Muzzle Brakes........not Breaks

[KillBilly]

Muzzle Brakes are a vented device that is fitted by a gunsmith and screwed onto the end of your rifle barrel; and is Designed to Significantly Reduce the Rifle’s RECOIL. In magnum calibers, recoil can cause flinching and other bad habits leading to loss of accuracy. Expanding gases from powder being ignited in the cartridge causes acceleration of the bullet through the barrel. When the bullet leaves the barrel so do the gasses; this action causes the violent reaction of the rifle forcefully slamming rearward into the shoulder causing disruption of your focus on the sight picture through the scope to the target. A miss or less than desirable shot placement can occur.

Muzzle brakes reduce recoil by diverting some of these gasses out to the sides, through the vents or ports (holes) taking away a portion of recoil. The effectiveness is dependent on the design of the brake and the caliber of the rifle. You can expect any where from 35 to 50% recoil reduction. A .375 H&H will have the felt recoil of a .30-06; and a .338 will feel close to a .270; a 7mm Rem Mag and a .300 RUM will have the felt recoil of a .243



 The muzzle brake, fitted on to the end of your rifle barrel by a qualified gunsmith, will add a few inches to the length of the barrel, with no loss of velocity of the bullet. The bullet never touches the device as it passes through; the expanding gasses still accelerate the bullet as normal. It is the deflected gasses that allow the rifle to remain considerably more still.
The sight picture of the target is easier to engage when "FLINCH" is ELIMINATED from the Mind of the Shooter. Also, when hunting alone without the aid of a "spotter" with binoculars; the quality muzzle brake will Allow the Shooter to Spot His Own Long-Range Shot, and how the animal reacts to the shot.


 And yes, there is some Disadvantage to muzzle brakes. The increase of muzzle blast is substantial. They can be VERY LOUD and damaging to the ears! The risks can be diminished hearing with some permanent hearing damage. Regular earmuffs can reduce noise levels by 25dB +/- while the sound levels of a muzzle brake magnum can be as high as 128dB +/-
meaning noise levels with earmuffs on are in excess of 100dB !! A hunter in the field shooting without protection, will experience immediate, and near complete temporary hearing loss. Hearing returns after three or four minutes, but a small portion of hearing is permanently lost each time a shot is fired.

[bearpaw]

Good explanation........

[lilswab]

No wonder I can't hear!

[bucklucky]

WHAT? HUH? 

[GUscottie]

Great explanation! More people need to read this one!

[bow-n-head]

I hate muzzle brakes. I like to hear I have a friend that has a 300rum, who is scared to shoot it. It is in my opinion useless to him. I also know a few people who have sold their magnums because they are affraid to shoot them. I shoot a 300rum no brake, my brother has one with a break. I make damn sure I am standing well behind him when he is shooting. I have just convinced myself that it doesn't kick that bad.

[dontgetcrabs]

Who would need a brake on a 300rum?     Oh wait let me take a guess, hmmm, someone who probably should not be shooting it in the first place.   

[bear]

I thought about getting a brake when I purchased my 300rum but was talked out of it by a couple of gunsmiths.  I'm glad they did.  The only time that I don't like to shoot my rifle is when sighting in, but solved that with the lead sled.  Bear

[batsquatch]

338-378 with a muzzle break without ear plugs is not the greatest sound in the world. especially in a covered area.

[Rhinoron247]

I have an adjustable muzzle break on my 300 WSM.  I have also added a mercury dampening system into the stock.  I can crank up the horse power and it still feels like shooting my .243.  It will however, suck the air out of your lungs if your standing near it when it goes off with the break open.   

[WildfireArcher]

when i was 8 years old i went pig huntin with my dad. I shot this big ferrel sow in the head and it started to run in circles making its way toward us, so my dad quickly took the back up shot. Unfortunately, i was sitting 2 feet directly to the side of him when he shot his .300 remington ultra mag equipped with a new muzzle brake.  My ears were ringing for days.  No permenent damage thank goodness. No lie about making your gun louder

[EastWaViking]

And yes, there is some Disadvantage to muzzle brakes. The increase of muzzle blast is substantial. They can be VERY LOUD and damaging to the ears!

WHAT???   

[EastWaViking]

Sorry, I just saw that Bucklucky beat me to the joke.   

[mazama]

I have a 338Rum iam thinking of putting on a brake so i can shoot it in the offseason,when i first got the gun it had a hard rubber pad and it bruised me from my chest to elbow,put on a limbsaver pad its a lot better,but after 20-30 rounds i get a little flinchy,so iam thinking a brake so i can practice long range,then take it off for hunting.

[WildfireArcher]

was thinking about putting a brake on my .300 remington ultra mag also.  Decided i'm gonna just slap a limbsaver recoil pad on their and call it good