Josh Sorensen

THe boss also comes in an unported version called the boss CR. it is just the weighted shroud. By screwing the boss in and out you can tune the barrel harmonics to a given bullet. I have the boss CR on my 243 and it is amazing as to how it helps accurize a a given load. That feature alone is worth having as far as I'm concerned. YOu can also switch between the ported and fluted weight, using the ported at the range with hearing protection and the fluted in the field while hunting. I can't say enough good things about the boss.

Flying Ferris

Also I love people moaning how badly you'll lose your hearing from a braked rifle vs a conventional one. Guess what folks, you shoot any gun with out plugs you're WELL into hearing damage land. It's kind of like arguing that a 10 lb sledge will do less damage to your head then a 20 lb sledge if someone were to hit you with it.

If your that concerned with hearing loss and guns buy a set of electonic muffs for the field. They improve your hearing too.

jcchartboy

I believe Bigcountry is correct in stating that we should try to stick to the original question posted by the member that started the thread.

However, I also believe it is important that the subject of hearing damage and muzzlebreaks is not misrepresented in this thread. It is clear from Flying Ferris's statement above that the subject is not properly understood by many members.(Very simply his analogy has no corelation to the the subject of hearing loss.At issue is the nature of the geometric increaseof hearing damage that results to ones hearing from each addition decibel produced by the sound of the firearm. In laymans terms the addition 10-20% increase in sound produced by a muzzlebreaked firearm does not result in a corresponding 10-20% in hearing damage, the actualresult is closer to 10-20 times the hearing damage!)


Instead of arguing at length on the topic I will simply copy a post written months ago by our own Stubblejumper that covers alot of the relevant info and also provides links to relevant gun related hearing damage sites.

If anyone really feels the need to go on at length about the issue, I might suggest starting a new thread dedicated to the subject..or simply resurecting the one below that already contains all the info we are discussing. (I have already posted my feeling on the subject on this board on numerous occasions, if anyone would like to read them they can be found with the search feature. This will be my last post on this topic, I have no interest ingetting into a heated debate over this subject...THX JEFF)

RE: Browning BOSS system
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1122217&mpage=2&key=hearing%2cda mage&


StubbleJumper post 7/14/2005

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Here is a quote from chuckhawks website.
quote:

The muzzle blast from a powerful muzzle brake equipped rifle is so loud that even with hearing protection the shooter risks suffering some permanent hearing damage after a few shots. Earmuff type hearing protectors typically reduce noise by about 25 dB. A muzzle brake equipped magnum rifle (like a .300 or .338 Magnum) produces a sound pressure level (spl) in the 140-dB range, according to reports I have read. Thus the spl inside the hearing protector is in excess of 110 dB, a potentially damaging level.
For a hunter in the field, shooting without ear protection, the muzzle blast from a muzzle brake is immediately deafening. Nearly complete temporary deafness usually lasts from about a minute to several minutes after firing a powerful magnum rifle equipped with a muzzle brake. Later almost all of the shooter's hearing returns, but a certain amount is permanently lost, and the losses are cumulative.
This is why hunting rifles equipped with muzzle brakes are illegal in some African jurisdictions. They have proven damaging to the unprotected hearing of the scouts and guides accompanying the hunter. In North America an increasing number of big game guides now refuse to let a sport use a rifle equipped with a muzzle brake for the same reason.


Here is a link that gives actual noise levels resultingfrom gunfire.

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

Here is another interesting link

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/TableOfSoundPressureLevels.htm


Notice that an increase of 10dba from 130dba to 140dba more thantriples the sound pressure.Therefore increasing the noise by only a few decibles greatly increases the danger of hearing damage.
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Flying Ferris

So you'll take the ten pounder 'eh.

When shooting my .300 that has a BOSS brake on it for sighting in/practice, I always wear muffs, and buds, hunting just the muffs. The other thing that I've noticed just about the BOSS is it doesn't have the slap, or hard overpressure you get from dedicated muzzle brakes. That is when you are shooting it, or standing behind(directly more or less) the shooter. If you move out of that area look out, it slaps you. On that note if you do go with a BOSS on your rifle OP be considerate of others at the range and either give them some space, or if it's real crowded that day don't bring the gun out until some people filter away. You will be slapping them which is really uncool.

It deffinitly reduces the recoil on the rifle making it very comfterable to shoot. The winny was nice and cofterable to shoot before the BOSS got put on, but there is a big difference in felt recoil, until you go to 220 grain bullets. There's no stopping that little victory tap other then a 20 lb rifle, which would not be fun to lug around..

Mr. Zesterhouse

thanks guys. believe it or not, i know more than the average guy about rifles. i know what it does just never shot one before and was wondering about the recoil reduction. i know muzzlebrakes make a rifle louder, got one on my mini 14 to cut the muzzle flip down and that SOB is loud as can be.
thanks again guys
Mr Z

JASS

Muzzlebrakes do not adversely effect your hearing in the field. Pure nonsense. Yes they are loud. I have a Tikka T3 lite 30-06with one. It is just over six pounds. The recoil reduction is something that I , personally, like with that light rifle. Now if you go through an entire box without hearing protection at the range? Different story indeed. But, when was the last time you seen someone shoot at the range without hearing protection? It is loud,yes, but it will not hurt you one bit at all.

jcchartboy

WOW......Glad the laws of physicsdon't apply for youwhen you go hunting.....

Perhaps Bigcountrys theory below is correct, but I will remain extremely skeptical until someone can produce some data to support such a theory.

In fact all of the data I have seen to date contradicts such a possiblity. I will however keep my mind open if someone can come up with some factual data to support the theory that hearing damage as the result of gun fire is less significant in the field than the damage that results whenthe trigger is pulled at a different time and place....

bigcountry

He may have a point. I am not a doctor but engineer. So who knows. But you know how if you shoot a 44 mag at the range and you forgot to put your muffs on and your ears ring for hours. They say this is self protection mechanism in the ear or band pass filter. But then you get excited in the field and see a nice deer and you don't even hear the shot. No ringing. Ever wonder why that is? Maybe some local ear specialist on here can fill me in.

Josh Sorensen

When is the last time you only shot one time at the range???? One or two shots in the field probably aren't good for you but in the long term have little noticable effect, repeated shots at a range would have a much more pronounced effect.

jcchartboy

Josh,

No one questions that the cummulative effects are greater at the range simply because more shots are fired.That much is obvious.

However the suggestionthatis beingmade is that ashot in the field has a different effect than one taken at a shooting range. It is thissuggestion thatis beingquestioned...