First time (hunting) suppressor help

[kshea]

Hey Everyone! Hoping you can help! Trying to decide on my first suppressor and having a difficult time narrowing down the options out there.

My primary use case is a can for my lightweight 7mm PRC build (22 inch proof barrel) that will be used mostly up here in Alaska. Something versatile enough to also be used in long range precision/PRS rigs would also be awesome, but hunting would be the primary purpose.

I thought I had settled on the Scythe TI since it was light weight, had a brake for recoil, and super popular, but then have seen a ton or reviews about them blowing up on people. I think I'd be willing to add a little weight if it resulted in more durability/versatility.

Any recommendations/experience on suppressors used on lightweight magnum hunting rifles? Thanks!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Yes.

Suppressor recommendations for new users
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...ew-users.420205/&share_type=t&link_source=app

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Ranking suppressors by unweighted (Z-weighted) values

Ranking suppressors by unweighted (Z-weighted) values

After reading the recently published SAAMI standards, which say to use Z-weighting for sound values, rather than the A-weighting which most suppressor manufacturers list, I got interested in trying to look at how various "hunting cans" measure up. The new SAAMI standards are only voluntary, but...

r.tapatalk.com

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hey Everyone! Hoping you can help! Trying to decide on my first suppressor and having a difficult time narrowing down the options out there.

My primary use case is a can for my lightweight 7mm PRC build (22 inch proof barrel) that will be used mostly up here in Alaska. Something versatile enough to also be used in long range precision/PRS rigs would also be awesome, but hunting would be the primary purpose.

I thought I had settled on the Scythe TI since it was light weight, had a brake for recoil, and super popular, but then have seen a ton or reviews about them blowing up on people. I think I'd be willing to add a little weight if it resulted in more durability/versatility.

Any recommendations/experience on suppressors used on lightweight magnum hunting rifles? Thanks!

My advice with a 22” barrel is to get something worthwhile that is less than 5”. The Airlock 7mm suppressor might fit that bill. The US/UM OG is another decent option. And an AB Raptor 4 with a 3-4” reflex is another respectable option. Of course, 4-5” suppressors won’t be as effective as 6-9” suppressors, but for hunting they are much more practical. If you can handle a 28” barrel, then there are tons of great suppressors in the 6” range.

 

[kshea]

My advice with a 22” barrel is to get something worthwhile that is less than 5”. The Airlock 7mm suppressor might fit that bill. The US/UM OG is another decent option. And an AB Raptor 4 with a 3-4” reflex is another respectable option. Of course, 4-5” suppressors won’t be as effective as 6-9” suppressors, but for hunting they are much more practical. If you can handle a 28” barrel, then there are tons of great suppressors in the 6” range.

Thanks for the info, super helpful! Those Airlocks look super cool. Do you have experience with them? I think I might hold out for when they put out a 30 cal version for a little more versatility!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thanks for the info, super helpful! Those Airlocks look super cool. Do you have experience with them? I think I might hold out for when they put out a 30 cal version for a little more versatility!

I have not used an Airlock. There is an entire thread about them. I would like to try one out, but it is not currently in my budget. I am also not usually an early adopter.

The suppressors I currently own are:
Scythe Ti
AB Raptor 8 w/ 3” reflex
AB Raptor 10 w/ 5” reflex
The OG
A Griffin 5.56mm can for my AR
A pair of Banish 22s

I’m very happy with all the suppressors I own except the Scythe. And even with that I go back and forth on whether or not I trust it enough to use it at a low rate of fire on a mini-action cartridge.

There are many threads about many different cans on Rokslide. If you use the search function, you should turn up many different opinions about any can in which you are interested.

 

[Presswood_936]

The airlock 7mm would be awesome , the only downside I could see is it heating up with prs use . For a lightweight/short hunting silencer it cannot be beat IMO . Absolutely do not get a raptor 4 or OG , especially for your first silencer , They are VERY loud .

 

[Chris in TN]

I took a different approach.

