Suppressed vs Non-Suppressed Hunting

[SaltySailor]

^ I too saw a moose shot with a suppressed rifle this season at 460 yards. The cow he was with didn't even move, in fact, she walked right up to him to see what was the matter. A minute later, another bull walked out of the tree line and went up to the cow and downed moose. I doubt that would have happened with a boom stick sounding off like normal.

We've also taken moose 800 yards from camp and the people at camp didn't even hear the shots.

 

[TaperPin]

I shot a moose this morning with a suppressed 6.5 PRC.

She walked 8 yds and dropped.

The bull next to her did not react, which is great since bull moose tags are once-in-a-lifetime here and I would hate to ruin someone else's hunt.

The other guy with a cow moose tag in the next meadow down was able to fill his less than 90 seconds after I shot. I could hear his, there's no way they heard mine.

My ears don't ring, I didn't have to remember ear pro in the moment.

My dad's ears don't ring either.

The length and weight didn't bother me since the barrel was cut down to accommodate the suppressor.

They make almost every aspect of shooting better and more enjoyable, doubly so when you're hunting.

I hunt with a .22 lr as well as center fire guns. I don’t feel there’s a big adjustment between the two. If a can would make a 7 mag sound and recoil like a .22lr, I’d still want to keep the long barrel for the additional speed - my latest gun has a 28” barrel and I’m liking that more than the 26”.

If someone likes a can that’s great. If one of our kids wanted one I’d get it for their birthday, or loan ‘em the money today, but I’m just not sold on the benefits outweighing the costs.

 

[WTFJohn]

I hunt with a .22 lr as well as center fire guns. I don’t feel there’s a big adjustment between the two. If a can would make a 7 mag sound and recoil like a .22lr, I’d still want to keep the long barrel for the additional speed - my latest gun has a 28” barrel and I’m liking that more than the 26”.

If someone likes a can that’s great. If one of our kids wanted one I’d get it for their birthday, or loan ‘em the money today, but I’m just not sold on the benefits outweighing the costs.

There is more to terminal ballistics & accuracy than velocity. There are plenty of chamberings that get their 'work' done in 18-22" barrels, especially when you add a can on the end. This is not 1983, modern powders and calibers don't need a long runway to perform.

You have unrealistic expectations for a suppressed rifle, and use that unobtainable strawman to justify not having one. I would bet your kids could shoot this suppressed 6.5 PRC better, & for a longer duration of shots than your 28" 7 mag.

 

[Taudisio]

I hunt with a .22 lr as well as center fire guns. I don’t feel there’s a big adjustment between the two. If a can would make a 7 mag sound and recoil like a .22lr, I’d still want to keep the long barrel for the additional speed - my latest gun has a 28” barrel and I’m liking that more than the 26”.

If someone likes a can that’s great. If one of our kids wanted one I’d get it for their birthday, or loan ‘em the money today, but I’m just not sold on the benefits outweighing the costs.

I ask again, have you hunted with a suppressor?

 

[butcherboy]

What makes it worse is that hearing damage is cumulative. People sit here and rationalize these single shots. It doesn't matter if it's 20 shots in 10 minutes or 20 shots in 10 years. All the same for hearing damage.

And people that let their kids shoot with brakes? WTF. These guys are brain dead.

Nope, not brain dead yet….I’m just not a fan of cool aid. Also, why do the die hard supporters of suppressors automatically think that brake shooters are not using hearing protection? Notice I said hearing protection and not “ear pro”. That term drives me insane enough to be brain dead. I’m not in the cool kid shooting groups so it took me a long time to figure out that term. Thought it was some new kind of unbelievable hearing protection everyone was using.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Nope, not brain dead yet….I’m just not a fan of cool aid. Also, why do the die hard supporters of suppressors automatically think that brake shooters are not using hearing protection? Notice I said hearing protection and not “ear pro”. That term drives me insane enough to be brain dead. I’m not in the cool kid shooting groups so it took me a long time to figure out that term. Thought it was some new kind of unbelievable hearing protection everyone was using.

I just call it "ears" so I dunno if that's more cool or less cool.

 

[roadrunner]

I wonder how many people that won't associate with someone that doesn't use a "can" use nose pro, because when it rains, they could drown.

Be careful ridin' that high horse, it's a long way down to the ground...

 

[Scorpion]

Surprised there are so many luddites in this thread.

The only regret that I have is not getting a suppressor 10+ years ago. I have a TBAC Dominus that adds less than 6” and 9.5 oz to the rifle. It’s best on a 20” barrel but I just hunted in the Wyoming backcountry with a 24” 6.5 PRC without issue.

Not all suppressors are created equal, it sucks you can’t try before you buy, but there is a lot of good info out there online.

I am not a purest, I still hunt with unsuppressed rifles and do my best to wear ear pro when using them. There is no upside to exposing yourself to muzzle blast.

 

[Robobiss]

Nope, not brain dead yet….I’m just not a fan of cool aid. Also, why do the die hard supporters of suppressors automatically think that brake shooters are not using hearing protection? Notice I said hearing protection and not “ear pro”. That term drives me insane enough to be brain dead. I’m not in the cool kid shooting groups so it took me a long time to figure out that term. Thought it was some new kind of unbelievable hearing protection everyone was using.

Ear pro is the military designation/slang (at least in the Marines) for hearing protection/ear protection. How much of a nerd do you sound like when you say “hearing protection”? Say it in a nasally voice and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

“Before we step off for the range make sure you have a water source, an MRE, flak with sapis, Kevlar, gloves, eye pro (safety glasses) and *nerd voice* hEaRiNg PrOtEcTiOn or your ass is grass” it just doesn’t sound right.

If you weren’t aware, we spent the majority of the last couple decades fighting two wars in the Middle East. There’s a lot of dudes out there between 30-45 that fired a rifle for the first time and it was dubbed “ear pro” and has been ever since. A lot of people that are into guns, hunting and shooting were/are in the military. A disproportionate percentage are into such things when compared to civilians. Chances are “the gun guy” or “the hunting guy” in your department, on your job site, at your company etc. was a grunt, it’s been that way for generations. Guys that shot guns for a job and relied on them to stay alive like shooting guns at rates more than regular people. Hence military gun/shooting terms in popular gun culture.

It’s hard to call it anything else when at one point you’ve had to dig a grave in the treeline with your e-tool and bury your M4 (and have a funeral for it) because you couldn’t shoot the course of fire because you forgot your “ear pro”, or “eye pro”. “Here lies a colt M4 And Trijicon RCO. This rifle was put to death because the owner was a stupid (expletive) and didn’t pack what was on the gear list, without ear pro, it is useless. Now say you’re sorry to your rifle for letting it down” “I’m so sorry rifle”

It’s become more of an industry term as of late probably to do with some of the guntubers being military guys/operators on occasion, but the roots at the least are not in trend, just the military making up words for everyday items. Like ink stick (pen). Or moonbeam (flashlight). Some words stick, some don’t.