The Benefits of Having a Rifle Suppressor

The Benefits of Having a Rifle Suppressor

The benefits of having a rifle suppressor range from the reduction in recoil to increased accuracy.

A rifle suppressor is no longer just a product of the movies and the military. Over the past several years, rifle suppressor sales have surged, and more companies are offering terrific options. Read below for some of the benefits, the process for purchasing one, and some buyer’s tips for finding your first (or next) can.

Save Your Hearing

Suppressors don’t give you a pass on having to wear hearing protection. Your hearing can still be damaged if your ears are unprotected while shooting suppressed. However, noise reduction is significant. 

Hunters that decide against earplugs in the woods may significantly benefit from a suppressed rifle due to the facts that you’ll only shoot so often and can hear much better while waiting. The CDC advises that loud noises over 120db can cause permanent hearing damage. An unsuppressed rifle shot is going to emit around 160db. A good suppressor will reduce that by about 30db – about the same as wearing earplugs.

Reduce Muzzle Blast

Muzzle blast is often an overlooked woe to shooting. The blow from a rifle can be more afflicting than the recoil or the rifle’s report. One time I was shooting a big-bore elk rifle with a muzzle brake on the end. All of the gas was deflected back at me and I could literally feel the fillings in my teeth vibrate with each shot. Another benefit of suppressors is they help retain the blast and prevent the sometimes violent and jarring effects on the shooter.

For hunting, the Nomad-Ti from Deadair Silencers, has the weight savings (only 9.7oz), the titanium strength and the needed sound reduction.

Reduce Recoil

Whatever energy is not used to push the bullet out of the rifle’s barrel has to go somewhere. This is what we call recoil or the motion of the gun kicking back in the shooter’s direction upon discharging a round. Just like with sound and muzzle blast, a suppressor won’t completely eliminate recoil, but it can greatly reduce it, resulting in a much more pleasant shooting experience.

Increased Accuracy

Excessively loud sounds, muzzle blasts, and recoil all detract from a shooter’s accuracy. Any of these factors can cause shooters to develop an anticipatory flinch, creating one of the most common roots of a bad shot. One more benefit of a suppressor is it can mitigate negative habits and result in greater accuracy. 

Luke Lapard will be the first to tell you that having a suppressor on his PRS set-up, does make a difference.

Steps to Acquire a Rifle Suppressor 

For better or for worse, the process of obtaining a suppressor is quite lengthy.

First, learn the rules and regulations for suppressors in your state. Each state is different. It would be a good idea to connect with others in your community that have purchased one or have a conversation with your local dealer. 

Second, you’ll want to determine which type of suppressor purchase you need to meet your goals. This will include determining what suppressors are available for your specific gun, the different available materials, and your intended use.

Third, you are going to need to get fingerprinted. An easy way to do this is at your local police station. You can also grab a DIY kit online or find an authorized third-party provider. When you do so, it’s a good idea to get several copies of your FD-258 fingerprint cards for future purchases. 

Fourth, you will need to fill out the necessary paperwork. Most of the time, the dealer from whom you buy your suppressor will help you with this. 

Finally, the hardest part is the wait. According to most current reports, it will take about a year for your application to be processed.

Buying Tips

If you can, buy a suppressor that works for multiple guns. This is beneficial because the cost and wait times are so great. 

You’ll also want to purchase the suppressor for your intended use. If you want to use it for target practice, a longer suppressor will silence the rifle more. Additionally, a more rugged material, such as steel, is more preferable for extending its life. The downside of this is that long steel suppressors are very heavy. 

Hunting in New Zealand with a suppressor, definitely has its benefits.

If you’re a hunter, you might not care as much about maximizing quieting qualities and may instead care more about weight. A hunter might shoot once or twice all season, while a target shooter may shoot 100 shots in one session. For the hunter, rigidity and silencing abilities aren’t as important as weight and handiness. A shorter suppressor made out of aluminum or titanium may work better in that case.