Suppressors on hunting rifles??

[Clancy]

People do not consider the possible background of others when making certain comments. I used to be a machinist. There is no $2 million dollars worth of machinery necessary to make a suppressor. It doesn't take up the space that a car garage would use for the equipment, though supplies, depending on how much kept on hand may use more. Never saw a lawyer get his hands dirty running a lathe. The number of employees should be small, we're not talking about Boeing or the government here. Benefits only have to be paid above a certain number of employees, it is in the labor laws. Not that employees having certain benefits is a bad thing. $1,000 for a suppressor is too much for something any kid in shop class could turn out. Well, maybe not the kids these days.

You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

[spaniel]

I've become very pro suppressor. I put my buddy's pressure off for several years, but once I had one, I quickly had four.
- No ears needed for hunting. This year on my guided elk hunt we stumbled upon a herd close and needed to set up and shoot in under 30 seconds. No time to mess around with ears. But I had a can, I set up right next to him and shot and didn't bother him at all. He was clear how much he loved guiding someone with a suppressor.
- Use a HUB mount and the same muzzle device system on all your rifles. I have Griffin Taper Mount devices on about 15 rifles. I can swap 3 cans between them all. Better yet I can run brakes on all of them, and the brake is in the can but still works. So I run brakes on everything down to 20 Practical. Really nice spotting shots.
- The length issue is overblown. I was crawling through stuff on my elk hunt with a can on a 24" barrel. Yes, as I've built new rifles and rebarreled others, I tend to shorten the barrels a bit. My 26s have generally become 24s. I built a 20" 223AI as my first dedicated can host.
- If you do any close range hunting, large caliber subs work well. I have guns in 458 and 375 caliber throwing 400-500gr expanding bullets. They work well and are QUIET. My 375 is a 12 inch barrel, (SBR), even with the suppressor it's compact.

 

[danny]

I’m 70 and pretty old school. Not gadget oriented, etc. A long time buddy has gotten into suppressing his hunting and varmint guns. He swears by them. The lack of a loud report is nice, but his guns look like bazookas and he has a large investment in “cans” as he calls them.
Not trying to start an argument but looking for a consensus on these.

The only problem, for me, with suppressors, is that you have to look at them. I'm not going to be looking at them..

Danny

 

[effendude]

To each their own. If you don't like the looks, don't buy or use them. Same argument years ago with match rifle shooters, and especially service rifle shooters, who said scopes don't belong on rifles when we started F-Class. For my new shooter wife, kids, and grandkids, it has been a game changer. No flinching, no fear, no learned bad habits.

 

[long40shot]

The Pros out weigh the Cons ten fold, period. I used one this morning.

 

[WSnyder]

Not trying to start an argument but looking for a consensus on these.

With the stick in the muds that have never tried one and refuse to try one you're not going to get a consensus. The trend is to suppress hunting rifles no doubt. They have rocketed off and most everyone I know hunts with one. I for one do not like shooting without one anymore. Too many plusses in my mind with few minuses. Shorter barrels are becoming the norm to accommodate for the added length. Who cares about the velocity loss when we dial for elevation? You dial or hold more or less for different cartridges so that's a silly excuse anyway. They're here to stay so you may as well jump on the bandwagon

As to pricing the jump to 3D printing has prices coming down and many companies have brought the cost of traditional cans way down as well. For example: $600ish for a stainless Diligent Defense Enticer S is a great and affordable hunting can. If you wait until after Jan 1 (we're almost there) there will be no federal tax stamp to pay anymore either.

 

[ISS]

If I shot thousands or rounds annually in competition, I'd have a brake on that rifle. Earplugs work well enough for hunting and a shot once or twice a year.
Regardless of the tax going away or not, you will still be registering the suppressor. I also do not think builders are going to cut their profit margins. I have a PCP 22 caliber rifle that shoots 40gr HP match slugs about 1040-1050fps and about an inch on a low wind day at a hundred yards. They run me about a penny apiece. My suppressor for it ran me less than $240 with tax. NO registration or waiting period.

As an aside: I am having a 300NMI built. I'm looking at a SilencerCo Scythe in stainless or titanium. They recommend the stainless because any sort of volume (1000 rounds or a bit more) will burn the ti.
So, we just agree to disagree here...

 

[WSnyder]

As an aside: I am having a 300NMI built. I'm looking at a SilencerCo Scythe in stainless or titanium. They recommend the stainless because any sort of volume (1000 rounds or a bit more) will burn the ti.