My criteria were:
-Bulletproof reputation
-light/short
-affordable
-there are cans with very poor suppression performance and I wanted to avoid those, but at the end of the day, I wasn't looking for max noise reduction. I was looking for enough reduction that other people nearby but behind the line of fire wouldn't be overly bothered by the noise. I'm still wearing ear pro when practicing, and spent a lifetime before I bought my first can, shooting with no ear pro in the field at all. I certainly don't suggest that but my hearing is still great for my age. YMMV, a lot. But my main goal for a can, was to be able to let my kids shoot 1-2 shots at a time 1-2 times per year, with no ear pro, without any damage. The rest of the time, they still wear ear pro.

I ended up with two YHM cans, a Resonator K and an R9. I'd buy both of them again and may well end up with another R-K come January. I really like the concept of some of the newer reflex designs but I have to ask myself if the marginal utility (lighter/shorter/quieter) is worth the marginal cost, versus the YHM price points. Different people with different budgets will answer that differently and that's OK. As it is, the R-K is pretty light, pretty short, and way the heck quieter than not having a can.

 

[Bater]

If I could only have one can, it would be an Airlock ZG. I assume a 30cal option is in the works.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If I could only have one can, it would be an Airlock ZG. I assume a 30cal option is in the works.

Even for PRS? The manufacturer says it heats up really fast because of how effectively it traps gas. I agree it seems perfect for hunting, but I am afraid it might not be great for high volume shooting.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Light/short for hunting but also for PRS is gonna mean compromises for one or the other I think. Shorter is gonna be loud, longer is harder to wield hunting.

For what its worth I find an AB raptor 8 with 3" reflex a decent performer and unless its a hunt I am trying to shave weight I leave the reflex on, I just shot a bear with one hunting (no ear pro) and didn't find that discomforting, I then hit a range on the way home to test some new loads and shot ~30rds through it (with ear pro, double actually cause someone down the line had a brake). That ones has a can chaps cover on it (not the lightest but still low bulk) and it keeps mirage down for a shot string. It was a 19" barrel so the length didn't bother me. If I was trying to shave ounces I'd grab my other AB 8 w/o reflex and a LS wild cover (and probably the gun its on instead too since that is lighter also).

Lots of new stuff coming out too.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Light/short for hunting but also for PRS is gonna mean compromises for one or the other I think. Shorter is gonna be loud, longer is harder to wield hunting.

For what its worth I find an AB raptor 8 with 3" reflex a decent performer and unless its a hunt I am trying to shave weight I leave the reflex on, I just shot a bear with one hunting (no ear pro) and didn't find that discomforting, I then hit a range on the way home to test some new loads and shot ~30rds through it (with ear pro, double actually cause someone down the line had a brake). That ones has a can chaps cover on it (not the lightest but still low bulk) and it keeps mirage down for a shot string. It was a 19" barrel so the length didn't bother me. If I was trying to shave ounces I'd grab my other AB 8 w/o reflex and a LS wild cover (and probably the gun its on instead too since that is lighter also).

Lots of new stuff coming out too.

My 20” 6.5 CM has that same AB Raptor 8 with 3” reflex and while I haven’t carried the rifle hunting yet, it is identical in weight and balance to my older hunting rifles. Which is to say that I agree that a 6” can is not a bad choice for a hunting rifle.

 

[Bater]

Even for PRS? The manufacturer says it heats up really fast because of how effectively it traps gas. I agree it seems perfect for hunting, but I am afraid it might not be great for high volume shooting.

Well no, as I don't shoot PRS. But if one can afford to play the PRS game, they can afford two cans IMO

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Well no, as I don't shoot PRS. But if one can afford to play the PRS game, they can afford two cans IMO

Fair point.

 

[flyfisher117]

Perhaps something like the Dead Air Nomad? Won’t be the lightest can but should work well enough for hunting and gun games and offer good sound suppression.

I have the Nomad TIXC. It’s a good weight and offers good sound suppression. It does heat up quick and likely won’t be as durable playing gun games. Though it may be longer than you want hunting Alaska. I have no drama with the length on a 20” tube but I don’t hunt brush like you guys have up there.

If it were me I’d go the 2 suppressor route. Get a good one for hunting and get a good one for gun games. That way you can maximize your results across both usages.