Suppressors on hunting rifles??

[Rick Richard]

Talked to a friend last week who asked me for advice on buying a rifle. Every time I tried to talk he drowned me out with internet info. He bought a CVA Long Range 6.5 PRC because Who tee who said it was the best thing out there. I finally was able to say you might want take that muzzle brake off to sight it in. His answer - “I’m already deaf anyway”.

I say “then don’t make the other people around you deaf too”

 

[mic2377]

For all those who think that "a shot here or there" doesn't hurt your hearing, you are simply wrong about that. A braked magnum rifle can generate a decibel level of the mid-160's. That is so loud BOTH plugs and muffs may be necessary to get to a truly hearing safe level, and even a single shot unprotected WILL result in detectable permanent damage.

Even a suppressed center-fire rifle still isn't truly "hearing safe" even if it is reduced to 135 decibels or so.

I would ask how many of you shooting braked magnum rifles have the time in the field to put on both plugs and muffs, or even plugs OR muffs.

Whether or not you want to use a suppressor, the best investment I made in the past few years was a Peltor Comtac V headset. I wear them constantly unless I am shooting something really quiet (IE a suppressed subsonic 22). I can hear really well with these and plan to avoid hearing aids later in life.

I would rather stack the deck in my favor and wear good active amplification muffs AND use a suppressor.

PS Adco threads barrels for $75. The cost isn't that high.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I hunt/shoot coyote spot and stalking. When they start pairing up I of course want to double on them when ever possible. My experience( no suppressor ) has been any 22 cal centerfire, shoot one the other runs without stopping. 20 cal, some will stop within range. My 17 rem most of the time I get a reasonable shot at the second. Since running suppressed, even with my 22-250, most times the second only jumps and runs a short distance before turning around to see why the other isn't following. Head shots on the first help also.
Much easier shooting 4 a day doubling up than having to spot and stalk 4 different sleepers in a day(especially when snow requires snowshoes).

 

[rmeyerwy]

I love the suppressor, 204, 223, 223AI, 22-250, 243, 6cm, 6.5cm I shoot mainly varmints any more, maybe a deer and or antelope once in awhile but the guys I shoot with have mostly gone to cans as well, tames the recoil, muzzle, noise.. my hearing sucks anyway but I get a kick outta the "pop" when the varmint gets nailed.. never go back...

 

[wywindsor]

Took my gunsmith friend to my place in Georgia to hunt. He had a rather long suppressor on his 270. That was a joke. The barrel was so long he caught it on the roof of the tower I put him in. Then he bonked the sides and edges of that tower trying to move around.

I rode him to different tripos stands on food plots I had. He placed that gun in some hooks on the back of my side by side. That suppressor stuck out a bit from the side, hooked a small tree or brush and tore the gun out of the hooks to crash onto the ground.

Before that he shot and missed a buck at maybe 50 yards. I was in another tower of mine a couple hundred yards away watching his buck through my scope. He missed as he had issues getting that long pole on to the target, or so he says. When he shot I jumped as the report from that shot and bullet was surprisingly loud. A friend, maybe a mile away, asked if someone shot with a 22. It was not very quiet to me.

He is going back with another friend of mine. He also took that thing off and added a small brake. That broomstick is a liability in the woods.

You need to size the barrel and suppressor together for a combo you can manage. Sorry for your friend misfortune. I would think if one has limited yardage a short barrel suppressed would be fine. Or the faster cartridge to make up the difference.

 

[d0nkey]

Since 2010, I've only hunted suppressed. More manageable recoil and friendlier to those if i'm hunting in a blind with some buddies. I'm on my 19th suppressor. I shoot PRS suppressed and sometimes not.

Besides looking like 'bazookas' as you said, anything deterring you from getting one? I suggest if you do get one, get it before the onslaught of Jan 1st, which is what people are now dubbing 'NFA Tax free day', where hoards of people will be applying for a Form 4 overwhelming the ATF in it's capacity. In my eyes, it's either get one now and enjoy a 1 week turnaround, or get it after Jan 1st and waite 6 months to. year for it to get approved.

Personally, I wish they would give an option to pay the '$200' tax stamp for those that want faster turnarounds.

 

[CaptainMal]

You need to size the barrel and suppressor together for a combo you can manage. Sorry for your friend misfortune. I would think if one has limited yardage a short barrel suppressed would be fine. Or the faster cartridge to make up the difference.

Right. He only has one Remington 270 hunting gun for 30+ years. He has not hunted in 1/2 that time. Only got the suppresser for an AR rifle he has or had. Thought it would be good to add it to his hunting gun and go as my guest.

