Would you hunt with a muzzle brake installed?
- Thread starter KatManDew
- Start date
I've owned a rifle with a brake for 20+ years. One piece of advice: always wear hearing protection when shooting any gun, but especially any gun with a brake. Muzzle brakes do reduce recoil and muzzle jump, which typically equates to better accuracy (more noticeable and beneficial at longer ranges), but they are LOUD. I mention longer ranges because if your typical shot is 65 yards in the hardwoods, you'll never be able to notice any appreciable gain in accuracy. If you typically shoot 300-500 yards across a cut bean field, then a brake could prove worthwhile for you. Other than the being loud and deafening over time, I cannot think of a negative.
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3 of the 4 rifles/muzzleloaders I have all have on brakes. Agree with them being loud, and that being the only negative
i wouldnt shoot over 300 and a 6.5 creedmoor probably doesnt need any help reducing recoil. It would be for my 16 and 19 year old daughters so i'm thinking i should remove the brake. Rem 700 with threaded barrel. I believe i can buy a thread protector attachment to cover the exposed threads. Just not sure what that means for the accuracy of the gun. I think it was modified to accept the brake.
Accuracy will be fine with thread protector. Just make sure to check POA=POI after you remove brake and install protector.
Jon54
Well-Known Member
I wear Walkers Game Ear muffs that cover both ears and increase ambient noise but shut off on the blast. I have a bad case of "CHS", (can't hear s#$t). Can't imagine hunting without them.
Did anyone mention they are loud?
I tried a brake at the gun range and knew right away I didn't want them on my hunting rifles. Loud
skipperbrown
Well-Known Member
No, way too loud for me.
Plateau Hunter
Well-Known Member
If you need a brake for recoil reduction…go with a lighter recoiling round…
Safari Hunt
Well-Known Member
Never considered one but with the noise factor, even with quality hearing protection, wouldn't consider one with muzzle brake.
41Magnum
Well-Known Member
I hate muzzle brakes! Never owned a rifle that needed one.
I had a ruger frontier in 300 wsm with a 16.5" barrel and a muzzle brake.
I wondered why the guy was selling it so cheap, now I know.
I wondered why the guy was selling it so cheap, now I know.
Deafening
I personally would be tempted to leave it on if it is for your teenage daughters. With the reduction in recoil, it could help with flinching unless they are already very experienced shooters. They should already be using hearing protection, so a little extra noise shouldn't matter.
infoman jr.
Well-Known Member
I would hunt with a brake if it acted as a sacrificial blast baffle for the suppressor that was attached to it.
Not without hearing protection. Even in the open, with strong prairie wind blowing, it's murder on the ears. Try a 7mm Rem Mag with the old Browning BOSS system ported…no thanks.
Rancocas
Well-Known Member
At an auction I bought a Ruger #1 in .220 Swift that somebody had installed a muzzle brake on it. It had been installed a bit off center, so the projectile hit the edge of the brake as it exited the barrel, thereby causing inaccuracy. Probably why the unknown person put the gun up for auction. Anyway, I fixed that problem and the rifle is accurate now. But, since I left the brake on, it sure is loud. Definitely don't need it!
I haven't hunted with a brake, but if it's similar to a ported barrel in blast and noise, no thanks. I shot a deer in a steep hollow with a ported big bore rifle once….once.
I couldn't hear out of one ear for the rest of the day. Luckily most of it came back.
I couldn't hear out of one ear for the rest of the day. Luckily most of it came back.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Never without hearing protection. But invaluable when hunting longer ranges to maintain your sight picture immediately after the shot.
