Whats your opinion on muzzle brakes?
- Thread starter savagelh
- Start date
General rule of thumb is doubling up will add 3 to 5 NRR to whichever is the better piece. So if your muffs are 30nrr and you've got 32nrr plugs then together they'll put you around 35.
The problem is that sound attenuation is dependant on the frequency, and something that claims 30nrr probably only provide that much protection at a very narrow range of frequencies.
85db of continuous noise can damage your hearing over time, and any noise above 120db can instantly damage hearing... So even doubling up will only reduce a 170db gun to like 135db, still loud enough to cause permanent damage - especially if you spend a few hours at the range.
I tried it for the first time last December in Texas on a hunting trip. I am used to hunt without hearing protection. Bad decision: I lost 50% of hearing on both sides, permanent damage and loss, and still hear that high-frequency noise after 7 months. Worst stupid move of my life.
That being said, I now always hunt with active hearing protection (3M Peltor) to keep what I have left.
I wish the guide there warned my about muzzle brakes. I was using a rifle provided by the outfitter, as it's too difficult to bring your rifle over the border from Canada...
That being said, I now always hunt with active hearing protection (3M Peltor) to keep what I have left.
I wish the guide there warned my about muzzle brakes. I was using a rifle provided by the outfitter, as it's too difficult to bring your rifle over the border from Canada...
What caliber?
I had an out of battery 22lr go off when I was 14, that gave me tinnitus in both ears.
I braked my 7mm rem mag last year, took a bear with it without plugs, my ears hurt a little and things were muffled for a bit (think loud concert) but no permanent damage.
Now I carry Laser Lites everywhere when im hunting.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I don't claim to fully understand the health hazards related to blast overpressure caused by muzzle brakes as opposed to unbraked rifles, and I'd be happy to be corrected if wrong, but I'm not personally worried about much besides hearing damage from using insufficient hearing protection.
I have to compare braked rifles, which average in the 160-170db range, to military artillery such as the 105mm towed howitzer (charge 8) at 183db or the 60mm mortar (charge 4) at 185db. The men who operate this equipment frequently, even when double plugging, tend to report hearing loss and can report mTBI (mild Traumatic Brain Injury, ie minor concussion) due to the direct and repeated results of blast overpressure, which being 10-25db higher according to how the decibel scale works equates to 10 to 150 times more intense or 2 to 6 times louder in scale. (The db scale is a funky scale)
I'm sure there may be some hazards relating to sitting fairly close to a muzzle braked rifles for extended periods, but with how the intensity of sound works, I wouldn't be overly worried about getting a concussion or hearing damage, more like a headache and crap in my eyes. If there is other damage, I'd like to hear what that is so I can learn, but that seems to be the most common hazard.
With all that said, the sound walls would still be the best solution to staying away from blast overpressure in my opinion. Cheap, effective, lets everybody use their toys, and keeps everybody happy.
Sound dampening curtains can be fab'd up simple enough using suspended, foam rubber sheet panels (2" thick egg carton pattern) backed up with high density, 1/2" sheet foam that be set back an inch from the low density foam. This set up will easily drop blast impulse levels down to safe levels for range use. If ye shoot on a covered firing range, it's uber important to use this system suspended from the ceiling as well to get maximum sound dampening benefits.Now only if this fooked up country of ours allowed suppressors, the argument would be pretty much a moot point for many folks...like me.
Tain,t hard fer me to direct blast & heat away from meself either. Tee Hee.
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I bought a Christensen Traverse in 6.5prc, and it didn't come with a thread protector, so I fired it with the brake. Recoil was very mild, but even with double hearing protection, it was louder than I like. The thread protector arrived, and while recoil did increase, it is much quieter now, to the point where I am only using ear plugs. The brake is in the rifle box, where it will remain, as long as I own the rifle.
