Author Topic: Muzzle Breaks? (Read 813 times)

younghunter12 · « **on:** June 16, 2006, 04:24:23 PM »

Hi. I'm looking for a elk gun for the upcoming season. I've looked into all reasonable calibers thourouly. Right now I'm leaning toward the .300 win mag. As said in my screen name I'm young. I'm 12 yrs old as said in my screen name. I have shot a 7.62x54r, 8mm mauser, 30-06 with 180 grs, and a 7mm Rem mag with 160 grs.

I was thinking that I'd get the 300 wm and put a muzzle break. That way when I get older I can take a muzzle brake off and I have myself a great caliber for big game.

The problem is that I don't have experience with muzzle breaks. I am pretty confident that I can take the recoil of a light 300 wm load. But for elk I was hoping for 180grs instead of a 150 gr bullet. My question is how much recoil does a mb take off? Thanks in advance. Alec.

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2006, 04:32:40 PM »

If you can shoot a .30-06 with 180 grains, or a 7mm Rem Mag with 160s, accurately, then I would stick with those cartridges WITHOUT a muzzle brake.

I own several rifles with MBs, and they do work. However, they are VERY loud. I have learned to shoot with more recoil than lose my hearing. Yes, I wear hearing protection at the range, but when hunting, wearing hearing protection causes me to lose so much about hunting - that being all the sights AND SOUNDS.

Yes, you are young. But that has little to do with recoil. You are young and unwise just like I was your age (even older than that) because I had MBs installed on my guns.

You may want to try and use federal's HIGH ENERGY loads in the .30-06, which has almost as much power as the .300 Win Mag.

Zachary

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2006, 01:13:50 AM »

Stick with the 30-06 and stay away from the muzzle breaks. There is nothing saying you can't get a 300 Win Mag when you get older. Also about wearing hearing protection, it is a great idea even when hunting. I like the Walker muffs.

jro45 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2006, 03:04:05 AM »

I have a muzzel brake on my 375 H&H & 338 RUM. They knock down the recoil to wear its ok to shoot.I also take the muzzel brake off when hunting.

I Agree with what was said. A 30/06 shooting a 180gr bullet is all thats needed within 150 yds.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2006, 03:28:24 AM »

Stick with the 30-06 or 7mag. Plenty of time to buy a .300wm later.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2006, 03:29:22 AM »

Shoot a rifle with a muzzle brake at my range and you may be asked to put it away. Club rules require tat you notify everyone on the line before doing so and any objections and youre done before you start. The rule specifically includes rifles with brakes or BOSS systems and .50BMGs.

The fact of the matter is you dont need a brake to take elk reliably or a .300 Magnum Anything, for that matter. A 7mm Rem Mag with 160s served me well for over 20 years, never lost an elk and the only tracking job was one my buddy shot in the neck (made it 120 yards or so).

Get a .300 Win Mag if you want, but I would stay away from the brakes.

younghunter12 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2006, 07:06:21 AM »

From what I'm hearing I think I'l stick with the 30-06. I think right now that I'm getting mag maddness. thanks. Alec.

nomosendero · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2006, 07:25:06 AM »

Good choice, you will have plenty of time later to buy the 300. I like the 300WM a great deal & use it some, but it ways years before I bought one.
Now as I look back, I am sure glad that no one tried to get me into the bigger guns too fast, as bad habits are hard to break. Besides, most North American hunting needs are met with a 30-06 anyway.

It will take a great deal of trigger time before you can utilize effectively
more horsepower than the 30-06 anyway & once you have that experience
you will not have to ask us, you will know.

Good luck to you & maybe you can influence a young friend or two along the way to take up the sport!!

SuperstitionCoues · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2006, 08:40:06 AM »

The muzzlebreak on my 7mm WSM that I had installed by Williams Gunsmithing services (the Guide Series model) has been a godsend. Some of the best money that I have spent. The feedback that I have gotten at my local range (Rio Salado in Mesa) hasn't been too bad either, but I have had to double-up with ear plugs and muffs so my ears stop ringing.

That being said, if I were you, I would purchase either a 30-06, a 270, or a 25-06. All of these should handle the game in Arizona, maybe with the exception of elk and black bear for the 25-06. The advantage of the
25-06 though, is that with a proper load of 115 to 120 grain bullet (i.e. Sierras 117 gr. BTSP, 120 gr HPBT, or Noslers offerings) is that it provides the same level of performance as the 270 with a reduced amount of recoil.

I think you are being wise, though, in by-passing the magnums for now and concentrating on a good, proven caliber. You cannot go wrong with any of the three I mentioned, especially the 30-06. I've had three since I started buying when I was 19 (I'm 39 now), and each has been better than the last. It, a .22, and a 12 ga. shotgun are the staples of my collection.

