Muzzle breaks on rifles, are they all harsh to the person on the side?
No. It depends on the cartridge and the load being fired and the brake design.
I've sat two tables over from a guy with a Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun and ended up with hot powder down my neck. Definitely annoying, never mind the blast. I've also had items blown off my table by brakes on the table next to me. Definitely VERY annoying - so much so I called a cease fire until the gent moved away. (I was there first, he went to an end table.)
In general, also yes. When high pressure centerfire loads are fired the people to the side catch most of the blast. Not so much the person behind the trigger.
