Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Do you think a few shots while hunting from an oght six /would cause any hearing damage? I recently installed a muzzle break on my gun do to missing a freakin huge bull elk because I flinched. Now the gun has about as much recoil as a 22 long rifle. I love it, but I'm not going to hunt with ear muffs on! I guess I could invest in a game ear or something.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Yes...it will damage your hearing...

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Just a single shot from a high powered rifle will damage your hearing. Even with out a muzzle brake installed.

Invest in some hearing protection that uses electronics to cancel out shot noise but will still allow you to hear normal sounds.

I hate shooting next to someone with a muzzle brake on their rifle and none of my rifles will ever wear one. If I can't handle the recoil then I may as well have never bought that gun.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

A muzzle brake will dramatically increase the noise level to the shooter.A single shot with a braked riflewill usually cause your ears to ring if you aren't wearing hearing protection.I have been shooting for nearly 40 yearsand according to my annual hearing tests,my hearing is still normal.A friend of mineused to be able tosay the same right up to the point where he fired a single shot from a braked 300win mag.His ears rang for several hours and subsequent hearing tests have shown permanent damage to his hearing from that single shot.By the way,the noise from a braked rifle can also cause a flinch.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Right On!

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

You got that right. And so can the massive muzzle blast from a brake. I have come to the conclusion that a brake can actually create a flinch much quicker and worse than a hard kick.


BTW, I suspect that your "flinch" when shooting at the elk had more to do with you having "freakin huge bull" feaver;) than the gun kicking.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

One shot from a gun with a muzzle brake could ring your bell as bad as 50 shots without. My ears are ringing right now . . .

Consider one of the Caldwell Lead Sleds, or a similar product - you can sight in without pain, and won't feel the kick when hunting.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Eh?What'd you say?...couldn't hear ya.:DJ/K.I would get some kind of hearing protection,no matter what.Your hearing is worth the money.You shouldn't need to hear him if he's close.I mean it's an Elk they are huge you can see him 100yds away right?I wouldn't take a chance on losing my hearing.I think also your trigger may be a little stiff causing the flinch.A pachmayer pad will get rid of the kick also.My '06 doesn't kick near as much as it did before the pachmayer.My wife shoots it,and she doesn't flinch with a 150gr bullet.I could imagine what 180gr loads would kick like though.Assuming that's the size bullet you are using.Hope I helped.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

My original response was predicated on the fact that I have gotten tired of repeatedly posting exactly the same thoughts Bigbulls has...

Thx for spelling it out for him Bigbulls..JC

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

It has been my experience that a brake is not any louder to the shooter than the same rifle without one . It is louder to a person who is on either side of the muzzle which would be the guy on either side of you at a shooting range. This is where they get their bad rep. I have one on my 300 mag and love it. I would venture to say all those who scorn them don't own one, and justpass on the standard BS about them being louder.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Well let me be the exception here. I have owned 2 and 4 other friends that I have hunted for years with also have or had them. We all shot .338 win mags for moose and we now all have permanent noise damage and one of us is now wearing a hearing aid in both ears. Every muzzle break manufacturer now includes a disclaimer with every unit shipped that they DO damage hearing. We have all sold off the braked rifles and merely dropped down a few notches in chosen round. 3 of us are now shooting 7mm rem mags and have now accounted for several moose with them and find they die just as quick. Believe what you wantto believe, hell some people think smoking is not unhealthy but the facts are the facts and thats no"BS" :)

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

I have a gun with a brake. It is loud, damn loud.

I use QB2's in the field. They are quick, easy, and not a pain. I kept them on my neck the whole time and couldn't tell I had them around my neck the whole 3 hour drive home. I put them on before any shot with a rifle, especially a brake

http://store.angelexscience.com/holeqb2heba.html

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Shoot the heck out of that gun during the off season wearing ear protection (maybe even ear plugs AND ear muffs), you'll get comfortable and confident shooting it and the noise will be a non-issue. When it comes time to go hunting screw the thing off and hunt without it.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Use ear protection at the range, purchase a "Walkers Game Ear II for the field, and forget about it. Good luck.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Now that I have hunted with a set of electronic muffs, I will never fire a gun afield again without them on. Save your ears.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

LOL....good one!

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Do those "walkers game ears" really work? I am kind of leary about something that amplifys sound and muffles sound at the same time. What if it failed and you went deaf?? That would suck!

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

One shot probably wouldn't "make you deaf"...I wouldn't wanna find out though.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Yep, I got a chuckle out of that one too.[8D]

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

I will second that. How could you not notice the difference of a braked rifle. It is clearly significantly louder.

What does the electronic hearing protection cost?

Can anyone else chime in here to say that they do work?

Thanks
Tom

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Any info on the electronic hearing protection would be appreciated. Iagree with most of the others guys here that the noise seems to cause a bigger flinch than the recoil.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

You can get a cheep set of electronichearing protection at Walmart and it works. I shoot a 300 Win Mag with a KDF brake and it's loud and will ring you ears. I decided to get the hearing protection for this gun but I use it for all hunting now. I wouldn't be without anymore.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Gandilamont:

Yes, the "Walkers Game Ear works. Good luck.

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Yes, it will! And if you have a muzzle BRAKE on it, the damage is going to show up quicker!

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

Huh? What did you say? "Can you hear me now"?:)

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

RE: Muzzle break hearing damage?
 

lol!!!!!