Are Muzzle Brakes Annoying At The Range?
- Thread starter armagedon41
- Start date
I regularly wear two layers of hearing protection at work, but I've noticed that the improvement over just ear plugs or just earmuffs is about half of the first layer. So if you got 100% hearing protection with ear plugs, It is like 150% with both.
For the most part I don't think it is worth the benefit for shooting, which isn't as bad(to me) as industrial equipment.
As others have mentioned, it's the shock wave / concussion from a braked rifle that is annoying. If the source is a few benches down, no worries. If it's right next to you, I don't know how you couldn't find it annoying.
I'm all for the freedom to choose though, if someone wants to put a brake on a 7mm and come practice at the range they should be able to.. although I reserve the right to judge their manhood lol.
The only thing I would love to see at my range are a couple of days a month designated "brake free".. doesn't seem likely though, unfortunately.
I'm all for the freedom to choose though, if someone wants to put a brake on a 7mm and come practice at the range they should be able to.. although I reserve the right to judge their manhood lol.
The only thing I would love to see at my range are a couple of days a month designated "brake free".. doesn't seem likely though, unfortunately.
+1 on the plugs and muffs.
That said, I'm also guilty of the cannon with a brake. I do however, try to get further away from others when I'm at the range and give those around me a heads up. .30-378WBY Mag is REALLY loud.
I still remember the guy that pulled out a TRG42 in .338LM and started blasting right beside an ol' timer and his grandson without any warning. Kid almost started crying and I swear the old feller almost had a heart attack the blast was so loud.
Muzzle Brake = more awareness of your surroundings...
That said, I'm also guilty of the cannon with a brake. I do however, try to get further away from others when I'm at the range and give those around me a heads up. .30-378WBY Mag is REALLY loud.
I still remember the guy that pulled out a TRG42 in .338LM and started blasting right beside an ol' timer and his grandson without any warning. Kid almost started crying and I swear the old feller almost had a heart attack the blast was so loud.
Muzzle Brake = more awareness of your surroundings...
On any given day there could be 10 things that someone finds annoying on the range:
- the guy with the brake (unless it's me);
- the guy who wants to go the the stands every two minutes (unless it's me);
- the guy who wants to go the the stands every 20 minutes (unless it's me);
- the guy who has lots of questions (unless it's me);
- the guy doing rapid-fire (unless it's me);
- the guy doing a shot every five minutes (unless it's me);
- etc. (unless it's me);
Then of course, there's:
- the guy who's afraid of other guns and hides when they're shot (funny is all, unless he makes a big deal out of it);
- the snob with little guns who hates big guns;
- the snob with big guns who hates little guns;
- the snob with expensive guns who looks down on inexpensive guns;
- the snob with inexpensive guns who looks down on expensive guns;
- the guy who can't stand IPSC;
- the guy who looks down on PPC;
- etc.
So much to hate.... If you can't deal with it, that's what private ranges are for.
- the guy with the brake (unless it's me);
- the guy who wants to go the the stands every two minutes (unless it's me);
- the guy who wants to go the the stands every 20 minutes (unless it's me);
- the guy who has lots of questions (unless it's me);
- the guy doing rapid-fire (unless it's me);
- the guy doing a shot every five minutes (unless it's me);
- etc. (unless it's me);
Then of course, there's:
- the guy who's afraid of other guns and hides when they're shot (funny is all, unless he makes a big deal out of it);
- the snob with little guns who hates big guns;
- the snob with big guns who hates little guns;
- the snob with expensive guns who looks down on inexpensive guns;
- the snob with inexpensive guns who looks down on expensive guns;
- the guy who can't stand IPSC;
- the guy who looks down on PPC;
- etc.
So much to hate.... If you can't deal with it, that's what private ranges are for.
- Location
- The land of eternal winter.
Wow what a bunch of whiners. If you don't like it when guns go bang, don't go to the range.
no complaining in the reason for the start of the thread.
If you are referring to me complaining I am not even close to complaining yet. This is complaining.
The only complaint I have is everyone wants a big boomer (because I MAY WANT to shoot out to 1000 yards) but few are able to MAN UP to the recoil of the big boomers. Suck it up PRINCESSES.
Why do you think I shoot small cartridges? NOT A FAN OF BIG RECOIL. Thus, I do not need a muzzle break (which is noisy) to have an enjoyable day at the range.
There that is my rant........
CBY
I wasn't referring to you at all. When a person goes to the range they should expect to shoot next to any caliber, muzzle break or not.
It might be the boyscout in me but I come prepared. I use outer earmuffs and inner earplugs. It makes a huge difference. I am not so macho that I don't wear two layers of protection. Hearing loss is irreversible.
Guns are loud after all. Be prepared for it is all I am saying.
