Are there benefits to using a suppressor for plains game hunting

[huntsolo101]

On my latest hunt I was able to purchase silencers for my rifles at the Wildman store in Kimberly South Africa . I purchased the warrior brand . The gunsmith there is very well stocked . He had multiple adapters for all worldly thread pitches . The warrior large silencers sized for 375 worked very well on the 7mm08 and the 300 win mag Christensen Mesa rifles I use . For the 300 he had a different type of adapter that moved the silencer over the barrel 2”. That really helped with overall length while hunting . I had sighted in both rifles back home with my dead air titanium silencers . The 300 was exactly the same with both cans . The 7mm08 was 3” low at 100 with the warrior silencer . After I got home I put the dead air can on the 7mm08 and had to move the scope 3” back.
I will never hunt without a silencer again. The reasons from everyone above all are very valid .
The reasons I use a silencer
1- sound reduction
2- crown of barrel protection
3- recoil reduction
4- animals not knowing where the sound actually came from
5- your ph and anyone close to the shooter will be able to hear in later life
6- shooter does not get scared of the report of the rifle (especially children )
7-it makes shooting the rifle just that much more enjoyable. I feel more confident .and can see the bullet hit the target through the scope .

The warrior large silencer cost less than 200.00 dollars.

 

[Doug3006]

Where legal, I'd definitely shoot suppressed. Folks have mentioned the pros and cons.

This is my Blaser R8 with its 375 H&H barrel suppressed. I was dialing in the scope (Leupy VX6 2-12x42) with some random ammo I had. Surprisingly, I had very good results with the inexpensive Federal "blue box" 300g softs and terrible results with the Hornady 300g DGXs. Accuracy was consistent suppressed vs. unsuppressed, although the point of impact did change (as you'd expect). I also have a 300 WM barrel for the R8, which also will be suppressed.
View attachment 695104

It’s one of life’s great mysteries. I’ve found that Federal Blue Box ammo is amazingly accurate in most of my rifles. I use it for white tails a pigs with no issues. I haven’t used it on Safari, but if I did, I’d expect the same performance on the smaller to midsized critters.

 

[Doug3006]

To me, balance and handling are important. Esthetics are too. I use earplugs and hunt with rifles that are pleasant to carry and, I think, good looking. There a many accomplished hunters who love suppressed rifles. To them I say, good hunting!

 

[Hunt anything]

My favorite thing about a suppressor is the ability to stay on target a more accurately call my shot due to the reduced recoil.
I shot a waterbuck bull at 287 yds and was able to follow the vapor trail to impact on his shoulder.

 

[Green Chile]

Suppressors are valid options on PG rifles with the caveat of carry and balance issues as noted by others. Where I think they do NOT belong is on DG rifles.

 

[samson7x]

Suppressors are valid options on PG rifles with the caveat of carry and balance issues as noted by others. Where I think they do NOT belong is on DG rifles.

Why do you feel they don’t belong on DG rifles?

 

[Green Chile]

Have you ever seen one on a PH’s DG rifle? Iron sights on bolt guns and suppressors don’t go together. Also, DG rifles are about simplicity and lack of gadgetry. Many pros will remove the slings (if they have one) when following up on DG. Any extra pieces that can catch on something or loosen from the gun are distractions at best and liabilities at worst. DG rifles need to be well balanced and any weight attached to the end of the barrel is going to affect balance. Then there is the aesthetics of threading a barrel and adding a can to a classic British styled bolt gun. It looks like a monkey riding a football.

 

[wesheltonj]

Well my two cents. (1) I would never cut down a barrel so I can mount a suppressor. (2) they do reduce recoil, but using sticks recoil feels less anyway. (3) I use electronic hearing protection, so sound is already reduced. (4) yes, those around you will still have their hearing after you fire if they are not wearing hearing protection, but they should have hearing protection too.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

we use suppressors on some of our "client" rental rifles
but what is important and not many people do this is when getting a suppressor fitted, barrel threaded, shorten your barrel a couple inches.
a std length barrel plus 4-6 inches of suppressor for me is just damn ugly and a pain to move around
we usually shorten barrels at least 2 inches, more if gunsmith says its all good, then we generally use a good suppressor like A tec, which have segments in suppressor, so u can choose to remove 1-2-3-4 segments making suppressor shorted and the A tec suppressor also "overlap" the barrel by 2 inches or so. so actually by the time u have shortened your barrel and put suppressor on with 1-2 segments out, you are only an inch or 2 longer then you were with original setup

personally i do think they are ugly, but i am seeing the benefits too.

regards

 

[HankBuck]

They are not mandatory except on certain farms. In many countries outside the US suppressors aren’t regulated after the owner has a firearm license so very common. They definitely make rifles easier to shoot but they also have some hunting drawbacks depending on the situation. For a PG hunt, I think they are generally well suited. You’ll frequently see them on rental rifles. I wouldn’t consider traveling with mine but it appears many do.

