hunting with a muzzlebrake without ear protection

[todigy]

Typically when I am hunting I don't use ear protection. And typically, due to adrenaline and everything else going on when shooting at game (deer, ducks, turkey) I don't actually hear the shot and don't seem to be affected by the noise (understanding that I probably am but it doesn't seem that way).

I recently purchased a Browning x-bolt which has a removable muzzle break. I like to shoot with the break on, i find my groupings much tighter. Shooting with the break on without ear protection is just dumb, its so loud. So my question is, while in a hunting situation with the break, and I shoot at a deer or moose without hearing protection, will it be painfully loud or will I be oblivious to it like I am shooting under normal circumstances.

 

[tiriaq]

Oblivious or not, your ears are being damaged by exposure to gunshots.
You might consider good electronic hearing protection while hunting.

 

[Gr33zi3]

I just had a BOSS style brake put on my 7mm rem mag.

I shot a small bear a couple weeks ago with it, it was painfully loud compared to before w/out protection. My tinnitus in my left ear is actually worse now. Go buy some hearing protection

 

[OkayShooter]

Just get a pair of electronic ear protection. It will allow you to hear normal. But it will cut off at a DB, to save hearing damage.

 

[Dogleg]

If you shoot it with the brake (It is Brake not break) with no hearing protection you're going to be hating life for awhile. If you already hate life little is lost.

 

[savage 110L]

I had a 220 swift with a brake. Actually gave me a couple nosebleeds. Get hearing protection

 

[Scamaniac]

The same way that you find you don't hear the shot in a hunting situation, you also won't notice the recoil. Lose the brake and enjoy the nature. When I'm hunting I want to hear my surroundings naturally. More often than not there's not time to be fussing with hearing protection at the moment of truth.

 

[LUCK12]

Grab some electronic hearing protection as others have mentioned. At 61 yrs. when I take out the hearing aids there are approx.70% less sounds in the world. If you want to eventually be deaf..have at it

 

[mark222]

I had a 220 swift with a brake. Actually gave me a couple nosebleeds. Get hearing protection

When you used hearing protection, did it stop the nosebleeds?

 

[stubblejumper]

Even one shot with a braked rifle, without hearing protection, can cause significant damage to your hearing. One of out club members found out the hard way after firing one shot to kill an elk with a braked 300winmag.

 

[Wildey]

I find the electronic ones actually act as a sound amplifier, it’s like I have super hearing when they are on. I can hear stuff that I wouldn’t hear without them.

 

[trebor2880]

I find the electronic ones actually act as a sound amplifier, it’s like I have super hearing when they are on. I can hear stuff that I wouldn’t hear without them.

Imagine the damage they'd do if they failed to close at the moment of truth.

 

[Longboat]

I find the electronic ones actually act as a sound amplifier, it’s like I have super hearing when they are on. I can hear stuff that I wouldn’t hear without them.

For sure you are correct. You can hear wayyy more details with electronic hearing protection.

 

[Longboat]

I would agree with the earlier post to just lose the brake. If I'm shooting matches or testing loads all afternoon the brake is pretty much a must on some guns.

A hunting weekend where you shoot a handful of shots at most is not going to bother you. You wont miss the brake. But that doesn't mean you can ditch the ear protection.

 

[tiriaq]

I would agree with the earlier post to just lose the brake. If I'm shooting matches or testing loads all afternoon the brake is pretty much a must on some guns.

A hunting weekend where you shoot a handful of shots at most is not going to bother you. You wont miss the brake. But that doesn't mean you can ditch the ear protection.

If you shoot without hearing protection, you are damaging your hearing, brake or not.
A handful of shots may not "bother you", but hearing damage can result.

 

[northern skies]

Imagine the damage they'd do if they failed to close at the moment of truth.

I'm sure the speakers would just bottom out and you would hear a brief distorted tone. They're nowhere near capable of that kind of volume.

 

[Butcherbill]

Oblivious or not, your ears are being damaged by exposure to gunshots.
You might consider good electronic hearing protection while hunting.

Just get a pair of electronic ear protection. It will allow you to hear normal. But it will cut off at a DB, to save hearing damage.

+1 to both of these posts.

 

[lone ranger]

well...i can say I'm 1/2 deaf for sure. I shot all through the 70's with no ear protection.
thousands of rounds !!

WHAT.....I think the wife is calling me- uhh but wait, I can now play deaf and pretend I never heard her LOL

comes in handy after 30+ years of marriage.

 

[WhelanLad]

bit like a shag behind the pub on those cold night , full of piss an no little rubber ring... its all good at the time but afterwards can be a bad dicision...

for the record , im still that guy

haha hooroooo

 

[lone ranger]

bit like a shag behind the pub on those cold night , full of piss an no little rubber ring... Its all good at the time but afterwards can be a bad dicision...

For the record , im still that guy

haha hooroooo

lol