Why suppressors?

K9kodi

FNG
Joined
Dec 21, 2024
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10
I am an avid enthusiast of tools that go bang and boom. I have a couple I’ve made that run flawless with subsonic. Mostly 9mm cqb sorts. That is why is own the silencerco 46m.

But in. 300wm or 270, im not shooting sub sonics.
Besides maybe quieting down the sound of a slug being cut loose, what’s the point, your not silent like you are with with a sub sonic round.

This is not a post to stir debate or argue,
I’ve contemplated taking my 9mm suppressed sbr with sub rounds hunting for the close doe that walks within 25 yards so I can continue to hunt the bucks and bigger deer, but even with a can on my 300wm, the woods will awaken.
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2019
Messages
1,968
I am an avid enthusiast of tools that go bang and boom. I have a couple I’ve made that run flawless with subsonic. Mostly 9mm cqb sorts. That is why is own the silencerco 46m.

But in. 300wm or 270, im not shooting sub sonics.
Besides maybe quieting down the sound of a slug being cut loose, what’s the point, your not silent like you are with with a sub sonic round.

This is not a post to stir debate or argue,
I’ve contemplated taking my 9mm suppressed sbr with sub rounds hunting for the close doe that walks within 25 yards so I can continue to hunt the bucks and bigger deer, but even with a can on my 300wm, the woods will awaken.

Cans reduce muzzle blast that damages a shooters hearing and also reduces recoil.
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
729
While sonic cartridges won’t ever be subsonic quiet, the advantage is the rifle is still 20-30 db quieter. That’s the same as wearing foam ear plugs or adding muffs over foam plugs. Just because you have hearing protection it doesn’t mean your rifle isn’t damaging your hearing. A silencer helps and imho makes shooting more pleasant.
 
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K9kodi

FNG
Joined
Dec 21, 2024
Messages
10
I understand the hearing protection aspect, I use them quite a bit as a tool of the trade, but never entertained one for hunting as, maybe I’m an idiot, but the one shot I send for a deer isn’t gonna warrant me putting on ear pro. Dialing it in at the range, sure.
 

5811

WKR
Joined
Jan 25, 2023
Messages
638
The "THHWAACK" you hear when it impacts the animal is worth it alone. The non-24/7 ear ringing is just a side bonus.

Yes, one shot at a time adds up. Hearing damage is cumulative. You might not notice until irreparable damage has been done.

If muzzle flashes made you a little more blind every time, would you still say, "screw it, one at a time is fine"?
 

Bluefish

WKR
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Jan 5, 2023
Messages
729
I understand the hearing protection aspect, I use them quite a bit as a tool of the trade, but never entertained one for hunting as, maybe I’m an idiot, but the one shot I send for a deer isn’t gonna warrant me putting on ear pro. Dialing it in at the range, sure.
That one shot is doing damage. It’s cumulative and will add up over the years.
 
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Lowcountry, SC
I understand the hearing protection aspect, I use them quite a bit as a tool of the trade, but never entertained one for hunting as, maybe I’m an idiot, but the one shot I send for a deer isn’t gonna warrant me putting on ear pro. Dialing it in at the range, sure.

300WM is over 165dB. That's instant permanent hearing damage from just one shot.

Suppressors give reduced sound, reduced recoil, which reduces reactive shooting errors. CGS Hyperion is good for a full range day without hearing protection.
 

h2so4

WKR
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Colorado
In addition to the points about hearing safe made above, it always makes ranges sessions much more enjoyable with less potential for hearing damage after many shots with hearing protection.
 

