Muzzle brake on a backpack rifle (300 win mag)?

[11boo]

This is how barrels get shot out Lol. I could’ve never shot it this much without a brake.

 

[Bluumoon]

The last two years I didn't get my earplugs in before shooting with a lowly .308 Win that is braked, wife suggested a suppressor b/c my hearing is significantly worse. First year my ears rang for a week or more.

 

[donrleonard]

Thanks for all this feedback, y’all. Very sorry to hear the folks hurt by braked hunting rifles. This thread is a public service announcement for suppressors. I wish it didn’t take a year to file the paperwork for one, I’d unscrew the brake and zero in with one of those.

 

[Patton]

Today I was at the range shooting my SHORT 17 inch 7 saum, and accidentally took a shot with my ear pro off my left ear. Im pretty sure I did some sort of serious damage to it. My hearing sounds like a broken speaker when I hear most noises, its obviously ringing and feels plugged, an I can hear well out of it.
I have accidentally shot with other rifles before without ear pro, but not a short magnum like this. Im wondering if I permanently damaged my ear today.

What was it like when you burst your ear drum? Symptoms, did your hearing/ringing recover?

For me it was a a few rapid fire rounds of .357 magnum, and it felt like I had a cotton ball in my left ear for 3-4 days. Sounded like I was hearing under water, and still does to an extent. The broken speaker reference makes perfect sense to me.

To the OP, get a suppressor if it’s in the cards. I have a PVA Jet Blast on my 300wm and like it but much prefer a suppressor.

 

[fisherman983]

I only shoot with a brake, yes loud, if I have time I use ear plugs for sure, but if it’s a fast shot I don’t feel recoil or sound
I also tell anyone around me that I’m going to shoot so they can cover there ears or plugs

This!

Shooting rifles without earplugs damages your hearing braked or not.
You'll probably shoot more accurately with a brake

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have a Kimber mountain ascent 300 win mag, I ditched the muzzle brake and won’t be putting it back.

 

[HornPorn]

1. Get a suppressor.
2. If hunting Canada, and you can't use a suppressor, the guides there seem like muzzle brakes are more typical for their clients than not. They're use to them.

Are Canadians prohibited from buying suppressors, or are Americans not allowed to bring them into Canada?

I have a hunt in BC next year and want take my suppressor

 

[dreamingWest]

Suppressors are prohibited in Canada.

 

[Wrench]

I sure love shooting a braked rifle from the prone over my backpack. I can shred my pack with the blast and as a bonus, it looks like a muzzleloader if it's not raining.

 

[HornPorn]

Damnit

 

[Rich M]

The argument that brakes will damage your hearing is pretty weak since shooting an un braked 300 WM with out protection will still damage your hearing. Anything roughly over 70 DB can cause hearing loss/damage.

Go to the range, put nominal hearing protection (say foam ear plugs) in and sit next to a guy shooting a rifle with regular barrel, 22-24 inches long.

Then have the guy swap out to a braked rifle. It will damage your hearing, even with nominal hearing protection. Them things are super load and guys who use em at public ranges are rude.

It is a viable argument.

 

[11boo]

Go to the range, put nominal hearing protection (say foam ear plugs) in and sit next to a guy shooting a rifle with regular barrel, 22-24 inches long.

Then have the guy swap out to a braked rifle. It will damage your hearing, even with nominal hearing protection. Them things are super load and guys who use em at public ranges are rude.

It is a viable argument.

Overhead cover and any magnum rifle, braked or otherwise, is going to be loud.
Braked, extra loud. You would be asking for trouble if you go to a public range without plugs and good muffs.

 

[Wymatt22]

I like having a brake on my 300wm. I personally wear hearing pro when shooting at game. With or without a brake I would wear protection.

 

[Unckebob]

When I go to the range, I am more worried about what the people around me are shooting than what I am shooting. In inevitably, there is someone shooting a braked, belted magnum near me.

Because I already have significant hearing loss (unrelated to guns), I often wear over the ear hearing protection and moulded ear plugs. Hunting, I just use the in ear protection.

 

[Rich M]

When I go to the range, I am more worried about what the people around me are shooting than what I am shooting. In inevitably, there is someone shooting a braked, belted magnum near me.

Because I already have significant hearing loss (unrelated to guns), I often wear over the ear hearing protection and moulded ear plugs. Hunting, I just use the in ear protection.

I been deaf since birth, wear hearing aids since 5 yo and started school stuff. Ears real sensitive to loud noises that cross certain decibel barrier. Wear electric muffs to public ranges so can maybe hear range officer - and tell him I'm deaf too.

Can't double up on the hearing protection or I'll hear exactly nothing and be a liability. Hurts when they start shooting the muzzlebrakes, gotta go.

Do have a private range to shoot at for the time being - much nicer than public ranges, but we use what we have to.

 

[Unckebob]

I been deaf since birth, wear hearing aids since 5 yo and started school stuff. Ears real sensitive to loud noises that cross certain decibel barrier. Wear electric muffs to public ranges so can maybe hear range officer - and tell him I'm deaf too.

Can't double up on the hearing protection or I'll hear exactly nothing and be a liability. Hurts when they start shooting the muzzlebrakes, gotta go.

Do have a private range to shoot at for the time being - much nicer than public ranges, but we use what we have to.

I have joining a private range in my 2023 budget.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Overhead cover and any magnum rifle, braked or otherwise, is going to be loud.
Braked, extra loud. You would be asking for trouble if you go to a public range without plugs and good muffs.

Can still damage hearing with in-ear (ex: foam) and over-ear (ex: Walker) protection when using and/or near a braked rifle.

 

[11boo]

Can still damage hearing with in-ear (ex: foam) and over-ear (ex: Walker) protection when using and/or near a braked rifle.

Doubtful. Have you ever tried that? Regardless, it is shooting and it is loud.

This integrally braked 45-70 is no fun being next to, but there is no reason to sit next to me if it’s too much. Plenty of room to spread out.

 

[fishslap]

Overhead cover and any magnum rifle, braked or otherwise, is going to be loud.
Braked, extra loud. You would be asking for trouble if you go to a public range without plugs and good muffs.

I shoot my 300 wm and 7mm rem mag wearing custom molded ear plugs with no issues. I can’t shoot next to someone with a brake even with muffs over them. Shooting next to braked rifles at the public range is no fun and I wish guys would have more consideration for others. The OP might factor where he shoots into the decision.

 

[Mojave]

The argument that brakes will damage your hearing is pretty weak since shooting an un braked 300 WM with out protection will still damage your hearing. Anything roughly over 70 DB can cause hearing loss/damage.

62 decibels repeatedly.