Do any of you use a suppressor on your .375 HH or bigger gun?

Why?

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Do any of you use a suppressor on your .375 HH or bigger gun?

Rhino poachers have started too.

Think they are banned in Zim.



Mike

My husband with fragile retinas had a suppressor built into his 416. It could be turned off or on. He did use it, because of the recoil and his eyes, but otherwise I wouldn't think necessary Ross.
It scares the trackers and everyone else. Not worth the blast. I think the recoil from a 375 is easily manageable without a suppressor. Just my 2 cents.

Best regards, D. Nelson

I am talking about a noise suppressor, not a muzzle brake. It haelps with recoil but knocks the noise way down.

Suppressors (silencers) were designed for assassins and poachers ..... and in recent times for game farmers who do not want their animals to associate the bang with death and keep the shoot as easy as possible.

Ok I don't know anything about noise suppressors, but the idea of being quieter "sounds" good to me! Probably very beneficial if follow up shots are necessary! (Which I'm always prepared to be necessary.)

I'd love to know the consensus on this one.

Best regards, D. Nelson

No but I did just buy one for my 300 that I use most often. I have yet to try it.

Illegal in Zimbabwe.

I have always thought those things look horrible cluttering the clean lines of a rifle. Not to mention the weight and balance issues on a DGR...

Not on any of my rifles except a pig/varmit rifle. And then only a "maybe" at best.

I have one on my .300WM and have on in .458 ordered for a .375 or .416 that is under construction.

I am sold on them as a way to save my hearing and improve my shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
Suppressors (silencers) were designed for assassins and poachers ..... and in recent times for game farmers who do not want their animals to associate the bang with death and keep the shoot as easy as possible.

LOL
Or folks that wish to preserve their hearing.

Do you hunt buffalo with a .45-70?

Added a suppressor to my now fiance's .308 for her first trip to Africa. Couldn't be happier with how well it performed. No ringing ears, less recoil, and no muzzle blast = no flinching and a confident shot. Especially for someone who just started shooting and hunting a year ago it was the best thing I could've done. Made shooting my .300 RUM almost painful with its muzzle brake. Have never seen a suppressor on a .375 but don't know why it would be a bad idea?

Silencers on firearms used to be banned in this country probably because they had overtones of criminal use although in reality they weren't involved in this activity. Too many people reading James Bond.
When called suppressors they were most always just used on 22RF rifles and the law turned a blind eye to their advertising and use.

Over the last few years suppressors for larger calibre rifles have become extremely popular, I wouldn't be far off if I said around 80-90% of the rifles used for hunting here now have suppressors fitted, virtually the norm nowadays.
Several companies in NZ make, supply and fit them for rifles from the .17RF to most of the magnums. In general the suppressors fitted to the 7mm and larger magnums are limited to 3 consecutive shots because of the heating effect on the suppressor. They definitely make any rifle much more pleasant to shoot, obviously much quieter and also reducing recoil. I don't use one myself as I don't like the extra length and weight. My son has a suppressor on his 7mm-08 and it is nice to shoot, the suppressor really does muffle the sound down to where it doesn't travel even out in the open country.

Yep good for shooting those farm deer in the paddock off the road

Most often barrel length is trimmed to 20-22" so the rifle is not overly long when the suppressor is fitted, and to me this negates the effectiveness of the magnums somewhat but for the '08 and '06 case sized cartridges trimming the barrel has some but not too greater effect on MV.

I don't know how suppressors would go on the big bores, I imagine the heat generated from the big volume of hot gas being ejected from the barrel maybe too much for suppressors. I don't think I will be threading my Mauser 404 muzzle for one just yet.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
I have always thought those things look horrible cluttering the clean lines of a rifle. Not to mention the weight and balance issues on a DGR...

Not on any of my rifles except a pig/varmit rifle. And then only a "maybe" at best.

+1

Analog. Please tell me what make of single shot that is. Thanks, Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Analog. Please tell me what make of single shot that is. Thanks, Brian

It's a CVA Elite Stalker that cost $239 on GunBroker. Originally, I wanted to cut down a Ruger #1 for subsonic use, but I didn't want to ruin the resale value of a $1,000 rifle if the project didn't pan out, so I figured that I'd trying things out with the cheapest rifle that had a reputation for actually working.

