a common theme in your posts has to do with increased noise caused by the use of a brake. This is absolutely untrue. Noise does not increase when using a brake. Directionality of the noise changes, but not the actual volume. A good brake, i.e. the Vais brake, will be imperceptibly louder to the shooter. In fact it takes sophisticated equipment to measure the actual difference from the shooter's perspective. However, to those at other angles to the muzzle may/will perceive a much greater muzzle blast & noise. No doubt this perception adds to the myth's plausibility, but myth it remains. Brakes do not amplify the sound from a rifle, or to use Boxer's jargon, they do not "add noise."
FINALLY!! Someone posted my same thoughts on muzzle brakes. I've never understood how some holes in the last 1 1/2" of a barrel that divert SOME of the combustion gasses would make a louder report than when ALL of the gasses leave the muzzle of an un-braked barrel. The more powder you burn, the louder the report, with or without a muzzle brake!
Anyway, back to misplacedinnebraska's original question on taming his hard kicking .300 RUM.
First is the weight of the rifle, stock design, and stock fit. Obviously, a heavier rifle will absorb more of the recoil energy than a lighter rifle, but the extra weight is harder to carry around the hills all day. If the stock is too short or has too much drop at the comb, it will increase the amount of recoil transfered to the shooter's cheekbone. The same is true with too much drop at the heel.
Next is recoil pads. Their purpose is to absorb or delay the recoil being transferred to the shooter's shoulder. I have Limbsaver pads on my three magnum rifles, I have Pachmayr and Kick-eez pads on several of my other rifles and shotguns. They all work, but I guess I like the Limbsaver pads best.
Next is in-stock recoil reducers, both mercury and mechanical. They add weight to the gun and they are advertized to absorb or delay some of the recoil that is transferred to the shooter. I have reducers in my Skeet and Trap shotguns, an 870 field shotgun, and in two of my magnum rifles. Some are mercury, some are mechanical, they all help reduce felt recoil, but I can't say which is better.
And finally there are muzzle brakes. Depending on the design, they DO decrease felt recoil. I have KDF muzzle brakes on my two potentially hardest kicking rifles, a .375 RUM and a .300 Weatherby, and I had my Skeet and Trap shotguns muzzle ported.
When I used to compete in Trap and/or Skeet I was shooting up to 10,000 12 ga shotshells per year. I no longer compete, but I still shoot about 5,000 shotshells per year. I also have two Super Blackhawk .44 Mag and two 1911 .45 acp pistols and I regularly shoot them. I am no stranger to recoil. The first time I shot my .375 RUM, I quit after only 8 shots. The recoil was just too brutal.
I rebuilt the .375 RUM with a heavier, longer stock
that fits me, installed an in-stock recoil reducer, and had the KDF muzzle brake installed. Since then, I've shot several hundred rounds through it, I've taken it to Africa twice, and on the last trip, I shot three animals with it from prone positions, without any ill effects of recoil.
I've always wanted a .300 Weatherby, and several years ago I finally bought one. I did everything to it that I had done to the .375 RUM, and it is now my favorite rifle. I've only shot 4 animals with it, but two of them were from prone positions, and again, recoil was no problem.
Several weeks ago, I had my .300 Weatherby, 7 mm Rem mag, and .257 Ackley at the range chronographing different loads. I alternated 3 shot strings with each rifle, and shot six 3 shot strings through the .300 Wby. Of course, the .300 Wby was the loudest, but it had less felt recoil than the 7 mm and only slightly more felt recoil that the .257 AI.
I ALWAYS carry AND USE foam earplugs with me when I'm hunting, and I always use ear plugs or muffs anytime I'm outside at the range.
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