Hunting & Fishing New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

[oubeta]

Finally for my Alaska gun put together.

GAP/MANNERS 300WM with VAIS brake with a March 3-24 scope.

Well this isn't my my ideal bear caliber, but this trip we are going after the smaller grizzly version of the brown bear so I think it will do.
I have never used a brake before on a hunting rifle. I took it to the range to get it sighted in and and it was like shooting a .308, no recoil at all to speak of.

On the flip side it was freaking loud. I guided several guys with old BOSS brakes in the past in AK and I remember getting my ears rocked by them.
Now I'm 30 and partially deaf. Mostly from shooting guns when I was a kid with no ear protection and from flying bush planes with no headset on for hours on end.

I'm trying to preserve what I got left. Do any of you guys use hearing protection while hunting? I never have, but I think I'm going to start. I've guided hundreds of people and thinking back I don't remember anyone breaking out the ear plugs before they shot. Will 1-2 shots hurt your hearing that bad?

 

[MTAR15]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

I use them, it takes a half second to pop them in. I have a friend who ruptured his ear drum from shooting a dear with 270 wearing a brake. It never healed and he is deaf in one ear.

 

[264win]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

I am no expert on hearing loss , but with that brake on a 300 win mag, you could do real damage to you ears or someone near you, with only a shot or two.
For serious hunting I would suggest you reconsider the brake.
If you must have one think about a brake that does NOT have any ports on the bottom . Bottom ports on a magnum rifle will blow a storm of dirt/gravel/debris all over you if you shoot from prone.
I do speak from experience.

The Muscle brake is the quietest for the shooter but still bad for bystanders imho.

 

[LegioX]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

For what it's worth, when I went to Africa, I noticed the PH give the brake on my 375 H&H the stink eye. I promptly removed it and wrapped the barrel threads with black tape. He said thank you and we went hunting. I didn't have to worry about anyones ears and when shooting game I never feel the recoil any way. IMO, suck it up, lose the brake and there will be no worries. JMHO.

 

[Tucsondave]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LegioX</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For what it's worth, when I went to Africa, I noticed the PH give the brake on my 375 H&H the stink eye. I promptly removed it and wrapped the barrel threads with black tape. He said thank you and we went hunting. I didn't have to worry about anyones ears and when shooting game I never feel the recoil any way. IMO, suck it up, lose the brake and there will be no worries. JMHO.

</div></div>



OH SURE! steel is like big game,lose the break, LMAO!!!

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tucsondave</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LegioX</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For what it's worth, when I went to Africa, I noticed the PH give the brake on my 375 H&H the stink eye. I promptly removed it and wrapped the barrel threads with black tape. He said thank you and we went hunting. I didn't have to worry about anyones ears and when shooting game I never feel the recoil any way. IMO, suck it up, lose the brake and there will be no worries. JMHO.

</div></div>



OH SURE! steel is like big game,lose the break, LMAO!!! </div></div> LOL

and you didn't feel the kick LX because you are such a beast.

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

I'm going to agree with LegioX, remove the brake when you hunt it. You're not going to be thinking about recoil when you have a bear in your crosshairs. If you feel you must have it on, pop in the plugs. Your ears are not repairable. You'll wish you wore em when your ears are buzzing for the rest of your life.

 

[aaronraby1]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

yeah... i didnt put my ears on one day and it was bad...

 

[opelboy]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

i shot a lot when i was a kid and never even thought about hearing protection. now im 30 and have a permanent ringing in my ears. i can still hear ok 95% and it doesnt really bother me till its really quiet. i use proears ear muffs that have the speakers in them because i can still hear everything. theyre in the way sometimes and im thinking about using a smaller version that fit inside the ear. i love my muzzle brake and wouldnt remove it, but ive never done a guided hunt and dont know the "common courtesy" rules. good luck hunting bear, sounds like fun

 

[mdesign]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

That's why I don't have brakes on my rifles...the recoil I can live with but the noise is not worth it to me.

If your POI does not change when the brake in removed, you can practice with and remove for hunting. Just make sure you re-test your zero if you take the brake off.

 

[Alaskaman11]

Re: New Bear RIg (hearing protection question)

Most guides will not be too happy with a break on that critter. Tell you what you should do, let your buddy shoot the rifle with you standing 4 feet to ether the right or the left without hearing protection. THats what that guide has to deal with.