I didn't have much luck with the subsonic loads. I tried a variety of powders, but kept getting flyers. I also watched a number of people experience very poor hunting results with subsonic projectiles on hogs, so the combination of the two factors made me move away from that idea. Currently, I've got two loads, a soft shooting 350 grain load @ 1400 fps (chrono) that is dead on @ 50 yards and 1" low at 100. The second load is a much more aggressive 400 grain bullet @ 1750 (per book) that's 1" high at 50 and dead on @ 100. The rifle itself is rated for loads up to lever gun strength. The barrel has been trimmed down to 17" to avoid the necessity of a second tax stamp. The suppressor is a Bowers Vers 458. When I began the project, I wanted to try soft-cast lead bullets for low velocity expansion contrary to the recommendation of the manufacturer, so I gave them a call to talk over the idea. I found the Bowers people to be very helpful and recommend their service / support very highly. The actual suppressor unit itself is rated for velocities up to 2600 fps (from memory), but I'd give Bowers a call before I mounted one on a .458 WinMag.

The CVA has a fairly heavy but usable trigger, and I actually like the rifle now, much to my surprise. It's comparatively light (I've switched to a lighter scope), and short enough to be reasonably handy. Every accessory on the rifle costs more than the rifle itself. I posted it tongue-in-cheek because of all the horrible old ".45/70 on buffalo" threads, but the combo is actually quite functional. I bought the rifle as a chump gun and it ended up being not so chumpy.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaco Human:

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
I have always thought those things look horrible cluttering the clean lines of a rifle. Not to mention the weight and balance issues on a DGR...

Not on any of my rifles except a pig/varmit rifle. And then only a "maybe" at best.

+1

I truly struggled with the idea of using one until I used one on a trip to Botswana with the Eaton's. I used a Blaser R8 .300WM with a suppressor and was literally shocked at how easy it was to shoot. My wife stood next to me while I shot 17 animals. Not once did she put her fingers in her ears. It was a soft "pop". Further, the muzzle jump was nothing. I actually saw the animal take the shot and fall on each shot. Lastly, the "barrel heavy" nature of the gun improved my shooting by a long ways. No flinch, no pulling shots, no high shoots. I am sold on them regardless of how the funny gun looks.

With any luck the most recently suggested bill will materialize and pass - not only removing suppressors from the NFA regs, but classifying these devices as firearm accessories which require no registration at all to purchase or own.

I strongly support the use of suppressors. Reducing report to essentially the supersonic crack of the bullet makes for much more pleasant shooting and no need for muffs or ear plugs. Recoil reduction, if that's important to you, is significant. Young or new shooters are much less likely to develop a flinch (noise or recoil).

There seems to be a large gap between the .338 and the .50 cals, but if removed from NFA regs with the associated BS waiting period and "register to a trust" crap, this market will explode and other opions will soon be available.

I have 4 of them on my pig arsenal. They are fun. I expect them to be terrific for training my grandchildren to shoot.

BTW, Bowers makes a Vers 50 designed for the .50 Beowulf, but the maximum velocity rating is lower (2200 fps from memory) than the Vers 458, which is one of the reasons that I went with the 458 model.

I've seen .50 BMG suppressors, but they're gigantic and only "portable" in a military sense. It would be interesting to try the Vers 458 on a 20" .458 WinMag. I've got a suppressed Voere .30-06 (direct thread) with a 20" barrel, and I think the combo too long for a DGR. That's one of the advantages of the single shot: shorter OAL with the same barrel length.

From top to bottom:

.500 A-Square with 23" barrel.
.378 Brevex Mauser with 25.6" barrel.
.30-06 Voere with a 20" barrel and a Griffin Armaments Sportsman DT.
.45-70 CVA Elite Stalker with 17" barrel and a Bowers Vers 458.

Analog,
I have a Bowers coming for my .375HH. I ordered 310 days ago. Should be approved in the next 60 days.
I will report on it.

While I suspect it will help for practice and such, there is no way on gods green earth that I would want to try and take one on an African hunt. I get enough issues with just a rifle, expecting both our and the African government officials to deal with import/export of a restricted item (NFS and probably on a DOD defensive item restriction list) is way more than I am willing to mess with. Some European nations with a long history of use might be a nonissue, but can you think you would get through Atlanta in time to make any same day connection????

quote:

Originally posted by analog_peninsula:
BTW, Bowers makes a Vers 50 designed for the .50 Beowulf, but the maximum velocity rating is lower (2200 fps from memory) than the Vers 458, which is one of the reasons that I went with the 458 model.

I've seen .50 BMG suppressors, but they're gigantic and only "portable" in a military sense. It would be interesting to try the Vers 458 on a 20" .458 WinMag. I've got a suppressed Voere .30-06 (direct thread) with a 20" barrel, and I think the combo too long for a DGR. That's one of the advantages of the single shot: shorter OAL with the same barrel length.

