Back to Blog

Firearms Silencers 101

The Best .338 and 8.6 Blackout Suppressors

January 12, 2025 Posted by derrek.sigler

When it comes to rifles, there is always the new "in" cartridge that everyone seemingly has to have. Some catch on, while others fade away. For most of these "hot new calibers - I'm looking at you 6.5 Creedmoor - a .30 caliber suppressor fits the bill nicely. There are some big-bore cartridges that either have a steady following, as well as a few newcomers that are gaining momentum. Let's take a look at the .338 class.

A quick look at the popularity of the .338 and 8.6mm

The staple of the .338 is the .338 Win Mag. It was Winchester's bridge between the .300 magnum and the .375 H&H. It is popular for elk and moose hunting and is well-known for beating the snot out of the shooter if you're not ready for it. Wildcatters took a look at the .338 bullet offerings and went to town, creating a few that seem to have some staying power - such as the .338 Lapua, 8.6 Blackout, and the newest entry - the .338 ARC. Weatherby has a couple .338 variants and there are some others out there, too.

There are some .338 cartridges that, for one reason or another, didn't seem to catch on too well, even though they probably should have. The .338 Federal comes to mind, as well as the .325 WSM and the .338 Marlin Express.

You might think that you can’t adequately suppress big bore rifles chambered in .338 cartridges, but guess again. While they aren’t as common as .30 caliber suppressors, there’s actually a good number of options available for shooters who want to suppress their .338 rifles.

BEST OVERALL - BANISH 338

Banish 338 on bolt action rifle in prairie.

Most of the .338 cartridges are beasts. You need a great rifle to withstand the punishment it can dole out, and a great suppressor to match. That’s exactly what you get with the BANISH 338.

Made of titanium and Inconel for the ultimate combination of durability and weight reduction, the BANISH 338 weighs only 17.5 oz and is just 9.1” long. Testing has shown the BANISH 338 provides sound reduction of 33 decibels, proving that you can have the best build quality and the best sound performance.

The BANISH 338 is a direct thread suppressor with a ported Inconel blast baffle and eight titanium baffles of increased thickness for better durability with large calibers. The BANISH 338’s accuracy baffle ensures that you’ll have minimal POI shift for long-range shots.

Designed to be a user-serviceable suppressor, it can be easily disassembled for cleaning. Since it’s made of titanium and Inconel, you can easily clean the baffles in a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or by hand with a brush and solvent. Reassembly is just as easy, thanks to the keyed and indexed baffles. This guarantees that each one will be lined up perfectly for optimum performance.

The BANISH 338 is the perfect choice for rifle shooters who want a quieter shooting experience. Whether you’re shooting 5.56/.223, .308 Winchester, or even .338 Lapua, the BANISH 338 is the best choice when it comes to rifle caliber versatility. Silencers are a significant investment, so it’s a huge plus to be able to use one can on multiple different firearms in a wide variety of calibers.

Advantages:

Great noise reduction: 33 dB
Durable and resilient
User-serviceable

Disadvantages:

No muzzle brake option at this time; direct thread only

Specs: BANISH 338:

Caliber: .338 LM
Weight: 17.5 oz.
Length: 9.1”
Sound reduction: 33dB

Price: $1,099

Buy the BANISH 338

LIGHTEST - Dead Air Nomax 33

Coming in at just 12.9 ounces, the Dead Air Nomax 33 is a 3D-printed titanium silencer that meshes light weight with quiet shooting. At just 9.6inches long, the weight does jump up to 15.4 ounces with the included Xemax adapter. This makes the Nomax 33 sized right for optimal sound suppression and excellent tone, while the titanium construction keeps the weight to a minimum.

How'd they do it? Dead Air took their patented Nomad two-stage coaxial baffle technology and fine-tuned it for .33 caliber cartridges like .338 LAP MAG, 8.6 Blackout, and .338 WIN MAG, giving you a light, quiet option for the bigger cartridges. The Nomax 33 ships with 5/8-24 Xemax Muzzle Brake and Xemax Adapter. It is HUB compatible, too.

