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Are Suppressors Worth Buying--Your Opinions?

Wish I had gotten into them earlier; I've gotten every rifle I own that isn't a collectible treaded for them now. Can dispense with hearing protection for hunting situations. I shoot more than I used to because I have a home range and I no longer feel guilty about the noise for the neighbors down the road. When we were out prairie dog hunting I shot a couple hundred yards away from my buddies, they said they didn't hear it.

The weird thing about them is that the loudest place to be is the shooter. Downrange, or everywhere else, it's quieter.

It's caused me to build a few rifles specifically to suppress. I built a 223AI with a 20" barrel so it wouldn't be overly long when suppressed. Also a 16" 458 SOCOM to hunt with 500gr subsonics. Now building a 12" 375 Raptor SBR to shoot 400gr subsonic for hunting as well.
 
Absolutely worth it.

When I took up night time coyote hunting. I had found out that people were hearing my shots at night, thinking poachers were at work. So down the hole I went.....

I have yet to have any accuracy issues when screwing on a can, in fact, most shoot better with it on.

Second, I did a hearing test with a buddy shooting my gun, a 223 bolt gun, & me listening at 100, 200, 300, 400, & 500 yards. Wide open pasture, with bullet impacts into the dirt at 300, so as not to enter the sonic crack of the bullet into the equation.

300 was still audible, 400 would have been covered up with a small synchronized fart, 500 was not audible.

I had/have no desire to shoot subsonic, so my goal was reached, to be "neighbor" quiet.

Also, they help considerably when calling in multiples too.

I've had deer stand there after shooting a coyote, while watching him do the funky chicken.
 
No regrets at all. Less noise, less recoil, shoot better, hear impact of bullet when hunting, scares animals less, and simply enjoyable.

Would I suppress every rifle I own, No, but the majority I have. I have also reached the point where shooting for fun is a lot less fun when unsuppressed.
 
JEFFPPC said:
I guess it helps you look cool. You still need ear protection. Shot a round you can handle and recoil is not an issue. It will change barrel harmonics so could help, could hurt but only if its an ACCURATE rifle to start with, someting else to clean, increase cost of the sport, the guys in the video games all have them. Now its everyone's choice to have one or not. But if the op thinks about it, are many folks inclined to say I spent a good chunk of a grand for nothing? Never underestimate the power of advertising and for someone to part you from your hard earned dollars, they love them. If you spent your money and your happy, good, but they are not for me.
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Heck yeah they make me look cool! Subs don't need ear protection, I reload and shoot alot of subs. Certainly tames down my 45/70. I have never seen a can make a gun shoot bad without other factors involved. Point of impact shift, certainly. I write the difference on my scopes with a Sharpie. Absolutely money well spent.

Have you had the opportunity to shoot various cans on different platforms? Rifles, SBRs, Pistols, 22Rimfire(best place ever for a can), Pistol Caliber SBRs, Shotgun. They really do make shooting a more pleasant endeavor.
 
Absolutely the best money I ever spent. Reduces recoil, has no impact on accuracy and just makes shooting more pleasant overall; hate to shoot without one.
 
Absolutely love them. On a hunting rifle absolutely a game changer. Really fun plinking with sub loads. I have 2 9mm cans. Both rugged obsidian 9s. One is kept in short configuration with direct thread on a pistol. The other i have a tri-lug adapter and I switch it from my tikka 1x 22lr, mp9, ruger 357/77, single shot 300 black out. True that on a centerfire load it's still loud but takes the pain, and I like to just wear noice canceling ear buds.
 
I am not nearly so enthusiastic about suppressors as most. I will most certainly put a suppresser on any firearm that would otherwise have a noisy muzzle device or be fired inside or in confined circumstances. I will put a suppressor on any firearm to be used with others around including friends shooting ground squirrels or prairie dogs or what have you including coyotes from a shared stand. I think today that's an obligation just as the local law enforcement has suppressors on all their patrol rifles - because the old timers wish they still had their hearing. That means I do have a couple, and the price and wait hurt.

But I find sound suppression to be marginal enough that I will be slow to spend the money across every firearm I might own. FREX I have a Steyr Scout and Dragoon that I will grab for woods walking with no particular intention of harvesting anything and I will never bother to spend hundreds of dollars to make those less handy. If I intend to harvest something from prone or supported sure. If I intend to kick elk out of their beds on a north face when it's a hot day no.

Changes in the law followed by changes in price and availability might be followed by a suppressor for everything I own and some I'm just pining for.
 
Eagle1899 said:
Heck yeah they make me look cool! Subs don't need ear protection, I reload and shoot alot of subs. Certainly tames down my 45/70. I have never seen a can make a gun shoot bad without other factors involved. Point of impact shift, certainly. I write the difference on my scopes with a Sharpie. Absolutely money well spent.

Have you had the opportunity to shoot various cans on different platforms? Rifles, SBRs, Pistols, 22Rimfire(best place ever for a can), Pistol Caliber SBRs, Shotgun. They really do make shooting a more pleasant endeavor.
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If your happy, I'm happy for you. After all what the op asked for was our opinion. We both gave ours, so be it.
 
Greetings,
I had close to 36yrs in uniform with suppressors. They were a purposeful tool. I have a few. They are a great tool. My rimfire cans get the most use, with my dedicated AR cans next in line.
 
LVLAaron said:
I built one... and bought, well it's none of your business. So yes, buy one. They're fun. They're cool. Women will flock to you. Get several.
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This would Be my PRIMARY reason to,.. Get One !
At 78 y /o,.. I really need,.. a Flock of Women,.. LOL !
I'm NOT adding, 6 more inches to,.. my already Long,.. 24 inch,.. Barrel.
And I LIKE,.. High,.. Velocity !!!
 
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The PVA,.. Jet Blast and Back Country model Brakes,.. HAVE Spoiled, Our Family, with Minimal, Concussion / Blast,.. AT,.. the shooter !
I could see that, for Pigs, Yotes and PD's where, They ( Cans ),.. "Could Be",.. "Handy" !
 
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I was on the fence about it too for 10 years. After i got my first one i talked myself into another with in first 6 months. Have been looking at a 3rd now. I will add i have them for hunting rifles. I do a lot of predator hunting and it makes a big difference on how animals act after a shot. For rifles i use at only the range i dont see the point since everyone around me at the range has muzzle brakes so its loud around me anyways.
 
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