The Ti version in a cartridge that large will eventually break and come apart at one of the first couple of weld joints. It's been an issue that they won't admit to. The Scythe Ti is a great lightweight hunting can but not on a magnum of any sort. Can't comment on the SS but I haven't heard of one coming apart, only the Ti.

Earplugs work well enough for hunting and a shot once or twice a year.

Some of us practice a lot with our hunting rifles so yeah I'm still going suppressed.

 

[Rob01]

Lots of people shooting thousands of rounds a year in matches are using suppressors. More and more are using them as they try and cut back on the noise and concussions of brakes.

If that Silencer Co can is falling apart in 1000 rounds then look at another can as that shouldn’t be happening even with a magnum.

 

[White Eagle]

I’m 70 and pretty old school. Not gadget oriented, etc. A long time buddy has gotten into suppressing his hunting and varmint guns. He swears by them. The lack of a loud report is nice, but his guns look like bazookas and he has a large investment in “cans” as he calls them.
Not trying to start an argument but looking for a consensus on these.

I'm with you as much as I fire while hunting I see no need for them.
To me they make rifles to long and uuuuuugleeeeee, what ever floats yer canoe though
I don't need to have a government have more info on me either

 

[distinguished]

You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.

I thought there would be some reaction to a simple post with plain truth in it. For it to have caused so much butthurt, I must have struck a nerve with some.

 

[Rob01]

I thought there would be some reaction to a simple post with plain truth in it. For it to have caused so much butthurt, I must have struck a nerve with some.

You are giving yourself way too much credit. lol

 

[effendude]

If I shot thousands or rounds annually in competition, I'd have a brake on that rifle. Earplugs work well enough for hunting and a shot once or twice a year.
Regardless of the tax going away or not, you will still be registering the suppressor. I also do not think builders are going to cut their profit margins. I have a PCP 22 caliber rifle that shoots 40gr HP match slugs about 1040-1050fps and about an inch on a low wind day at a hundred yards. They run me about a penny apiece. My suppressor for it ran me less than $240 with tax. NO registration or waiting period.

As an aside: I am having a 300NMI built. I'm looking at a SilencerCo Scythe in stainless or titanium. They recommend the stainless because any sort of volume (1000 rounds or a bit more) will burn the ti.
So, we just agree to disagree here...

Any can that will possibly come apart or fail after 1000 rounds of magnum use shouldn't even be considered for purchase. I have (5) Thunder Beast suppressors, .30 and .338 caliber. I use them on including 300 RUM, 300 NMI, 338 Lapua rifles all the way down to AR's for prairie dogs without any reason for concern. Barrels from 26" down to 16.5" and they perform flawlessly. These are solid, welded titanium suppressors with zero concerns for failure until the suppressor reaches 800* which is literally full auto for several magazines of firing.

 

[long40shot]

I used mine again this morning, it was great.

 

[Wind River]

Okay,
After trying one, (not buying), they are nice. A very pleasant shooting experience. I understand the gravitation toward suppressed high power rifles. For those who shoot rifles a lot it’s a very good thing.
It is a great trend. Problem for me is this; I’m 70, I started shooting in the mid-‘60s as a boy. Shot extensively through the ‘70s. HEARING PROTECTION in those days was used but if I didn’t have earplugs i shot any way. Many others did the same. Point being…..my hearing is very bad, hearing aids are a must. Use your hearing protection!
If suppressors help save your ears…….do it.

For me, deer, elk, antelope hunting, naah, one or two shots and you’re done. The damage to my hearing has already happened. Using earplugs that allow me to hear soft sounds but block the blast is sufficient.
The money involved. Getting the clearance to obtain a suppressor then buying a few of them is an investment. I don’t think it’s worth the cost in my circumstances, ( 70, living on a retirement income constisting of SSA and a modest pension).
The Butt-ugly thing. Yeah, they’re ugly, ugly,,,,, to me anyway. If I could roll back the clock 50 years and start over I’d use suppression, it would’ve saved my ears. I like nice classic looks, good wood and blued steel.
Aren’t they so long that it can be awkward? Have you ever hunted from a horse, or even a 4-wheeler?
Anyway, thanks all for your input.

 

[Rob01]

You keep saying you are 70 like it’s super old. It’s not. I am not far behind you and my buddy I shoot matches with is 73 and missing his leg below the knee. He has a suppressor or two also. Age is just a number. You’re not old.

