For those that worry about muzzle flip I really don't understand it. Yes there' is a certain amount of muzzle flip with almost any rifle but it's mostly a function of stock design and rifle weight unless you're shooting a heavy magnum.
I use light rifles with fairly heavy barrels and the only time I notice muzzle flip is at the range. When I'm hunting by the time I've fired my rifle and am looking to see what the result was on the rifle I'm not really noticing muzzle rise. However a chambering that produces a lot of recoil WILL cause you to temporarily have blurry vision. That recoil once again goes back to stock design and rifle weight.
I can see if you're a prairie dog hunter and want to see if you hit that tiny target way out there and are using a light rifle. Other than that if you aim well you will kill your game DRT unless the game is like elk size or bigger and then muzzle flip or no you'll see it running off if it's not DRT.
I've always heard the muzzle flip reason and never noticed it at all when I'm hunting. In my world its a solution without a problem but then all my stocks are custom except on my Model 700 LTR rifles and those have those excellent HS Precision stocks with the aluminum bedding blocks which are fantastic if you skim bed the action to the aluminum bedding blocks.
I understand that a lot of hunting guides won't let you use a brake because it damages their hearing so much. I don't blame them. If you're standing directly behind a shooter in an open area and they aren't using a brake the sound isn't likely to be very bad because most of the sound is projected forward, but if they're using a brake there simply isn't a good place to be standing and heavy hearing protection is a must if you value your hearing at all and most people don't want to have to deal with that much hearing protection.
Here's another thought. To say that because someone has lost their hearing because of genetics to point out that rifle noise doesn't affect their or your hearing is a bit over the top. Really? Are you saying that just for the sake of arguing or because you don't want to believe that you invested in a muzzle brake and don't want to believe that it wasn't prudent?
There are plenty of scientific studies that prove that loud noise damages hearing. If you dispute that then I'd like to sell you some ocean front property in Arizona. It's on sale...
I guess I've stirred up a bunch of arguing and maybe the discussion of muzzle brakes is like politics and religion. Nobody will ever change their mind no matter how obvious the facts are...
I regret if this turns into a flame war and I also regret even bringing this up now that I see where it's going. Let's just agree to disagree and keep LR Hunting a fun place to share and learn.
Bob out....