Hunting Rifle: Anyone Else Have No Desire for a Silencer?

[AaronSkipDavidson]

I'm a big fan. I like them enough we put a bunch of time and effort in to start manufacturing them.

They aren't perfect for every application. The least trade offs are with smaller cartridges with lower recoil. Here they are about ideal.

With really high performance cartridges, the shorter barrel costs you velocity and potentially terminal range and wind deflection that you don't want to give up.

With heavy recoil (big cartridge or light gun) you may want the extra control that the right brake can offer. The contained system of a suppressor can only spread the recoil over time, where a brake can do the work faster and more effectively with the added value of imparting off axis control, eg minimizing barrel rise.

Experience shows you the optimum use cases.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Just don't need the silencer. I dont agree with them and the ar style rifles. If your hunting animals on 4 legs use a hunting rifle

Here is one of the few who actually answered the thread's posted question. Most here took the thread off in another direction. That should be outlawed.

 

[Sobewan]

I see a lot of folks are putting silencers on their hunting rifles, even sacrificing ballistic performance by shortening barrels.

Anyone else prefer their hunting rifle to not have a silencer? Maybe I'm old school but I don't have muzzle brakes or silencers on my hunting rifles.

I'm old school. As a traditionalist I am slow to embrace change. I will likely never use a suppressor or a brake. For the very few times I fire my rifle without hearing protection during hunting season (and even then I usually have some hearing protection) I cannot justify the need. I just don't fire enough rounds thru my hunting rifle and the other guns that I use for plinking steel are anemic by comparison. But for those of you who are putting hundreds if not thousands of rounds down range on a regular basis, you will probably benefit immensely in terms of personal health using these suppressors and brakes (even though you may be sacrificing a bit on the ballistic side at long ranges). It's really a matter of personal choice and to those who want to use them I encourage you to do so and to take up the challenge to improve the tech to be the most accurate precision hunting rifle possible... it will benefit all of us and future generations of hunters to come. Meanwhile, this old timer is going to continue to make some noise and announce to the world he's out there in the woods taking another white tail. To each his own. Stay safe and happy hunting.

 

[pupdistress]

When a lot of people buy a suppressor they immediately over compensate by cutting barrel down. After a while they realize the loss of velocity for sake of maneuvering was not worth it. So they buy a shorter silencer because chasing db turns out it wasn't as important as once thought. Then you have a louder suppressor that is shorter because when firing a few rounds while hunting is no big deal. Then eventually you don't care about barrel length as much and you deal with it. The benefits can not be put into words. If you think your shooting would not change for the better to some degree your kidding your self. People need to buy one so they can find out and then decide. Without having one you can't begin to understand

 

[bengineer]

My youngest hunter took 6 big game animals in his first season. His gun is suppressed. The costs of the can, extra length, weight, listening to fudds ask if its legal, etc, are far outweighed by the fact that he is not headed to tinnitus like his dad has. Nevermind the recoil delay/reduction, ability to verbally communicate before the shot and not have to fiddle with ear pro, less disturbance to other game & livestock, property owners, neighbors…
If you want one, ask us about it. If you dont want one, ask us about it. If you dislike them, dont think they are worth it, think they are for snipers and assassins, whatever, no need to show your hand. Just do what you do.
This is the place for a little bragging and a lot of information exchange, not nutcase whining.

 

[Rich Coyle]

If you think your shooting would not change for the better to some degree your kidding your self. People need to buy one so they can find out and then decide. Without having one you can't begin to understand

I don't need to be in a motorcycle wreck to know I don't want to be in one.

 

[bengineer]

One need not spend money, just try someone else's.
Otherwise we need to pass it to find out what is in it. And nobody likes that.
I offer demos so people are educated and happy with their purchase.

 

[capona]

A suppressed win .308 on a 20" barrel just seems perfect for midwestern type hunting.

 

[Philward]

I'm waiting for EC's new creation, the tuner/brake/suppressor combo that is only 6" long. Another series of videos and another shop build.

