Poll/Discussion: Hunting with a Muzzle Brake

[Varmint Hunter]

I hate braked rifles for hunting but I still use them on the heavy recoiling rifles. I built a 7WSM and a 30Nosler without brakes but everything larger has a good brake on it.

I keep a set of ear muffs on my arm when hunting with the 338RUM (Braked). But TWICE I never even thought to put them on when a shot opportunity quickly arose. Boy were those regrettable incidents.

Living in NY, suppressors aren't an option.

 

[Doug Crowe]

Folks do you or do you not hunt with a braked rifle?

I used a clamp on muzzle brake on my 7mm and forgot one time to have hearing protection. Now have a 10% permanent loss of hearing in my right ear

 

[xsn10s]

I already have a ton of hearing loss due to military and LE training. So I'm considering to switch to brakes on all my rifles.

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

Folks do you or do you not hunt with a braked rifle?

all my rifles have brakes for steel or game

 

[Mike Matteson]

Well when you been next to 152mm tank cannon, and hit a land mine on an APC. You don't have to worry about it much after that. My ears have be ringing from 1969. I would go into the field with ear plugs in. Good way to become a KIA. I use a muzzle brake on my 338 w. mag, but it's to reduce the recoil. It does allow to keeping sight on the game, for quicker follow up shot it needed. That great everybody needs to walk around with ear plugs in. That bear will get you and you will miss not see a lot of game.

 

[Tcross]

Not for me. My hearing, what's left of it, is more important. Sure, I can beef up the ear pro at the range, but the people that shoot next to me are also important. (We don't always get to shoot alone)

 

[skipglo]

My 300 win mag is braked. I always have electronic ear pro in when I take it hunting. I'm 50% deaf in my left ear from military service trying to preserve what I have left.

"WHAT" ?

 

[skipglo]

All of my guns are braked.

For me....only the ones I shoot are!

 

[AkBirder300]

Crazy I know, but it's actually Illegal in AK to hunt with hearing protection in, so I hate hunting with braked guns. That's why I shoot suppressed now

 

[Kmccord]

That is a strange law, why do they not allow you to wear hearing protection while hunting?

 

[AkBirder300]

That is a strange law, why do they not allow you to wear hearing protection while hunting?

I agree, it is pretty crazy. I think it's partially because so many hunts up here require non residents to use guides? Maybe our department of fish and game
a) wants clients to hear a bear coming or,
B) be able to hear their guide yelling there's a bear coming

I honestly have no idea but I and my hunting buddies have all switched over to suppressors, especially when hunting with our kids.

 

[ntsqd]

That was my immediate guess, bears.

With the electronic protection out there now that can actually amplify 'normal' hearing it sounds like the law is behind the times (when ever are they not?).

 

[Deleted member 107796]

"We don't need no stinking brakes!" (Sorry, another Blazing Saddles quote.)

Actually, I have a Ruger American 450 Bushmaster that came with a stock brake and don't mind it on the 16" barrel. For hunting though, I have my recoil tamed with Limbsavers and particularly for the elk hunting, where we are many times crawling thru game trails in scrub oak, any additional length is a hindrance. IMO, hearing loss stinks as well. Getting old is bad enough!

 

[GHDIII]

Suppressed or a brake on everything. This might sound a bit silly, but hear me out. I have a PTR32K. It's 7.62x39 out of a 12" barrel. Tried to shoot it in the woods with a BCM gunfighter comp and it rang, I mean RANG, my ears. I was sore for days. So, I put a Maxium Deffense Hate Brake on it. I shoot it in the woods all the time now with no ear pro. Is it hearing safe? I don't know, but for night hunting purposes it's remarkably comfortable on the ears. I bought a .22 cal version for one of my .22 bolt guns (that is now suppressed.) Again, with that bolt gun it was really, really comfortable to shoot. Like most brakes the Hate Brake does reduce recoil, but probably not as good as most. What's remarkable though, is the flash suppression and redirection of concussion.