I have quite a few rifles with brakes, Gentry brake, like the Vais brake directs the blast away from the face of the shooter. I have a Dalsk (sp) that does the same thing. I have a couple of other brands that will replaced with one of brakes that direct the blast away for me, as the shooter. All of them are loud if you stand beside them. I also remember a brake that lowered the muzzle blast by 30 to 35 db, but it went the way of the ATF, because it was classified as a silencer.
Take care!
Marcus.