 

[chav0_12]

It can be used for hunting but I don't feel the need to justify it as a hunting rifle. Mine isn't for hunting

My 6.5 Grendel is a hunting rifle also. Most all of the rifles/shotguns I own are intended for hunting. However, there are a couple that I have for other stuff. But, specifically my AR in 6.5 Grendel is a hunting rifle, if for some reason I bought it to be a personal defense rifle then that'd be ridiculous because I have plenty of guns that would do a much better job at that.

 

[greenejc]

I'm not sure what an 18" 300 WM does but my 22" 06 throws a 200 gr SGK at 2700 ft/sec. I think he's just never reloaded 30-06

My 24" -03A-3 and 22 inch Ruger 30-06 runs that projectile and the Speer projectile at or around 2650 or 2600, respectively. I don't try to get max velocity from the Sierra, as it matches my P2 Shepherd scope out to 900 yards at sea level and 1,000 yards at 7,000 feet of altitude, where I hunt. As to noise, I wear a pair of Silencio plugs with tempanums in them, so hearing is fine and sound is muffled when the rifle is fired. A can just adds weight which I don't want. If I wanted to max my loads, I think both rifles could reach around 2700 and 2650 fps respectively, but the combination of trajectory, accuracy and impact I have in them is good enough.

 

[rustyshackleford]

My 24" -03A-3 and 22 inch Ruger 30-06 runs that projectile and the Speer projectile at or around 2650 or 2600, respectively. I don't try to get max velocity from the Sierra, as it matches my P2 Shepherd scope out to 900 yards at sea level and 1,000 yards at 7,000 feet of altitude, where I hunt. As to noise, I wear a pair of Silencio plugs with tempanums in them, so hearing is fine and sound is muffled when the rifle is fired. A can just adds weight which I don't want. If I wanted to max my loads, I think both rifles could reach around 2700 and 2650 fps respectively, but the combination of trajectory, accuracy and impact I have in them is good enough.

Well one day I'll get this gun rebarreled to a 30-06 again with a slightly heavier contour at 22" again and I'll throw my can on when I hunt for sure. But yeah I don't have any 24"+ barrels and I certainly don't have anything burning 40+ grains in a sub 20" barrel. I've heard some suppressed short guns and it's ice skating uphill.

 

[RckyMtnRutt]

When a lot of people buy a suppressor they immediately over compensate by cutting barrel down. After a while they realize the loss of velocity for sake of maneuvering was not worth it. So they buy a shorter silencer because chasing db turns out it wasn't as important as once thought. Then you have a louder suppressor that is shorter because when firing a few rounds while hunting is no big deal. Then eventually you don't care about barrel length as much and you deal with it. The benefits can not be put into words. If you think your shooting would not change for the better to some degree your kidding your self. People need to buy one so they can find out and then decide. Without having one you can't begin to understand

I bought a suppressor and realized my only threaded gun was my 24" 300wm. I thought it would be too long out in the woods so I bought a 20" ctr 6.5cm. Long story short both work really well. Took the 300wm out for elk in some nasty country and you just have to learn to maneuver the gun differently. It wasn't on my shoulder as much as it usually was. But i have no problem carrying it in my hand. With the 20" ctr i lost some velocity but that was easily fixed by finding a faster powder. So i just made up the 100fps i lost when i found rl-26. All that being said i think 20-22" barrel will meet all your needs suppressed or not. The old craze was long barrels now it seems like all different back grounds are going shorter. Phil valeyo proves that shooting 24" barrels at competitions. Chris kyle also started using short barrel setups and we all know what he was capable of doing. But like everyone has said it is all "your" own personal preference. Go out shoot both and find which one suits you best.

 

[VTbluegrass]

Maybe it's just me but just about every animal in excess of 300yards away will give you an opportunity to put hearing pro. I can slip in those cheap plugs in the rigid neck hanger in second while in a buddy stand or box in two seconds. Generally it has more to do with are eyes on me than the time it takes. I would assume the same would be true in the west in many situations. If it's far enough you need wind and drop correction we are talking what 3 seconds for hearing pro? Yes sometimes things happen fast but

That being said I want a silencer for hunting I but there are rifles I am not sticking one on like my 336 or my lightweight Kimber. I am merely on the side of plugs because that's what my budget allows