Do some people install them for looks, sure, mostly the guys with 10/22 plinkers such as yourself, but they come in all forms.
If an AR with a brake, shooting 556 with a standard length barrel (16"+) is too loud for you... then I would invest in some proper hearing protection. Is it and can it be annoying... sure, specially when you are on the receiving end of the brass. However to be loud enough as you describe sounds like your hearing protection is less than adequate, or worn improperly.
Now a 556 AR with a 10'' barrel or even shorter is a whole other force to be reckoned with.
I try to avoid public ranges... but when I do need to use them, and the rifles benches are crowded with bubba's and their friends lotering and BS'ing... I sometimes bring some guns along to use to "clear out" a nice place for me. I have a .308 with a 16.5'' barrel that is awaiting its new suppressor, that one gets pretty loud, and the Scar 17 with the PWS muzzle brake on it usually gets pretty loud, if those don't work then its time for the 10'' AR's with no suppressors, generally gets guys to move their conversations further down the line.
Sounds bad, but people who want to spend all day at the range and hold 20mins long conversations drive me insane when I am trying to get something done, I preemptively hang as many targets as I can because I know they will stand there BS'ing for 20mins and shoot sparingly.
If an AR with a brake, shooting 556 with a standard length barrel (16"+) is too loud for you... then I would invest in some proper hearing protection. Is it and can it be annoying... sure, specially when you are on the receiving end of the brass. However to be loud enough as you describe sounds like your hearing protection is less than adequate, or worn improperly.
Now a 556 AR with a 10'' barrel or even shorter is a whole other force to be reckoned with.
I try to avoid public ranges... but when I do need to use them, and the rifles benches are crowded with bubba's and their friends lotering and BS'ing... I sometimes bring some guns along to use to "clear out" a nice place for me. I have a .308 with a 16.5'' barrel that is awaiting its new suppressor, that one gets pretty loud, and the Scar 17 with the PWS muzzle brake on it usually gets pretty loud, if those don't work then its time for the 10'' AR's with no suppressors, generally gets guys to move their conversations further down the line.
Sounds bad, but people who want to spend all day at the range and hold 20mins long conversations drive me insane when I am trying to get something done, I preemptively hang as many targets as I can because I know they will stand there BS'ing for 20mins and shoot sparingly.