I have a 7mm-08 competitor with a brake. I have shot it with and without it. Sure it is louder with the brake but it is also more fun to shoot. It is too loud to shoot without hearing protection with or without the brake. I don't think their brake is all that good of a design to start with. I am contemplating trying a Holland brake and switching to a rifle scope on it. I could add a suppressor or screw the thread protector on and pretend it never had a brake. Once the barrel is threaded it opens up a lot of options but you don't have to use them.