The Nomax 33 does have an 18" barrel restriction for the .338 Lapua, so keep that in mind. The compact size of this can makes it a great choice for the newer, shorter .338 options, too, like the 8.6BLK and the latest - the .338 ARC.

Advantages:

Light weight
Compact size
Perfect for compact rifle options

Disadvantages:

These sell fast, so grab one while they are in stock

Specs: Dead Air NOMAX 33

Caliber: .33X
Weight: 12.9 oz.
Length: 9.1 in.

Price: $1,299

Buy the Dead Air Nomax 33

Most Adaptable - SILENCERCO Hybrid 46M

Powerful, big bore cartridges like the .338 Magnums and above can be shot without sacrificing the benefits of modularity with the SilencerCo Hybrid 46M. This light, compact, and modular centerfire rifle suppressor is made of stainless steel, titanium, and Inconel offers outstanding compatibility for use on most rifles, pistols, and subguns.

A removable front module on the Hybrid 46M provides the shooter with a shorter and lighter suppressor body for situations where size and maneuverability are of utmost importance. Even in the shorter configuration, the Hybrid 46M is still perfectly capable of effectively suppressing all centerfire pistol cartridges as well as rifle offerings as large as the mighty .45-70 Govt and .458 SOCOM. It can handle calibers like .338 Lapua, .338 Win Mag, 8.6 BLK, and .338 ARC with ease and give you flexibility with how long and how light you want the can to be.

In the long configuration, the Hybrid 46M is 7.72 inches in length and weighs 14.9 ounces. The short configuration is 5.78 inches long and weighs 12.2 ounces. Best of all, both long and short configurations are full-auto rated so that you can get the most out of the true modularity of the Hybrid 46M.

The Hybrid 46M is rated for centerfire pistol and rifle calibers up to .460 Weatherby Magnum.

Advantages:

Can handle any caliber
Modular lengths for different uses

Disadvantages:

Not as quiet as other options

Specs: SilencerCo HYBRID 46M

Caliber: Up to .460 Weatherby Magnum
Weight: 12.2 - 14.9 oz.
Length: 5.78 - 7.72 in.
Sound reduction: 35 dB

Price: $1,169

Buy a SilencerCo Hybrid 46M

Best .338 Lapua - Savage ac338 accucan

Leave it to Savage, the company that brought you the idea of extreme-quality trigger systems to lower cost rifle platforms, to bring a budget-friendly.338 Lapua suppressor. The Savage Arms AC338 Accucan Suppressor blends lightweight construction and advanced performance in a sweet can for your .338 rifle.. Weighing 18.5 oz, it was engineered to add minimal weight to your firearm, making long hunting trips and extended shooting sessions little easier to take on. The innovative MonoKore design of the AC338 reduces sound, flash, and recoil significantly improving accuracy for both experienced and new shooters. Its three-piece construction ensures easy field serviceability, allowing for quick maintenance and adjustments without the need for specialized tools.

Built with durability in mind, the AC338 features military-grade Gr-5 Titanium and 7075-T6 Aluminum, ensuring robust and reliable performance. Designed specifically for the .338 Lapua Magnum, it delivers impressive noise reduction, lowering sound levels to 132.5dB on a 26” bolt action rifle. This capability not only protects your hearing but also minimizes environmental disturbance during hunts. With its exceptional design and performance, the Savage Arms AC338 ACCUCAN Suppressor is a great choice for enhancing your .338 Lapua shooting experience.

Advantages:

Lower cost
Optimal can for the .338 Lapua cartridge.

