Suppressed Shotguns

SilentShooter89

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As you may discern from my screen name, I really enjoy shooting with a suppressor. I have one for nearly all of my firearms; however, finding a solution to effectively suppress a shotgun has been a challenge.

Here in the US, options are limited. There are, to my mind, only two really viable commercially available options, and each have their drawbacks. Both are muzzle-mounted suppressors. Sure, there are integrally suppressed one-off guns, but they are few and far between here, and information on them is scarce.

I've done a lot of internet research into how shotguns are effectively suppressed in other countries, and it seems some of the best are the Hushpower guns out of England. As foreign-made suppressors are practically impossible to import to the US for the average person, I've hired a gunsmith to custom build something reminiscent of the integrally suppressed Hushpower pump-action guns for me, but he seems to be having trouble getting the details worked out.

I thought I would reach out and see if anyone here might have an example of one of the Hushpower pump guns that they would be willing to take some pictures & measurements of so that I can point my smith in the right direction. Specifically, I'm looking for measurements of the diameter and spacing of the ports along the barrel, pictures and measurements of the baffle module (bore and port hole sizes), and information regarding whether there is any restrictions or limitations to the types of ammunition that can be used in these guns.


Any help is greatly appreciated...gunsmith has been tasked with this project for WAY too long as it is, and has not been successful in building something that effectively reduces the noise to either of our expectations.
 
Good luck. I had a friend who made a homemade shotgun with a 15’ piece of black iron pipe as the barrel.

It was very quiet, just not very practical.
 
Why?

Serious question. What exactly is a “suppressed” shotgun supposed to do? I admit that I am a double and OU kind of guy primarily, but I own a few model twelves. Assuming I am planning to use the firearm as, well a “shot” gun, where things like pattern and shot density matter, why put the poly choke from hell on the end of the barrel?
 
Why?

Serious question. What exactly is a “suppressed” shotgun supposed to do? I admit that I am a double and OU kind of guy primarily, but I own a few model twelves. Assuming I am planning to use the firearm as, well a “shot” gun, where things like pattern and shot density matter, why put the poly choke from hell on the end of the barrel?

Poly choke. You’re showing your age. Haven’t seem one of those in years. Make that decades.
 
I think you are probably on the wrong forum for a question such as this. Most of the members here are primarily hunters and questions about suppressor use are not common, although I am sure there are a few out there.
 
I think you are probably on the wrong forum for a question such as this. Most of the members here are primarily hunters and questions about suppressor use are not common, although I am sure there are a few out there.
Suppressor use is extremely common overseas, and and are an otc item.
 
Suppressor use is extremely common overseas, and and are an otc item.
You are correct Eric, but SilentShooter89 is in the U.S. where as you point out, the situation and legalities are entirely different.
 
Why? Because my hearing is important to me. I lost it (temporarily) in my right ear in my early teens due to a squabble with another kid; I was fortunate enough to gain back most of it in that ear after surgery, but I prefer to do what I can to protect what I have now so I don't have to go through that ordeal again.

Ear plugs limit your sensory perception in the field, so I prefer to shoot/hunt with rifle-mounted ear protection. ETA: Hunting with a suppressed weapon adds a whole new element to the experience, provided the suppressor is quiet enough to allow the shooter to hear/see the bullet impact.

I was a competitive shotgun shooter for a decade or so...I understand the limitations that a muzzle-mounted suppressor puts on the average wing shooter, which is why I want an integrally suppressed pump gun. Honestly, and respectfully, if you do not understand my "want" for an effective shotgun suppressor, you have either never used a suppressor or have never experienced hearing damage. I know full well that something like a Metro Barrel (absurdly long barrel extension) works to mitigate sound, and is not even legally considered a silencer/suppressor in the US, but it is not practical in the field for wingshooting.

For clarification, I am asking on this forum because I know there are people here from around the world, not just the US, where our suppressor laws are insane.

Thanks again to anyone who is able to provide any useful info.
 
