A growing trend in the shooting world has been the use of suppressors to quiet matters down and be a bit easier on the ears. Suppressors reduce sound intensity and are often called “silencers” which is a misnomer, because depending upon the ammunition being used, matters aren’t totally silent. It relates to whether the ammunition is supersonic which will feature a loud sonic “crack” exiting the barrel, or subsonic which will lack the noticeably sharp crack.

While a couple of “silencer” patents by Swiss inventors appeared during the 1890’s, the first commercially successful introduction was patented in 1909 by American inventor Hiram Percy Maxim. Called the “Maxim Silencer”, it was sold through catalogs and avid rifle shooter Theodore Roosevelt was known to purchase and use them.

The system used internal baffles that trapped and slowed expanding muzzle gases which reduced rearward kinetic energy and even helped create less muzzle jump and abrupt recoil. Maxim’s purpose was to reduce hearing loss and noise pollution, and he would also go on to develop automobile mufflers. 

My introduction to using a suppressor on a high-powered rifle occurred during a 2022 roebuck hunt in Scotland. Due to Scotland’s strict firearms laws required in bringing my own rifle to hunt with, I opted to lease and use the gamekeeper’s fully equipped rifle, which featured a suppressor, to get the job done. I discovered when it came to shooting high-powered rifles in Scotland, it was preferably performed without creating some unnecessary noise pollution!

My first hunt of the day entailed a spot and stalk technique in the Scottish Highlands I much enjoyed, with the estate gamekeeper carrying the rifle and leading the way at daybreak. When the time came to shoot, the gamekeeper handed me his rifle and set up the shooting sticks. Other than having previously dryfired the rifle to get acquainted with the scope and trigger pull, shooting it would be a first-time adventure. I was using a tricked-out bolt-action in 6.5 Creedmoor firing supersonic hunting ammunition which dropped the roebuck on the spot at less than 100 yards. I was truly amazed by the lack of a noticeable abrupt recoil and the “crack” report that was nearly identical to that of a .22 rimfire round.

Being allowed to harvest two roebucks on my hunt, I bagged my second later that day just as darkness was setting in (roe deer are often early morning and late evening critters much like our whitetails). This took place on a farm which featured some neighbors’ homes here and there. The hunting guide’s suppressor-equipped bolt-action rifle was chambered in .270 Winchester firing a supersonic hunting round. The large roebuck had been chasing a doe and briefly stopped broadside at 281 yards, and when I fired, it dropped shortly after the light “crack” of the rifle. I’m pretty sure the neighbors never heard a thing, and neither did the other roe deer standing near the dead roebuck I had just shot.

Yep, folks, I was mighty impressed with using a suppressor for hunting. They certainly help maintaining a person’s hearing abilities, although after a few decades of shooting, I’m a bit of a lost cause in that regard. What prevented me from getting a suppressor, was that in the United States, a Federal $200 Tax Stamp was required to purchase a suppressor, as well as there was a waiting period, which could take up to a year, before getting the clearance to do so. Oh my, that sure wasn’t my cup of tea!

A couple years ago, I went squirrel hunting with a friend who carried a suppressor-equipped Ruger 10/22 (he also had the proper paperwork regarding having the suppressor, if questioned). He was using subsonic .22 ammunition and when he demonstrated how it worked, all I heard when he fired multiple shots was the metallic clicking sound of the semiauto action!

However, as of January 1, 2026, the Federal $200 Tax Stamp is no longer required, and thanks to our new computer age, the waiting period now usually only takes a week. Thanks to this change and to meet the need of the quickly growing popularity of suppressors, Randy’s Hunting Center in Bad Axe has recently unveiled they have a steady supply of a wide variety of suppressors which include caliber-specific models. They also have the means to get a customer quickly registered by having the application process started right away, which includes fingerprinting and an accompanying photo. Yep, I had to check it all out and go through the process.

I can remember when getting fingerprinted required having to get ink off my fingertips afterwards, which is not the case anymore. This time, all I had to do was roll each finger and thumb over a scanner, which didn’t take long at all, and then smile for the camera afterwards which was ready and waiting. I guess it was all done in about 5 minutes, and my application was automatically sent, and I was told I’d hear back in about a week. Now that’s my cup of tea!

Kevin Brown showed me the exhibit of suppressors and explained which went with what calibers. Some could cover multiple calibers while others were quite specific, especially regarding small calibers. What caught my eye was the beefy .46 caliber version which could safely cover a whole bunch of calibers, including the popular .450 Bushmaster. According to Kevin, using a large caliber suppressor on smaller caliber rifles can still do the job, but endcaps are available to more effectively handle gases on the smaller calibers. This allows a gunowner to use the same suppressor on multiple guns.

Most rifles manufactured today already come with threaded muzzles for attaching both muzzle brakes and suppressors, otherwise a quality gunsmith can add threads to guns lacking such. I’ve long been acquainted with muzzle brakes, with my favorite being the “Mag-Na-Brake” made in Michigan by Mag-Na-Port, Inc. and they can also custom fit suppressors which require various thread sizes.

Yep, folks, knowing what suppressors have to offer on the range and in the field, one is most likely soon on my agenda. (For more information go to www.randyshuntingcenter.com  or call 989-269-4867).