Hunting is perhaps one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities you can participate in, and with the increasing popularity of suppressors, it’s only natural that people will ask if they can hunt with suppressors and, more importantly, is it worth it. The answer is, by and large, a resounding yes! Currently, 42 out of the 50 states allow suppressor ownership, and 41 of those 42 allow hunting with suppressors, meaning that most anyone who wants to do so can without having to travel far – if at all!
STATES THAT ALLOW SUPPRESSORS FOR HUNTING
As we mentioned, there are presently 42 states that allow ownership of suppressors, and 41 of them permit hunting with suppressors. This means that almost all of the best hunting spots in the country are open to suppressed hunting.
Only one suppressor-legal state – Connecticut – doesn’t allow hunting with suppressors.
If you live in Connecticut, consider connecting with local gun-rights advocacy groups and pressing your elected officials to embrace firearms and hunting safety by allowing the use of suppressors when hunting.
A BETTER HEARING PROTECTION SOLUTION FOR HUNTERS
Surveys have shown that 70%-80% of all hunters don’t wear any kind of hearing protection while in the field. That’s a big problem! By and large, the best form of hearing protection for the hunter and shooter today is the firearm silencer.
EXPOSURE TO RIFLE SHOTS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS
When a firearm’s report exceeds 140 decibels, this creates a dangerous and traumatic effect on the shooter’s hearing. Prolonged exposure to these noise levels will cause permanent hearing loss. There is even some evidence that noise levels below this threshold can be equally damaging. Studies have shown that for every five years of hunting, hunters become seven percent more likely to experience high frequency hearing loss.
An unsuppressed hunting rifle typically exceeds the decibel (dB) threshold for pain as established by OSHA. While suppressed firearms help a great deal in reducing the sound signature, the sound is still there.
In general, hunting with a suppressor can lessen the sound of most gunshots by anywhere from 25 to 35 decibels, depending on the silencer and caliber in question. This is below the threshold for most hearing protection commonly worn in or over the ears. If you hunt with dogs, it protects their hearing, too.
IS HUNTING WITH A SUPPRESSOR WORTH IT?
The simple answer is yes, hunting with a suppressor is worth it, and it always has been. They’re worth it in terms of the financial aspect as well as the hearing protection aspect. You can always make more money, but you can’t make your hearing come back.
Here are just a few of the reasons why hunting with a suppressor is worth it:
IT MAKES THE OUTDOORS QUIET AGAIN
Suppressors, when paired with the right firearm and ammo, reduce the sound of a gunshot to hearing safe levels, and “dull the edge” of the sound of a gunshot.
A SUPPRESSED RIFLE DOESN’T DISTURB THE GAME THAT YOU ARE AFTER
Animals have great hearing, and that’s to their benefit – not yours. The hearing of coyotes, squirrels, wild pigs, mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, moose, caribou, and plenty of other game animals all have incredible hearing. The sound of a gunshot can keep them out of their known territory for weeks at a time.
HUNTING WITH A SUPPRESSOR IS SAFER
Options for electronic ear muffs or ear buds that allow you to hear ambient noise while blocking the sound of gunfire are prevalent on the market and relatively affordable, but the fact remains that only 20% to 30% of hunters use hearing protection. Using a suppressor on your hunting rifle allows you to hear everything that is going on around you, and not damage your hearing when taking a shot.
ACCURACY IS IMPROVED WHEN SHOOTING WITH A SUPPRESSOR
This benefit has also been touted since the early 20th century. This is because the physics of a silencer reduces felt recoil and muzzle climb. With both of these factors greatly reduced, shooters find their rifles easier to shoot. So it isn’t that silencers make the gun more accurate per se, but they make it easier for YOU to shoot your gun more accurately.
WHICH SUPPRESSORS ARE BEST FOR HUNTING?
It could be argued that a suppressor is as important to a hunter as the firearm on which it is mounted. We see the sound suppressor as probably the number one firearm safety device to which every hunter and shooter should have direct access.
Determining which one is best for hunting comes down to personal preference, but we’re partial to the new BANISH Backcountry.
THE BEST HUNTING RIFLE NEEDS THE BEST SUPPRESSOR
Of course, we should consider what kind of rifle we are putting a suppressor on. As a general rule, any well-made rifle is suitable to be used as a suppressor host. The “best” suppressed hunting rifle really does become academic, because there is no single best hunting rifle. So we’ll assume you have a good rifle and want to put one of the best suppressors for hunting on it.
BANISH SUPPRESSORS FOR HUNTING
We are a tad bit biased towards our famous BANISH suppressor line, and for good reason. The all-titanium, user-serviceable and multi-caliber BANISH suppressor is truly the one that fits any gun. We designed the entire line to work with the most popular hunting and sporting rifle and handgun cartridges while offering true hearing-safe performance across a range of dozens of different cartridges. No other suppressor line offers the same kind of value, performance, and functionality as the BANISH suppressor. Plus, our newest addition to the Banish lineup – the Backcountry – is specifically geared towards the needs of hunters.
However, we know that people like consumer choice, and as the nation’s largest silencer dealer, we are happy to sell you whatever silencer you want.
YOUR HUNTING RIFLE NEEDS A THREADED BARREL
While it has become more popular for hunting rifles to come from the factory with a threaded barrel, it’s still not a guarantee that the brand new rifle you want will be offered with one.
There’s also a large segment of the hunting population who take to the field with their dad’s or granddad’s rifle each year as a proud family tradition. It’s highly unlikely that your vintage gun has a threaded barrel, so you’ll need to have someone do that for you in order to use a suppressor.
You could trust your rifle to a gunsmith using hand tools or inexpensive machine tools and hope that they’ll do the job right, or you could have your barrel threaded on a state-of-the-art CNC machine that cuts more perfect threads than are possible by any other means.
That’s why we offer an easy mail-in barrel threading program! Our state-of-the-art machines will do a more perfect job than even most factories are capable of, and the best part is that it’s incredibly easy and affordable!
GET SUPPRESSED BEFORE YOU HUNT
Are you ready to own a suppressor for your hunting rifle? Great! You’ve come to the right place! That’s exactly what Silencer Central is here for.
Our dedicated expert staff can help you select the perfect suppressor for your hunting rifle that meets your unique combination of budget, performance, and end-use.
Silencer Central is the nation’s largest silencer dealer and we can sell to residents of all 42 states where suppressors are legal, so we know what it takes to navigate the laws for your specific state. Plus, we are the only silencer dealer who can perform the entire transaction from purchase to submitting ATF paperwork, to delivering your suppressor entirely by mail!
We also offer a FREE NFA gun trust to all our customers that not only makes registering your suppressor easy but serves as a trust for all your NFA devices.
No matter if you are an experienced silencer owner or are just getting your first hunting rifle suppressor, we are here for you. Get ahold of us today and let’s get you started with selecting the best suppressor for hunting right now.