Muzzle brake, are they worth it?

[stlusn30-06]

He moved so meeting up w him will be hard, my biggest problem is "pulling" my shot. I'm not a bad shot, just killed my bear at 384 yards, but just can't seem to quit jerking the trigger.

Not intending to sound a like a jerk here, this is genuinely in hopes you shoot better, but a muzzle break probably won't solve this. Do you not "pull" shots with any other caliber? Is it just the .300 win mag bruiser that causes you to move? Finally, which way are you pulling? down and to the left? up and to the right? Is it all over the place?

That said, a muzzle break will lower the amount of recoil.

[NWShooter]

I use a muzzle brake on pretty much everything. I also have a thread protected for everything. So I can shoot with or without one. I prefer a good suppressor to a muzzle brake on bolt rifles.

[jasnt]

Definitely makes a difference.  With my 37XC if not braked it will bruise you. With the brake it’s like shooting my 18lb 243

[Bofire]

Depends on what you want and need. Lots of target shooters use them on fairly light cartridges. They are loud and they do reduce recoil.
Carl

[Harbor_hunter]

One thing about my browning A bolt .300 win mag rifle that affects my shot is the kick.  My buddy put a brake on his .300 but I can't remember if it made a difference, but I do remember how unbelievably louder it made his rifle. Does a muzzle brake on a .300 win mag, make a big enough difference to have one installed?  Will you really notice that much less kick?

I would put one on without question.  I've got an A bolt .300 win and it packed a punch. I am not a big guy, at 165lbs.  Still killed with it, but after putting the brake on it was much more enjoyable to shoot.  I would catch myself jerking the trigger once in awhile.  No jerking anymore. 

I really do not think noise is an issue either.  With muffs on at the range, it is just fine.  In hunting situations, I have not had ringing ears after shooting animals.  I would put one on without a doubt!

[mountainman]

Great for at the range. Not so great when in the field do to the noise. I have hearing loss from shooting. I would rather not make it worse👍. And in the field on game, you won't notice the recoil. Sometimes there's no time to put plugs in😊

[HntnFsh]

If its the recoil try a good butt pad. Limbsavers are great. There are others out there that work well. But the limbsavers make a big difference.

[opdinkslayer]

I would recommend trying one first & make sure it’s a side ported model. I’ve found nothing good about the radials. They do help quite a bit but the noise is an issue & I agree with having the best pad available as well.

[Sakko300wsm]

I have radial brakes on 2 300wsm's and a now a side port on a 280Ai - I know on the 300wsm's it made a huge difference! have not shot the 280 without one

[trophyhunt]

He moved so meeting up w him will be hard, my biggest problem is "pulling" my shot. I'm not a bad shot, just killed my bear at 384 yards, but just can't seem to quit jerking the trigger.

Not intending to sound a like a jerk here, this is genuinely in hopes you shoot better, but a muzzle break probably won't solve this. Do you not "pull" shots with any other caliber? Is it just the .300 win mag bruiser that causes you to move? Finally, which way are you pulling? down and to the left? up and to the right? Is it all over the place?

That said, a muzzle break will lower the amount of recoil.

I seem to pull to the right, I tend to jerk the dang trigger no matter how long I've been hunting and shooting.  I do, do better when it's an animal for some reason, normally.  This last bear I killed I was shaken like a leaf on a tree for some reason, whet to take a shot and I pulled the crap out of it without actually firing the gun.  I was able to calm down, breath, and made the 384 yard shot.  Just tired of me pulling to the right and jerking the trigger.  Not sure why, that's why I'm asking about the brake. 

[b23]

I seem to pull to the right, I tend to jerk the dang trigger no matter how long I've been hunting and shooting.  I do, do better when it's an animal for some reason, normally.  This last bear I killed I was shaken like a leaf on a tree for some reason, whet to take a shot and I pulled the crap out of it without actually firing the gun.  I was able to calm down, breath, and made the 384 yard shot.  Just tired of me pulling to the right and jerking the trigger.  Not sure why, that's why I'm asking about the brake.

A good muzzle brake, which there are many, will do more for reducing recoil than anything else.  The only real downside to a brake is they make the gun louder and they add to the overall length, but, I can't say either has ever really been a problem.

I think the only real way to work through your problem/s is to shoot more, probably even a lot more, and a muzzle brake will certainly make shooting more a more enjoyable experience.

I don't know how good your trigger is or how heavy it is but you could try a little lighter trigger pull but unless it's a dedicated bench gun I wouldn't go much lower than 2lbs.

Also, maybe try relaxing your grip a tad on your trigger hand and going with a thumb forward grip instead of wrapping it over the top.  When I was younger I used to grip whatever I was shooting like my life depended on it and doing so would always cause me to roll the gun into my face so I stopped wrapping my thumb over the top and went with a thumb forward grip which naturally caused me to not put such a death grip on it.  It took a little getting used to but it definitely made me a better shooter.  I don't know that it'll necessarily cure your jerking problem but I've found the more relaxed I hold the gun, the better I shoot.

[BULLBLASTER]

I seem to pull to the right, I tend to jerk the dang trigger no matter how long I've been hunting and shooting.  I do, do better when it's an animal for some reason, normally.  This last bear I killed I was shaken like a leaf on a tree for some reason, whet to take a shot and I pulled the crap out of it without actually firing the gun.  I was able to calm down, breath, and made the 384 yard shot.  Just tired of me pulling to the right and jerking the trigger.  Not sure why, that's why I'm asking about the brake.

A good muzzle brake, which there are many, will do more for reducing recoil than anything else.  The only real downside to a brake is they make the gun louder and they add to the overall length, but, I can't say either has ever really been a problem.

I think the only real way to work through your problem/s is to shoot more, probably even a lot more, and a muzzle brake will certainly make shooting more a more enjoyable experience.

I don't know how good your trigger is or how heavy it is but you could try a little lighter trigger pull but unless it's a dedicated bench gun I wouldn't go much lower than 2lbs.

Also, maybe try relaxing your grip a tad on your trigger hand and going with a thumb forward grip instead of wrapping it over the top.  When I was younger I used to grip whatever I was shooting like my life depended on it and doing so would always cause me to roll the gun into my face so I stopped wrapping my thumb over the top and went with a thumb forward grip which naturally caused me to not put such a death grip on it.  It took a little getting used to but it definitely made me a better shooter.  I don't know that it'll necessarily cure your jerking problem but I've found the more relaxed I hold the gun, the better I shoot.

All the stuff b23 said. Also dry fire dry fire dry fire. Then dry fire some more.

[JohnVH]

google  tinnitus 

[BULLBLASTER]

google  tinnitus 

Google ear plugs....

[ctwiggs1]

In my opinion there are better solutions to addressing a flinch than a muzzle brake. For one, many flinch as much or more from anticipation of the loud "bang" than the recoil. Adding a brake will only intensify that. 

You are probably right now that I think about it, I guess it's not the punch that gets me at all, it's definitely the bang.  A suppressor would probably be my solution more than anything, maybe they will come down in price someday.

A less expensive solution might just be better ear protection.  A lot of folks are doing plugs under muffs now.