Texas, and now Wyoming have legalized suppressors for hunting. Why has this became such a big deal?

A good question. Been wondering myself. And there'll be some along shortly who're in favor of it to explain.

My take though is, it's an idea that's taken on sort of a life of its own and once the bandwagon starts rolling, then there you are.

Personally I'd want nothing to do with it. Nor with magnaporting for that matter. I've stood next to guys shooting trap who had those, and it's a plain nuisance.

However, I do think it'd be just the ticket for deer poachers. No self respecting spot lighter will be without one.

But I like to hear it when others are in the area shooting, for different reasons. Safety for one, or just curiousity, or to know how the opening day is going down on nearby and distant farms. Or to know that my pal on the other side of the farm just got one, and when exactly.

I also just plain LIKE a gun to go BANG!

..embrace the boom, I say...

I have no opinion one way or the other at this point in time. Many Thanks for your input Shack.

As I stated in the title, I am just curious and wanted to get an idea as to the importance of using a suppressor.

GA legalized them last year and I had some of the same questions. But they have been legal in some European countries for some time and what they say is it is a courtesy to the land owner. Not making all the noise and such. I do see the problem with poachers using them but then again how many poachers are going to go thru the hassle of getting the license and everything if they are not willing to hunt properly?

Wander over to the European forum and you'll find out that they don't understand why you wouldn't have a suppressor and I agree. You want a poachers weapon it's the crossbow.

Supressors quiet the shot down nicely and make shooting just a hell of a lot more enjoyable. As for poaching, you can still hear the gunshot a good long ways off so don't worry about the myth of suppressor a being totally silent. In areas of high human population they would definitely keep shooting as a neighbour friendly activity. Think of all the negativive feelings that a gun range can produce simply because the neighbours can hear shooting all day long.

I see no realistic downside to suppressors.

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Supressors quiet the shot down nicely and make shooting just a hell of a lot more enjoyable. As for poaching, you can still hear the gunshot a good long ways off so don't worry about the myth of suppressor a being totally silent. In areas of high human population they would definitely keep shooting as a neighbour friendly activity. Think of all the negativive feelings that a gun range can produce simply because the neighbours can hear shooting all day long.

I see no realistic downside to suppressors.

+1
The 34 ban on surpressors one the worse public health desions made. How many millions have loss their hearing because of it.

Not only do the state have to do away with their bans. We need to do away with the 34 law also.

I can belive any one would be against their use.
Campare them to porting when they have just the opposite effect HUH.

I think standing next to some one and not getting your ears blown out would be a great benifit.

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A poachers weapon is nothing more than his/her brain.

Very True!

I would love to have them on my predator rifles. Would make doubles or more easier. Less hearing damage for big game if you were in a stand but I don't think I'd want one while stalking, or still hunting.

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Originally posted by BigNate:
I would love to have them on my predator rifles. Would make doubles or more easier. Less hearing damage for big game if you were in a stand but I don't think I'd want one while stalking, or still hunting.

Having the choice is the way to go.

Interesting comments. I doubt I would ever want or use one, but I can see some of the reasoning behind them and was aware that they are fairly standard equipment in Europe. So far the only comment that has been made a couple of times at least that I question, involves hunting from a stand.

Shooting from enclosed stands/blinds is pretty much SOP here in Texas. From my experiences, no one ever shoots with the muzzle still inside the stand. They have the gun rested on the window sill and the muzzle is well outside the stand, and to me, that seems to reduce the muzzle blast due to the small opening the shot is being taken thru, and the blind acts as somewhat of a baffle.

I do see the advantages such as shooting feral hogs and hunting/shooting in populated areas.

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Originally posted by David Culpepper:
GA legalized them last year and I had some of the same questions. But they have been legal in some European countries for some time and what they say is it is a courtesy to the land owner. Not making all the noise and such. I do see the problem with poachers using them but then again how many poachers are going to go thru the hassle of getting the license and everything if they are not willing to hunt properly?

To the best of my knowledge you are incorrect, the bill did not make it out of committee, it is held up in committee again this year. Personally I am opposed.

Wyoming became the 28th state to allow them for hunting when Governor Mead signed the Bill last month. Here's a link showing all the states and what is legal and what is not. They are still not legal for hunting in Georgia.

http://www.gem-tech.com/store/...AW%20COMPILATION.pdf

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Originally posted by tom ga hunter:

quote:

Originally posted by David Culpepper:
GA legalized them last year and I had some of the same questions. But they have been legal in some European countries for some time and what they say is it is a courtesy to the land owner. Not making all the noise and such. I do see the problem with poachers using them but then again how many poachers are going to go thru the hassle of getting the license and everything if they are not willing to hunt properly?

