BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Melnhed]

What is the advantages / disadvantages of having a muzzle break? How much recoil is displaced? THX ::confused2

[wonksy]

when i bought my 300 wsm i asked the gunsmith about it (this gun smith having 60 yrs experience) he said if its a target rifle i recommend it but if its gonna be a hunting rifle he said not to cause its extremly loud!! now i know theres prob gonna be guys that disagree but from what i hear at the ranges it is quite abit louder. i said to myself why would someone want it at the range if its louder...but with proper ear protection your ok and it does make for better groups... hope this helps

[Melnhed]

Is there that much difference in the recoil. Some have said maybe 25%, but all have said that it will be a lot louder. I currently have the 7mm Ultra Mag with a muzzle break and was looking at the 2008 RMEF and was wanting to know if I should invest up front for the muzzle break or not. It definitely is LOUD. ::confused2

[wonksy]

personally i think if its just gonna be a hunting rifle its gonna be more then enough accurate without the MB. hard to explain exactly how much recoil it takes away. i've heard magnums shoot like 270's but i have not tried it myself.

[buffybr]

I have my competition skeet and trap shotguns ported. With ear protection, I don't notice any difference in noise in other shooter's guns wether they are ported or not. What I do notice is less muzzle jump for a quick second shot in doubles, and considerably less fatigue when I shoot 500 or more 12 ga in a day. The reduction in felt recoil is also noticable between my competetion guns and my hunting shotguns when shooting the same loads.

As for rifles, several years ago, I bought a .375 Rem Ultra Mag for a Cape Buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe. On my first trip to the range, it only took 8 shots to convince me that I had to do something about the recoil. I had a KDF muzzle brake installed, and later I installed a mechanical recoil reducer in the stock. The muzzle blast is loud, but 97+ grains of powder is loud with or without a brake. The difference in recoil is definately noticable. There is still recoil, but the rifle is not unplesant to shoot. On my last trip to South Africa, I shot two animals from a low prone position, and the recoil wasn't any more noticable than if the rifle had been a .30-06.

I am currently putting together a .300 Weatherby Mag and this rifle will have a muzzle brake on it.

I enjoy shooting. I don't enjoy being punished by my rifles (or shotguns).

[wyoelkhunter]

My 300 RUM has a brake on it and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I shot a friends rifle just like mine minus the brake and the muzzle jump was horrible the it took you quite a bit to get the sights back on target.