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Muzzle brakes on the firing line

I host matches at my range that allow brakes and matches that don't. At our 500m Fly Shoots, brakes are not allowed as per Australian rule book. At clay brake matches, I allow brakes. At the end of 6 hours as range officer I can tell the difference in how my head feels after being blasted all day by the concussion from brakes. Overall I see a reduction in the number of brakes on benchrest rifles due to rifles being built heavy enough to not need brakes and light guns using the smaller 6mm's that don't have any recoil.
I have a few guys who won't come to my Fly Shoots because of the no brake rule. I feel pretty sure the guys that are there are happy they are not getting pounded all day by the blast from their neighbors brake.
One thing I can guarantee, no matter how hard you try, you can't make everyone happy.
 
I was naive concerning brakes. I had only "read" about the benefits. So I got an H-Bar barrel for my pipsqueak 223. I went to the range, and even wearing 33 dBa NRR muffs, it was excessive. I have a 3 ring notebook on the bench to record chrony data, and it was nearly tearing the pages our of it. I couldn't wait to get home and just put a flash hider on the barrel.

But I was impressed the rifle didn't move when being fired. I just wasn't willing to tolerate the increase in concussion I had to deal with.
 
Brakes are one reason why I've only tried PRS one time. Much too painful being close to other shooters. Ears rang for weeks (literally).

New shooters need to be encouraged, but not by squadding them next to everyone else.

Match bulletins should clearly specify use of brakes. If you show up at a small range with a brake and didn't read the rules the MD could offer you a wrench to remove your brake, if large range then squad you far away from everyone else.

If I am asked of brakes are ok I will always say "NO".
 
As one who runs NRA registered FClass matches and club matches, brakes are not permitted. If you show up not knowing the rules and unable to remove your brake you are not allowed to compete.

If I showed up at an F-Class match that permitted brakes, I'd ask for my entry fee back and leave.
 
I was wondering if a V shaped wall [or whatever] that directs the noise away from the shooting line would work for benchrest.
Link
 
Link said:
I was wondering if a V shaped wall [or whatever] that directs the noise away from the shooting line would work for benchrest.
Link
Click to expand...

I’ve seen permanent straight partitions between benches used with good results. They used them at “Show Me Benchrest” in northeastern Missouri. The firing line was tight and angled so they needed them.
 
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I have been running F-Class leagues and matches since 2006. I have allowed new shooter rifles to have brakes for one night if they didn't know they were not allowed. I'll move them far away from all the other shooters so no one is bothered. If they don't tell me they have a brake before they are squadded and I notice during prep, they get moved. Same goes if we have started a string, they pick up and move. Show up a second time after being told, I go to my truck and get a couple pipe wrenches. That gets their attention....

BTW, I never allow brakes at a match.
Scott
 
effendude said:
I have been running F-Class leagues and matches since 2006. I have allowed new shooter rifles to have brakes for one night if they didn't know they were not allowed. I'll move them far away from all the other shooters so no one is bothered. If they don't tell me they have a brake before they are squadded and I notice during prep, they get moved. Same goes if we have started a string, they pick up and move. Show up a second time after being told, I go to my truck and get a couple pipe wrenches. That gets their attention....

BTW, I never allow brakes at a match.
Scott
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There is enough ringing in my ears (maybe voices too) to not ever want to see someone with a break within 50' of where I am firing. I appreciate the fact that we have defined rules at any range I have shot at in regards to whether they can be used. I'm all for a "can" as long as the shooter doesn't want their scores recorded for the match.
 
Dgd6mm said:
2:00 pm EST, sitting in my easy chair with some wipe out in my barrels. Ill be getting up in a minute to continue cleaning my rifles. When I finish getting them clean, I'll screw the brakes back on. You don't have to sit or lay by me. :)
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Donnie you coming to saturday's match,if so just leave them brakes off.:D
 
XTR and others, Your hearing protection is minimal at best if brakes bother you. At these matches, you should be wearing ear plugs and ear muffs, preferably electronic ear muffs so you can hear normally(range commands). By Doing this double protection, your hearing will be better protected with or without brakes.

Traditions are hard to break, wearing only ear muffs or ear plugs has been a tradition for a long time, and not so many years ago, it was "the thing" to wear no hearing protection. Lots of guys can't stand wearing something on their head, others don't like to have ear plugs push the wax into their ear canal...I have heard all the excuses.

I shot many tens of thousands of rounds next a guy while we both had muzzle breaks and double ear protection shooting p. dogs. You will have to fine tune your personal likes on ear plugs and electronic ear muffs on how they fit you. Once you get your "likes down" only a 338 Lapua or larger will bother you. I shot registered BR, and it is amazing how people do not protect their hearing, especially those that just wear ear plugs.

Shooting Sports have rules to protect those that like to wear minimal hearing protection, and I doubt if it will change in my lifetime.

Rules should state that wearing ear plugs and muffs are mandatory as an aid to protect the hearing of shooters and bystanders. This rule would force guys on the line to wear electronic ear muffs so they could hear the range commands, and protect their hearing to the utmost degree. Guys usually want to protect their hearing to a point to where it does not hurt or bother them, which does not mean that their hearing is protected.

Ranges could have portable barriers to put between benches for multiple reasons, including red hot brass going down your neck from an AR shooter to your left.

There is a Macho thing involved in NOT protecting your hearing for many men.
 
even with acquit hearing protection just the concussion from a brake disturbs my concentration. don't want one beside me. i either move or leave. would never own a gun with one. as for supressors. i feel they should be as available as rifles. believe they would be much more popular than brakes.
 
Tactical brakes are much worse than Radial brakes on noise, but you have to shoot a tactical brake when shooting off the ground.

Richard, A lot of people feel the same way you do, we all have our limits on what we can take on noise and concussion. Removable solid barriers(piece of plywood, for example) does away with the concussion on regular calibers, within reason. Some of the concussion can bounce off the roof, which is noticed by sensitive people.
 
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AckleymanII said:
Tactical brakes are much worse than Radial brakes on noise, but you have to shoot a tactical brake when shooting off the ground.

Richard, A lot of people feel the same way you do, we all have our limits on what we can take on noise and concussion. Removable solid barriers(piece of plywood, for example) does away with the concussion on regular calibers, within reason. Some of the concussion can bounce off the roof, which is noticed by sensitive people.
Click to expand...

i wouldn't call myself sensitive by any means

just old and crotchety. some jerk with a .223 AR with a brake irritates me to no end. the tactical guy with the 20" barreled .308 with a brake blows the targets off my bench.

and here i am trying to shoot small groups with my 6 BR among all this chaos.
 
There is at least one other reason besides "personal comfort" why brakes and/or suppressors are not allowed in F-Class matches. They offer a benefit in the form of recoil attenuation, which can be an advantage, even if a small one, to the shooters that are using them. I wear double hearing protection, custom fitted in-ear plugs with ear muffs over the outside. I still don't want to be squadded next to someone using a muzzle brake. I understand the concept of encouraging new shooters that may not be fully aware of all the rules, but I'm also strongly in favor of not making the other shooters miserable simply to attract a few new shooters that didn't take the time to learn the specific equipment requirements and rules of the sport prior to attending their first match.
 
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