muzzle brake question

[damascus-doug]

I am thinking about having one installed on my 243 and was wondering what the general thought was about them by the more experienced H&R owners.  I have just kinda always wanted to put one on a rifle and thought this would be the one I would do it on.  If anyone has done it I would be interested to know if it affected accuracy and any other information you would have.  Thank you
Doug

[trotterlg]

They will kill your ears and piss off every one around you at the range.  Larry

[Sourdough]

The reason to install a muzzlebrake is to reduce recoil.  In my opinion it would be a waste to put one on a .243.  Be aware that if you do you will never be able to shoot it without ear protection period, even when hunting.   At the range it is common courtesy to let everyone around you know you are shooting a gun with a brake, since they will receive the muzzle blast. 

My neighbor could not comprehend this about the increased noise from the brake to the shooter.  He took his new .338 w/brake hunting.  Moose jumped up he shot, dropped his gun, holding his ears.  He now wears hearing aids.  Without them he can not hold a conversation with someone.  One unprotected shot was all it took.

As you can tell I am biased, I don't like brakes.  I only have one gun with a brake, and Weatherby puts them on from the factory or I would not have it. 

[MrJames680]

I had one on a Ruger and had it removed because of the above mentioned. Put a muzzle brake on something that needs it. How ever if you really want to keep your target in the scope as it fire... that neat but still unnecessary.

[petemi]

A neighbor of mine had one put on his .30-06.  Then he had it cut off and recrowned.  He said "It blew the empty beer cans off the shelf in his coop."

Pete

[MrJames680]

I got this from Wiki:

"Recorded noise levels (on certified audiological instruments) at the muzzle of a magnum or high velocity rifle with a muzzle break normally exceed 160 decibels. Permanent ear damage occurs at 120 decibels. If you read the fine print on the finest set of ear plugs and ear muffs available, you will find the total noise reduction only between 22 and 31 decibels. This means that on a rifle with a muzzle brake, even if you are wearing hearing protection, you are suffering permanent damage."

[NFG]

WANNASTARTAFIGHT??  MUZZLE BRAKE ON A 243?   YOU TROLLING OR WHAT???  

Do a search on ANY gun related forum and you will get all the information you want AND all the Chevy/Ford, Blond/Brunette, boy/girl "stuff" included...innuendo, white lies, black lies, TOTAL LIE lies, exaggeration and missinformation, disinformation, smoke blowing total BS Piled Higher and Deeper, you either love'em or hate'um...You know...all the good "stuff".      

I like brakes on BIG guns...I'm making one right now for my 12GaFH...And my 45-90, 458 WM, 375 H&H, 416 Taylor all are "carrying"...I  have a 500-510 cal project in the deciding state and it WILL have a brake...they all shoot much better...I SHOOT them much better...I wear ear protection...I DON'T have ANY problem with noise...and so on, and so on and so on...

Take some time doing the searching...read all you can...decide for yourself...

Oh...and a brake on a 243 is OK...especially for varminting...so little recoil you can see the bullet hits in the scope...I've had brakes on a couple 22 cals...nice to see the hits or misses way out yonder.

I have a brake on my FAVORITE 15" 7mm-08 XP100 pistol...makes the pistol very managable...the difference between getting pistol slapped on the noggin' or the pistol just rolling up on the left tripod leg about 2"...I do get a little bit of blast concussion back in the face...startling the first time, but disregarded after that.

I think most of the dissing comes from those who just "heard, then repeat" the stories.

I read the Wiki blurb...it didn't state the position the receiver was placed at...what rifle they used...only "magnum or high velocity rifles"...I don't disreguard the information, only the way it was presented and the information concerning the level of reduction...by this description I should be stone deaf by now, having shot thousands of rounds through any number of "high velocity and magnum rifle" over 50 plus years of shooting, with and without ear protection.

This is another example of innuendo or dissinformation designed to make shooting a "dangerous" occupation...I would guess it was written by a anti-gunner.  Shooting without ear protection WILL hurt your ears in time...and so will loud music...some truck horns...dynamite blasts...and a host of other actions humans do in day to day activities, but mention muzzle brake and the brain farts AND regular ol' farts start happening.

[PHATINJUN]

I had one on a 22"45/70 and sold it because of the BLAST I do have one on my 30/06 Ulta Comp but don't shoot it as much as I do a 45/70. But as said I personally would think it a waste of money for a .243. Kurt

[myarmor]

All I can suggest is if our friend Doug hasn't shot a rifle with a muzzle break then to do so before he decides....with ear protection of course.
It's loud but if you plan on not shooting at a public range and not taking it hunting without ear protection, then it may be just for you. I have shot my 30-06 UC without ear protection and (though it's an amazing accurate barrel)... never again. Still with such a barrel I can remove the break and hunt with it, though then it shifts POA... I know my shooting partner doesn't like shooting with me when I break it out and even then he get's off the bench and stands behind me.
 So you decide, you may love it, you may hate it but try one with one first before you decide.





-Aaron

[cwlongshot]

  I too have had a couple, I do not care for them.
 My ultra comp 30-06 is gone, my old browning with a adj comp is gone,
I removed the one I had installed on my 35 Whelen and replaced the open threads with a protective sleeve. Just like the others mentioned, they are too loud. Of coarse they don't make anything louder. They just redirect the sound closer to the shooter and bystanders.

I don't think they are necessary for the majority of "hunting"calibers out there. IMHO 


CW
 EDIT for spelling....

[Troyboy]

Aaron said exactly what i was thinking.

[Sourdough]

I forgot my Raging Bull 454 Casull has a brake, as well as my Weatherby .338/378.  When I shoot either of these I wear foam ear plugs, and Pelter ear muffs.  My audiologist (She is a shooter herself) said either one alone is not enough, for the guns I shoot. 

Honestly the best thing is to find someone with a brake and shoot one to see for your self if you really like it.  With my Weatherby, it is a long distance gun period.  Shooting at long distance I have plenty of time to set up and put on hearing protection.  I never carry the Weatherby out of the case, where I might have occasion to shoot something that jumps up or suddenly appears.  For that I carry a non braked gun.

[mitchell]

i have one on a 6mm br that i have for long range varmint hunting , it sure is nice but really loud ear pro is a must. i also put one on a 25-06 handi a little while back i've got it where i can take it off for when i go yote hunting and put it back on when i got to the range i still have to make a thread protector for it but i just got too many irons in the fire right now

[tykempster]

I like brakes, but they are LOUD.  You gotta wear ear plugs when hunting, and when practicing I wear custom plugs and muffs.  Then it is plenty tolerable, at least to me.

[44 Man]

I have an AR15 with a factory muzzle brake on it.  When shooting between cement block walls at the range, it is LOUD!  Not so bad in the woods though, but still louder than without.  You might consider a Mag-na-port job on the rifle.  I have had many handguns and rifles Mag-na-ported and contrary to what some may tell you, there is very little increase in noise to the shooter, AND they do work.  I currently have a .35 Rem Marlin Mag-na-ported and it makes that old .35 such a nice, soft shooter.  Give Mag-na-port some serious consideration.  44 Man