Muzzle Braked 338 Lapua - Can I Protect My Hearing?

[Phil3]

I have been considering a 338 Lapua Mag rifle for very long range shooting, but am quite concerned about hearing loss. Especially after doing some research and reading this.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-understand-risks-of-concussive-hearing-loss/

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/08/07/muzzle-brakes-sound-test/

The 338 Lapua Mag almost always has a muzzle brake, intensifying the noise. I have little confidence that my Howard Leight Max ear plugs (NRR 33) and Peltor Bulls-Eye Ultimate 10 passive muffs are going to be enough to guard against the blast of the 338. Since this round is likely one of the loudest around, I would expect 175 db (or higher). Given that even a single impulse of 140 can cause hearing loss, I have doubts there is any adequate hearing protection. Especially with bone conduction of sound pressure to the ears.

My hearing is just fine now, and I would like to keep it that way. If the 338 prohibits that, then I am short of options. Either shoot something else, at closer range, without a muzzle brake, or move out of California to a place where suppressors are not illegal.

Any thoughts, experience, or suggestions are welcome.

Thank you,

Phil

 

[#40Fan]

I don't think you'll have any issues with a good set of ear muffs.

The concussion on the other hand is a different story. Ever shot a braked rifle?

 

[CharlieNC]

Do you wear the plugs and muffs together?

 

[spaniel]

I have a 338 Edge, roughly similar. One factor you have to remember is that you'll typically have a 28-32" barrel putting the blast further in front of you. I have friends with shorter barreled braked rifles that are much worse than my Edge.

I always double up on hearing protection when I shoot it; I haven't felt like I was putting myself at risk.

 

[Phil3]

In answer to questions so far, yes, I have shot a braked rifle, a Savage 110 BA in 338 Lapua. With foam ear plugs and ear muffs, it was pretty loud to me, but not painful nor did it leave my ears ringing. I could feel the concussion from the muzzle blast, but it did not give me a headache. I only fired two shots.

I always wear ear muffs and ear plugs together, no matter what I shoot. I also wear quality shooting glasses with thin flexible frames to minimize any disruption between ear muff and head. Not sure that makes any material difference or that I have little hair for the muffs to sit against, but the muffs do make a noticeable difference even over the plugs.

Phil

 

[mikeinct]

Fret not Phil...easy in plugs & good muffs you will be fine behind that monster...It is the people around you while shooting that feel the worst blast of it...Mike in Ct

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dont torch it off in a culvert. Thats where that concussive loss comes from

 

[284winner]

The barrel length has a lot to do with the noise level at the ear. I had a 338 win mag with a 20" bbl and a brake. It was literally unbearable even with ear protection. I used gel( wax) ear plugs AND muffs. Together they combat the problem a whole lot better.

 

[Tim s]

You are far better off with something like the Radians type plugs under the eadphones.
They are 2 part custom molded to conform to your ear and are DIY and easy.
Usually find them on Ebay.

 

[Catfur]

Longer barrel helps in more ways than one. The longer the barrel is the lower the gas pressure is at the muzzle, the lower the gas pressure is the quieter the bang.

 

[Sniper338]

I have a custom built 338 lapua. Just put the right brake on it.. the noise aint the issue for me, I just want a RAD on it still...

 

[alinwa]

I play with a lot of big 338's......

And I have a brake testing sled so I test a few brakes.....

The type of brake makes a 'YUGE! difference re your hearing protection......

THE MORE HOLES or ports (which makes them smaller) and the angle of 90* OR LESS back is what saves your hearing.

For an example of an effective yet "quiet" brake look at Harrell's radials. Yup, they ain't sexy, may be even fugly.....but they work and are quiet (er)

I have fired brakes where they work fine far as recoil but the back-blast is beyond belief annoying, like being cudgeled with a shovel

And I've "quiet" brakes with lesser impact area that are downright pleasant on the ears, not-so-much thee cho'lder.

I want it ALL, I want BOTH recoil and noise reduction and will forego good looks to get it.

Now.... brakes (notice the term "brake", it's like car) work by catching excess gas and pulling (braking, arresting) the rifle back off of you. The one thing that most affects the brake as far as BRAKING is it's impact area. ie, "the amount of sail you can put up to catch the wind." You put up a bigger sail, you catch more wind and the gun gets pulled off you better.

period.

The one thing that most affects NOISE (hearing damage) is where you send the blast of wind.

Below see a cutaway of two ugly but effectual brake designs. The one on the right shows how the typical "radial" brake gains it's useful sail area.

