Muzzle break or no?

In the process of getting my 577 nitro built on a no1 action. The finished rifle will weigh just shy of 10lbs. The smith, ssk industries, recommends the muzzle break in such a light rifle. I'm usually apposed to muzzle breaks but feel that maybe it'd be necessary in this case? I'm sure i could learn to shoot it without one, i shoot this rifle currently in 458 lott with full loads off the bench on a somewhat regular basis. Whats ya'lls opinions and experiences?

IMO, I’d make sure it is a removable brake. Ideally with a matched in weight attachment to replace it with. Some PHs will not hunt with you if you use one. Personally I like the muzzle brake for two primary reasons: 1) you can get back on a DG animal much quicker for a second shot, 2) I have suffered from a torn retina which if severed, I would be blind unless I got to a laser surgeon very quickly and obviously I’m a little apprehensive of heavy recoil.
Good luck in your decision!

Ridgewalker said:

IMO, I’d make sure it is a removable brake. Ideally with a matched in weight attachment to replace it with. Some PHs will not hunt with you if you use one. Personally I like the muzzle brake for two primary reasons: 1) you can get back on a DG animal much quicker for a second shot, 2) I have suffered from a torn retina which if severed, I would be blind unless I got to a laser surgeon very quickly and obviously I’m a little apprehensive of heavy recoil.
Good luck in your decision!

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Unfortunately i believe it's not a removable break if they add it. I dont really expect to be hunting africa anytime in the next 10 or so years either unfortunately

Then I would go ahead and get it and when you learn to handle the recoil and feel confident with the big cartridge, then I’d take the next step and have it machined off. Or get it without and, if you need to, get a removable one added.

OK, stupid question. If you're not planning on hunting elephant or rhino in the near future, why a .577?

sierraone said:

OK, stupid question. If you're not planning on hunting elephant or rhino in the near future, why a .577?

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Because why not? Lol. But in all honesty, ever since i was a little kid id dreamt about having a rifle in a proper elephant cartridge and i figured why not go with the 577. It'll do fine for everything from deer up to moose and grizzly until i can afford to go to oz and/or africa

Why change from the 458 Lott, which you currently shoot comfortably without a brake and is more than enough for everything?

I do not like muzzle brakes on hunting rifles for the following reasons;

1) I do not feel recoil in a hunting situation. Adrenaline is a great muzzle brake.

2) I don't buy the instantaneous "follow-up shot" myth in hunting, as every hunter I have ever seen fire a big-bore at a live animal breaks the sight picture immediately after the shot, observes the animal for a split second, then rapidly reacquires the sight picture and takes a follow-up. Basically the OODA loop applies to hunting too, and a muzzle brake isn't going to prevent you from starting a new OODA loop after the shot. This isn't a tactical long-range shooting match where you need to watch your bullets in flight.

3) If a gun/caliber combination is brutally painful to shoot with proper shooting technique, it is a very poorly designed tool for the job. A 10-pound .577 is not a well designed tool IMO, and almost a waste of money to have made. I often hunt with a 30-06 that weighs the same. That gun is going to be extremely brutal to shoot and probably should have had a more substantial barrel and stock installed to better balance the caliber with the rifle.

4) As you know, communication is key in an African hunt. The PH is right next to you whispering about which bull to take and trackers will be present communicating with the PH and each other. Basically, nobody has ear protection because they need to whisper instructions and observations to one another. Your 577 with a muzzle brake could do serious damage to their ears (and might even rattle some teeth loose, lol).

Before the rifle is finished, I would rethink this build.

Desert Dog said:

Before the rifle is finished, I would rethink this build.

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I like the lott but its not what i want at this time, and i doubt I'll ever afford a double rifle. I've thought it over a few times, and this is the rifle i want, in the caliber i want. Just trying to decide if the muzzle break is something i want. I'll probably go with the break just because it will make it more bearable to shoot until i can get a double rifle. I'd probably have a double rifle before i ever got a chance to hunt Africa

Papabear55 said:

Unfortunately i believe it's not a removable break if they add it. I dont really expect to be hunting africa anytime in the next 10 or so years either unfortunately

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So, you are getting a 577 built for home protection?

BRICKBURN said:

So, you are getting a 577 built for home protection?

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Plinking, hunting anything and everything from deer to moose and grizzly, for fun at the range, to build my collection. Too have something that not everyone has. Too fulfill the dream if having a proper elephant rifle. And yes, home protection if anyone was ever stupid enough to break into my home while i was gone

Just teasing. Not a gun I would consider for plinking. Have fun with your latest addition.

BRICKBURN said:

Just teasing. Not a gun I would consider for plinking. Have fun with your latest addition.

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Haha I didn't take offense. I'm a glutton for punishment and am hoping this will be one of the last expensive big bores i put money into for awhile

With all due respect a 10lb .577 "plinker" is a silly. You could put the muzzle break from an 88mm field gun on it, and it will be nearly unshootable (more than once) at that weight. Moreover, a single shot, ruger-based .577 with muzzle break is a lot of things, but a "proper" elephant rifle wouldn't be a typical description. Hey, but we all waste a lot of money in a lot of different ways. Based on that, you ought to put anything you want on it. Maybe a Maglite? Then again, the muzzle blast would destroy it. I personally would still suggest a gun carriage.