I own several.... I enjoy them. Wish they were otc.... instead of the expensive PITA I had to go through to get mine. I have a buddy that shoots on his shotguns. But, man.... adding 6-10” on a 28” barrel is awkward as hell when bird hunting.
 
Man if I had a silencer on my shotgun my gun shy wired haired griffon would be one hell of a pointer!!
 
Why? Because my hearing is important to me. I lost it (temporarily) in my right ear in my early teens due to a squabble with another kid; I was fortunate enough to gain back most of it in that ear after surgery, but I prefer to do what I can to protect what I have now so I don't have to go through that ordeal again.

Ear plugs limit your sensory perception in the field, so I prefer to shoot/hunt with rifle-mounted ear protection. ETA: Hunting with a suppressed weapon adds a whole new element to the experience, provided the suppressor is quiet enough to allow the shooter to hear/see the bullet impact.

I was a competitive shotgun shooter for a decade or so...I understand the limitations that a muzzle-mounted suppressor puts on the average wing shooter, which is why I want an integrally suppressed pump gun. Honestly, and respectfully, if you do not understand my "want" for an effective shotgun suppressor, you have either never used a suppressor or have never experienced hearing damage. I know full well that something like a Metro Barrel (absurdly long barrel extension) works to mitigate sound, and is not even legally considered a silencer/suppressor in the US, but it is not practical in the field for wingshooting.

For clarification, I am asking on this forum because I know there are people here from around the world, not just the US, where our suppressor laws are insane.

Thanks again to anyone who is able to provide any useful info.

So let me address your assumptions first. I own two suppressors (hand gun and AR platform) so I guess I maybe have used one before. I was a combat arms officer for 29 years - much of that in artillery. So, I am pretty sure I "honestly and respectfully" know something about hearing loss as well.

On a fine hunting rifle, I find a suppressor an abomination. They turn a well designed hunting arm into something with the dynamics of a surf rod. I don't quite follow the supposed advantage you list ETA: Hunting with a suppressed weapon adds a whole new element to the experience, provided the suppressor is quiet enough to allow the shooter to hear/see the bullet impact. I hear most bullet impacts unless the animal is very close - and with respect to where it hit, I am pretty good at calling a shot. But I get there occasional use on such firearms, particularly in areas like the UK where sound abatement is a meaningful issue (In South Africa and most of the US - not so much) - but I get that. And I don't see how any of that has anything to do with a shotgun in the field.

But back to my initial point, my question was intended to be serious because shotgun dynamics are so much more critical than a rifles (unless we are talking a stopping rifle.) I do a lot of competitive clays and pigeon shooting - both box-birds and columbarie. As I said above, those guns tend to be SxS's and OU's - My current favorites are a James MacNaughton, William Cashmore, and a lovely Steven Grant that has probably paid for itself in the ring. So I actually know a little about well made and balanced guns intended for firing shot. I was curious because I can not conceive of such a carefully balanced extension of eye and body being encumbered with a suppressor.

I doubt if you will consider this "useful" info, but for not much more than the same investment for a suppressor you can purchase a set of tailor fitted hearing protection, that act as hearing aids until a noise of a certain decibel causes them to switch to hearing protection mood. I have a set and they work extremely well. And assuming you really aren't interested in trying to hear number six shot hit a pheasant and seeing a bird hit is pretty obvious, why not just get quality hearing protection?
 
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Go to metrogun.com and you can see one solution to noise reduction for a shotgun.
 
Well red leg,
Suppressors on rifles are pretty handy hunting coyotes and pigs in the US.
Extremely handy in Africa hunting baboons. A lot of places in the NW province in RSA wont let you hunt w/o a suppressor.

If he wants to put a suppressor on a shotgun, why not? There are a lot of shotgun only areas in the US that are shotgun only because of the proximity to houses.
 
Well red leg,
Suppressors on rifles are pretty handy hunting coyotes and pigs in the US.
Extremely handy in Africa hunting baboons. A lot of places in the NW province in RSA wont let you hunt w/o a suppressor.

