Brakes on a hunting gun

I have been using muzzle brakes ever since I had a 5 1/2 lb 300 RUM built in '95 - only used for hunting - ready for new barrel. All of my other mountain rifles have brakes except for 7 STW Blaser. Fortunately still have excelllent hearing (audiogram confirmed) even though do not use hearing protection in the field (I do not recommend this). At the bench I use double hearing protection - plugs (34 dbl reduction) under muffs. Len's recommendation above is excellent advice. I use hearing protection for almost everything else - lawn mower, power saw, leaf blower, grinding wheel etc.

Long before I used brakes I used electronic hearing protection while hunting. Now every one of my rifles has a brake. One has a can that has not been installed yet. There's no way I would shoot, much less hunt, with out a brake. I can see the impacts even at 100 yards.

At the range I use ear plugs and the electronic hearing protection.

I hunt with a Vais brake and wear electronic ear muffs while I'm hunting. I'm thinking of looking into some smaller units that fit in the ear or behind the ear.

Len Backus said:

I developed mild tinnitus before I learned about SoundGear Electronic Hearing Protection.

I have saved further damage to my own ears by ALWAYS wearing them whether a rifle is braked or not. So comfortable I leave them in my ears all day long, even through lunch breaks.

I've worn them for about 4 to 5 years.

We sell SG in the LRH Store CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

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I got SoundGear after learning about them here. They are the ONLY sound protection I have ever tried which can be worn in the field and not interfere with the hunting experience; things don't sound normal and directional with electronic muffs. With SoundGear, you forget you even have them in.

I'll never take a shot in the field without them. On the range with a braked rifle, I still double-muff over them.

Slim13 said:

OK....talk to me people. Interested in hearing from those that hunt with muzzle brakes.

I wore out my heavy barrel on my 7mm Rem Mag. I ended up putting a #3 bartlein on it because I was tired of lugging a 15lb rifle into the backcountry. I'm not recoil sensitive in the least, but with the missing weight in the barrel I'm fighting some muzzle jump that I've never had to deal with before.

I'm thinking about putting a brake on her to help manage the recoil and get the gun to track better. My question is: Have any of you regretted doing it? What kind of hearing protection are you using while hunting?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, advice and opinions. I've never had a braked rifle before and I keep going back and forth on the idea.

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I recommend ALWAYS using ear protection while shooting (and hunting). I would suggest getting the brake installed, I don't think you would regret it. If you decide you don't like it, you can remove it and install a threaded cap on the barrel. Or you can do what some do, install a brake for range use, but remove it for hunting. Just make sure where the POI is with and without the brake in case they are different.
I use Walker's Quad electronic ear muffs. They have 2 mics (that pickup sound)on each ear, and make it easier to hear which direction sounds are coming from. I have used them several seasons, and really like them. It makes it easier to hear my guide whisper to me, but protect against the sound of the gunfire.

I guess I'm like a lot of shooters on here that have several rifles going at one time. All are for targets, whether paper or flesh, and have heavy profile barrels. They range in weight from a "light" 11.4lb .308 (w/6.5-20x50 Leupold) to a 13.8lb .270AM (currently w/no scope). A portion of the recoil these generate is absorbed by their weight.
I have always worn hearing protection while target shooting/plinking until within the past 5 years, now I wear it all the time, even hunting. My hunting is usually setting up in a LR hide situation, so I have time to get comfortable and put ear plugs in. I'm usually concentrating my attention on one area and really don't need to hear much.
I became concerned with my hearing protection after I became the owner of a couple of scoped revolvers that I had planned to use for LR (for a pistol) hunting. These were a .500S&W and a .44Mag. I had no idea that braked S&W was going to be as loud as it was and only used ear plugs. One shot was all it took and now I have a constant ringing. From then on I started using electronic ear muffs AND plugs while paper shooting/load development and plugs while hunting (traded off the pistols). I still have excellent hearing, as my audiograms reveal, just that nagging ringing. It bothered me a lot to start with but I've gotten somewhat used to it now.
My dad had tinnitus and I remember him during the last years of his life, sitting in his recliner and almost gnashing his teeth over the agony of his ears ringing. It's hard seeing loved ones going through pain/agony and not being able to help them. My dad, by the way, was "old school" and never wore hearing protection while shooting, anytime.
All that to say, if you can afford to brake it, brake it but also get the protection that your ears need. Hearing is a blessing! johnnyk.

