Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 416 Muzzle Brake Recoil

Like a tampon without the pullcord.

Looks like "fun"...

I have a few big bores larger than my 375H&H, but none have a muzzle brake and though I do see a .416 Rem Mag in my future (already bought the dies), it will not have a brake.

Why? I've already shot enough over the years, including shotgun, that I want to preserve the hearing I have left. I read just a few weeks ago that tests demonstrated that muzzle brakes create such a sharp sound that they damage hearing regardless of whether you use BOTH ear plugs and muffs.

Has anyone else seem this? Can anyone refute it (with data, not just opinion)?

It could be that some of the powered noise-cancelling earmuffs are more effective, but why take a chance?

It's a possibility. High energy vibrations through the skull can still damage the inner ear "components".

I have stenosis (narrowing ear canal) in one ear, the result of ear canal infections and build up of scar tissue. The doctor advised that it may be repairable but they have to drill out some of the ear canal bone to make allowance for the scaring build-up after the operation. He advised that the vibration of the drilling may damage the inner ear anyway. Operation to provide hearing but may damage hearing? - I haven't had it done.

That's why you have teeth ...