I've noticed that many of you British hunters have your rifles equiped with sound suppressors.

Here, that would be illegal in most states (lends itself to poaching, or so they say). Is it required by law in England, or is it just a courtesy to your neighbors?
Just curious.

Nothing dumb about the question, other countries, other customs....
No, sound moderators are not required by law.
They do require a seperate slot on a person's firearms certificate to posess one.
I think something less than 30% of shooters use one but that figure is based purely on personal observation.
I use one for two reasons:
Firstly to protect my hearing.
Secondly to avoid disturbing people who live near my shooting areas.

Using a suppressor is a most civilized way to hunt. Though illegal for "game" animals in my home state of Texas, a suppressor is not illegal to use for prairie dogs (provided you have a properly registered one). Equipping a small .22 Centerfire with one is one of my near-term projects.

Thanks Trapper,

Now, next question: How badly do they affect ballistics of big game rifles? I know with handgun suppressors, ballistics are adversely affected, but pistol ballistics are usually pretty anemic to begin with (compared to rifles).

No effect in fact there may even be a small increase in MV.

As to your question about do we need them by law the answer to that is yes and no.

We have various Health & Safety laws that requires all reasonable measures to be taken to reduce risk such as noise to acceptable levels.
So for example an estate is required to ensure all work rifles are moderated.

Where I live (Norway) they are legal and see a lot of use.
Especially among red deer hunters who often stalk and stand hunt close to farms and houses when hunting over cultivated fields.

Those who use them say that they are a great asset when hunting in low light.
This because the mussle blast is gone and much less recoil, therefore impact on deer can be seen.Some claim better accuracy as well.
And as Dave said, they save the hearing.

As an old fasioned grumpy old man I don´t use them.
They ruin to much of the balance in a rifle IMO.
(But sooner or later I guess I have to give in and buy one for my small deer rifle)

The one thing I have noticed from the six European countries I have hunted in is that thier law seems almost completely oppisite of ours.

Useing muzzel loaders,archery equipment in most of Europe is unheard of. Only high powered rifles for big game.

I find it ironic that in many states in the midwest that bows and blackpowder have special seasons as well as being legal during firarm season yet the only weppon not legal is a high powered rifle.

The prctice of bartering the meat is common in Europe yet it will land you in jail in the US.

Like Trapper Dave said , "other countries, other customs" I still have to think many of our law's are quite draconian and some of theirs as well.

All my answers refer to Great Britain:

quote:

Useing muzzel loaders,archery equipment in most of Europe is unheard of.

Using a bow and arrow or a crossbow is illegal in the UK since 1981 and Mrs Thatcher's "Wildlife and Countryside Act" of that same year.

Muzzle loaders are not, per se, illegal.

However thanks to a body called the British Deer Society in the 1960s various laws were passed specifycig a minimum calibre, velocity and muzzle energy in England and Scotland.

The muzzle velocity figure at 2,450fps - where it applied - effectively prohibited muzzle loaders. And some fine classic centrefire calibres such as the old 6.5x54 MS.

quote:

Only high powered rifles for big game.

Even, because of velocity, a .600" Nitro Express is illegal for deer! Those British Deer Society "experts" sure were full of BS!

Also, muzzle velocity, why handguns were illegal although some would legally argue that thelaws referred to "rifles" not "firearms".

quote:

I find it ironic that in many states in the midwest that bows and blackpowder have special seasons as well as being legal during firarm season yet the only weppon not legal is a high powered rifle.

No special concession season open to bows and arrows or muzzleloaders or blackpowder cartridge arms here!

quote:

The prctice of bartering the meat is common in Europe yet it will land you in jail in the US.

It is illegal in Scotland to sell dead wild geese!

The swedish cartridge rules are based on 6,5*55 as the minimum biggame cartridge. So many good us deer cartridges (.243w,.2506,3030w) are not allowed for fallow deer, reddeer, seal, wolf and other.

The strangest rule is about semiautomatic rifles. If you have a 5round mag you can hunt moose and swedish hare but you are not allowed to hunt bear or german hare then the mag. is max 2 rounds.

Its allowed to hunt with a .50bmg. But if you cant find softpoints its only smallgame.

Then you hunt biggame or fowls you must have access to a trackingdog within two hours.

If you sell meat a vetrinary must inspect it first.

quote:

Now, next question: How badly do they affect ballistics of big game rifles? I know with handgun suppressors, ballistics are adversely affected, but pistol ballistics are usually pretty anemic to begin with (compared to rifles).

A modern silencer made with metal baffles that do not touch the bullet does not affect ballistics much. Hanging extra weight on the barrel changes point of impact, but adjusting sight settings takes care of that. A two point mounted silencer can put more tension on the barrel and slightly improve accuracy, or so I have heard. Some silencer also provide a bit of "suppressor boost" or increase velocity a few fps.

I make silencers as a hobby on ATF form 1's. One of them is for my 338 ultra mag rifle. It works well enough to allow me to shoot without ear plugs.

http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/C...es/MembersStaff.aspx

Ranb

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
How badly do they affect ballistics of big game rifles?

Most people who put sound moderators on their rifles tend to cut their barrels. So I guess most rifles equipped with one will give you lower velocity.

Except from my .22 I haven't put on any yet. The balance and handling seems so different. And esthetic is ruined
But I clearly see the positive things about them.

quote:

Most people who put sound moderators on their rifles tend to cut their barrels. So I guess most rifles equipped with one will give you lower velocity.

Well, yes, but not as much as I would think!

I did ask if these sixteen inch long .243" Winchester rifles would still be, velocity, deer legal.

Apparently they are. And quite comfortably!