I definitely recommend a directional break vs a radial (both work but as mentioned several times the radial with throw up dirt and is harder to spot your shot). You 100% want to wear hearing protection. I just use some cheap gel plugs that can hang around my neck and get thrown in quickly. I am looking to upgrade to a small electronic plug that can be left in and doesn't take up space or weight.

ATH said:

I got SoundGear after learning about them here. They are the ONLY sound protection I have ever tried which can be worn in the field and not interfere with the hunting experience; things don't sound normal and directional with electronic muffs. With SoundGear, you forget you even have them in.

I'll never take a shot in the field without them. On the range with a braked rifle, I still double-muff over them.

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I wear double hearing protection at the range whether my rifle is braked or not.

I personally brake every rifle. To me if the only con is noise.... That's easy to deal with. Throw in some plugs. And if you don't have time to spend 1 second putting plugs in, imo you probably shouldnt be taking that shot. The benefits imo are well worth it. I'm 6'4" 240lbs and have shot the biggest calibers unbraked. But why? To flex how strong I am and brakes are for wimps lol. There is no doubt that absolutely everyone shoots better when there is less recoil. You can remain steady and most importantly you won't be reluctant to take the rifle to the range and shoot hundreds of rounds through it. Getting good with that rifle and having as much data as possible. The whole "I don't feel recoil when hunting" doesn't make sense to me. Do you not practice with this rifle? How do you collect data on this rifle? And don't tell me you don't develop a flinch if you are shooting your unbraked 338 win mag that weighs 8lbs off a bench 50 times.

I have made that mistake, weight works at the bench but not so much when carrying in the Feild. Same with really long barrels, looks good on paper (pun intended). At 7mm I think you will be ok, dial it in and a little light practice. I brake anything over 300. I always have plugs around my neck and rarely remember to put them in in the heat if battle. I have electronics ESPs I paid a fortune for and normally forget those or the battery goes every 4 hours. Muffs..... right, try a horseback hunt or hunt and any kind of heat or scrambleing around with muffs. Muffs...... Build a comfortable carry weight and shoot it.

Just posting for what it is worth but here it goes ...

Hearing protection seems to be centered around shooting/hunting but hardly addressed any other times. I am one of those people that always use PPEs. I use gloves, hearing protection, safety goggles, shoes, when I mow and use any high noise power tools, cutting firewood, etc. I spent 10 years in the flightline working F-4s and A-10s working 10-12 hours and constantly exposed in high dBs. Back then, all we have are foamies + a regular blue earmuffs. Because I need to be able to communicate with the aircrew, I use a COMM set instead. Luckily, we are tested for hearing loss every year. I kept mine to a minimum. In fact,when I transitioned from F-4 to A-10, my hearing got better. When I left the flightline, my hearing significantly improved because I was no longer exposed to continuous high extreme high dB noise levels. My point is, we are exposed to other high dB noise levels yet we do not take the proper protection. Just something to ponder ...





I have invested in e-muffs but this year is going to be my first to hunt with my suppressor. I understand that it is not for everybody and not legal in most states, adds weight, pricey, and a long waiting period but offers a nice compromise and worth the consideration.

BTW, most of my rifles sports a muzzle brake.

Cheers!

Ed

My uncle was a gunnery instructor during WW II. He was the one that taught me to shoot and hunt. Back in WW II times they did not even know what PPE was, more or less use it. I think the closest thing they had were cigarette buts stuck in their ears. His hearing was terrible. He was the best friend I ever had and it bothers me he may not have heard some of the important things I told him. he knew the importance of what he lost. If he would have caught me shooting without hearing protection I would still be wearing my but for a hat. I shoot big loud handguns hunting and put the muffs on so they cover one ear. If I see something coming I pull the other side down. I think the electronic protection is probably better.
That being said with good muffs I can shoot my 338 Lapua comfortably.
Dave

I have brakes on my hunters and use electronic plugs. Drops the decibels @20 and enhances detection.

Amazed by the wealth of information here. I'm thankful for everybody's replies. I think I'm going to put a brake on. I'll just make sure I have ear-pro on. If I have to react quickly for a chance encounter shot and I don't have time to put the hearing protection on then so be it. I'm willing to let the animal win occasionally if it means I save my hearing.