To brake or not to brake? That is the question

[Antelope_Sniper]

Another consideration, How long is your barrl? The shorter the barrel, the more the shooter will notice the extra loud report. The longer the barrel, the greater the distance between where that energy is released and your ears. A long barrel may help the shooter, but the on the bench next to you, where all that sound energy is being directed, will probably still have a few choice words for you....

 

[nodak7mm]

Ear damage.

I have had the experience of being without hearing protection and next to a braked rifle twice. And both times is was physically painful!! Both times my fault. The last time I actually thought my eardrum was leaking or bleeding..

Keep that in mind..

 

[Powerstroke]

All the above are great reports. I had a break installed on a .280 because I'm not a big recoil fan. The break worked BETTER than what I anticipated it would, but as mentioned before... no ear protection is PAINFULL !! I used to take this gun yote hunting here and there and stopped taking it just cause I pretty much refuse to carry ear protection in the field. I've since purchased a .300RUM and will take the beating off the bench a few times a year just so I don't need to worry about that " one " shot in hunting season.

 

[onlybrowning]

I shot the rifle again today. I moved the gun forward a bit on the rest, and it seemed to not jump as bad as before. I had on a t shirt, a long john type shirt, and a thin fleece (about 30 degrees out), and it wasn't bad. I just know that shooting more than a dozen rounds or so, gets me flinching sometimes. I also wore two sets of ear protection, and that seemed to keep me from flinching as well. It looks as though I will buy a PAST pad and save the $250+ of having a brake installed. I also do not like the idea of the brake making my barrel any longer. Thanks again guys.

 

[rquack]

I put a brake on my 300 Win Mag. I will never make that mistake again. The recoil reduction was minimal compared to the blast from that beast. Never again...

 

[russ808]

I have a brake on my 300wsm. I hunt with walker game ears. Cuts off the blast. Got to use protection, lost a lot of my hearing when I was in the PD. We used to pratice a lot and even with the hearing protection I still lost my hearing in the upper freq. Can't afford to loose much more hearing. To me the game ears are worth it.

 

[tjen]

:shock: Friends don't let friends barrel brake. Just don't do it.

I am not a brake fan not in the lest. Just get a heavier gun or a smaller cartridge. But do what you wnat its your gun. Good hunting.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Just got done shooting my newly breaked magnum. I didn't know what I was going to thing about it, but now I'm a fan. I used to get whiplash, headaches, and what felt like a concussion shooting it. Now it's like shooting my 6.5 sweed. Without the brake, there was no way anyone else in my family could shoot this rifle. Now, it's just another gun for everyone to enjoy. :grin:

 

[russ808]

Antelope_Sniper, Came back from the range today. Shot both Vanguards(30-06, 300wsm). The wsm has a brake and I let a friend shoot it. He said it recoiled less than the 30-06 and was easy to shoot. I just love my brake. IMO what ever you do to your rifle to make it more pleasent to shoot, makes for more confidence, thus makes you shoot better. Thats ultimately every hunters goal. Its the guy's on the side that aren't having to much fun.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Russ, Glad you had a nice day at the range. I was happy we had 50 degree's here. I can imagine what it was like for you!
I like your idea of the game ears. I've talked with guys who swear by them even when using a non-braked rifle.