I have to agree with Jack Lott. "My shoulder is a lot tougher than my ears" Hearing loss from gunfire is cummulative and irreversible. Muzzle brakes belong on artillery pieces period.

More shooters in the UK are using moderators to protect their hearing or using electronic "in the ear" protectors. (Mostly shotgunners, difficult to fit a moderator to a SxS ). In fact Police Forces are increasingly being sympathetic to applications for licensed moderators because of the threat of Health & Safety regulations that would leave them liable to litigation if they refused an application and the shooter suffered hearing loss. Makes perfect sense, moderators are very common on rimfire rifles for pest control and a good moderator on a .243 reduces the sound level to that of a .22 rimfire. My mate has one on a 30.06 and it significantly reduces recoil too.