Cement Man · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2006, 08:41:23 AM »

First, I do my elk hunting with a 30.06 and I really don't feel undergunnned at all. It will do you very well. Learn the anatomy of your game and put the shot where it belongs. That is more important than any difference between an '06 and a 300 mag.
Hearing is something we often take for granted. I did and I am sorry. For the last 30 of my 60 years, I have had to listen to something like a leaky air hose and a whistle going off in my ears - 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It never, ever stops. It could drive you crazy if you think about it too much. The condition is called Tinnitus. My friends would all tell stories about how they heard the snow crunching on a frosty morning as a deer approached behind them, or leaves rustling, or twigs snapping. All I could talk about is the leaky, whistling air hose. It takes away some of the fun of hunting, and it makes it harder to be a good hunter. It's also embarassing to have to ask people to repeat things all the time, try to read lips, and to misinterpret words. Take care of your hearing buddy. What you do when you are young DOES come back to haunt you someday.
One thing that did help me are the amplifying earmuffs. They electronically "shut down" when there is a loud noise, so they protect your hearing - but they also amplify sounds so I can hear things better. They are nice at the range because you can talk to other people and hear them, but they protect your hearing as well. If the weather is real cold, they even keep you ears warm. When I first got them, I was so unused to hearing anything, that when a buck snorted somewhere behind me, it about startled me out of my tree stand. One time as I was walking out of the woods in Minnesota, a guy on a snowmobile stopped and asked me how the Vikings are doing.
Good luck, and safe hunting and shooting to you.

James in NC · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2006, 12:54:49 AM »

Very good advise guys. Younghunter don't get caught up in the magnum frenizey. 06 will do fine and when you get older then you can get a meat tenderizer! [grin] Goood luck

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2006, 03:04:51 AM »

Quote from: younghunter12

From what I'm hearing I think I'l stick with the 30-06. I think right now that I'm getting mag maddness. thanks. Alec.

Probably a good choice - in over 20 years of elk hunting I have never taken or even contemplated a shot that I could not have made equally well with a .30-06 - or even a .308Win. Longest was 350 yards with the 7mm Mag, second longest was 213 yards - with a .45-70. No regrets on using a 7mm Mag for all those years and no regrets on getting a .300 Win Mag a couple years back, just never needed all they offer.

About the hearing, Cement Man has good advice - protect your hearing! At the range I use ear plugs AND muffs. Granddad and Uncle are both deaf as a brick due to farm machinery and guns. My hearing isn't what it could be because I didn't start protecting it near soon enough. Don't be foolish with your hearing - going naked isn't macho, its stupid.

nasem · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2006, 06:46:38 AM »

A good 30 caliber bullet will get the job done for elk. a 30-06 will kill an elk just as fast a 300 win mag. The only reason why the 300 win mag is better than a 30-06 is becuase its flatter shooting for ranges above the 300 yard mark..... And I highly doubt you'll be hunting elk at ranges more than 150-250 yards.

Even if you decide to hunt at long ranges (lets say above the 300 yard mark), if your new to the 300 win mag, your lucky if you even hit the bullet close to the elk....Long range shooting takes long time to practice, and a 300 win mag is not a caliber you want to start long range shooting (as a starting round). It costs too much $$$$ and hits pretty hard on the shoulder esspecially if your going to the range and blasting more than 50-60 rounds per day.

Regarding the muzle break, stay away from it, When I go to the gun range and someone is using a M.B, everyone stays clear from him/her and no one likes to even talk to them, we usually give them dirty looks for having such an annoying cannon going off and shaking all the tables, even 3-4 tables down. You will not enjoy that muzzle break, people will look at you and think "wimp!!!".... its such a non-testosterone deal.

If you want more power than a 30-06, then don't get the 300 win mag, get a 338 win mag BUT the recoil will be pretty harsh esspecially for a new person learning to shoot the big stuff.

K.K · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2006, 01:41:10 PM »

I agree with these gentlemen. The 30-06 is a great elk (and everything else) cartridge. Personally, I despise muzzlebrakes. If I can't handle the cartridge without one, I will shoot it until I can. The blast and noise induces more of a flinch for me than recoil. When you become older or more experienced and want or need a magnum, shoot it and become familiar with the rifle. More importantly, buy one that fits you properly and is of a decent weight. Good luck

K.K

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2006, 01:08:42 AM »

You have four great calibers already listed. They are all excellent Elk rounds, it is your pick. You hardly need a magnum caliber for what you want.

A muzzle break may be a bit helpful at the bench when you are sighting in your rifle and driving all the other shooters away with the blast but it is doubtful as to just how much of an assist it is in the field. Just remember - when you settle your sights on your game target and squeeze the trigger, you may not even feel the rifle go off.

Now, if it was my choice I would probably go for the 8mm or the 7.62x54mm just because. Everybody takes just about everything with the ol 06 and almost everyone else is always pullin' on braggin' rights about how well their 7mm mag shoots but not to many send in successful hunting pictures with an old 8mm or Moison across their knees. Mikey.