.375 Weatherby Magnum and Muzzle Brake

mdblough

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Hi All. I recently purchased a Weatherby Mark V in .375 Weatherby Magnum. My first trip to the range to site in the scope was punishing, to say the least. I have fired a number of different rifles, but the recoil on this was massive. A friend of min suggested I have a muzzle break installed, so I thought I would see if anyone here has any recommendations for a brake that would work on my rifle. I would prefer one that was removable.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Cheers,
Mike
 
I never understand the removable bit...(other than for cleaning)... if you want recoil reduced the brake needs to stay on.

You install a brake and sight it in with those barrel harmonics, with recoil very much reduced ... if you remove the brake the harmonics are drastically changed, the recoil is back and you need to sight it in again. The same goes for handloads ... a different load may or may not be required for best accuracy.

At the range ear protection is required with or without a brake. Rifles are noisy. My experience with a good brake and shooting in the open there is no difference to the shooter... but anyone beside the shooter will experience more noise as some of the gases are defected sideways.

Removable for cleaning is nice and can be done.

I like this design for a hunting rifle.
thinbarrelbrake1-0.jpg
 
Is it a lightweight rifle?
I have a No. 1-T in that caliber and it's not bad at all. Mercury tube and fat butt pad mind you...and a No. 1-T is no lightweight as well.
My daughter actually likes shooting it ( she's 16 now ), but I reload cast as well. That helps somewhat also.
 
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That rifle shouldn't be too bad in 375 Wby........looks like good recoil pad and good stock design. I'm sure it's not light looking at the forend and barrel contour...................HHHMMMMMMMM
I would absolutely never put a brake on a nice looking rifle like that..........Have you ever owned or shot a 375 H&H or Ruger, or 416 Rigby? Maybe just some acclimatizing needed.........
 
Thanks, All. Here is a link to a photo of the rifle: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nippc3k9ks53ltu/W3.jpg?dl=0. I am not sure what brand the recoil pad is, but it is a french walnut stock.

An article I read suggested using the break for target practice an removing when hunting.

Any suggestions for brand of brake? Do they have to be professionally installed?

Don't put a brake on that beauty... shoot it standing up, never from a bench, never prone... get used to the recoil...

What do you plan on hunting with that rifle? It's more than you need for most NA game but desirable on dangerous game.

It would take a lot of work to install a good looking brake incorporated into the front sight...

I did one in stainless (side ports only) where the whole assembly unscrewed for ease of cleaning.

picture002-4.jpg
 
That rifle shouldn't be too bad in 375 Wby........looks like good recoil pad and good stock design. I'm sure it's not light looking at the forend and barrel contour...................HHHMMMMMMMM
I would absolutely never put a brake on a nice looking rifle like that..........Have you ever owned or shot a 375 H&H or Ruger, or 416 Rigby? Maybe just some acclimatizing needed.........

x2 Maybe see if you can get some reduced loads made for you to begin with.
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback! After your comments on my rifle I decided against the muzzle brake. I do hand load so I could try making some reduced loads. I shot the Weatherby loads at the range last week; the recoil felt like I was getting punched in the shoulder by a line backer! I have fired 3" magnum shotgun rounds (slugs) and they felt like a butterfly compared to the Weatherby rounds! But as some of you said, maybe I just need to get used to it!

I know its a big calibre for NA game, but I was hoping to use it for elk and larger animals.
 
Stick with it, you won't be sorry as its a fine cartridge.
As you have said being a handloader gives you the advantage of working your way up the power scale and at the same time becoming accustomed to the rifle and its power..
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback! After your comments on my rifle I decided against the muzzle brake. I do hand load so I could try making some reduced loads. I shot the Weatherby loads at the range last week; the recoil felt like I was getting punched in the shoulder by a line backer! I have fired 3" magnum shotgun rounds (slugs) and they felt like a butterfly compared to the Weatherby rounds! But as some of you said, maybe I just need to get used to it!

I know its a big calibre for NA game, but I was hoping to use it for elk and larger animals.

Do you have a set of dies for it? If you were close I'd offer to help you out.
 
You will get less recoil if you use the lighter bullets rather than the heavy ones... and a lower load rather than the book max.
 
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