Muzzle Breaks

[KB5]

Does anyone use muzzle breaks for African hunts. Saw a recent video where it showed a 50% reduction in recoil (I guess a big increase in noise!).
Would be interested to hear people's thoughts as I don't ever seem to see any in many of the pics.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Best muzzle brake in Africa is a silencer lol.

 

[Royal27]

This is an oft discussed topic here.

Are they used? Yes.
Do people here and PHs in particular like them? No.
Will most PHs tolerate one of the client has one? Yes.

I have a different outlook than many here as I think they serve a purpose, especially in training and as a hunter builds up to larger calibers. I've never hunted with one though. I've found that guns don't recoil in Africa.

 

[JimP]

If you do a little bit of looking on the forums here you will find a lot of post on the subject.

My opinion is no I wouldn't use a brake on my rifle while hunting and I have a removable one on a .340 Weatherby that I use when working up loads and shooting from a bench. I personally would never shoot a rifle with one around anyone including myself that wasn't wearing hearing protection and a lot of times that isn't practical during a hunting situation.

They do reduce the recoil on the rifle with one and it is a great aid while at the bench but I don't believe that they should be used while out hunting.

 

[Diamondhitch]

...I've found that guns don't recoil in Africa.

Lol, agreed unless you are Jim Shockey. But then again I think he would get a ringer from a .22

 

[CAustin]

Used one today near Hodespruit RSA to take an elephant. There is no problem from the PH if you want to use one!

 

[Diamondhitch]

Used one today near Hodespruit RSA to take an elephant. There is no problem from the PH if you want to use one!

Sounds like a bit of well earned bragging there Congrats on your ele! Pics man pics!!! lol

 

[Diamondhitch]

Never mind, just found the thread... don't know how I missed that...

 

[stug]

If you use a brake then you and everyone around you must use ear protection, or you risk permanent damage to your ears.
I use them on my long range rifles, but not my stalking ones.

 

[ack]

My wife and I just returned from our 2nd hunt in Namibia..There was never on the first or this trip any mention of our breaks..I have never personally heard any outfitter gripe about what a client uses for shooting..If I ever do I will take my business elsewhere..We both enjoy shooting light recoiling guns and they are very light so the break makes it easier to see where your shoot went...By the way, Lori Spears at Travel Express booked all our flights and they were trouble free and easy connections with good prices..Most breaks reduce recoil about 35%

 

[Ado]

This may be a bit of an unpopular comment..... But:

If you need to use a muzzle break when hunting your gun is too big for you.

Just my 2c worth.

Not trying to be arguementative - but I guess your comments will follow...

Ado

 

[Velo Dog]

Muzzle BRAKES tend to hurt my eardrums right through my hearing protection, when others are using them nearby to my shooting bench.
In addition to inflicting physical pain to my eardrums, I also find them visually painful to look at.

(If you experience a muzzle BREAK, you should stop firing immediately and consult a Gunsmith).

Sorry, but it is difficult to pass up a cheap shot like this one was when you are a low rent kinda guy like I am.

 

[ack]

This may be a bit of an unpopular comment..... But:

If you need to use a muzzle break when hunting your gun is too big for you.

Just my 2c worth.

Not trying to be arguementative - but I guess your comments will follow...

Ado

 

[ack]

30/06 is sure not too big but the gun only weighs 6#..Break makes it very comfortable when you are almost 70 with bad shoulders...Really doesn't matter what someone else likes ,I like it and it's mine..No one's gun belongs to another..

 

[KB5]

Thanks all. So really the consensus seams that whilst tolerated the impact on hearing doesn't make them popular in Africa.
Do people use kick stops at all. The Blaser R8 has a pre built space for them. I guess I'm trying to figure out whether they help with accuracy or are just somewhat of an unnecessary accessory.

 

[larry4831]

Some people have shoulder problems and a muzzle brake would be helpful to their shooting and hunting.I think someone with a bad shoulder would be better off with a muzzle brake so they could place their shots more accurately and enjoy the hunt without worrying about a Flinch. I have a bad shoulder, but I don't have any muzzle breaks, I just suck it up

 

[lcq]

Some people have shoulder problems and a muzzle brake would be helpful to their shooting and hunting.I think someone with a bad shoulder would be better off with a muzzle brake so they could place their shots more accurately and enjoy the hunt without worrying about a Flinch. I have a bad shoulder, but I don't have any muzzle breaks, I just suck it up

autoloaders really take the sting out of kickers. too bad Africa doesn't allow them

 

[Philip Glass]

Also think about getting Edwards Recoil Reducers installed in your big guns. It will help.
Regards,
Philip

 

[ActionBob]

30/06 is sure not too big but the gun only weighs 6#..Break makes it very comfortable when you are almost 70 with bad shoulders...Really doesn't matter what someone else likes ,I like it and it's mine..No one's gun belongs to another..

ack you definitely deserve a pass on the brake! I suspect that most PH's would feel the same way.. especially if you explain it this way.

Other than such a situation as ack's, I hate them. Have 3 of them and save special distain for the ones on our Ruger Guide guns with the short barrels. I think the concussion and blowback of the powder and smoke is worse than the recoil.

I had a thick stocking hat on last winter on a cold day and was in a hurry to sight in a 375 Ruger Guide gun that had a brake. Fingers cold and all, setting up targets... Forgot my ear muffs and took the first shot... My left ear still has a ringing noise.. I'm sure I did permanent damage. I always want both foam plugs and good muffs on if shooting a gun with a brake... Not very practical when hunting.

 

[ActionBob]

Do people use kick stops at all. The Blaser R8 has a pre built space for them. I guess I'm trying to figure out whether they help with accuracy or are just somewhat of an unnecessary accessory.

I have a mercury tube recoil reducer in the stock of my CZ 550 in 505 Gibbs... That gun fits well, has a large stock that fills my hands and I can grip well, near perfect cheek piece I can get my head down on comfortably... And weights about 12 pounds. It is fairly pleasant to shoot. I do think the tube in the stock helps even though some have the opinion that dead lead weight would do the same. To me the countering reaction of the mercury sloshing in there makes sense to me... Any truck driver can tell you how a half load of any liquid can throw a truck around... So it seems logical that it or the kick stop device should be of benefit.

I have another 505 Gibbs (Ruger RSM custom job) that is a bit more petite (and lighter weight), lovely lines and fine looking gun. I've been hesitant to drill into that gorgeous stock. But that sexy thing kicks the snot out of me!

And I've wanted to keep it lighter weight in case I decide to hunt elephant with it... I'd rather have a hard recoiling rifle for a shot or two than drag the extra weight through the African sand and up and down the hills and through the brush on a 10 mile hike.

Besides, Royal is exactly correct. These guns don't have any noticeable recoil in Africa! especially when pointed at Dangerous Game. Heck they don't even make a "bang" when shooting at a big cat