Brakes are only useful when shooting for long periods off the bench, and only then if everyone around you is wearing double ear-protection and standing well back of the shooter.
If you dont want to use the brake in the field, fine, take it off, put on a thread cap, and problem solved.
Not really.
You've increased the "problem" of felt-recoil, which is actually less important than the second problem you've just created ...
By removing the brake (and attaching a threaded cap), you've just altered the harmonics of the barrel. That, in turn, will change the POI of the bullet unless you go back to the range and
re-zero the rifle for the new POA/POI
without the brake attached.
Folks who use suppressors see this POI variance all the time - first shooting a group with the can on, and then shooting a group with the can off. Both times with the same ammo. The POI
will change.
The difference in POI can vary from a slight change to a large one, depending on whether the barrel is thin or thick (pencil v. bull), and whether the can is a fast attach unit on a QD mount, or whether it's a thread-on type (e.g., OPS/Allen Eng). In a hunting situation, even a slight change in POI can result in a clean
miss if the game is far enough away or moving.
Muzzle brakes are shooting "crutches" with limited use. For hunting applications, most camps won't allow them, nor will some shooting and training schools, at least not without first obtaining special permission.
Word to the wise, my dudenals.