Muzzle Break

I take hearing tests every two years at my place of work. After 31 years, of hunting without hearing protection, but wearing hearing protection while target shooting, and at work, my hearing test normal. Yet the club member that I mentioned in an earlier post, displayed a significant loss of hearing between his previous hearing test, and the one taken after firing the single shot with a braked rifle. Prior to that shot, his hearing tested normal.

I don't know about you, but I see a significant difference between having normal hearing after over over 35 years of hunting without hearing protection, and suffering significant hearing loss, after a single shot with a braked rifle.

Personally - I don't believe your club member's story.

I have shot braked and un braked rifles and handguns and I have had my ears ring.

I have had my hearing tested a couple of times within the last 10 years. Both tests showed the hearing loss I have is not in the range caused by shooting noises. It is a hereditary/age loss not caused by shooting.

Brakes are considerably louder to others but not so to the shooter unless the blast is reflected back to the shooter as a roof at a shooting range does. Out in the open hunting it is rarely a problem and not something that would cause the shooter any more distress than if he was standing beside some one else shooting a rifle.

All loud noise has the potential to cause hearing loss, but does not necessarily always cause permanent damage.

Some brake designs are louder. The open clam shell designs are about the worst.
 
Keep the 7-08. If you need a brake you should be shooting a lighter recoiling rifle. Nothing you'll hunt in canada short of bison or grizz needs more gun.
 
I give her credit for trying the 7mm RM as it is. If I were under 130 I'm not so sure I'd squeeze it off.

I didn't push her into a hotter shell, she wanted to try it it and now wants to be able to stick to it. I'll do my part and make it more enjoyable. If either of us need a game ear to tolerate it, so be it. After reading more pros than cons it turned into an easy decision, noise being the only con.
 
Personally - I don't believe your club member's story.

Believe what you want to believe, but it is true. He shot an elk, and his ears rang for hours. After the incident he was having problems with his hearing, so he went to see a doctor, and this led to his hearing being tested. The results and the series of events that led up to the hearing loss convinced his doctor that the gunshot caused the hearing damage. If Catnthehatt reads this post, he will verify that what I am posting is true, as the Cat also knows this member very well.
 
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