I used a sound mod on my 243 for about 2 years. It was a Vaime and the rifle barrel cut down to 19" to make it manageable.

As Ian reports (ha ha) recoil, muzzle jump and muzzle blast are much reduced, on one memorable occasion I culled 5 fallow in 2 minutes BUT the factor at play was snow and the fact that I was between them and where they wanted to go.

Downsides are weight, unwieldiness, bulk, noise and downright ugliness. I have culled inumerable rights and lefts on doe and fawn roe with my unmoderated 6mm rem and indeed multiple rights and left on muntjac. The difference is I enjoy stalking with it. To get multiples on fallow you need either luck or range or does and fawns. Most haven't a clue where the loud bang comes from and I have lost count of the number of times that deer have run towards me.

If it was me I would save the money and buy a pair of electronic ear plugs which works for all your rifles.

I am considering the merits of a moderator for next winter. I always struggle to cull sufficient fallow in woodland situation. Indeed it is rare I get more than one an outing.
However there are due to have some extensive timber harvesting with larger areas of open ground shooting, the deer will be easier to still hunt. Will a moderator confuse deer in herd sufficiently to give better multiple shot opportunities? �250 is a considerable accessory and needs to offer real benefit. What d'you reckon?

Transpond - I have used a moderator on my primary deer rifle for the last five years. I wouldn't be without one now.

I have a .270win with an LEI moderator - the round is downloaded to a bit over 2250fps - and the only thing I can compare it to would be the report of a 22mag. It really does make that amount of difference!

Not only is the profile of the report changed to the point where a passerby would possibly not even recognise it as a rifle shot - there is an added advantage in so much as recoil is reduced by about 70%.

In terms of effectiveness - the most I ever take at one time is three. I really can't face dealing with any more carcasses on my own. Having said that - identifying and instantly dropping the lead Doe with your first shot generally results in the remainder of the herd milling for a while, and offering chances of multiple shots.

All good things either make you fat or are illegal they say - unfortunately, moderators come at a price. Due to the fact that hot gasses will not dissapate as swiftly as with a non baffled barrel - condensation in the muzzle area is normal.

Leave your rifle uncleaned after firing and you will develop corrosion in the rifling at the muzzle end of the barrel. I would imagine that this is not so much of a problem with stainless - but watch out for it anyhow!

If you fancy trying for yourself - get in touch and I will be happy to let you have a play. I think you will be impressed.

Regards

Ian

IanF,

Is that figure for the velocity correct? That seems very slow indeed for what i guess is around a 130grn bullet???...

Regards,

Pete