blast. The worst brakes are the big 50 cal style brakes on 5.56 rifles. It must be to soften all that fierce 5.56 recoil!😁
Flash hiders are not an issue.

[pleadthe2nd]

So, it's decided, muzzle brakes and public ranges = bad, I agree, last time I visited a public range (PASA) , a very well known range, they have great benches, which are under cover, kinda like the steel carport things, with screens between each station, to stop flying brass, there was a guy shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor, under that tin roof it was louder than my 223 with a muzzle brake on it, spectators will feel and hear more blast than the shooter will. I'm fortunate to have a private range in my backyard, almost never a spectator, so I get no complaints, I do not like , or own any handguns with brakes on them, although on the super magnums, they may be a huge benefit. I don't think brakes are designed to reduce recoil , that's just a by-product, again , it's purpose is to mitigate barrel rise, and stay on target, the other by-product, the one we all hate, is increased noise, if suppressors were legal in my state, I would own some, but in IL, they turn you into a murdering sniper, you know, just like the movies. I don't have them on all my rifles, but I do like them, and noticed Ranger Point Precision makes one for the Marlin 45-70, which should fit the Ruger version as well, I'll probably give it a try at some point.

[cas]

I used to hate shooting my Contenders with the muzzle tamers on them at the public range, I felt so bad for everyone around me. But I was doing very slow, precise work. So I'd warn everyone around me before hand and would wait for a break in their shooting before I would fire. They certainly clear up space if there were empty benches farther away from me.

I have match AR (3 gun) with a comp so obnoxious that I actually knocked an RO off his feet once. I used to have video of it. Moving to the rifle portion of the stage, I fired the rifle and the blast was so bad and unexpected by the RO, that be stubbled backwards tripping over his own feet and landing on his ass.

Only rifle I ever had was a ported guide gun and they came off when I chopped the barrel. I don't know that a brake/break on a hunting rifle would bother me because like the contenders and all my hunting guns, I don't shoot them without hearing protection of some sort. Other than two times with shotguns turkey hunting, I've never fired a centerfire round without some hearing protection. A lifetime of shooting and bazillion rounds. (oh sure, I've had some other chuckleheads fire them right near me unexpectedly). I've never missed any game or shot opportunity because I was sticking in an ear plug.



Which reminds me... a couple springs ago I was up at the cabin with my nephew and we rolled up on a porcupine running from away from the house. I jumped out after him and drew my XDs .45Acp, told my nephew "you might want to cover your ears." I dispatched the critter with an odd shooting style my nephew had never seen. Aiming with my right hand, head cocked to the left, while holding a flashlight in my left hand , but along side the right side of my head. Afterwards my nephew who's a LEO said "Was that the FBI technique?" I said huh? "The way you were holding the flashlight? I laughed. I said "I was covering my ears!" (covering my left ear with my left shoulder. and a finger in my right.) I had left my ear plugs in my other pants. I wanted to dispatch the house chewer, but not bad enough to ring my ears.


I've also done a bunch of one handed shooting, finger in left ear, head down and to the right, right shoulder up covering the right ear. That's how I shot cap guns as a kid. lol Hated loud noises then, hate it now. Which most people don't get considering my life revolvers around firearms and shooting.

Yes I have ear plugs in my pocket pretty much 24/7 and use them for anything that makes noise. A hammer, a drill, a vacuum, a gun.

[zeus]

Suppressors do not mitigate recoil like a good brake. They help a little but also change the recoil impulse due to how they function. I use plugs and muffs hunting. Started 25 years ago when hunting with handguns and in shooting houses. Just a good idea.

Most rifles now come with threaded barrels because everyone wants an option for mounting a suppressor. I get that completely.

As far as shooting competitively, we shoot next to some of the largest guns you can build. these guns are laying prone and shooting at the same time but at different plates. While it can be a pain, there’s no way around it. Wear proper eye and ear protection and truck on. If you don’t like it find a new discipline to shoot. Just sort of the way it goes.

[2 Dogs]

I have been down the suppressor trail and have long since switched back to muzzle brakes on everything from my prairie dog rifles up to my 338 Lapua. If you want to see the bullet land use a brake.