Suppressing a Dangerous Game rifle - 458 lott

[Red Leg]

FYI
Suppressor are legal in Mozambique. Plenty of buffalo and other DG killed there every year.

They are simply not mentioned in Mozambique firearms import law. That is different than "legal." I certainly would not take the chance of bringing one into country. I know that I have never seen nor heard of one being used there, but you may have a different experience. We would all benefit.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

My understanding is that Blaser has come out with the integrally suppressed 375 and 416 available in Europe and Africa.

HH

 

[Deepfork]

I see very few if any examples of folks using suppressors on dangerous game rifles. Is there a reason for this other than people don’t like the “look”?

I’m contemplating having a 20” 458 Lott built and threaded for a silencerco hybrid. Silencerco told me the minimum barrel length is 20” for this suppressor.

I see the following pros and cons

Pros
- significant recoil reduction
- added weight to further reduce recoil and muzzle flip
- you won’t do significant hearing damage
-your PH will be happy
- the suppressor often throws the sound of the shot confusing the animal where it came from. I’ve witnessed this first hand hunting hogs and other game. This could be potentially helpful when hunting dangerous game confusing the animal for just a couple extra seconds to give you time to react if needed or get a second shot off.

Cons
- added weight and length (weight can be seen as a pro)
- looks if you care about that sort of thing. Personally this doesn’t bother me and I think a modern touch on a classic rifle is neat and unique
- possibly worse handling with the extra weight on the end. A 20” with 7” suppressor would probably feel like a 27” barreled 458 Lott which would be a little slower to whip around. However I’m quite strong (still in my 30s) so it’s not much issue to hold
- harder to shoot off hand with the weight out front while waiting for the animal to get in position for a shot. Sticks would be very beneficial but I know sometimes you don’t get a chance to set them up.

Anyways I was curious if anyone has ever done or seen this and what their takeaway was. My 375 ruger I shoot suppressed with a 22” barrel and it reallly takes the recoil and without the noise I have almost no flinch develop with it even shooting off a bench. I find in more accurate when the rifle rifles less and has less concussion and noise. I just wish it was 20” because I think it would balance better and make just enough difference to hold it steady freehand longer. Unfortunately the FTW model Ruger has a 22” barrel. But it shoots a 270 LRX Barnes at 2760 without any pressure signs.

The Hybrid 46 is a great silencer! Many of the 45/46 cal silencers out there are really designed for pistol calibers and won't handle big rifle calibers. This one will handle pretty much anything that will fit through the hole with some reasonable barrel length restrictions on the big magnums. The brake is a accessory, knocks the recoil down even more. I have dedicated silencers for my rimfire, 5.56, .30 and .338s but I use this one for everything I have .35 and up. I shoot pigs over bait from a blind with a 45/70, 500gr subsonic round just under 1100fps, talk about fun! Shots are 30-50 yards it makes a hell of a smack when it hits them. Knocks them off of their feet and they rarely get back up!

 

[Nomsag]

@Nomsag: The Buffalo, You, and Your Daughter all look Great !! What a wonderful photo (except That rifle

Not the greatest looking rifle, but very effective recoil reduction. It is so easy to shoot.

 

[chase0109]

Getting a suppressor into the country and hunting with one doesn’t make it a legal item. I think it would be a gray area at best. I’m sure it has become significantly more common in Mozambique due to the number of South Africans operating there.

I would agree. But by the same logic, if it’s not called out as being illegal, then that makes it legal, correct?

The list of legal things is much longer than the list of what is illegal. So if it’s not called out as illegal, I take it as legal.

I trust my outfitter who operates in the country to know what is and isn’t legal. Just like I trust many other professionals on things I’m not an expert on.

I’m not telling anybody to take a suppressor to Mozambique. I will say I took mine in 2023. I’m taking mine again in 2025. Unless something changes legally, or my outfitter tells me it is now illegal, I intend to take my suppressor for every hunt in Mozambique. But to each their own.

 

[chase0109]

They are simply not mentioned in Mozambique firearms import law. That is different than "legal." I certainly would not take the chance of bringing one into country. I know that I have never seen nor heard of one being used there, but you may have a different experience. We would all benefit.

My experience is I took mine in 2023. Everything went smooth and no issues going in or out of customs in Tete.

My outfitter said it was legal to bring it. My pH told me many of their clients now bring suppressors with them while hunting in Mozambique. So I’d say times are definitely changing.

I’ll be using my suppressor again in 2025 in Mozambique. I’d like to for my 2026 Hunt in Nissa, But it may have to stay at home for that trip. I’ll probably be in Zimbabwe for two weeks prior hunting elephants, and unfortunately, Zimbabwe is not as enlightened as Mozambique in their suppressor rules.

I hold out hope that someday Zimbabwe will do away with dumb rules, like not allowing camo or suppressors in their country.

I really don’t care if anybody uses suppressor or not. There are a lot of benefits to a suppressor. The only actual negative I’ve ever heard of is aesthetics. Which is personal preference. Other than that most of the other arguments are poor at best.

 

[HankBuck]

I would agree. But by the same logic, if it’s not called out as being illegal, then that makes it legal, correct?

The list of legal things is much longer than the list of what is illegal. So if it’s not called out as illegal, I take it as legal.

I trust my outfitter who operates in the country to know what is and isn’t legal. Just like I trust many other professionals on things I’m not an expert on.

I’m not telling anybody to take a suppressor to Mozambique. I will say I took mine in 2023. I’m taking mine again in 2025. Unless something changes legally, or my outfitter tells me it is now illegal, I intend to take my suppressor for every hunt in Mozambique. But to each their own.

@chase0109 - You are correct regarding the Law, at least that is how it works in the USA. Laws state what is “illegal” and Not what IS Legal. But, I have No idea how other Countries legal system works. There is no written law that says it IS Legal to “kiss your Wife” but Men have been getting away with that for Centuries.

 

[375Fox]

I would agree. But by the same logic, if it’s not called out as being illegal, then that makes it legal, correct?

The list of legal things is much longer than the list of what is illegal. So if it’s not called out as illegal, I take it as legal.

I trust my outfitter who operates in the country to know what is and isn’t legal. Just like I trust many other professionals on things I’m not an expert on.

I’m not telling anybody to take a suppressor to Mozambique. I will say I took mine in 2023. I’m taking mine again in 2025. Unless something changes legally, or my outfitter tells me it is now illegal, I intend to take my suppressor for every hunt in Mozambique. But to each their own.

You mention camo being illegal in Zimbabwe in your other post yet many hunters wear hunting camo patterns there. By your logic is it now legal? I don’t take unnecessary chances. If it’s not officially legal all it takes is the wrong person to ruin your day in an African country. I won’t understand the motivation to take chances just to use a suppressor.

 

[Lancaster]

I have to admit, my primary aversion to it is the visual aesthetic.

That being said, when I toured the @RIGBY showroom in London a week ago, they mentioned that many European customers request that a suppressor be added to their classic rifle! They do a nice job of it.

Here you can see one in their rack of customer rifles:

View attachment 688232

Here in Europe we indeed use moderators extensively -but on deerstalking and vermin rifles. The reduction in recoil obviously helps accuracy when shooting over longer ranges. That's a .308 with one on in the photo. However, I have never seen a European hunter use a mod on a DG rifle though.
I have seen some use muzzle breaks and, indeed my TT Proctor English custom made .375 H&H has a ported barrel which does give some reduction in recoil