Suppressors
- Thread starter dbaird
- Start date
Larryh128
Silver $$ Contributor
No, it won't be as quiet but still quiet enough to use it without hearing protection. I'm not a suppressor expert by any means but I do have a 30 cal can that I use on everything from 223 to 308. Mine is a straight 5/8x24 thread so all I need is a 1/2-28 to 5/8-24 adapter and it works on the 223's. 406 Machine sells them on ebay for under $15 in SS. I have no way to measure decibels but the reduction is good to the point that I can shoot out of an enclosed shooting house without muffs.
What I can tell you is the wait is worth it to own a suppressor. I absolutely LOVE it, especially when hunting out of hard blinds. No more muzzle brake blow back. What I would recommend is buying 1 that is full auto rated, not that you're going to shoot full auto but they are constructed to take serious abuse.
What I can tell you is the wait is worth it to own a suppressor. I absolutely LOVE it, especially when hunting out of hard blinds. No more muzzle brake blow back. What I would recommend is buying 1 that is full auto rated, not that you're going to shoot full auto but they are constructed to take serious abuse.
On mine I can screw off 30 cal end cap and put on .224 end cap( or .244 or 7mm or...). Silencerco. It is universal from 30 cal on down. Does make some difference IMO. Have no way of doing true decibel tests to verify. Don't know if this answers your question or helps.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
I second what the previous posters stated. I have 30 cal suppressors and run them on my "lesser" calibers so I skip the hearing protection. I wish I would have got one years ago.
Slightly, as in you probably need a decibel meter to really see a difference, because it's very hard to hear one unless you are doing a side by side comparison.
I do the same thing with a Thunder Beast Ultra 9CB, .30 cal can, and run it from .223 to .300 WM. Personally, $1,300 all in is a lot to spend on a "shooting accessory", so I don't need multiples. This .30 cal does it all and under 12oz.
I will tell you different. I would tell you NOT to go with Elite Iron or a full auto can unless you are actually shooting full auto, or plan on helo-casting in full battledress with your suppressor mounted. They are certainly tougher by a mile, no question, but they're also as much as 4X the weight. I'm a big guy and I don't mind heavy rifles AT ALL, but I do get annoyed when the balance is thrown way off. Not that I shoot my comp rifles off hand much, but I hunt suppressed too. I find the Elite Iron and full auto suppressors are just too darn heavy relative to their position on the end of the barrel. Hang a 4-5 lb weight on the end of your barrel and see how much fun it is to try and tote/shoot it. It's fine fully supported, and all that weight actually helps give you more control full auto, but it's not great on a bolt gun IMO. I get annoyed by it. Maybe you won't, or you are actually planning on driving a car over your can and need it to be THAT tough, but I pretty much baby mine. The worst I do is jamb the end of it into a 2X4 on a barricade because I'm rushing. The rest of the time I'm pretty careful with it, and although it's light it's still pretty tough...
Most competitors run the 7" in competition, because they're even lighter, and easier to maneuver (like stick through a barricade hole). There are some really good, short ones out there. I run a that 9" (I don't see many long ones at matches). It IS harder to maneuver the rifle on certain stages, and I've wished I got a shorter one on occasion, but because I run it on so many different calibers I've found that on the magnums (maybe only on the magnums) the longer ones are significantly quieter and have better recoil mitigation (manufacturers claims withstanding). If recoil isn't an issue you don't need such a long one.
If money were no object I would have short 6 and 6.5mm cans as well, but I have to say that I am 100% satisfied with the Thunderbeast .30 as a do it all can that makes everything hearing safe. The only knock would be the length, but I chose that knowing it would be an issue in some of the shooting I do, and it was a conscious compromise because I love shooting it on my .300WM as well.
I do the same thing with a Thunder Beast Ultra 9CB, .30 cal can, and run it from .223 to .300 WM. Personally, $1,300 all in is a lot to spend on a "shooting accessory", so I don't need multiples. This .30 cal does it all and under 12oz.
I will tell you different. I would tell you NOT to go with Elite Iron or a full auto can unless you are actually shooting full auto, or plan on helo-casting in full battledress with your suppressor mounted. They are certainly tougher by a mile, no question, but they're also as much as 4X the weight. I'm a big guy and I don't mind heavy rifles AT ALL, but I do get annoyed when the balance is thrown way off. Not that I shoot my comp rifles off hand much, but I hunt suppressed too. I find the Elite Iron and full auto suppressors are just too darn heavy relative to their position on the end of the barrel. Hang a 4-5 lb weight on the end of your barrel and see how much fun it is to try and tote/shoot it. It's fine fully supported, and all that weight actually helps give you more control full auto, but it's not great on a bolt gun IMO. I get annoyed by it. Maybe you won't, or you are actually planning on driving a car over your can and need it to be THAT tough, but I pretty much baby mine. The worst I do is jamb the end of it into a 2X4 on a barricade because I'm rushing. The rest of the time I'm pretty careful with it, and although it's light it's still pretty tough...