To the best of my knowledge you are incorrect, the bill did not make it out of committee, it is held up in committee again this year. Personally I am opposed.

Tom, you are correct the bill passed the senate, 48-5, but died in the house. Guess I was just remembering it passing the senate and decided to ignore what happened in the house.

Recently I was out at our farm during the week when usually few other hunters are in that area. Deer season now being over. We were doing this and that when I heard what sounded like dogs chasing something on the next farm. We couldn't see them but they were somewhat close. Two to three hundred yards maybe but over the back hill on our place. And it kept up til I realized it was hunting dogs. Then I heard people hollering. And the sound was rising and falling on the wind. But, anyway eventually I started hearing sporadic shooting and it sounded like smallbore and shotguns. Getting closer.

I suppose I didn't really need to do anything, but out of an abundance of caution I took out my .22 handgun and fired into a log in front of me where I was standing. And the noise and shooting from beyond my far treeline then stopped and gradually started moving away back toward whoever's property that was.

Now, what's the point of all that? It's, "hey, someone's over here". Nice not overly obvious way of signalling.

In any event, the suppressor thing REALLY doesn't need to get to be the "next fad" in guns where that's about the only kind you can buy. Kinda like camo guns and black plastic stocks.

As for how they do it in Europe I'm sure I don't know. But in the U.S. you don't have to have a suppressor to not disturb the landowner. He might WANT to know who's hunting near his house (you're supposed to stay so far from homes or public roads - we all know that). Or, he's probably hunting WITH you, or is 100 miles away picking up his hunting lease check in the mail from you, or he IS you.

Btw, in the days before hunters started carrying walkie-talkies, we used to have an agreement, that three pistol shots meant someone needed urgent help.

2nd btw, I once heard a suppressed Ruger .22 fired indoors at a pile of phonebooks. It was one piece integral with the receiver or upper. Sounded like a cough, nothing more. Just like in the movie "Casino". Great lesson on how them "Goodfellas" found plenty of use for it. And yet another good objection to the whole idea.

I was also shown an Uzi with a suppressor. Big old clumsy looking cylinder on the barrel end. Bigger than the gun itself. I was told it was too noisy to fire indoors, so we didn't try it.

Anyhow, a .22 Magnum rifle with a suppressor in the hands of a good head shooter combined with a night vision scope or spot light will be tough on the deer. You could take down a whole herd at one sitting. And don't think it won't be done once this cat gets out of the bag. It will.

As far as poaching a determined individual can get a suppressor right now, it's the law abiding folks who don't have them.

Shack it seems that you heard the dogs first, or am I misunderstanding that? In that case you already knew something was up.

If the fellow was hunting on his own property and shooting on his own property, what was the need to "return fire'? Did you get rained on by shotgun pellets? Did you hear rifle bullets passing overhead? As a guess, if it was daylight and there were dogs involved, it was probably rabbit hunters. So your"peril" was rather remote. Especially if they were over the hill from you.

Yeah, I'm sure it was rabbit hunters. Bird dogs don't sound like that. And it was a real remote chance, but I don't want any stray .22 bullets coming over toward me and my wife and I didn't want to get into a lot of hollering or anything. And until I heard the shooting I thought it might be one of our area's packs of wild dogs, which you are REAL smart to avoid, and it was keeping me from going over to that area of my place to do some things until whatever it was moved on.

And besides all that, a friend of mine's wife died because of something like that going on that involved a .22. And besides that when I was young I once had a .22 bullet sizzle right by my ear from the next farm (we ran into the guy who fired it).

I don't need to actually hear bullets going overhead to do something. What I did worked just fine.

The point being I don't see much practical need for suppressors. And as for the hearing thing, I use ear plugs. The custom molded kind. They work great even for 30-06 and 12 ga.

quote:

Originally posted by Shack:
Yeah, I'm sure it was rabbit hunters. Bird dogs don't sound like that. And it was a real remote chance, but I don't want any stray .22 bullets coming over toward me and my wife and I didn't want to get into a lot of hollering or anything. And a friend of mine's wife died because of something like that going on that involved a .22. And until I heard the shooting I thought it might be one of our areas's packs of wild dogs, which you are REAL smart to avoid, and it was keeping me from going over to that area of my place to do some things until whatever it was moved on.

I don't need to actually hear bullets going overhead to do something. What I did worked just fine.

The point being I don't see much practical need for suppressors. And as for the hearing thing, I use ear plugs. The custom molded kind. They work great even for 30-06 and 12 ga.

