should i get a muzzle break? pros vs cons

[gr8whthunter]

Jackwagon! Too funny.. And buddy, I wasnt taking shots. Get a gun you dont have to alter and dump a couple hundred bucks into to enjoy or hit.   Jack wagon, BA?  You sure like to call names!

i guess expressions cant be seen on computer screens too well, sure seemed like you were taking a couple shots and the names back were me brushing it off and going to a joke back at you and besides we are just a wagon full of jacks that like to hunt anyway right

and i love my tikka, love how it shoots, love the grouping and well i just love the gun i enjoy it  the only complaint i have is the muzzle jump which after reading that lengthy article from RadSav it could be from when shooting from a bench there is no forarm placement on the rifle and all that and i would only notice on a bench because while shooting at barney the buck im not at a bench or typically prone with a sand bag to rest on and the last thing im gunna think about,realize, or pay attention to is the muzzle jumping. and going with a pad  which would be a cheap little add on to prevent this and i will still love this gun and after the pad and personal shooting technique fixes ill have no complaints whatsoever

[tbotts]

I tried a muzzle brake on my 35 whelen, and it did work to tame recoil.  But the increased noise just wasn't worth it.  So had my local gunsmith remove the brake.  I had him put in a mercury recoil reducer in the stock.  This reduced felt recoil and has worked for me.  It will had some weight to your rifle though, appx 1 lb in the stock.  i think my rifle balances better with the added weight.  Also, make sure your stock is the right lenght for you.  This will help with recoil reduction also.
I vote no on installing a muzzle brake.

[Halo]

I sure like my Savage 30-06 116FCSAK with the muzzle brake you can turn on and off with just a twist. When at the range put in the ear plugs and open the brake then close it to go hunt. Best of both worlds. When I got the 338 Win. Mag I thought the Savage Bear Hunter, basically the same thing but a camo stock, would really be a great use of the on/off muzzle break. After putting a lot of rounds through it I doubt I will ever shut the brake off again. There is not a noticeable noise difference, loud open or closed, but definitely a difference on the shoulder. I would much rather put 30 rounds through it with the brake open than 3 with it closed. I sent a 7mm-08 out today to get a mercury tube put in the stock, I'm kind of anxious to get it back to see how much recoil that takes out, hoping to tame it down for the daughter. If a little extra weight is not an issue as tbotts said that might be an option.

[jackelope]

It's called muzzle jump and happens with " magnum" rounds that shoot fast. A muzzle break is a good way to reduce this and who cares who is standing next to you. Just don't shoot prone without putting a mat down. Lol. Lots of dirt in the eyes.

I can shoot prone all day without a mat and without issue. Again. It's all in the design of the brake. Mr. Carlock put a little time into designing the perfect brake if you ask me. Folks don't complain sitting next to me. No dirt flying. I don't wear hearing protection when hunting. I don't condone that, but I don't do it and it doesn't bother me.

[WoodlandShooter]

I have a brake on my 270 Winny. It's LOUD!!! The only reason I have it is so I can spot my shots and allow for faster follow up shots.

with 59.5 grains of Retumbo behind a 165 grain Matrix, it barks!!

[PolarBear]

I have a B.O.S.S. muzzle break on my BAR .300 win mag and HATE it!  It works great for it's intended purpose but what I hate is that it is so loud that after 2 shots I cannot hear for the rest of the day!  I'm not one to carry hearing protection into the woods and take the time to use it unless I am sitting in a spot glassing and have the time to do so.  I machined one without the holes and the noise is reduced significantly.  Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend to try out and haven't seen it since.

[jackelope]

I have a B.O.S.S. muzzle break on my BAR .300 win mag and HATE it!  It works great for it's intended purpose but what I hate is that it is so loud that after 2 shots I cannot hear for the rest of the day!  I'm not one to carry hearing protection into the woods and take the time to use it unless I am sitting in a spot glassing and have the time to do so.  I machined one without the holes and the noise is reduced significantly.  Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend to try out and haven't seen it since.

Without the holes it would just be a thread protector, wouldn't it?
The BOSS opens and closes with a twist, doesn't it?

[Biggerhammer]

Choose a brake, have it installed. Have a thread protector made at the same time the brake is done. If you don't like the brake, remove it and put the thread protector in place and be done with it.  

[PolarBear]

I have a B.O.S.S. muzzle break on my BAR .300 win mag and HATE it!  It works great for it's intended purpose but what I hate is that it is so loud that after 2 shots I cannot hear for the rest of the day!  I'm not one to carry hearing protection into the woods and take the time to use it unless I am sitting in a spot glassing and have the time to do so.  I machined one without the holes and the noise is reduced significantly.  Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend to try out and haven't seen it since.

Without the holes it would just be a thread protector, wouldn't it?
The BOSS opens and closes with a twist, doesn't it?

Pretty much except when I machined it I made it adjustable just like the original only without the holes.

[sirmissalot]

I have a B.O.S.S. muzzle break on my BAR .300 win mag and HATE it!  It works great for it's intended purpose but what I hate is that it is so loud that after 2 shots I cannot hear for the rest of the day!  I'm not one to carry hearing protection into the woods and take the time to use it unless I am sitting in a spot glassing and have the time to do so.  I machined one without the holes and the noise is reduced significantly.  Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend to try out and haven't seen it since.

I had an A bolt with the boss system, it came with a boss that had no holes. Same thing as you that dang thing was so loud I thought my ears were gonna bleed. I have several braked guns but that boss brake was miserable.

[JimmyHoffa]

You don't even have to get the barrel threaded.  You can get a break that clamps on.  If you're shooting any high pressure mag it is going to be loud, but it will be loud anyways.  Brakes can be a real pain in the neck to keep clean sometimes.

[PolarBear]

When I bought my BAR they had just hit on the market with the BOSS. There were no other options at the time so I made my own. 

[birddogdad]

pro - recoil reduction with min weight addition
con - noise back is increased to you, with blow back as well

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm is the recoil table for most rifles (basic) and recoil energy in can be an issue for some big bore mag loads (yea kick like a mule!) if installed correctly, can be beneficial. This table discusses gun weight as well but that is a trade off for humping all over mountains too....

http://www.odenthalgunsmithing.com/muzzle_brake_comparison.html here is a chart discussing post install felt recoil (mostly roughtly HALF of original recoil)

its up to you but for the bigger bores, i make it a standard install or they are no fun to shoot more than a single round or two... and yes my ears ring after a muzzle braked 340 shot in field for several minutes! Have been looking into the game ears for hunting but not sold yet....

[suga]

Choose a brake, have it installed. Have a thread protector made at the same time the brake is done. If you don't like the break, remove it and put the thread protector in place and be done with it.

X2

[fly-by]

Just the THOUGHT of shooting a braked rifle without hearing protection makes my ears hurt.  Hearing loss is cumulative, irreversible, and creeps up on you.  If you decide to get a brake, at least get some of those banded plugs to wear around your neck while in the field.

Two of my AR uppers have brakes (.338 Fed, .260 Rem) and my current .308 build will not have one.  None of my bolt guns have them because they are for hunting and I don't want to miss an opportunity fiddling with ear pro.

A good recoil pad and proper stock fit can get you close to the same benefit.

The suggestion of getting a thread protector is a good one.  If you don't like the brake you can always sell it and just loc-tite the thread protector in place.