Very good advice to wear hearing protection and a suppressor helps too. It is an investment but if you wait until after Jan 1 there is no more $200 for the stamp so just cost of can. Pic a good all around can and you can have one for about $1000 and use it on a majority of your rifles. Just got to be smart about what and how to buy. I am also retired so I feel your pain. lol

 

[WSnyder]

Aren’t they so long that it can be awkward? Have you ever hunted from a horse, or even a 4-wheeler?

I mentioned the trend for shorter barrels on hunting rifles to make room for a suppressor. Lots of people going as short as 16”. 18-20” is probably the most common at the moment. I’ve been using 22” as a compromise for length and velocity. With a short hunting can like a Scythe Ti or Nomad Ti XC it’s not at all unwieldy. A very large number of guys are carrying suppressed on their 4 wheelers. That’s no big deal at all. More and more on horses as well. They’re figuring out the scabbards and in time it’ll be pretty normal and common. I mentioned a great hunting can for $600. A budget minded buddy has that Enticer S in stainless. It’s a great size for a hunting can and tests up fairly high in its class as far as noise suppression goes. For $800 ish you can get that Enticer S in Ti and save a couple of ounces. Not all good cans are $1K or more. Plenty sub $1K.

 

[danny]

Okay,
After trying one, (not buying), they are nice. A very pleasant shooting experience. I understand the gravitation toward suppressed high power rifles. For those who shoot rifles a lot it’s a very good thing.
It is a great trend. Problem for me is this; I’m 70, I started shooting in the mid-‘60s as a boy. Shot extensively through the ‘70s. HEARING PROTECTION in those days was used but if I didn’t have earplugs i shot any way. Many others did the same. Point being…..my hearing is very bad, hearing aids are a must. Use your hearing protection!
If suppressors help save your ears…….do it.

For me, deer, elk, antelope hunting, naah, one or two shots and you’re done. The damage to my hearing has already happened. Using earplugs that allow me to hear soft sounds but block the blast is sufficient.
The money involved. Getting the clearance to obtain a suppressor then buying a few of them is an investment. I don’t think it’s worth the cost in my circumstances, ( 70, living on a retirement income constisting of SSA and a modest pension).
The Butt-ugly thing. Yeah, they’re ugly, ugly,,,,, to me anyway. If I could roll back the clock 50 years and start over I’d use suppression, it would’ve saved my ears. I like nice classic looks, good wood and blued steel.
Aren’t they so long that it can be awkward? Have you ever hunted from a horse, or even a 4-wheeler?
Anyway, thanks all for your input.

I like portable suppression, (ear plugs, ear muffs) not suppressors, but they are not "ears" as some have been saying. I got my ears at birth, not from a sporting goods store. My hearing seems to be better than that of my wife, and she tells me that she has passed a hearing test. I have had exposure to louder machinery unprotected and firearms, most, but not all of it protected. She hasn't had any of that. One of these days, I might just put a can on a rifle. In following Andy Warhol's inspiration, it MUST be a Camlbell's Soup can.

Danny

 

[CaptainMal]

Couple more things. as mentioned earlier, suppressors are expensive. Very expensive. This forum is loaded with very wealthy members. They talk of having multiple hunting experiences around the world, guided hunts and long trips with multiple guns and lots of shots. Most of us just dream we could experience that.

I am not real old - 81 - but sure know of the hearing issues. Started shooting and hunting around the mid 1950's. Never "heard" of ear protection. As a high school shooting coach for 20 years I literally lived inside indoor ranges near daily. Did use ear plugs and forced all students to use them. To my knowledge there was no such thing as electronic ear plugs or muffs back then.

Even if you can afford a suppressor and use them at a range to protect your ears, you are shooting near others without them. Hearing protection is near always mandatory at ranges. Handgun people most often use them, especially since they don't butt up against a stock where ear muffs interfere.

I would like a suppressor. Would be a shame to cut off the front sights of my old, classic rifles and try to thread them for one, even if I could afford it on my fixed pension from retirement in 1999. So I say enjoy them if you can. Keep the stories of your expensive and exotic hunting trips coming, show the suppressors and give many the motivation to work and make your life better.

 

[Wind River]

“Started shooting and hunting around the mid 1950's. Never "heard" of ear protection…………………… To my knowledge there was no such thing as electronic ear plugs or muffs back then.”

Yes! Same here, except I started ten years later. I remember shooting many rounds of trap in the ‘60s with zero ear protection, not just me, all the shooters.