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
Wrong.
A weighted tests have shown Muffs with a 29NRR plus custom fit earplugs which are the best you can get and around 30NRR only give you an extra 3Db down of protection.
At best, you will be 34NRR.
To protect the best when someone is using a brake keep your mouth open slightly it helps to equalize the pressures from the shockwave to the small bones in the inner ear and provide the same relief as double protection.
That is very nice of you to point out that I am wrong when I was making a comparative observation using no form of measurement other than my own perception. Which if you were to take a moment to think about what I said, then it would be "accurate" to the numbers you posted. I would concede that my percentage comparison is not the most accurate but conveys the point that two layers does not provide two times the hearing protection.
Next time you try to correct someone, please understand the content of their response before you make a fool of yourself.
I use custom molded earplugs and and a high end noise reduction communications headset.
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
I did, and read your response. It implied 150% more protection which is 100% WRONG.
Don't get mad becase you are WRONG, just take the correction as that so you give out the correct information.
DaveMachine
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- That one place with a cowboy complex
If I'm shooting beside someone with a brake on my rifle that's their problem. 
Man up
Man up
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
I think it's a similar situation when hunting in a blind, and you have a ported barrel in your shotgun.
Hearing protection is a must. I highly recommend dB Blockers. www.protectear dot com
I have been using these since 1987 in studio work, live concerts,operating heavy equipment, and yes even shooting.
WCB yearly testing indicates I have no significant hearing loss. L 665566 R 656566
I would really like to try out some of the new gear, IE Peltors etc. I know how they work in terms of sound cancellation, but are they as good as custom in ear protection?
I would like that question answered before I make the plunge.
One thing I do find better with in ear as compared to traditional muffs is lack of 'sweat cups' in the summer. These are just ore comfortable to wear on hot days.
Hearing protection is a must. I highly recommend dB Blockers. www.protectear dot com
I have been using these since 1987 in studio work, live concerts,operating heavy equipment, and yes even shooting.
WCB yearly testing indicates I have no significant hearing loss. L 665566 R 656566
I would really like to try out some of the new gear, IE Peltors etc. I know how they work in terms of sound cancellation, but are they as good as custom in ear protection?
I would like that question answered before I make the plunge.
One thing I do find better with in ear as compared to traditional muffs is lack of 'sweat cups' in the summer. These are just ore comfortable to wear on hot days.
I'm not mad, because you cannot read. If your earplugs are considered "100%" of the maximum hearing protection, then adding ear muffs would be perceived like adding an additional 50% of hearing protection on top of that. So, when using simple math, 100 plus 50 equals 150.
As I'm sure you know decibel is a ratio measurement, meaning that 50 is not half of 100. So even though adding muffs only adds a very small amount of additional db protection, the perceived reduction is greater.
The funny thing is I was merely using a "seat of my pants" measuring method and you were completely unable to understand that.
Actually, I believe it yourself that is incorrect.
If 30NRR represents a 100% reduction in noise, an increase to 34NRR would actually represent over a 150% reduction as there is a 50% attenuation with every 3 decibel increase.....
Explanation....it's a log scale!
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
When somebody next to me blows my ammo off the bench with his braked
up whatever it is time for HIM to show some courtesy.
We have a rule at our range that braked guns are supposed to be used outside our covered firing line, but I don't think it is followed strictly.
If a person is a few benches down it's not an issue, but this time of year our range is pretty full.
Brakes are not allowed in DCRA matches for good reason.
Cat
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
No, it's YOU'RE problem because you are the kind of person who cannot seem to show any respect for another at the range.If I'm shooting beside someone with a brake on my rifle that's their problem.
Man up
Show an attitude like that at our range and you will be leaving.
Cat
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Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
I did understand, and wrong is wrong. Man up, admit it and get over it.
PS, Human hearing is LOGARITHMIC (curved) in nature as sensetivity to sound frequencies (more for mid, less for low end and high end sounds), it is not expressed in a ratio format (which is direct and linear in form) So while dB A weighted Logarithmic describes human hearing, dB used in NRR Ratios does not perscribe the response to human hearing.
So to answer your question, you are wrong again. and 50 can be half, or 1/4 or 1/8 of 100, it all depends at what frequency you are measuring (100,1000,10000Hz). Human hearing is Logarithmic in nature. It is not a Ratio.
Earlier you told me I was making a fool of myself? Judging by what you wrote, I have no fear of that happening in conversing with you on this topic.
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
Thank You! someone who gets it. That was put in there on purpose to see if Navy Cuda could figure it out.
Point of Fact though NRR is the relationship between A weighted and C weighted scales.
Here is the easiest explaination I have found on the topic
hxxp://www.elvex.com/NRR-SNR-formulas.pdf
