Muzzle Brakes
- Thread starter JD338
- Start date
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 5
I always wear hearing aids now and wear electronic muffs which clip at 85 DbA (as do my hearing aids). I have been deaf in my left ear snce childhood.
Nobody ever believes me when I say his but there are a couple of sound dynamics which are important when dealing with high sound pressure devices (like rifles), brakes and sound antenuation.
The high frequency component of DbA sound pressure does not travel through air as well as low frequency sound pressure does. Meaning that evey foot you are further from the sound source, you lose about 1 DbA of high frequency (over 1khz) sound pressure. DbA is logarythmic in force and each DbA loss is half of the sound pressure. That is why, at 10 feet distance, a brake has no sound pressure difference from a rifle without one. High frequency sound is more directional than low frequency and the high frequency sound that you are hearing from a brake is higher force because of the directionality. More of that is being directed toward the shooter by the brake.
Low frequency sound pressure is more omni-directional and is not affected as much by a brake. The low frequency sound has more force and air movement than high freqency. It does more damage (with a higher magnitude force wave) and is less affected by directional flow from the brake.
If you wear approved hearing attenuation gear for shooting (particularly with powered noise cut off at 85 DbA), it will not matter whether you use a brake of not because both types of rifles will sound the same, FWIW.
Nobody ever believes me when I say his but there are a couple of sound dynamics which are important when dealing with high sound pressure devices (like rifles), brakes and sound antenuation.
The high frequency component of DbA sound pressure does not travel through air as well as low frequency sound pressure does. Meaning that evey foot you are further from the sound source, you lose about 1 DbA of high frequency (over 1khz) sound pressure. DbA is logarythmic in force and each DbA loss is half of the sound pressure. That is why, at 10 feet distance, a brake has no sound pressure difference from a rifle without one. High frequency sound is more directional than low frequency and the high frequency sound that you are hearing from a brake is higher force because of the directionality. More of that is being directed toward the shooter by the brake.
Low frequency sound pressure is more omni-directional and is not affected as much by a brake. The low frequency sound has more force and air movement than high freqency. It does more damage (with a higher magnitude force wave) and is less affected by directional flow from the brake.
If you wear approved hearing attenuation gear for shooting (particularly with powered noise cut off at 85 DbA), it will not matter whether you use a brake of not because both types of rifles will sound the same, FWIW.
For hunting with a braked rifle I like these. http://www.opticsplanet.com/reviews/rev ... ieces.html
Doesn't cut enough noise alone for range sessions with the big sticks but seems to be a decent compromise while hunting. At least I haven't ever had ringing in my ears following a shot while hunting with them and definitely have following shots without them. And doesn't decrease normal sound enough to be at a big disadvantage while out in the field.
Doesn't cut enough noise alone for range sessions with the big sticks but seems to be a decent compromise while hunting. At least I haven't ever had ringing in my ears following a shot while hunting with them and definitely have following shots without them. And doesn't decrease normal sound enough to be at a big disadvantage while out in the field.
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 5
TWA (Time Weighted Average) is the other component which engineer's manage which contributes to the damage cumulatively. If you can get 25-28 DbA reduction from those plugs shown or "Game Ear" or something similar, it should help with hunting. I used Game Ears or similar for bird hunting for years to good effect.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,062
- 2,560
Absolutely the new peltors are your friendboomer68":3jpoe10j said:
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
Jim you'll love the brake. It's kind of like waiting till you get married to have sex, once you do it you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Bill
Bill
- Thread starter
- #27
- Nov 4, 2004
- 24,356
- 6,664
OU812":g2gxxic3 said:
:mrgreen:
Bill, which brake did Rob put on your 338 O'Brian?
Holes or slots and holes?
JD338
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
Holes. It was a very effective brake.
Bill
Bill
boomer68
Handloader
- Oct 23, 2006
- 854
- 55
FOTIS":37wv4win said:
Which model would you recommend FOTIS? I currently use the Caldwell electronic.
- Thread starter
- #30
- Nov 4, 2004
- 24,356
- 6,664
boomer68":nqk6719k said:
Yea, Fotis. I am all ears. :grin:
JD338
Richracer1
Handloader
- May 12, 2005
- 2,137
- 114
SJB358":usbm30vu said:
Hardly any since I left Vandenberg AFB in Jan of 2010. All my rifles have at least one load, most have two worked up for them. About the most I do any more is ensuring the rifles I'm going to use that fall are sighted in and the occasional yote, ground squirrel hunts. The only thing I miss about VAFB is being to go at least hunt for hogs when ever I felt like it, didn't necessarily meant I always shot one even if I saw them. I think that pic was taken in late '07 or sometime in '08, don't remember.
G
Guest
Guest
JD,
My 300 RUM is ported. Holes drilled on angles thru the 26" barrel. From what I figure I have approx. a 50 fps loss in velocity due to porting. Even with porting I get 3100 fps with the 200 AB. You will experience some reduction in recoil but having a real good recoil pad helps even more, something I changed after the porting job. When hunting I carry ear plugs.
My Dad had a 300 Bee in a Vanguard that had a factory brake, the thing kicked less than my Rem. 700 30-06, so much that my daughter could shoot it better than me!!! :mrgreen:
Don
My 300 RUM is ported. Holes drilled on angles thru the 26" barrel. From what I figure I have approx. a 50 fps loss in velocity due to porting. Even with porting I get 3100 fps with the 200 AB. You will experience some reduction in recoil but having a real good recoil pad helps even more, something I changed after the porting job. When hunting I carry ear plugs.
My Dad had a 300 Bee in a Vanguard that had a factory brake, the thing kicked less than my Rem. 700 30-06, so much that my daughter could shoot it better than me!!! :mrgreen:
Don
G
Guest
Guest
Scotty,
I'm pretty set on the load I have. I had the 200 AB going 3200 with Retumbo, even with a ported barrel, but experienced pressure signs wiping the case heads on extraction. It got exhausting attempting to tweak loads but after getting the excellent accuracy with RL-25 I stopped right there. Didn't care about the 100 fps loss. I can tell you even with a ported barrel 200 grain bullets can fatigue me at the bench. It's much more fun shooting off the bi-pod, prone.
Don
I'm pretty set on the load I have. I had the 200 AB going 3200 with Retumbo, even with a ported barrel, but experienced pressure signs wiping the case heads on extraction. It got exhausting attempting to tweak loads but after getting the excellent accuracy with RL-25 I stopped right there. Didn't care about the 100 fps loss. I can tell you even with a ported barrel 200 grain bullets can fatigue me at the bench. It's much more fun shooting off the bi-pod, prone.
Don
- Thread starter
- #36
- Nov 4, 2004
- 24,356
- 6,664
Don,
I agree about having a good recoil pad. I have a Pachmyer Decelerator pad on my 338 RUM.
It has done a great job of helping with the felt recoil.
JD338
I agree about having a good recoil pad. I have a Pachmyer Decelerator pad on my 338 RUM.
It has done a great job of helping with the felt recoil.
JD338
G
Guest
Guest
JD,
Great looking gun, really like the gray laminate stock. I have the same recoil pad. Works well for us RUM Boys. :wink:
Don
Great looking gun, really like the gray laminate stock. I have the same recoil pad. Works well for us RUM Boys. :wink:
Don
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 36,940
- 5,133
I thought I'd share one of the rifles I'm working on currently. It is a 338 RUM built on a Defiance Action, McMillan stock and muzzle brake built by RMR. I'll be pulling the trigger later this week.