If he wants to put a suppressor on a shotgun, why not? There are a lot of shotgun only areas in the US that are shotgun only because of the proximity to houses.
Fair enough, I get that too. I have a Browning bolt action slug gun which could be equipped with a suppressor for hunting deer in an area where only slugs were allowed. And if there were noise abatement restrictions in play, it might have utility. Not the most practical thing to haul around the woods - but yeah sure.

For pigs and predators using sub-sonics - again sure - I get it. Though on my 5.56 (and most supersonic rounds) noise reduction is pretty much theoretical, and recoil obviously is not an issue.

My question was whether or not the idea was to equip a bird gun with one. I just don't see any utility whatsoever in doing that with a firearm that needs to be so perfectly balanced to be used effectively. Maybe I am overly focused on that - but shooting in the ring for a pot will tend to focus ones attention on essentials. Hence, my curiosity and question.

And there is a whole lot of Africa besides the NW Province, so it will never be an issue for me.
 
Red Leg, I apologize for jumping to that assumption... Force of habit. I've had a lot of people over the years turn their nose up when I mention suppressors and go, "But those are illegal!" and "Why would you want that?" Invariably they have been folks who have zero experience with suppressors outside of seeing them on TV. I realize now that your concerns with the idea come from a different and much more legitimate angle.

You are correct regarding a muzzle mounted suppressor throwing the balance of a shotgun way off, which is why I want to build an integral to mitigate the forward-heavy issues. The Hushpower guns look like they accomplish this well:

mossberg-hushpower-pump-action-3462-600x315.jpg


Which is why I'm looking for more information on the internals of the suppressor module.
 

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Red Leg, I apologize for jumping to that assumption... Force of habit. I've had a lot of people over the years turn their nose up when I mention suppressors and go, "But those are illegal!" and "Why would you want that?" Invariably they have been folks who have zero experience with suppressors outside of seeing them on TV. I realize now that your concerns with the idea come from a different and much more legitimate angle.

You are correct regarding a muzzle mounted suppressor throwing the balance of a shotgun way off, which is why I want to build an integral to mitigate the forward-heavy issues. The Hushpower guns look like they accomplish this well:

mossberg-hushpower-pump-action-3462-600x315.jpg


Which is why I'm looking for more information on the internals of the suppressor module.

Exactly.

And no problem.

Just trying to imagine one that would have real utility. I looked at the Metrogun site noted above and that design pretty much captures my every criticism of the idea. I would assume an integral design would still require baffling creating a pretty large diameter barrel - regardless of length - particularly in something like a twelve bore.

Good luck with the quest.
 
Hi Silent Shooter. Rather than ask the antis who haven't got a clue, have you tried sending an email to the Saddlery and Gun Room in the UK (the Hushpower people) and seeing if they are willing to provide the information in exchange for a suitable license fee? No guarantee they would agree, but probably worth asking.
From what I've read you also need subsonic shotgun ammo. Quite common in Europe. Everything I've seen indicates that the Hushpower products do pattern and perform quite well. I personally would prefer their 20G O/U model to a pump, but that's individual preference only.
Beretta-20g-HushpowerS4.jpg
 

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I will try contacting them again. I believe I reached out to them once before and never got an answer, but it's been so long that I may well be remembering things other than how they actually are.

Winchester makes a AA "Low noise, low recoil" load that is subsonic, but only comes in #8 and #9 shot. I will experiment with what I can find (I know Eley makes subsonic 12ga loads but whether they are available in the US is another story), but ultimately I may end up having to roll my own loads if I want maximum quiet.

I would love to have that 20ga O/U as well; it is the best looking of their products.
 
One thing I do know is having a suppressor or moderator on my PD guns is the best thing since sliced bread.
Shoot all day and never need to put hearing protection on, its fantastic!!
 
They are popular here in the UK for hutning corvids and pigeons in noise sensitive areas such as around dwellings and stock barns... I'll see if I can get some better details for you
 

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