Suppressed vs Non-Suppressed Hunting

[Robobiss]

I never bought into the hunting suppressor marketing. I've shot a couple and felt like it was 75% gimmick, except on a 22, thats fun.

Here's what i do. I wear those ear pro on my neck with the hard plastic connecting them. Then I'm never without ear pro.

Plusses: weight, barrel length, still better sound protection than just with just a can.

Negatives: Dont get to take pictures that make me look Instagram cool. Am I missing something else?

You’re missing the aspect of recoil mitigation and the obvious increase in shootability of just about any rifle you spin them on the end of. That goes a long ways. I am very noticeably more comfortable shooting all of my centerfire rifles suppressed vs bare muzzle, no comparison.

As good as a brake? Definitely not, but brakes (poverty cannons, lol) have their own set of drawbacks as well, most importantly going half deaf if you get excited and touch off your rifle without ear pro. As well as your shooting buddies hating you.

With the can you get recoil mitigation, hearing protection (mine *allegedly* gets 308 down below 140db which is “hearing safe”), and the benefit of the better reaction of game when you shoot at them where in some cases they even run towards you. All at the expense of 6-8” on the end of your rifle and maybe 10oz more weight.

I’ve lugged a heavy old wood stocked 12 gauge with a barrel 50 miles long through enough of the thick stuff chasing after a rabbit dog or trying to shoot partridge to be unbothered with my rifle that now has a ~26” or so barrel with the can on the end of it.

Food for thought and speaking very generally here, if the terrain and foliage are thick enough to make the extra barrel length a PITA, do you need the extra velocity from all of that extra barrel? Or would you be better served with something chopped to 16”, 18”, or 20”, anyways?

 

[jreyna]

You’re missing the aspect of recoil mitigation and the obvious increase in shootability of just about any rifle you spin them on the end of. That goes a long ways. I am very noticeably more comfortable shooting all of my centerfire rifles suppressed vs bare muzzle, no comparison.

As good as a brake? Definitely not, but brakes (poverty cannons, lol) have their own set of drawbacks as well, most importantly going half deaf if you get excited and touch off your rifle without ear pro. As well as your shooting buddies hating you.

With the can you get recoil mitigation, hearing protection (mine *allegedly* gets 308 down below 140db which is “hearing safe”), and the benefit of the better reaction of game when you shoot at them where in some cases they even run towards you. All at the expense of 6-8” on the end of your rifle and maybe 10oz more weight.

I’ve lugged a heavy old wood stocked 12 gauge with a barrel 50 miles long through enough of the thick stuff chasing after a rabbit dog or trying to shoot partridge to be unbothered with my rifle that now has a ~26” or so barrel with the can on the end of it.

Food for thought and speaking very generally here, if the terrain and foliage are thick enough to make the extra barrel length a PITA, do you need the extra velocity from all of that extra barrel? Or would you be better served with something chopped to 16”, 18”, or 20”, anyways?

The last "food for thought" section makes a very good point, one I hadn't considered. I'll be running my suppressor this year after reading all the feedback. Don't fix what's not broken!

 

[Ringbill27]

Suppressors are a better investment than hearing aids.

That was my reasoning to buy a suppressor. Now a days you could buy 3-4 maybe even 5 suppressors for the cost of a decent pair of hearing aids.

 

[Robobiss]

The last "food for thought" section makes a very good point, one I hadn't considered. I'll be running my suppressor this year after reading all the feedback. Don't fix what's not broken!

Thanks! Obviously it doesn’t apply in every scenario, for example having a long, crappy hike without a trail through the thick and nasties when your destination is above the treeline where you can see for miles and shoot 1k yards if you wanted to.

But (again) generally speaking, if your terrain gives you a good reason to complain about extra barrel length, you very likely have no use for it anyways.

 

[WRO]

Was hunting WT 2 years ago. Had a few deer walk out at 250 ish. Shot the first one. Shot the second then finished off the first. All within 20 seconds. Deer were looking around all stupid like... and i didnt have a supressor.

Muleys are a dumber breed of deer. I saw a big buck by a road once. Yelled at it and it didnt get up. Threw a rock at it and it just looked at me like he didnt have time for humans.

Id probably have a can but i dont like playing the gov games... and the ones ive shot havent been a "game-changer" just another thing to weigh me down.

Tell us you haven’t hunted mule deer without telling us.

 

[lintond]

Hunting unsuppressed is like driving a Tesla truck…

I forgot my ear pro around my neck once on a couple quick shots on a buck. Immediately bought a suppressor and have never looked back. Your hearing is finite and in my 30s could already tell the damage I’ve done over the years and do anything now to protect it.

Get a lighter suppressor because having only one suppressor is no fun.