USMC-40

WKR
Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Messages
570
Location
NW Missouri
I truly enjoy shooting more with a suppressor, I’ve been hard on my body, played CFB, spent time breaching in my old job, and at the end of a range session I’d often have a splitting headache. I don’t get them when shooting suppressed. Muzzle brakes and magnums aren’t good if you have any level of TBI
 

Caseknife

WKR
Joined
Feb 22, 2020
Messages
342
Believe it or not, but animals do not react the same to super-sonic suppressed rounds as they do to non-suppressed rounds. Yes there is still the sonic crack, but the concussion blast is greatly reduced and the animals do not immediately run off. There are a lot of people that think that any rifle shot, be it 22LR or 300 WM will scatter wildlife, I've seen quite the opposite happen numerous times. Just another loud noise in their daily lives and unless they can pinpoint exactly where it originated from, why run away. With suppressors it is a lot harder to locate the source of the noise.
 

mt100gr.

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NW MT
And while there's no silencing the sonic crack, in open country with a good suppressor, you will spook less game. Just this year my daughter shot a bedded buck at 300 yards. His head hit the dirt, DRT, and the 30 or so other bedded deer barely even looked around. We could have easily doubled up out of that herd had there been another shooter.
 

Hoopleheader

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
137
Its about hearing protection, not spooking game
Not according to our leader :
Huxwrx is same/same as OSS. They can barely be called “suppressors”. I have one sitting 3ft from me and if I could I would trade it out for basically any other decent can made, I would. They came about due to back pressure in semi autos causing reliability issues. Sure, they don’t cause reliability problems with over gassed guns, but they are loud. Really loud for a can.
They basically take all the gas and redirect it forward. The whole “at the shooters ear” doesn’t tell you the full story. First, “at the ear” on a range doesn’t take into account grass, rocks, rolling terrain, etc. that is in front of the shooter and reflects sound back. Then, one of the reasons to use a can is the animals reaction or lack there of, to a shot. With the Huxwrx/OSS- might as well be unsuppressed to animals.


Yes, basically any can is better than no can- however, but a better can. For hunting the JK armament cans work well and aren’t sub $500.
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
729
Believe it or not, but animals do not react the same to super-sonic suppressed rounds as they do to non-suppressed rounds. Yes there is still the sonic crack, but the concussion blast is greatly reduced and the animals do not immediately run off. There are a lot of people that think that any rifle shot, be it 22LR or 300 WM will scatter wildlife, I've seen quite the opposite happen numerous times. Just another loud noise in their daily lives and unless they can pinpoint exactly where it originated from, why run away. With suppressors it is a lot harder to locate the source of the noise.
Had this happen Saturday. 4 deer walked out into a field I was watching. Shot at the front doe, the first 3 ran off, the buck just sat there and then I took him as well.
 

np307

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 28, 2019
Messages
127
Location
North Carolina
I understand the hearing protection aspect, I use them quite a bit as a tool of the trade, but never entertained one for hunting as, maybe I’m an idiot, but the one shot I send for a deer isn’t gonna warrant me putting on ear pro. Dialing it in at the range, sure.
I had very similar thoughts as you. Then I had temporary hearing loss after a deer I shot this year. It will catch up to you eventually. The ringing is gone in my ears right now, but the next loud noise might be the one that brings it back. My rifle suppressor is on the way.
 
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
300
I understand the hearing protection aspect, I use them quite a bit as a tool of the trade, but never entertained one for hunting as, maybe I’m an idiot, but the one shot I send for a deer isn’t gonna warrant me putting on ear pro. Dialing it in at the range, sure.
Evenetually even the one shot here and there catches up with your ears. Im almost 40 now, tinnitus in both ears. I've actually coped fairly well with it now but at first it was hard to sleep. And it's hard to hear people talk in loud settings. Your hearing doesn't heal from damage. Take care of it!

Doesn't help that my shot here and there happened like once a week for the entire fall growing up because of coyote hunting with a 556 that wasn't suppressed. Suppressed rifles are still loud enough to damage hearing but not nearly as much.
 
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It allows you to shoot without causing permanent hearing damage (suppressor depending of course). Animals also react differently with suppressors. In my experience they have a difficult time determining where the sound is coming from and often run towards the shooter's location.

Outside of cost, I don't see a downside to suppressors. I doubt I will ever hunt without one.
 
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