We have brakes on about 50% of our rifles. I cannot attest to these reports of losing hearing for 537.35 days afterwards... my hearing is still pretty good according to an audiogram and yearly medical. I dont remove brakes for hunting, so no risk of POI shift. I cannot be sure, but I percieve my 3 port horizontal MDT brake on my 6.5 to be louder than the radial brake on my 300wsm. Keyword PERCIEVE. I don't shoot them beside other people at the range out of common courtesy. Ignore the people that say "get a small enough rifle you dont need a brake". Try it for yourself. Precision rifles commonly have brakes, right down to 22. The need is dependant on the application and experience. Bipod. Tripod. Aftermarket trigger. Longbow. Crossbow. Bamboo underwear. Some troglodyte will say it isn't necessary because they don't use one or understand the use. Let us know what you think of it. Enjoy the new rifle!
P.s. The WORST gunshot I have experienced volume wise was a .204 resting on a steel pipe cattle gate...
P.s. The WORST gunshot I have experienced volume wise was a .204 resting on a steel pipe cattle gate...
I have been "anti-brake" for most of my shooting career, but as I have grown older I find certain chamberings to be challenging from the bench.
I had Guntech install a brake on my 8mm Rem Mag, because it was a bit vicious after 8 - 10 rounds, which is not conducive to shooting good groups.
You can do the math: a 220 A-Frame starts at almost 3100 fps, and a 200 at 3200+ in a 8.5 lb rifle. Flirting with 44 ft-lbs of recoil energy
Sure tamed that puppy down nicely It now feels like a 30-06, or possibly even a bit less, so quite tolerable.
Shooting at the range with some friends, and they said while it was loud, it was not obnoxious, and did not interfere with their shooting.
Managed a couple of very nice groups with the 220 and 200 A-Frames. [Around 1.25" at 220 yards] Dave.
I had Guntech install a brake on my 8mm Rem Mag, because it was a bit vicious after 8 - 10 rounds, which is not conducive to shooting good groups.
You can do the math: a 220 A-Frame starts at almost 3100 fps, and a 200 at 3200+ in a 8.5 lb rifle. Flirting with 44 ft-lbs of recoil energy
Sure tamed that puppy down nicely
It now feels like a 30-06, or possibly even a bit less, so quite tolerable.Shooting at the range with some friends, and they said while it was loud, it was not obnoxious, and did not interfere with their shooting.
Managed a couple of very nice groups with the 220 and 200 A-Frames. [Around 1.25" at 220 yards] Dave.
I have shot quite a few brakes on rifles when working on them for friends .
The very worst I ever used was the KDF on a 300mag- danged thing rattled my teeth !
Even the ones that worked as advertised will never be installed on a rifle I own. Most have aperture sights on them
I shoot lighter cartridges and see no point it , especially as I do a lot of prone shooting and am not crazy about dirt and dust flying with every shot .
I have also had stuff blown off a bench at the range by someone using a brake two benched over and that is unwarranted but that's just me .
Cat
The very worst I ever used was the KDF on a 300mag- danged thing rattled my teeth !
Even the ones that worked as advertised will never be installed on a rifle I own. Most have aperture sights on them
I shoot lighter cartridges and see no point it , especially as I do a lot of prone shooting and am not crazy about dirt and dust flying with every shot .
I have also had stuff blown off a bench at the range by someone using a brake two benched over and that is unwarranted but that's just me .
Cat
I have been "anti-brake" for most of my shooting career, but as I have grown older I find certain chamberings to be challenging from the bench.
I had Guntech install a brake on my 8mm Rem Mag, because it was a bit vicious after 8 - 10 rounds, which is not conducive to shooting good groups.
You can do the math: a 220 A-Frame starts at almost 3100 fps, and a 200 at 3200+ in a 8.5 lb rifle. Flirting with 44 ft-lbs of recoil energy
Sure tamed that puppy down nicely
Shooting at the range with some friends, and they said while it was loud, it was not obnoxious, and did not interfere with their shooting.
Managed a couple of very nice groups with the 220 and 200 A-Frames. [Around 1.25" at 220 yards] Dave.
Good to hear Dave.
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I too dislike brakes! Guy by me at range kept blowing stuff off my table when he shot. Shooting a short, breaked ar15. Too much recoil? Hard to focus on a target when you jump with every one of his shots. I will not buy a gun with a break.
