Anyone in this range of calibers have or use a Vais?? I am inquiring what the real level of noise reduction or rather emission of a rifle with a Vais brake. I have only shot two braked rifles a 300 Ultra from Rifles Inc. at 6 1/2 lbs and a 340 Wby. Recoil was fine, but the guns came back off the bags pretty snappy. Of course I had hearing protection on. What do they sound like without (other than BOOM!). I will never wear ear protection on a hunt. Can it be done??

Jesse,

If you want to have noise reduction and reduce recoil you can actually do both, but not with a brake.

Send your rifle to any of the very reputable makers of suppressors and have them make one for you rifle. Won't do a bit of good for the sound of the bullet but it will do well for the muzzle blast. Cost you about $400 plus the $200 "special occupational tax" from the JBT's.

I have a Vais brake on my Lazzeroni Hellcat (.375) and Lazzeroni Patriot (.308) and they do a good job with respect to recoil reduction with a resultant increase in noise that is barely noticable. As I've said in other posts I have never had a bad look from anyone at the range and very few have even noticed I was using a brake. The big thing to me, however, is the complete absence of gas blasting back into your face like you get with a typical brake.

I would not shoot any of the Ultra's or big Weatherby's without hearing protection...ever...either with or without a brake. Those puppies are just plain noisy.