Muzzle Brake or not?

[Andrzej]

Originally Posted by Dean2

You are of course free to do as you like, but this warning is for others reading this thread. Even without a brake, a 7STW should ideally not be shot without hearing protection. With a brake of any kind, you are playing with fire and your hearing shooting them unbraked. That design is less loud than others, but it is still louder than the same gun with no brake. Measure the decibels sometime, my bet is it is far above safe limits for hearing damage.

Thanks for this Dean.
It was more than 20 y ago when I shot this 7 STW, now I know better.
I do and will wear hearing protection using braked or not braked rifle when load developing. IMO prevents developing flinching. For hunting, I don't use a muzzle brake.

[catnthehat]

Noise I can deal with to an extent.
My gear getting blown off my bench from muzzle blast because a guy sets up next to me with a big braked magnum is quite another.
Cat

[Demonical]

I was at the range last year and a guy was set up, down range from me.

Shooting a bolt action with a gigantic brake, that was triangle shaped, enormous vents off each side, that deflected muzzle blast backwards/sideways.

It looked like brakes I've seen on military fieldguns.

And my god the concussion from that thing!

Each shot there was huge blast from it, and the noise was increased way above normal firearm discharge.

Me: "What caliber is that thing?"

Answer: ".308..."



^ I agree completely that people are free to make their own choices.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Demonical

I was at the range last year and a guy was set up, down range from me.

Shooting a bolt action with a gigantic brake, that was triangle shaped, enormous vents off each side, that deflected muzzle blast backwards/sideways.

It looked like brakes I've seen on military fieldguns.

And my god the concussion from that thing!

Each shot there was huge blast from it, and the noise was increased way above normal firearm discharge.

Me: "What caliber is that thing?"

Answer: ".308..."



^ I agree completely that people are free to make their own choices.

Yeah thoughtfulness and respect goes both ways.
I make sure I am downwind d of guys when I am shooting g my black powder guns , or at least wait until they finish their shot sequence before I touch mine off and let them know
Some guys don't mind black powder smoke but some detest it !

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Noise I can deal with to an extent.
My gear getting blown off my bench from muzzle blast because a guy sets up next to me with a big braked magnum is quite another.
Cat

Our range rules are simple, it's the shooters responsibility to ensure that the ejected brass and muzzle blast don't interfere with other shooters. The shooter has to ensure that his ejected brass doesn't strike other shooters or their equipment and it's up to the shooter to ensure that the muzzle blast from his firearms don't knock things over on other benches.

[Dean2]

I am all for respect and cooperation. I have however had guys sit down beside me and then complain about the bark and blast off of some of my big boomers with no brakes. Can just imagine what they would have said if I had a brake on it. You can imagine how receptive I was to their input when I was setup and shooting long before they got there.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Our range rules are simple, it's the shooters responsibility to ensure that the ejected brass and muzzle blast don't interfere with other shooters. The shooter has to ensure that his ejected brass doesn't strike other shooters or their equipment and it's up to the shooter to ensure that the muzzle blast from his firearms don't knock things over on other benches.

We have the same rules , people need to be reminded of them at times
Cat

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I am all for respect and cooperation. I have however had guys sit down beside me and then complain about the bark and blast off of some of my big boomers with no brakes. Can just imagine what they would have said if I had a brake on it. You can imagine how receptive I was to their input when I was setup and shooting long before they got there.

No kidding. Never ceases to amaze me how some people think- or don't , in some cases!
Cat

[Demonical]

^^ Ya that situation where the guy had that braked .308, only thing I did was ask what caliber it was.

That's it.

But you woulda had to be there to see it, and feel the blast from it. I was amazed when he said it was just a .308.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Demonical

^^ Ya that situation where the guy had that braked .308, only thing I did was ask what caliber it was.

That's it.

But you woulda had to be there to see it, and feel the blast from it. I was amazed when he said it was just a .308.

Yeah, I have seen some of those brakes that resemble something off a Shrrman tanks and they are LOUD!
Cat

[obsessed1]

Brakes are great for some things. I generally shoot alone so spotting trace or impacts is essential. My 300wm is tamed down enough to watch impacts on paper at 100yds. Down side is noise. I dont shoot at busy ranges though so i never even consider the guy beside me....cause there never is one unless he came with me.

[Andrzej]

There is a picture of 2 muzzle brakes from 300 Win Mag.
This on the right is a hearing keeler despite double ear muffs.
On the left is from Sako S20 I shot it a few times last year but
will have a better idea after a month or so.