From top to bottom:

.500 A-Square with 23" barrel.
.378 Brevex Mauser with 25.6" barrel.
.30-06 Voere with a 20" barrel and a Griffin Armaments Sportsman DT.
.45-70 CVA Elite Stalker with 17" barrel and a Bowers Vers 458.

Analog, did you get barrels threaded locally? If so, do you mind sharing the contact?

Analog, Thanks for the info. I like those cheap sigle shots. I and Ed Hubel made up a H&R Handi Rifle into a 577 NE (24ga From Hell) I have hunted cape buffalo with it A photo of it is on the Big bore forum, 585 Hubel.

.

Ross,

Would I need two for the double rifle - one per barrel ? Might be tricky to screw them on!?

But on a serious note ...

1/ excellent piece of kit if you do a lot of shooting
2/ a God send for your ears and hearing
3/ can improve your shooting but will not cure a poor shot

On the downside

1/ to me they just look terrible in game photographs - bulky, ugly things
2/ they are still not legal in Germany (where we have our guns registered) and you need special approvals from the firearms police first
3/ dont know if they help on accuracy or just make for a more comfortable shot ... same result maybe in a round about way.
4/ need to check whether they are legal in the countries that one plans to use them in

Please do post pictures of the results.


Cheers

.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
On the downside
1/ to me they just look terrible in game photographs - bulky, ugly things

My plan is to carry a second rifle that's more visually appealing for the photographs. Besides, I'd never want to scratch the wood on my customs by actually using them for hunting. I'm also making my clothing selection for the hunt with help from the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6q3_ltfzQc

For rifle calibers upto 375H&H a supressor makes the world of difference when it comes to clamping down on noise and recoil moderation.

I have them on all my calibers except the Sauer 200 in 308Win.

Now for the 375H&H and the 460G&A I would not even think of adding a suppressor.

If you have problems with noise use your ear protection on the shooting range, out in the field you rarely shoot in an environment that will damage your ears due to noise.

I enjoy recoil of a rifle so has never had issues with it on the range and while hunting you dont feel the recoil anyway.

I recently stood next to a Blazer 375H&H with a muzzle brake on and what an unpleasant experience at each shot....

I can not own one as a US Citizen in Germany, even though I own a German Hunting license.
They are now legal in Bayern and Rheinland Pfalz and a few other states. Not sure what state you have your firearms licensed in.

Here in the Pfalz, they are legal for hunting. You have to have a reason, and your reason can be that you want to keep your hearing.

I am wondering of anyone makes a suppressor for a wife? That might help my hearing loss!

I am making a joke, don't take that too seriously.

Suppressors, or moderators as we call them in the UK, are popular and in particular with new shooters buying their first kit. Can't help feeling they are pushed hard by retailers etc as there is good margin in them. There have been problems with scopes - with a moderated rifle the recoil pulse is back and forth vibration, rather than straight back and this has caused several scope failures.

I have also seen mods fail - we recorded 200 fps as one was sent downrange over a chronograph by a 300 win mag.

They are unsightly and heavy, although latest generation titanium ones are improving things. Most new entrants to stalking now know no difference and can only ever shot off a bipod or shooting sticks and haven't a clue how to handle recoil - they all use the cross arm hold with free hand on the butt.

Because of moderators, a lot of rifles now have 20 or even 18 or 16" barrels and of course they are very noisy unmoderated. A 24" or 26" (in a break action) really keeps the noise down.

I was talking with - no not talking with, but being talked at, a large fully camoed hunter in a gun shop last year extolling the vertues of his plastic stocked moderated horribleness and how he never made any noise, and was the eppitomy of stealth when he was out shooting deer at ....... b s ranges - we all know the type. Then he went on on how he shot 200 pigeons with a shotgun later on in the same field. So much for being quiet in the countryside. And I bit he is helping himself to deer from where he should not.

I can see the merits of a mod on a vermin calibre rifle used around buildings, at night or with livestock. Otherwise they are, to my mind, just unnecessary weight and another thing just to go wrong.

On a DGR you want fast handling - something you wont get with a moderator, and if you are a PH or a guide, suspect most shots fired are warning shots to discourage something you don't want to shoot getting much closer. A moderated rifle is going to be of little use in that regard I would have thought.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I am wondering of anyone makes a suppressor for a wife? That might help my hearing loss!

I am making a joke, don't take that too seriously.

Having met your delightful wife, I think the noise you hear is not coming from her.....