I have a Mossberg 4X4 in .270 that shoots really well, low recoil too due to the muzzle break that was on the barrel when I bought it new. It is also very accurate and I hand load for it.
When I had my AR-15 I would shoot both of them at my local range and could tell the muzzle breaks on both of them were annoying the shooters to my side. I often find the AR-15's of other shooters unpleasant to be near as well.
Last time I was at the 100 yard range there was a fellow shooting an AR platform in .308 to my left and it was horrible in the side blast from that thing. Now I am wondering if my .270 Win. is that bad as it is also a modified 30-06 family of cartridges? I know that there are many types and patterns of muzzle breaks for rifles out there, does anyone know if the .270 is as bad as the .308 in side blast, or is it all the variables of the muzzle break design itself? I could remove it and put on the muzzle cap that came with the gun but it is too nice with the muzzle break on it at this time.
The way a brake works is by directing most of the muzzle blast to the side. When you put a break on a rifle, you will be direction more muzzle blast to shooters on either side of you than you would with an unbraked rifle, it's just the way it works.
I don't so much mind the noise as I wear plugs and muffs, but I find the blast from a break akin to a small concussive grenade and hence rather unsettling when you're trying to concentrate on your shot.
The intensity of that concussive blast depends on the chambering of the rifle and the design of the brake. The absolute worst rifle I had fired next to me was a 30-378 Weatherby. The blast was so bad instead of shooting during my lunch time range session I ended up BS'n with a buddy and packed my stuff up without firing a shot.