The one on the left is a vast improvement on it. With THE SAME NUMBER AND SIZE of holes it's more effective and yet no louder than the typical radial brake.

In fact I believe it to be quieter but even though I own and use and test with 3 sound pressure meters ("decibel meters") in real life it's wikkid hah'd to get useful measurements.


hth


al

 

[243winxb]

if the ear plugs have an NRR of 25, and the ear muffs have an NRR of 21, the combined NRR might be between 29 and 33 dB.

Not 46. If this is correct. https://www.noisehelp.com/double-hearing-protection.html

 

[alinwa]

There's a guy named normmatzen who claims expertise in this arena (and seems legit) maybe he'll chime in.

Or Boyd Allen, he's also filled with accurate arcane knowledges.

I have a tendency to misremember, but As I Remember, this additive effect isn't intuitive..... In other words, I'm with 243winxb.

 

[Delfuego]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. No matter how good your ear protection is you can still get hearing damage from big guns. Damage to hearing can occur through the bones in you face and jaw. Ask an ear doctor and they will confirm this. "Doubling up" will help, but the concussion of big guns still can cause damage over time. We have a good friend going through this right now and it is scary to consider. I double up with custom molded Ears Inc plugs and muffs. Suppressors for everything are in my near future.

 

[boltfluter]

I am going to build a brake for a magnum rifle in the near future. Thinking five ports total. Not radial but side ports. The plan is to angle the first 4 ports back but have the 5th port at 90 deg to create a gas barrier if you will. Hoping to cancel out most of the concussion and noise to the shooter. A little off topic but directly linked to preserve and prevent hearing loss. Any comments welcome as to how or if this will work. May be a viable option for the original poster. Thoughts ?

Paul

 

[Milo 2.0]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. No matter how good your ear protection is you can still get hearing damage from big guns. Damage to hearing can occur through the bones in you face and jaw. Ask an ear doctor and they will confirm this. "Doubling up" will help, but the concussion of big guns still can cause damage over time. We have a good friend going through this right now and it is scary to consider. I double up with custom molded Ears Inc plugs and muffs. Suppressors for everything are in my near future.

Are you sure your friends hearing loss is not from his wife yelling at him? Retiring early so he could hit the circuit, shoot 12 hours a day had to take a toll. All she asked was to get the lawn mowed once every 2 weeks.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Finding a pair of muffs with a good fit, sometimes they may not be the electronic ones either, really helps. I have a friend with larger ears, he has hell with muffs. So do kids, especially with safety glasses on.
Shooting a brake in the wide open spaces is way more comfortable than shooting one in an area with a roof, a back wall, maybe even sides. Shooting in an enclosed area with a brake can make me jump some, especially if it's close to a wall.

 

[CaptainMal]

Do a little bit of shooting with my braked 375 and 338 mags. Nothing special noise-wise than say my 7mm mag or other major rifles. That one shot/kill made hunting has me so pumped up I literally do not hear them with no ear protection. Electronic ear muffs at the range or while shooting outside of a hunting situation have always been workable for me.

Last week a fellow came into the 600 yard range at Manatee with a 338 Lapua. Not being there before I had to be sure he could adjust his sights properly and hit the 32" high backstop. Oh so many can't so we closely monitor their first shot after sighting consultation. As I was waiting to spot his first shot he screwed on a rather large suppressor. First I ever saw on such a huge cartridge.

Silent.

I mean it was shocking how quiet that thing was. No blast, no major sound barrier crack. Just a surprise. Oh - he hit near the center of a large gong on his first shot. We did the right adjustment. Then proceeded to touch up his sights, putting maybe three more in a very tight group. Man after 4 shots, that barrel and suppressor was warm.

 

[rr2030]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. No matter how good your ear protection is you can still get hearing damage from big guns. Damage to hearing can occur through the bones in you face and jaw. Ask an ear doctor and they will confirm this. "Doubling up" will help, but the concussion of big guns still can cause damage over time. We have a good friend going through this right now and it is scary to consider. I double up with custom molded Ears Inc plugs and muffs. Suppressors for everything are in my near future.

I am a living testiment to that. For many years I worked 40' away from a guy that used a air hammer several times a day. Even though I always put either ear plugs or muffs on I always got a tingling feeling below my ear where my jaw anchors. Now left ear (the side that faced him) is at 50% right ear 85%, the constant ringing is getting louder by the month, to the point where I can't get to sleep without the aide of background noise such as the TV. It sucks.