Most competitors run the 7" in competition, because they're even lighter, and easier to maneuver (like stick through a barricade hole). There are some really good, short ones out there. I run a that 9" (I don't see many long ones at matches). It IS harder to maneuver the rifle on certain stages, and I've wished I got a shorter one on occasion, but because I run it on so many different calibers I've found that on the magnums (maybe only on the magnums) the longer ones are significantly quieter and have better recoil mitigation (manufacturers claims withstanding). If recoil isn't an issue you don't need such a long one.
If money were no object I would have short 6 and 6.5mm cans as well, but I have to say that I am 100% satisfied with the Thunderbeast .30 as a do it all can that makes everything hearing safe. The only knock would be the length, but I chose that knowing it would be an issue in some of the shooting I do, and it was a conscious compromise because I love shooting it on my .300WM as well.
Since the beginning of time. In many cases, the advertised 30-40 dB reductions were found to actually be in the high 20's instead. Ask Zak Smith about it. One of the best made, the Ultra 7, will suppress a typical .223 bolt rifle down to approx. 129-131 dB. Do you really believe that is hearing safe without hearing protection?
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Tbac has some good videos with milspec meters showing the different from their 30cal and 223 cal on a 223 and 22-250. There is a difference. I haven't broken down and gotten a 223 ultra yet but probably will. My 6.5 ultra is quieter than my 30 ultra on the smaller calibers.
As for hearing safe. That's a whole different discussion.... OSHA standards and all. Me, I'll keep plugs in even when shooting with a can. Can't hurt to have added protection
As for hearing safe. That's a whole different discussion.... OSHA standards and all. Me, I'll keep plugs in even when shooting with a can. Can't hurt to have added protection
Good point. OSHA says 80db, which is a lot quieter than anyone under 21 listens to music (they probably don't even consider that "loud"). Decibels are like the Rictor Scale. The progression is geometric. In reality, you're probably only doing permanent damage over 140db, and most good 5.56 cans will get you underneath that. It is somewhat subjective, and also depends on how much for how long. I don't consider my 5.56 hearing "unsafe", but then again I don't rapid fire or shoot 1000 rounds on a range trip, and I wear hearing protection (because I'm usually not the only one shooting)...
130-140 dB is the threshold for pain, and is most certainly not safe. Never advocate shooting guns without hearing protection, whether suppressed, or not.
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shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
I've seen it written before that much of hearing loss associated from rifles comes from the vibration of the stock, onto the bones in the ear, thru the cheek.
I can say that I've worn HP even back when it wasn't cool. After many years of being a CRO and shooter in USPSA matches my hearing is, well, "shot" and I must wear hearing aids. oh, I don't blame it all on shooting. I spent years around loud cars and loud music. I also spent years in telecom where I had countless hours of people screaming into my headset, listening to loud tones or subjected to the loud everyday noises of urban environs.
i shoot suppressed now because I enjoy it more. I own two rimfire, one 22 CF and two more 30 cal suppressors (one Ti & one SS) so I don't shoot the 223 stuff with a 30 cal suppressor. When I have been around those that do my "suppressed hearing" hasn't really noticed a marked difference.
I can say that I've worn HP even back when it wasn't cool. After many years of being a CRO and shooter in USPSA matches my hearing is, well, "shot" and I must wear hearing aids. oh, I don't blame it all on shooting. I spent years around loud cars and loud music. I also spent years in telecom where I had countless hours of people screaming into my headset, listening to loud tones or subjected to the loud everyday noises of urban environs.
i shoot suppressed now because I enjoy it more. I own two rimfire, one 22 CF and two more 30 cal suppressors (one Ti & one SS) so I don't shoot the 223 stuff with a 30 cal suppressor. When I have been around those that do my "suppressed hearing" hasn't really noticed a marked difference.
Unfortunately, that is where our brain overrides our hearing. What started out loud, our brain gets used to, and all of a sudden it doesn't seem as loud.
" A suppressed .223 is not hearing safe."
Mr. Wizard, does this apply to 22LR as well? How about 9mm Luger?
Mr. Wizard, does this apply to 22LR as well? How about 9mm Luger?
Ask Zak Smith.
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