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[justin davis]

I used to think suppressors were not needed
And stupid for what I do.

…Then I got one and my regret is that I didn’t get one years ago.

They also are a game changer in my mind for use witch kids and my wife. You don’t have the crazy loud sound when shooting. I think it helps them a lot With shooting and it’s nice to save their hearing

 

[Hnthrdr]

Even better is to become a better shot and only need to shoot once.

For sure. That is optimal haha. But if it’s the choice of fiddling with earpro (especially when my little ones start coming with) and getting set up and shooting with no worries, I’ll pay a little extra money carry a little extra weight. Being 34 and already having hearing loss from military service freaking sucks. Going to do anything I can to keep it from getting worse/ exposing my kids to having to deal with that

 

[Hnthrdr]

Tell us you haven’t hunted mule deer without telling us.

I haven’t hunted White tail, but from my experience nothing is cagier or harder to hunt than a mature mule deer in a unit that issues a boat load of tags, chased a buck a few years back in a unit like that was one him for 4 days and saw him 3 times for a total of about 3 minutes, SOB was a spook

 

[WRO]

I haven’t hunted White tail, but from my experience nothing is cagier or harder to hunt than a mature mule deer in a unit that issues a boat load of tags, chased a buck a few years back in a unit like that was one him for 4 days and saw him 3 times for a total of about 3 minutes, SOB was a spook

I’ve hunted both, mature bucks in either species aren’t easy.

It’s the typical local mentality, where everything they do is the hardest and then you can look down at others because of one neighborhood deer experience.

 

[butcherboy]

Hunting unsuppressed is like driving a Tesla truck…

I forgot my ear pro around my neck once on a couple quick shots on a buck. Immediately bought a suppressor and have never looked back. Your hearing is finite and in my 30s could already tell the damage I’ve done over the years and do anything now to protect it.

Get a lighter suppressor because having only one suppressor is no fun.


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Hunting suppressed you better make sure and have your hair up in a man bun so it doesn’t get in the way! jk, jk all in fun.

 

[lintond]

Hunting suppressed you better make sure and have your hair up in a man bun so it doesn’t get in the way! jk, jk all in fun.

If I could grow a manbun I’d for sure have one. I’ve been blessed with baldness. Haha

I’m with Justin I was disappointed I didn’t have one earlier once I got my first one but shoot whatever gets you excited.


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[Hnthrdr]

Hunting suppressed you better make sure and have your hair up in a man bun so it doesn’t get in the way! jk, jk all in fun.

Absolutely brother, head to toe in meateater gear, man bun shooting a 6.5 needmoore out to 2000 yards just like Stevie Rinella intended with a lot of nuance mixed in for good measure

 

[Smtn10pt]

I have a Banish 338 on the way but .39 cent foam ear plugs on a string around my neck are alot cheaper than hearing aides or suppressors.

 

[Hnthrdr]

If I could grow a manbun I’d for sure have one. I’ve been blessed with baldness. Haha

I’m with Justin I was disappointed I didn’t have one earlier once I got my first one but shoot whatever gets you excited.


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Remember God gave hair to those with ugly skulls

 

[butcherboy]

If I could grow a manbun I’d for sure have one. I’ve been blessed with baldness. Haha

I’m with Justin I was disappointed I didn’t have one earlier once I got my first one but shoot whatever gets you excited.


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Yep, me too. Baldness and shaved head since I was about 22 years old. Started losing hair as a senior in high school!

 

[WTFJohn]

Suppress everything, and don't look back.

One of the most common trends I've noticed in these threads is it's usually guys walking to a tree stand complaining about the extra length and weight; while the guys living in the west tend to advocate more for suppressors.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Suppress everything, and don't look back.

One of the most common trends I've noticed in these threads is it's usually guys walking to a tree stand complaining about the extra length and weight; while the guys living in the west tend to advocate more for suppressors.

My post was a page or two back but the opposite of that. I've got a bunch and will use them locally because why not, but one shot one kill after putting many miles on boots for days on end no thanks.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

After purchasing a suppressor, I have zero intention to ever rifle hunt without one. My current rifle is 8.5lbs with a suppressor. Overall length isn't excessive because of a shorter barrel.

Wouldn't think twice about carrying it anywhere.

 

[butcherboy]

Suppress everything, and don't look back.

One of the most common trends I've noticed in these threads is it's usually guys walking to a tree stand complaining about the extra length and weight; while the guys living in the west tend to advocate more for suppressors.

I live in the west and hike plenty of mountains and miles. Still won’t hunt with a suppressor.

Also, when I hunt a tree stand it’s usually a long ways in from most roads and during archery season anyways. Wait, maybe I can figure out how to use a suppressor on my bow?