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Running a local match,... how to deal with muzzle brakes?

Maybe that's why we're on opposite ends of the spectrum here. I do a couple of different monthly fun shoots in my area, there are no wind flags. The only flags are ones they might put up on a target frame, downrange, which is just a construction tape. Honestly, I haven't seen a user-installed wind flag in probably 10 years.

Your "fun shoot"s are BR matches with no rule enforcement, mine are more "run what you brung". A few guys shoot on benches at the end of the line, but most don't use them.
Man, windflags are so important! I mean...I'd pretty much guarantee everyone gets better because of them, if they will just use them. I'd love to see one of your middle of the pack shooters take up using flags and start kicking tail. Different subject so, lets not make this a wind flag thread but dang...It's as simple as this...You can't consistently shoot better than the conditions and if you can't see the conditions...well, there ya have it. I honestly consider flags THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL TO SHOOTING REALLY SMALL, consistently. Yes, more important than the rifle itself. I'd take the same shooter and an average rifle with flags over the same shooter and the best rifle money has ever bought but without flags...every single time. There might be great days, where their value is minimized but their vallue is virtually always more than the difference in equipment/rifle..assuming a solid tune. I'll add, that this is based on short range, but the biggest difference there is still(LR) wind. Even more so.
 
Maybe that's why we're on opposite ends of the spectrum here. I do a couple of different monthly fun shoots in my area, there are no wind flags. The only flags are ones they might put up on a target frame, downrange, which is just a construction tape. Honestly, I haven't seen a user-installed wind flag in probably 10 years.

Your "fun shoot"s are BR matches with no rule enforcement, mine are more "run what you brung". A few guys shoot on benches at the end of the line, but most don't use them.
Correct. Our a Club Matches are run like Benchrest Matches in that we use a 7 minute clock, we adhere to the Bolts Out Rule or Flag in Chamber, we shoot the standard NBRSA score target.

But the rules in the Benchrest Class are “any legal firearm that does not feature return to battery feature, (rail guns), or Brakes. That is pretty wide open.

When we were shooting the 400 yard Claybreaks at Walker County, they were run exactly like a Registered Match except you could shoot just about anything you could get on the Bench in an attempt to hit a 1.5 inch clay disc at 400 yards.
 
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You can't consistently shoot better than the conditions and if you can't see the conditions...well, there ya have it.

I don't typically shoot on square/manicured ranges. At one of my favorite ranges, there's a 30' drop off just a few feet in front of the firing line. The tall grass is your wind flag. The white spec,, in the center of the far clearing, is the target.

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I don't typically shoot on square/manicured ranges. At one of my favorite ranges, there's a 30' drop off just a few feet in front of the firing line. The tall grass is your wind flag. The white spec,, in the center of the far clearing, is the target.

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Beautiful little honey hole you have there!;):p:):) The heck with flags. You're shooting over the top of small aircraft!
 
Took this picture yesterday at our local 1000 yard longrange match. This is the owner of the range waiting for his turn to shoot. No big deal, you do what ya gotta do and live with it. Everyone uses some type of electronic hearing protection. I had my ball cap flip up a few times and dope chart get flipped over. Let's shoot.

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Took this picture yesterday at our local 1000 yard longrange match. This is the owner of the range waiting for his turn to shoot. No big deal, you do what ya gotta do and live with it. Everyone uses some type of electronic hearing protection. I had my ball cap flip up a few times and dope chart get flipped over. Let's shoot.

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I would be embarrassed to be the guy in orange with my equipment clearly having such a negative effect on the people around me. If I were next to him, I’d leave. Life is too short and I have far more pleasant shooting venues available to me. But I’m one of those benchresters so I wouldn’t be in that situation in the first place and my opinion doesn’t really matter.
 
I was shooting in a local walk and paste highpower match and we encourage everyone who want to try the sport to shoot what they have. Guy on my left has an 18” AR with a brake on it. Add to that he sets up way behind the firing line so his muzzle is just about even with me. Blew my hat off first shot. He obliged and moved forward when I asked but that hot blast on the back of my neck was not fun. More concussion than most magnums I shoot with in long range. Not pleasant.
 
Took this picture yesterday at our local 1000 yard longrange match. This is the owner of the range waiting for his turn to shoot. No big deal, you do what ya gotta do and live with it. Everyone uses some type of electronic hearing protection. I had my ball cap flip up a few times and dope chart get flipped over. Let's shoot.

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I love shooting at Rayner's Range! Tom is a good dude.
 
Again, Blast shields! Post 84
Muzzle breaks and those that use them are not the anti-Christ. Shooting a medium to big 30 without a break during a match is not a pleasant experience. Although I do believe there are some that use brakes to intentionally alienate thy neighbor, I would like to believe that is a very small percentage. And if that person is at your range, the blast shield takes it away from them, so if you really believe the only reason they show up is to disrupt fellow competitors, see if they return after the shields have been implemented. That will tell the story.
If your goal is to increase attendance and keep the masses happy, allow the breaks and provide blast shields. It's been working at Mifflin County as numbers have increased steadily over the last several years.
I put a shield up between myself and my neighbors regardless if they are using a brake or not, and if I'm using a braked rifle, I'd put it up out of courtesy. My goal at the end of the day is to produce the smallest group and highest score to my ability, it is not to disrupt the person beside me. I want to be competitive against the best equipment on the line, not by trying to handicap others by creating a shockwave equivalent to an FA-18 doing a fly-by at Mach II
 
I have one 308 rifle that came from the factory with a clamshell type muzzle brake. Probably ported at a 45 degree rearward angle. I only use it at our clay pigeon shoots (200 meters to 385 meters) now and then. The brake works great with any recoil, but at the match, it is tough on spectators and those next to me. Why I only use it maybe once a year. Good idea on the blast shields. Will bring it up at the next gun club meeting.
 

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