How do bird dogs sound when they're hunting? If the group was not trespassing over beyond a hill like you mentioned, it sounds like you're a little paranoid about getting shot. Do you realize the odds are much greater that you'll have an accident on your farm than get shot by a hunter? As far as suppressors, do you realize that they have to be registered with a bunch of Federal paperwork and a $200 tax per unit just to even have one in your possession? I really doubt that a poacher is going to go out and legally register one with Uncle Sam if he's going to violate the law in any manner! Are you also against "black guns"? The reason I ask is that legally used the black gun or the suppressor will do no harm and to be against either one really plays into the hands of the anti gun nuts!!! Finally, if you actually have a pack of wild dogs in the area, are you doing anything like shooting them on sight if it's legal or getting the authorities to do something if you can't do the dirty deed legally yourself?

If a pack of wild dogs or a coyote gets in range, the first thing they should do is duck.

And yeah, bird dogs don't sound at all when they're hunting...do I really need to say that??

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Originally posted by Shack:
If a pack of wild dogs or a coyote gets in range, the first thing they should do is duck.

And yeah, bird dogs don't sound at all when they're hunting...do I really need to say that??

You're funny! Now, how about answering the pertinent questions I asked or did I get a little too close to the truth since you were pretty silent on the main ones I asked? Maybe I got you to thinking, huh?

You're trying to turn this into some kind of political argument and I'm not going to play your game.

And I don't do requests.

And "black guns" has got nothing to do with this. It's black gun STOCKS (also called synthetic stocks) that's become a fad that I ain't interested in, but that's about it.

Having just returned from 4 years living in the UK, and with all my rifles there with suppressors, my take is the following:

- for cull hunting or meat shooting (as the UK vision of big game, is more on the Game Management aspect of things, and the real shooting being birds - not my way of looking at it, but the prevailing way in the UK) its great. No noise for the other animals. No noise for the landowner (if you're on a lease). You don't scare Jack and Jill out for their Saturday / Sunday walk in the woods. There is a "cool" factor

BUT: I hated the lines of the rifles (which were all synthetic / black) and would never put one of a nicer rifle with wood stock and all.

- for just plain plincking it would be fun / shooting predators and such

On the poachers weapon issue - I understand the argument, but there are TONS of guys jacking deer with spotlights were I live who don't have suppressors, and that doesn't stop them (not get G&F there any faster I might add).

Just my 2 pence...

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Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Texas, and now Wyoming have legalized suppressors for hunting. Why has this became such a big deal?

CHC. My twopence worth and definitely my own pp here.
In UK employers could see compensation claims for hearing loss coming up from professional stalkers,gamekeepers and the like.
Suddenly we were inundated, about thirty years ago, to fit reflex suppressors on full bore rifles.
Before that it was common to see Parker Hale type suppressors on .22lr,s for rabbit shooting.
Could there be a similar senario in the States?Personally speaking, i only use them on my full bore rifles when im at the range. Never when stalking.jc

Unless you are shooting sub sonic ammo the crack of the bullet breaking the sound barrier is still there

Ive shot a 308 suppressed with sub sonic ammo and was amazed how fun it was

Folks, it was just a question, no need to turn it into anything more than it is.

It appears to be that it works out to personal choice, which to me falls right in there with wood vs. synthetic stocks/variable vs. fixed power scopes/bolt vs. lever vs. semi-auto ad nauseum.

Thanks for the answers folks. I can see the good points and really don't see any negative, but it is just something I am not interested in using on my rifles.

Wrong song Ol'Biker.

I merely wanted to find out the reasons why so many folks are interested in getting and using them. Folks listed some valid reasons. While I am not interested in using one, I can see why some folks want to.

Bird dogs can sound like bells or beeps depending on the cover hunted and what type of collar people have.

I will look into a suppresed 22 for ground squirrels and maybe a 223 for p-dogs. It appears to be a bit of paperwork to get one and I doubt poachers would go thru the work to get one.

For saving your hearing and not bothering neighbors it seems like a great idea.

BigB

I'm pretty deaf in my left ear (Wear a hearing aid) and don't hear very well with my right. The silencer on my 22/45 Lite helps preserve what little I have left and I enjoy shooting it very much. Now if I could just get all the others on the range to use them.

I have a silenced 22 pistol and it is a kick in the pants to shoot. The loudest thing is the noise the bullet makes when it hits whatever it hits.

