Suppressor

[dailordasailor]

i am planning to go after antelope next year and going to bring my 30-06. I've been impatiently waiting for POTUS to move the hearing act along, and know just this week they've made strides, but I'm ready to just purchase one to begin the 12 month wait.

Suggestions on specific models that won't break the bank but aren't a waste? Best internet source? Been looking at silencershop but don't know what's good/bad.

Thanks
Dale

 

[Ridgewalker]

dailordasailor, I have a YHM .308 that will handle up to 300WM. I have quick releases for my 223, 243, 30-06 and 300WM. The 300WM quick release is also a muzzle brake. I've had it maybe 3-4 years and it has held up well. The negative ( besides the cost and wait) is it really changes the point of impact as much as 7". My guns are all light barreled (I never need more than three shots and hate carrying anything heavy in the mountains where I hunt).
My YHM .22 will handle up to .22 Win Mag.
If you are only going to dedicate it to one gun and leave it on all the time, you can get away with a lower cost suppressor that screws directly onto the barrel. I was looking for the most universal one I could find at the time.
I like 24" barrels on my 300WM, with a suppressor that makes it at least 30"! A bit awkward IMO. Out here in the west that's not an issue unless you hunt dark timber.
A PH told me you could get them in SA for $150. I've seriously thought of getting one there and just leaving it there.
Silencershop has at least as good if not enter prices than anyone that I have seen.

Be sure to check where you are hunting to make certain it is legal!

 

[kesha]

I have Silencerco 5.56 and saker 7.62 and I am very pleased with them I use on my Ar 's and I have a 22" barreled 308. If they speed up the hearing act I will buy more. Mine only took 4 mo. To get . Hopefully if it passes we can buy over there and bring back.

 

[Ray B]

I was able to use a few different suppressors while in New Zealand, but there were problems in getting one from there to the US, at least under present laws. If that situation changes, there were some very good ones available.

 

[JimP]

As of right now here in the US can you even order one without the license?

Also I doubt that you will see congress do much on this for a while even if it is in the House right now. Have you ever watched cold tar being pored out of a container, that moves faster than our Congress.

 

[jduckhunter]

I have a Thompson Machine 30 cal. suppressor. It wasn't cheap and it ain't light, but it does come apart for easy cleaning. I use it on my 30-06, 25-06, 300 BLK, and with a 1/2" by 5/8" adaptor I can use it on my 22 LR. If I had it to do over again I would have spent the extra money and got it in titanium, that would have cut the weight almost in half.

 

[dailordasailor]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

In SC I can have a suppressor no problem and in whyoming where will be antelope hunting isn't issue either. Have a 22lr suppressor out in the unknown world somewhere waiting for paperwork to finish up. Waiting is the aweful part. The $200 "stamp" isn't great either

 

[CTDolan]

Question: In those places where silencers are used (seems to be ubiquitous in Europe and the U.K.), are they mandatory or a choice made on the part of the hunter?

 

[dailordasailor]

I'm going to U.K. Next month and pics from the guides site are both with and without suppressor. Tells me it's voluntary. I imagine when trying to cull animals it's used to prevent spooking the rest. Also similar idea if hunting around cattle

 

[Adrian]

Question: In those places where silencers are used (seems to be ubiquitous in Europe and the U.K.), are they mandatory or a choice made on the part of the hunter?

In the UK you usually get a moderator granted on your firearms licence even if you don't request it.

They are not mandatory in the UK, it's up to the individual and this individual refuses to use one.

I detest them.

I don't know about the rest of Europe but I see plenty of trophy photos and driven game hunts where there isn't a moderator in sight so would guess they aren't required on the continent.

In the UK hunters have to be very quiet and unobtrusive in case our activities may offend or upset other members of society and as a result most folk use a moderator.

UK citizens don't wish to have their delicate sensibilities offended by the mere fact someone might actually be out hunting for one of those creatures they've seen in a Disney film or on a BBC propaganda programme.

I don't care and I don't use a moderator.
I hate the additional weight, the unbalanced rifle and I refuse to chop a length off my barrel to accommodate one.
Why ruin the look of a beautiful rifle by sticking an ugly great can on the end?

 

[Adrian]

I'm going to U.K. Next month and pics from the guides site are both with and without suppressor. Tells me it's voluntary. I imagine when trying to cull animals it's used to prevent spooking the rest. Also similar idea if hunting around cattle

To be fair, I shoot without a moderator and apart from the animal falling to the shot, I've often witnessed other nearby animals just look up briefly and then go back to grazing undisturbed.
That is both deer and cattle in close proximity to the shot.
I personally don't think a moderated rifle makes much difference in my personal experience.

The cynic in me thinks it's more to do with not alerting the public to the fact people go hunting in the UK.

 

[dailordasailor]

I can't speak to the U.K. Experience because my first time will be next month. In the US I've used a silenced AR for hogs and it's night and day from non suppressed. Especially in a large sounder.

I shot a whitetail last year with my 30-06 non surpressed and had another stay right there and stare at me. However that was my first experience of that

 

[CTDolan]

@Adrian , with regard to the below I wholly agree.

"Why ruin the look of a beautiful rifle by sticking an ugly great can on the end?"

My fear has always been that they're mandatory for hunting in Europe and the U.K., and that it'd be only a matter of time until we'd have the same here (the States). Personally, although never having used one, I detest them based upon appearance alone.

 

[Adrian]

No, not to my knowledge. In fact I would go so far as to say they are possibly used less on the mainland continent of Europe but maybe a continental friend here can correct me.
Certainly with the driven hunts you don't see moderators being used and on almost all of the trophy photos I see on the social media groups I belong to there isn't a moderator in sight.

 

[Amado]

Back to the original question... I have several but the one I use most often for hunting is a Silencerco Omega and I love it. I've shot the heck out of it with a .300 Win Mag and it hasn't skipped a beat. Also, the guys at the Silencer Shop have always been really good at listening to your needs and coming up with several good suggestions.

Good luck!

 

[CTDolan]

@Amado , thanks for bringing it back around (my apology for the diversion).

@Adrian , thank you for the further feedback.