Brake or No Brake

[88man]

I have radial brakes on 3 rifles and 1 with more a lateral brake. Who loves brakes or hates them. My 12 year old daughter shots a 270 wsm with a brake and loves the gun.

 

[375H&H]

No brake. Why brake a rifle? If you can't handle the recoil then step down in caliber are my thoughts. I can recover from a sore shoulder, but new ears is a lot more involved.

 

[Don Fischer]

Same feeling about it!

 

[Carnage2011]

I personally like to have a brake. The extra noise can be an issue, but I keep a set of ear plugs around my neck when I'm hunting. Sometimes I don't have a chance to put them in, but most of the time I do. I don't mind the kick of a rifle, but subconsciously it must bother me because I usually start to flinch. I shoot much better with rifles with a brake.

 

[ccc23454]

As a person with a back injury, neck problems and significant hearing loss i can tell you usually i prefer no brakes and smaller calibers but a brake does allow me to hunt with a more powerful rifle than i normally could and during elk season and i apreciate that. I dont like to be undergunned and have massive respect for a elks toughness so my bigger bores i prefer brakes and ear plugs.

 

[N2TRKYS]

As a person with a back injury, neck problems and significant hearing loss i can tell you usually i prefer no brakes and smaller calibers but a brake does allow me to hunt with a more powerful rifle than i normally could and during elk season and i apreciate that. I dont like to be undergunned and have massive respect for a elks toughness so my bigger bores i prefer brakes and ear plugs.

How do you get the elk out of the field with your neck and back problems?

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I prefer suppressors. Best of both worlds.

 

[MThuntr]

I prefer suppressors. Best of both worlds.

I'm starting to lean this direction...though the added cost is keeping me from it right now.

 

[mhungerford]

i love my brakes. They are loud but i carry ear plugs with me while hunting. My 7 year old daughter shoots my 300 RUM with a brake on it.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I'm starting to lean this direction...though the added cost is keeping me from it right now.

I was in the "WTH do I want one of those things for" camp for a long time. Best money I've ever spent on a hunting/shooting item. Find a buddy that has one and shoot a few rounds through one.

 

[mtmuley]

i love my brakes. They are loud but i carry ear plugs with me while hunting. My 7 year old daughter shoots my 300 RUM with a brake on it.

Interesting how the purchase of a RUM is usually quickly followed by the installation of a brake. mtmuley

 

[cgarner]

I hate breaks. I don't care what people use to hunt, but man oh man, I refuse to shoot beside someone at the range with a gun that has a brake.

 

[noharleyyet]

My OCD won't tolerate a 28" barrel. I do enjoy shooting other people's boomers off the bench

 

[lifesupport4u]

Amazing the difference it makes in recoil. I like mine.

If you don't want or need one on magnum calibers you are tougher than me, some guy you never met in a internet forum... congrats.

 

[bigeasygator]

I never owned a rifle with a brake until this last year. Since then, I've added two "lightweight" rifles to my arsenal (a Kimber Mountain Ascent in 7mm mag, and a Kimber Adirondack in .308). They are both braked, and I was kind of shocked at the difference they made. They are the most pleasant shooting bolt guns I own - and also the two lightest. So put me in the believer camp. That said, I have not shot either rifle yet in a hunting situation without ear protection. Hope to get a chance on a mountain goat in two weeks with the Adirondack. I'll be packing ear-pro and am hopeful that any shot would allow me the appropriate time to stick it in.

 

[brymoore]

I read years ago, John Barness I believe, who said that hearing damage occurs with brakes even if you’re wearing ear plugs and muffs. No thanks. I’m waiting for suppressors to become easier to buy.

 

[HighDesertSage]

I like a brake. I remove mine prior to hunting and adjust POI.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I used to be against, but now I am kind of on both sides of this.

I think the amount of powder in the case makes a difference on how bad a brake is to be around. My only braked rifle is a MTN Ascent in 7mm-08, the blast is much less that some of the big magnums produce with a brake, and even at total weight of 5 1/2 pounds it is a dream to shoot.

Personally, the over-pressure created by a brake for the people around you is the worst part. Usually the person behind the rifle is the least bothered. When I shot my lion a couple of weeks ago, I had plugs and was really most concerned about the other guys under the tree. It is pretty cool watching the bullet impact....

 

[mdhunter]

I have a .300 wsm with a break (I wont pull the trigger without muffs).

I shoot a 6.5 x .284 without a break and love it as well.

As the saying goes "you do you".

 

[midwesthunter]

IMO brakes have there time and place. With break need ear protection, but really we should be wearing it anytime we fire a gun. I have a consistent ringing in my ear from lack of hearing protection over the years.

For heavy recoil rifles a good break can greatly tame that. For long range shooting it helps to stay on target and spot shots.