Disadvantages:

Really best just for the .338 Lapua

Specs: Savage AC338 Accucan

Caliber: .338 Lapua
Weight: 18.5 oz
Length: 10.9 in.
Sound reduction: 132.5 dB

Price: $999

Buy the Savage AC338 Accucan

Most versatile - BANISH 46-V2

We are pretty fond of just how versatile the BANISH 46-V2 turned out, but hey - that's what we designed it for! It is designed for use with a wide assortment of rifle calibers including 8.6 Blackout and .338 Lapua up to the mighty .45-70 Government as well as pistol calibers including 10mm and .45ACP.

Testing has shown that the BANISH 46-V2 offers a best-in-class noise reduction, more than 30 decibels. The best thing is how well it adapts to every caliber. The 46-V2 is made of titanium and stainless steel, and provides an outstanding combination of durability and light weight, weighing just 15.3 ounces. It is just 8-inches long, too.

The BANISH 46-v2 uses an industry-standard hub mount. It is user-serviceable and can be easily and disassembled for configuration changes and cleaning. Since it’s made of titanium, you can easily clean the baffles in a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or by hand with a brush and solvent.

The BANISH 46-V2 was designed to be the perfect all-in-one suppressor, making it a great choice for shooters looking to buy just one silencer to use on multiple firearms. It is more maneuverable than other big-bore suppressors thanks to its compact design and lightweight.

Advantages:

Versatility - One can to silence them all!
Price is great for all it can do

Disadvantages:

We will let you know when we find one

Specs: BANISH 46

Caliber: .46 on down.
Weight: 15.3 oz.
Length: 8 in.
Sound reduction: 30 dB

Price: $1,299

Buy the BANISH 46-V2

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A .338 SUPPRESSOR

In an attempt to appeal to as many shooters as possible, the suppressors on this list are spread across a pretty wide range. There’s a cost spread of $1,005 between the most expensive and most affordable ones on the list. There’s also a size spread of 1.65” in length and a weight spread of 12.1 ounces. Those last two factors might not seem like much, but they do make a difference. When considering any suppressor, people tend to look at three main factors: cost, size, and sound.

Cost and size are simple; those numbers are pretty well established. You’re going to pay a set amount (plus the $200 tax stamp) for a given suppressor, and whatever one you choose will be of a certain size and weight.

With two of the three main factors out of the way, it’s time to consider the tricky one: sound. The most important feature of any given silencer is how well it helps to reduce the sound signature of a given firearm. This can be of special importance when you’re dealing with .338 calibers since they’re generally quite loud. When shooting unsuppressed, some shooters even prefer to double up with earplugs and over-ear muffs, so every decibel reduction makes a difference here.

The type of host gun (or guns) you use will have a determining factor in the overall decibel reduction. Generally speaking, bolt-action guns will be quieter than semi-automatics by a few decibels. But don’t let that discourage you if you only intend on running the can on a semi-auto!

No matter what suppressor you finally decide to get, just make sure you’re taking it all – cost, size, and sound – into consideration before you make your purchase!

YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY

There are a ton of suppressors on the market. There are also a ton of .338 rifles out there, too. It’s possible that the suppressors we picked for this article might not be the right ones for you. This list is just a starting point.

Given the time and money that goes into a suppressor purchase, we encourage you to do your own research before pulling the trigger – pun intended.

Hopefully, the information in this article helped answer a lot of your questions. If you’re still not sure, don’t worry! We’re here to help. Get in touch with us and we’ll talk you through what cans would be best for your specific rifle(s) and application(s).

SILENCERS MADE SIMPLE

We like to think we know more than just a thing or two when it comes to suppressors. We’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and we are the nation’s largest silencer dealer. We’re also the only one licensed in all 42 suppressor-legal states that can sell, process, and ship your new suppressor directly to your door.

At Silencer Central, we are passionate about compliance, knowledge, and community education when it comes to firearm sound suppression. If you’re ready to take the next step and get a .338-caliber suppressor, we’re here to walk you through the process. We can also help with trusts and barrel threading, too! Our experts are ready to help you by phone or email, Monday through Saturday!

Give Us a Call Today!