I have designed, fabricated, and installed muzzle brakes for about 25 years. I generally don't use or recommend them personally for all the hearing loss reasons stated throughout this thread. In the past couple of years, however, I have discovered what seems to be a "free lunch" alternative. The Benchmaster and Caldwell Lead Sled shooting rests allow the shooter to fire very heavy calibers without the "ouch" factor - and I never feel the recoil when firing at game under field conditions. Buy one, and use it for all your guns.