The whole experience was an education. His first shot was a miss at 50 yards broadside. He got too excited. Never thought of the huge length and trouble getting around and under things. Not sure he will ever go again but he sure likes the meat he got from the 6 pt he finally killed.

 

[distinguished]

I have been thinking about getting a suppressor but, the cost is way out of line for how simple they are! A simple tube with some baffles shouldn't cost anywhere near that much.

 

[Rob01]

I have been thinking about getting a suppressor but, the cost is way out of line for how simple they are! A simple tube with some baffles shouldn't cost anywhere near that much.

Now think about the tools and process to make them. A rifle barrel is a simple pipe with some rifling so it should only cost about $10 right as you can get a a pipe at Home Depot pretty cheap. lol

 

[Webphut]

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 bought one per a recommendation to reduce felt recoil on a 7 rem mag i used to shoot. vI also bought a break for the 7 mag. In the end i sold the 7mag and bought me a 30-06 and put the suppressor on our 223 rem ar15. While I did find a parking spot for it on my ar15, the mirage from heat build up sucks. im not a fan of muzzle bling, i just prefer a target crown and be done with it...worse case put some ear plugs in.

 

[Clancy]

Now think about the tools and process to make them. A rifle barrel is a simple pipe with some rifling so it should only cost about $10 right as you can get a a pipe at Home Depot pretty cheap. lol

People never consider the $2,000,000 in machines- or the building, lawyers, employees and benefits.

 

[Rob01]

I bought one per a recommendation to reduce felt recoil on a 7 rem mag i used to shoot. vI also bought a break for the 7 mag. In the end i sold the 7mag and bought me a 30-06 and put the suppressor on our 223 rem ar15. While I did find a parking spot for it on my ar15, the mirage from heat build up sucks. im not a fan of muzzle bling, i just prefer a target crown and be done with it...worse case put some ear plugs in.

Get a suppressor cover. It cuts down on the mirage and stops the heat from touching anything it shouldn’t.

 

[alf]

People never consider the $2,000,000 in machines- or the building, lawyers, employees and benefits.

And liability insurance....

 

[Just Say Moe]

Shooting prairie dogs, suppressors keep the dogs up and visible much longer than shooting without. There is such a dramatic difference, our group won't allow anyone to shoot without suppressors. Mirage off the can is the only negative, but there are solutions for that too.
Scott

Can you shoot them 3-400 rounds per day without cleaning them?

 

[distinguished]

People never consider the $2,000,000 in machines- or the building, lawyers, employees and benefits.

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.

 

[TC260]

$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.

The free market will take care of it shortly if there’s excessive profits being made. There’ll be a flood of new companies looking to undercut the market

 

[Rob01]

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.

Maybe you should jump in and make millions if it’s so easy. I am sure 3D printing titanium is something any highschool kid could do so you can run the market! lol

 

[Eagle1899]

Can you shoot them 3-400 rounds per day without cleaning them?

Absolutely, no issues.

 

[effendude]

Can you shoot them 3-400 rounds per day without cleaning them?

I have at least 5,000 rounds through (2) .30 caliber Thunderbeast suppressors shooting prairie dogs and maybe 100 rounds of .284 Shehane rounds through them and I've never cleaned them. A good day in the old days shooting dogs was 800-1000 rounds, now probable 2-300 rounds. I pay attention to the cleanliness of the suppressors but it really isn't a concern, at least with the TB suppressors for a good weekend. My only advice is you get what you pay for. Lots of bargain suppressors hitting the market, some are good, some maybe not....
Scott

 

[Oso]

I have been thinking about getting a suppressor but, the cost is way out of line for how simple they are! A simple tube with some baffles shouldn't cost anywhere near that much.

This is a bit misleading of a comment and flawed logic. A suppressor is the greatest improvement to a person’s shooting experience. The real question isn’t “Is a simple metal tube worth $1k?”, but rather “What is Your Hearing Worth?!” This is the real Cost / Benefit analysis that everyone, but select/limited group, actually contemplates. Yes, everything is now overly expensive… heard a report on news that the average price of a car is now $50k.

I read your follow-up comments about the cost being unreasonable for the product because you are a machinist who can simply make one. That is a fair comment, but incomplete. What is the cost for acquiring the equipment needed to build a suppressor (metal lathe, chuck, cutters, threading & measuring gages) and also materials ( steel, titanium)? Let’s not forget the value of your knowledge & skills (designing, machining and testing). When all of this is factored together then your true cost is significantly more… to make a couple of them…. Not build a production shop

I genuinely appreciate your Can-Do Sensibility.