@375Fox - good post and advice: objective, relays experience, and is “well balanced”.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hi Members, I'm excited about my first South African plains game hunt coming up in 2026 and have been doing a lot of research here on the forums. Excellent reading! While reading posts and seeing many pictures of hunters with their trophies, I've noticed a lot of hunters have suppressors on their rifles. Are suppressors mandatory in South Africa or is it a preference? Are there benefits to using a suppressor for plains game hunting? I've never used one so please excuse my lack of knowledge. Thanks for reading my post and for your insight!

Don't know why everyone doesn't use a suppressor. I wish I had gotten into them decades ago. From noise reduction to much less recoil a suppressor is a great hunting tool. Second shot attempts happen from time to time if there is an unfortunate miss.
In the pics it is easy to tell if it is a RSA suppressor or a clients own. The RSA suppressors look like a 2' piece of 2" pipe sticking out from the barrel! I shoot the Thunderbeast Ultra 5 which is 5" and 6oz. By far the best I've found.

 

[samson7x]

Have you ever seen one on a PH’s DG rifle? Iron sights on bolt guns and suppressors don’t go together. Also, DG rifles are about simplicity and lack of gadgetry. Many pros will remove the slings (if they have one) when following up on DG. Any extra pieces that can catch on something or loosen from the gun are distractions at best and liabilities at worst. DG rifles need to be well balanced and any weight attached to the end of the barrel is going to affect balance. Then there is the aesthetics of threading a barrel and adding a can to a classic British styled bolt gun. It looks like a monkey riding a football.

I see your side, however the argument could be made that a suppressor isn't intrusive and the benefits outweigh the negatives. One might opt for a very light titanium can that, with a proper mount system, won't loosen or upset the balance.

Aesthetics isn't significant and could be argued either way. I like the look. I also like the look of a fine DR.

 

[samson7x]

Don't know why everyone doesn't use a suppressor. I wish I had gotten into them decades ago. From noise reduction to much less recoil a suppressor is a great hunting tool. Second shot attempts happen from time to time if there is an unfortunate miss.
In the pics it is easy to tell if it is a RSA suppressor or a clients own. The RSA suppressors look like a 2' piece of 2" pipe sticking out from the barrel! I shoot the Thunderbeast Ultra 5 which is 5" and 6oz. By far the best I've found.

I love my ultra 5! It's a fine suppressor.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I like shooting suppressed, but I hate carrying one. I echo the comments above that it throws the rifle off balance. I also hung my PH’s rifle/suprpressor on brush when slung, because i wasn’t use to the extra length.

My biggest gripe on mine. Unless you get the barrel down to 20in, it can be like carrying a pole vault pole around in the woods. But damn they are fun to shoot with.

 

[slam8031]

I agree with Phillip. Lightweight and smaller cans like the banish backcountry do not change the balance much on rifles. I’ve hunted the last three safaris with suppressors for plains game and tiny ten. The PH and the trackers appreciate the reduced noise and the audible animal impact is clear when using a suppressor. All of my rifles were built with shorter barrels for the cans.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Have you ever seen one on a PH’s DG rifle? Iron sights on bolt guns and suppressors don’t go together. Also, DG rifles are about simplicity and lack of gadgetry. Many pros will remove the slings (if they have one) when following up on DG. Any extra pieces that can catch on something or loosen from the gun are distractions at best and liabilities at worst. DG rifles need to be well balanced and any weight attached to the end of the barrel is going to affect balance. Then there is the aesthetics of threading a barrel and adding a can to a classic British styled bolt gun. It looks like a monkey riding a football.

These are good points.

 

[Flipper Dude]

How am I supposed to take a cool pic with that damn ugly growth on the end of my rifle?

 

[HankBuck]

I see your side, however the argument could be made that a suppressor isn't intrusive and the benefits outweigh the negatives. One might opt for a very light titanium can that, with a proper mount system, won't loosen or upset the balance.

Aesthetics isn't significant and could be argued either way. I like the look. I also like the look of a fine DR.

@samson7x - if You “like the look” of Suppressors then you’re gonna LOVE the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue with ROSIE O'Donnell on the Cover !!

 

[schmijar]

I fall into the camp of, I'm not running out to put them on all my rifles I use here in North America. I don't care for the looks, at the range I'll use hearing protection and hunting I'll deal with (hopefully) one shot without protection.

Where I WILL consider one is if my kids get bigger and start shooting hunting calibers. I think it will help lay a way better foundation for a lifetime of good shooting than the method that was used on me, ie "give the 100lb 12 year old a full size .30-06 with 180grs and set him loose"

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I fall into the camp of, I'm not running out to put them on all my rifles I use here in North America. I don't care for the looks, at the range I'll use hearing protection and hunting I'll deal with (hopefully) one shot without protection.

Where I WILL consider one is if my kids get bigger and start shooting hunting calibers. I think it will help lay a way better foundation for a lifetime of good shooting than the method that was used on me, ie "give the 100lb 12 year old a full size .30-06 with 180grs and set him loose"

would you like to be able to hear your Grand kids talk to you? I sure would but can't without my hearing aids. bite the bullet and buy a good short suppressor and watch for the adds a couple of them run no cost for the stamp and get a free 22 caliber can for free.