I have also shot subsonic ammo out of a 300 Whisper and there is no recoil and its just FUN

+1 drum

The impact on a steel target is louder than the muzzle blast

Sub sonic ammo only for this result I must stress

About 10 years ago I bought a .22 caliber suppressor, made by George Vias. He then threaded 3 of my heavy barrel rugers for it. A .22lr, .22mag, and a .223. I do alot of varmint shooting with them, and this gives me lots of options. Ted Thorn was spot on about the report of the supersonic bullet. The suppressor only muffles the report of the muzzle blast, not the sonic crack of the bullet. It's amazing how much of the report of a gunshot is actually the supersonic report of the bullet, traveling downrange. And the signature of that bullet report varies due to what the bullet passes by. In the timber it's quite loud, out in the desert, not so.....nothing for it to reflect off of, back to you. Subsonic is completely different. No bullet sound at all. Just the click of the firing pin, and the thump of the bullet hitting. I've had as many as 12 rockchucks out sunning, and killed them all, as fast as I could work the bolt. One shot with a .223, suppressed or not, would have sent the other 11 down the hole. The accuracy of .22 subsonic is also surprising, especially at distance. Coming back through the sound barrier causes the bullet to loose its stability, and that's not an issue with these loads.

I also load subsonic 12 ga loads for crows and pigeons. I use the ported metro barrel with a browning pump gun. The report is about like someone slamming a car door. And the patterns it throughs are very tight and consistent, because the shot doesn't get deformed going through the firing process. Only down side here is the length of the ported tube......about 32", added to the length of your shotgun barrel. But it's brutal on even heavily hunted crows. And I can shoot pigeons right over the dairy cows, at the milking barn.

I think hollywood has given suppressors the image of guns and loads that magically become totally silent......along with the bad guy/hitman thing. I only wish that all my guns had them. My hearing would be much better because of it. Andy

I agree with Andy#3 about the varmints. It seems to me that it would make it a lot easier to take multiples at one time with the right set-up.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Texas, and now Wyoming have legalized suppressors for hunting. Why has this became such a big deal?

Several reasons:

1. Ever call in 3 Yotes and kill one ? Did the others hang around ?

2. No earplugs or muffs.

3. Avoids upsetting the neighbors when you are popping P-dogs in the pasture at 0600.

It would be a lot bigger deal if the Feds would get out of the game so we could buy them over the counter w/o the transfer tax, having to set up a trust to own it and so on. Equipping an AR with a suppresor is about a grand HERE and a 6 month wait (now probably longer).

In New Zealand, you drive on down to Gun City in Christchurch, pay NZ$39.99 or about $29.91 in U.S. dollars, and walk out with your suppressor. As their ad says, "There are no age or licence restrictions on silencer sales."

See this site to make you drool:

http://hardyrifleengineering.co.nz/store/

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I've had as many as 12 rockchucks out sunning, and killed them all, as fast as I could work the bolt. One shot with a .223, suppressed or not, would have sent the other 11 down the hole.

I'm going to back-track a little on what I've said previously on this.

After reading all that's said here it's obvious this does have a good use for "specialty" types of shooting where you're trying to not run off a bunch of varmints or for culling operations (although I've seen or heard to be more correct that being done with ARs that were not silenced - it didn't seem to slow them down any).

But for the more common types of hunting where you're staying within the daily and usually low bag limits for whatever, it still doesn't sound like something I could find a use for.

Do you have one or is it out of your price range?

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Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Wrong song Ol'Biker.

I merely wanted to find out the reasons why so many folks are interested in getting and using them. Folks listed some valid reasons. While I am not interested in using one, I can see why some folks want to.

Here is MY Opinion, on hunting with a Suppressor.

Their main advantages are that the rifle is quieter, and you do not need to wear hearing protection to protect your hearing.

My ears are ringing RIGHT NOW from all the gunfire [and stun grenades] I was "exposed" to where I could not wear ear protection.

They take almost all the recoil out of firing the gun.

You can usually hear when/if the bullet hits the animal.

Their only downside is the cost, and they make the gun alitttle longer.

I think they should be removed from NFA control, and be sold in stores just like any other gun.

quote:

While I am not interested in using one

Is there something in that statement that is not clear? I simply asked a question. Many folks gave very reasonable answers.

Then there was this comment,

quote:

While I am not interested in using one, I can see why some folks want to.

And there was this comment,

quote:

but it is just something I am not interested in using on my rifles.

I could list two or three more times when I stated that I can understand the reasoning behind using suppressors, and I was aware that suppressors were widely accepted and used in Europe.

Not sure why such a simple question is causing you such a problem.

Again you throw somthing out there that you dont have any experience about.In Europe like ireland and england the landowners are mostly happy to let their trusted hunters on their property with supressors as to not bother the livestock.The legal use of supressors on hogs here is making a noticable difference.I have one and enjoy it very much.The reason LAZY that you dont is because you just cant afford it.