I noticed the .243 on the trading post. How does a muzzle brake compare to a good recoil pad, ie. limbsaver or x-coil?

Does it make a noticeable difference on smaller calibers instead of a good pad? My understanding is it makes the gun considerably louder.

i hate em....that just make the gun loud as hell.

On the smaller calibers I can see no practical need for a muzzle brake.

If the recoil of a 243 or 257 Roberts or 25-06 bothers a person, then they need to try a different style recoil pad.

Muzzle Brakes will make the gun louder, along with directing the hot gas from the firing of the gun back toward the shooter.

The thing that most people notice, is that the only time they really have trouble with recoil is during extended sessions from the bench. JMO.

My personal opinion? Would not have one. WAY to loud. If you can not handle the recoil, go to a smaller caliber. Just my .02

I love mine. It's made by Gentry and called the "Quiet Muzzle Break" The ports on mine are angled forward and out... not back at the hunter. All the gas and noise goes away from you.

Most breaks are very loud for the shooter I will agree.... not this one. It works very well. My 300 RUM kicks less than my buddies 308.

You can google Gentry quiet muzzle break and you will see what I am talking about.

Greg, great information and I appreciate your testimonial. I've been leary of muzzle brakes for the reasons mentioned by previous posters, but I'd like to tame my 300 RUM a bit. However, after looking at Gentry's website I plan on giving David Gentry a call on Monday.

Anyone else using a Gentry muzzle brake? Like it or dislike?

I popped a 10 point this weekend with no hearing protection and seriously it was not any louder than any other gun I have ever shot. The reason his work is b/c the angle on the ports is away from you... this keeps the gas and noise off of you and out in front of you.

Good luck and let me know what you think. All of my friends have them and we all love them.

Mine is loud, but turns 7mm Rem Mag recoil into .223 recoil. I usually hunt with electronic muffs, but last week when I saw my buck, I didn't have time to slip them over my ears (about 6 or 7 seconds). I didn't notice the noise as much as the concussion. I had a headache for the rest of the evening, but no ringing.

On the plus side, accuracy was good enough to hit a deer in the neck on the move through mequite brush at 255 yards, and drop him like a sack of potatoes. Made the headache a lot more bearable.

Opening weekend we ambushed some turkeys and my father fired first with a smaller caliber. All I had was my 7mm Rem Mag. I waited a couple of seconds to see if he was going to shoot another, then I popped one at he base of the neck. He was on my right side and complained that he couldn't hear out of his left ear for a while.

To each his own. I feel my rifle was setup to be a special purpose long range deer rifle. Not something I'd want to carry and stalk deer with at 50 yards. I'd go get a 30-30, or use my pump 30-06 for something like that.

I have a browning 300win mag, with the Boss on it, I absolutly love it, reduces recoil to less than anything I have shot well still more than a 22 but less than a 270. Accuracy is amazing. I have never noticed much in the way of additional noise, but then again, I expect a gun to go bang when I pull the trigger. I could care less when I am at the range if someone is bothered by the noise, as I only fire 6-9 rounds per trip. My experience has yeilded that there are usually a couple of guys that have to come look at what I am shooting, expecting to find a cannon. I often have allowed the guys that have the most vocals against the muzzle break to fire the rifle once to see the difference. I have never seen someone fire a rifle with a quality muzzle brake on it that didnt love the benefit from it. In smaller calibers I would say it is a waste of money, but in a big game hunting caliber, they are useful for those that shoot regularly to keep their edge, and ability to shoot longer distances.

I think those that voice the most against muzzle brakes, cant justify the expense of one to themself more than anything else. I bought mine after shooting my buddies, and wouldnt have a 7mm mag, 300 win mag, or any other larger caliber without one. Even a 30.06 would benefit from a muzzle brake in a bolt action rifle.


<------stepping off soap box now...

Depends highly upon what you're using the gun for. I usually wouldn't recommend one for any rifle less than a mag. caliber, unless it will be used for extended firing sessions (i.e. prairie dogs, or bench shooting).

I've got one on my 7/08, and love it. It was built to be a PD shooter, and I fell in love with it. So I use it for just about everything now.

Noise is a huge factor. My break is custom made, and the ports do angle forward. I think it is better than any other break I've been around, noise-wise. But it's a tough call, since all the others are always on the superduperultramegamagnums which make lots of noise anyway. But it makes the gun so stable I can watch 140gr bullets hit the target w/my scope on 12x. And the 100grain HP's and PD's make for one heck of a show up to 16x.

Make your own decision, as to weather or not you need one. I used to be devoutly against them, until I saw the practical benefit of one. Now I say, to each their own.


Jay

Muzzle brake on a .243? That's kinda like putting air brakes on a tricycle.

Good analogy!