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  • Milliron
    Everyone talks about how much louder a brake makes a rifle.I saw a bit on TV comparing a Ruger with and without a brake. Visually the reduced recoil was evident, But the sound measuring meter numbers were not that significantly different. Has anyone done a sound comparison test?
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  • lcdrdanr
    I have brakes on a 308 Norma Mag and a 338 Mag as well as the compensator built into the .500 Mag pistol.

    Not having owned them before the brakes were installed (and the 500 is factory) I can't give a definitive report of before and after. I can say that standing behind any of them and shooting them is no worse than any other large caliber I own (including a .375 H&H and several .300 Win Mags).

    However, standing to the side of them (but behind the firing line) the blast is definitely increased over firearms with no brakes on them. I'm pretty careful about who is next to me when I am shooting them and absolutely refuse to be next to someone else shooting with a brake.

    I used to own a Taurus M44 in .44Mag with a brake that would blow back directly into the scope. I tried putting a cover over the scope to protect it, built one out of toilet paper roll and some sheet metal. First shot blew the entire assembly off the scope, after securing it more heavily the second shot actually flattened the sheet metal. I finally found that using PVC 1" to 1-1/2" adaptor with a bit of Sked 40 pipe worked well.

    Dan R
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  • tsr1965
    It all depends on the chambering, and the efficiency/effectiveness of the break. The more generated plasma/overbore cubic inch, the more noise you will have tossed back at you, with a break.

    My hearing is not the best, because of the sins in my youth, with unprotected shooting, and loud music. But I can tell you this...even with hearing protection now, a 308 is much louder with a break, than without. I also have two 300 Remington Ultra Mags...one without a break, and one with a GA Precision Titan muzzle break. The Titan is extremely effective, as it thrives on plasma from severely overbore cartridges. I use ear plugs, and very good sound reduction ear muffs, together. It is still louder than the non-breaked 300 RUM. However, it only recoils like a 243.

    That is the design of most breaks, to divert the muzzle blast to the sides, more back toward the shooter. It reduces the perceived secondary recoil, by momentarily slowing down the speed of the recoil impulse. If it is directing the blast rearward, then it is going to be louder...again, magnitude, depends greatly on how much plasma is being generated, and the effectiveness of the break.

    Best
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  • Tailgunner1954
    The measured noise is the same, however the perceived noise to the sides and rear is louder (but lower to the front).
    From a hunting perspective/observation, deer seem to be able to pinpoint the source of a unbraked rifle easily, but a rifle with a brake they seem to have a difficult time locating the source (IE: the sound pulse is spread out over a larger area)
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  • Milliron
    Thank you to all. I appreciate your thoughts.
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  • Cheechako
    Here's another one of those "it depends" answers.

    It depends. Some brakes are designed to reduce recoil drastically by directing the gasses to the rear. They are very noisy. Others may direct the gasses to the side. They, obviously, are less noisy. For many types of competition that allow the use of brakes, rules usually state the type of brake that can be used. Most will not permit brakes that vent the gasses to the rear. Competition that has prone stages usually will not allow brakes that vent gasses downward.

    On the big boomers, brakes definitely work. For the lesser calibers, they are mostly for show.
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  • FEENIX
    quote:Originally posted by Cheechako
    Here's another one of those "it depends" answers.

    It depends. Some brakes are designed to reduce recoil drastically by directing the gasses to the rear. They are very noisy. Others may direct the gasses to the side. They, obviously, are less noisy. For many types of competition that allow the use of brakes, rules usually state the type of brake that can be used. Most will not permit brakes that vent the gasses to the rear. Competition that has prone stages usually will not allow brakes that vent gasses downward.

    On the big boomers, brakes definitely work. For the lesser calibers, they are mostly for show.


    Here's one in lesser caliber (.204 Ruger) that works and not just for show. [:p]

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz8aMUsqM8k
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  • Riomouse911
    "However, standing to the side of them (but behind the firing line) the blast is definitely increased over firearms with no brakes on them."

    Amen to that! Now I have standard M-4 flash hider equipped AR's and Mp5's going off right next to me at monthly trainings with minimal annoyance. I had to do a CQB class a couple of years ago, and one clown brought his 3-gun style brake-equipped AR. Having to stand while that buffoon shot over my shoulder was a one-and-done for me...I swear the hair on the right side of my head is thinner than the left as a result. [xx(]
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by Milliron
    Everyone talks about how much louder a brake makes a rifle.I saw a bit on TV comparing a Ruger with and without a brake. Visually the reduced recoil was evident, But the sound measuring meter numbers were not that significantly different. Has anyone done a sound comparison test?


    Its been done.

    The answer has already been given, but its a big "it depends".

    Depends on the caliber you're starting with, the type of muzzle brake, and where you are listening (measuring) from.

    As already mentioned, most brakes send a lot more sound out to the side, making it quite a bit noisier for anyone standing next to the shooter.

    Some brakes send more sound backwards towards the shooter than others. Basically the more gas the brake sends backwards the more it attenuates recoil, but also the louder it tends to be.

    And of course how plugged up the shooter is with hearing protection (or deafness) and what's being shot also affect the PERCEPTION of sound.

    On brakes for "lesser calibers" being "for show", I have to disagree. It depends on the circumstances.

    But as an example, ompetitive shooters use these in centerfire handguns, .22LR handguns (!), and in small caliber (ie .223) rifles to help reduce muzzle flip and get the sights back on target faster. In a game where the differences between winners and losers may be measured in tenths of a second, or where you have a small fixed amount of time to put a lot of rounds downrange accurately (eg rapid fire NRA bullseye pistol), this sort of thing can help.
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  • oneoldsap
    It's nice to see someone spell Brake correctly , now and then
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