If you take it to Africa, your PH will tolerate it - he is in the business of putting up with - should we say - whimsical clients? But I have never met one ever that didn't despise muzzle brakes. Ever. Trackers and PHs - particularly DG hunters - live or die by their hearing. A muzzle brake puts the whole party's hearing at risk. At least you will know you will be a centerpiece of campfire lore for some time to come after you depart.

Red Leg said:

With all due respect a 10lb .577 "plinker" is a silly. You could put the muzzle break from an 88mm field gun on it, and it will be nearly unshootable (more than once) at that weight. Moreover, a single shot, ruger-based .577 with muzzle break is a lot of things, but a "proper" elephant rifle wouldn't be a typical description. Hey, but we all waste a lot of money in a lot of different ways. Based on that, you ought to put anything you want on it. Maybe a Maglite? Then again, the muzzle blast would destroy it. I personally would still suggest a gun carriage.

If you take it to Africa, your PH will tolerate it - he is in the business of putting up with - should we say - whimsical clients? At least you will know you will be a centerpiece of campfire conversation for some time to come.

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I'm sure you find it silly, and thats ok. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I couldn't care less about being the centerpiece of a campfire conversation. I simply want a rifle in a caliber that is somewhat rare and unfortunately i can't afford a double. If a 10lb rifle is too light for you then so be it, if it ends up being too light for me then I'll go about getting some weight added

Sorry but I hunted SA with a rifle brake and the PH-Outfiter didn’t say a word about it. I used a rubber ear plug in my left ear for the six shots I took at the five animal on the hunt.
I would say it isn’t a problem. You are paying for the hunt.
I have two rifles that I Shoot at the range that have brakes on them and since everyone’s got ear devices on not a person says a word.

Just because a rifle is silly to one person or even a group of people, doesnt mean its silly to everyone. And if a person van fire the rifle accurately and consistently then who cares? I wouldn't hunt with the rifle if i didnt spend the time at the rsnge after getting it built to be proficient with it

Bhfs300 said:

Sorry but I hunted SA with a rifle brake and the PH-Outfiter didn’t say a word about it. I used a rubber ear plug in my left ear for the six shots I took at the five animal on the hunt.
I would say it isn’t a problem. You are paying for the hunt.
I have two rifles that I Shoot at the range and since everyone’s got ear devices on not a person says a word.

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I said absolutely nothing about what you thought of the muzzle brake. I simply mentioned my experience with muzzle brake opinions of a fairly broad range PHs whom I have come to know. I think you will find it is hardly a novel observation on my part. And I am absolutely certain that he would say nothing to you - you are indeed paying for the hunt.

Have you ever shot a .577, let alone one that weighs a tad shy of 10 pounds? I can not for the life of me imagine that a falling block with a .584 hole down the pipe can be balanced at 10 pounds. Either the barrel is going to be stupid short or dangerously thin. Which brings you back to more unpleasant recoil. Or blowing up.

I understand if you want a unique rifle or a conversation piece, but why not have your elephant rifle built in a caliber of yesteryear and have the gunsmith spend time and effort on your falling block action’s cosmetics, engraving and stock and barrel proportions to resemble an old Farquharson or Webley? You could then chamber it in something like a .450 3&1/4” NE (Which might well out penetrate the .577). In addition you might just get a reasonable price if you sell the rifle in the future.

Red Leg said:

I said absolutely nothing about what you thought of the muzzle brake. I simply mentioned my experience with muzzle brake opinions of a fairly broad range PHs whom I have come to know. I think you will find it is hardly a novel observation on my part. And I am absolutely certain that he would say
nothing to you - you are indeed paying for the hunt.

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Sorry Red Leg
I wasn’t talking to you just the use of a brake on a rifle.
I just came back from the range last Saturday and took my Ruger 375 that I wanted to shoot with the new amo, I just got Ruger 375 in Hornady 270 grain. It has the factory installed brake on it.
It was sighted in at 100 with Hornady 300 grain. I shot 4 shots at 100 yards with the new amo and got a group at zero at 100 yards. The app said to should be up about 1.75 inches so I adjusted the scope to move it up and then shot the first shot low to the right, moved the scope up and shot a group of three. The outside small targets are with my 204. No BRAKE so just look at the middle group. All shots are at 200 yards. The bottom small target is at 300 with my 204 and shots that are saposto to be 8 inches down with the Hornady 270 grain at 300 if it is zeroed at 200.

Use a brake at the range or when out having fun. Should the rifle find its way to Africa, ditch the brake for a thread protector.

Ten pounds, give or take, is VERY light for an all-out .577 NE. But hey, since when has the endeavor been practical? Never. Nevertheless, at such a weight you will need a brake for casual “plinking” at the range.