Seven Reasons Why You Need To Hunt With A Suppressor

Have you been thinking about buying a suppressor but are unsure if it’s a worthwhile investment? I felt the same way, and now I only hunt with suppressors. Here’s why.

by Brad Fitzpatrick

Not so long ago, I wasn’t interested in owning a suppressor. Sure, it would have been nice to have a hearing-safe hunting rifle. Still, I wasn’t sure it was worth the hassle of wading through paperwork and setting up trusts just to own a silencer.

I swore off suppressors a few years ago. The process seemed like too much work. Today, however, I own five of them. Several factors precipitated this change. First, I didn’t really appreciate how simple it was to own a suppressor or how beneficial they could be until I bought my first can. Now, every new hunting rifle I purchase must have a threaded barrel because I don’t plan on hunting without a can unless local law forbids it.

I’ll lay out the events that brought about this dramatic about-face. In doing so, I believe I may answer several of the questions I had when I purchased my first silencer and will shed light on some myths that inhibit hunters from owning suppressors. Here are seven key reasons why you should be hunting with a suppressor.

What You Think You Know About Suppressors Is Probably Wrong

Most Americans learned everything they know about suppressors (or silencers—the words are used interchangeably in hunting and shooting circles) from Hollywood, and it’s largely bunk. First, suppressors/silencers don’t truly “silence” guns. Real silencers sound nothing like the zippy sound effects we’ve seen in films. Most suppressors drop noise levels by about 30 decibels. This is enough to make them hearing-safe. They are not, however, silent. Research has shown that legally purchased suppressors are rarely used in crimes. In places like southern Africa, New Zealand, and Europe, not using a suppressor is considered rude, and it is very much like driving a car without a muffler.

The Process Is Simpler Than You Might Think

The primary hurdle that prevents hunters from buying a suppressor is the paperwork involved with owning a silencer. That’s what kept me from buying one,. Then, I met Brandon Maddox. A pharmacist by trade, Maddox decided to build his Silencer Central brand around simplifying the sometimes arduous process of buying a suppressor. In doing so, he has streamlined the purchase process. Silencer Central will send you fingerprint cards, walk you through the purchasing process, and ship the silencer directly to your door when the ATF approves your Form 4 paperwork. They will also help you set up a trust. A trust grants access to the suppressor to other individuals over 18 years of age who are named on the trust. Silencer Central even offers interest-free payment plans so you can pay for your suppressor and tax stamp ($200) over time as you wait for approval. Speaking of approval times, they are down considerably. You can expect to wait a few months or even less for your suppressor. This is far better than the year or more it took to get a can just a few years ago.

You Can Hunt With Suppressors In More Areas Than You Might Imagine

It’s currently legal to own a suppressor in 42 states and hunt with them in 41 states (Connecticut is the only place where suppressor ownership is legal but hunting with them is not). That means you can probably buy a suppressor and hunt with it where you live. Plus, you can legally travel with a suppressor to other states. I carry a digital copy of my Form 4 but have never had issues with hunting in different states. Likewise, you can hunt with a suppressor in many foreign countries. Places like New Zealand have strict gun laws, but the use of suppressors is commonplace and you are welcomed (and encouraged by most outfitters) to use a suppressor there. If you travel internationally, you’ll need to fill out a Form 4453 (the same you fill out to carry a firearm abroad) to show that you brought the suppressor with you and did not purchase it internationally, but the process is painless. 

Suppressors Improve Your Performance in The Field

This is one of the most compelling reasons to own a suppressor. The added weight of a suppressor at the front of the firearm helps mitigate recoil. A muzzle brake accomplishes the same thing, but whereas muzzle brakes increase muzzle blast, suppressors decrease blast. We flinch because we anticipate pain and often associate pain with recoil energy. However, our brains consider load, sudden noises (such as muzzle blasts) painful. Both free recoil and muzzle blast cause us to flinch. A suppressor helps minimize both of those. It’s more pleasant to shoot a gun that is suppressed, and most people quickly find that they are more focused shooters when they fire a gun with a suppressor. This way, you can focus entirely on hitting your target without the distraction of impending pain.   

Modern Rifles Are Built For Suppressors

Once upon a time, having a suppressor meant you very likely had to have your barrel threaded to accept a can. Today, though, most new hunting rifles come with pre-cut threads. There are a variety of thread patterns cut onto rifle barrels. The most common are 5/8 x 24, M13 x .75, 11/16 x 24, and ½ x 28, depending upon caliber. Finding an adapter that mates the threads on your rifle to the threads on your suppressor is generally very easy, and these adapters are affordable. Many modern rifles come with barrels that range from 18 to 22 inches, so you can add a six-inch suppressor to the rifle without making it unwieldy. Even if you hunt with an older rifle, you can have the barrel threaded. Silencer Central even offers a barrel threading service to its customers to cut your barrel to match your silencer. 

You Won’t Scare Game (Or The Neighbors)

Since I began hunting with suppressors, I’ve noticed that game does not respond the same way to the sound of a suppressed shot as to the report of an unsuppressed rifle. This is particularly nice when hunting coyotes and a pair of dogs come to the call. In most instances, the crack of an unsuppressed rifle sends the second ‘yote scrambling for the hills, but a suppressed shot may give you time to make the shot. I’ve found the same to be true of elk, antelope, whitetail, and black bear, but suppressors are perhaps most valuable when hunting small game.

A suppressed .22 round doesn’t seem to alarm squirrels, and I’ve shot a pair from the same tree in rapid succession using a suppressed rifle. Suppressors also quiet your firearms so you’ll have a friendly relationship with your neighbors. I can legally shoot without a suppressor, but it’s more pleasant for the folks living down the street if I shoot with a can.    

You’re Protecting Your Hearing

Last but certainly not least, suppressors protect your hearing. Even a single shot from a centerfire rifle can permanently damage your hearing, and the effects are cumulative. Most people who use earplugs or muffs assume the noise levels are safe, but you could even damage your hearing while wearing hearing protection. Plus, I hate keeping track of ear plugs in the field and don’t like wearing electronic hearing protection. These aren’t issues with a suppressor since I know that my rifle is hearing-safe.