It’s one thing to go hunting for deer, turkeys, even coyotes, but there is another kind of game out there. The kind with claws, muscle, hostility, and – lest we forget – big, nasty, sharp, pointy teeth. Hunting dangerous game is not for the faint of heart. You’re usually going to walk softly and carry a really big stick, usually a magnum of some kind that pushes out a big chunk of lead. Adding a suppressor is a good idea, too. Here’s some information to help you pick out a dangerous game suppressor.
Do you really need a dangerous game suppressor?
I’ve heard several arguments that it’s not worth it to use a suppressor on a big game hunt. These are usually coming from guys saying that in the heat of the moment, you don’t really worry about the noise. That’s the problem. Many dangerous game hunts, or survival situations occur in some pretty rough country with a lot of cover around you. You need all of your senses working perfectly to handle this stuff.
Imagine being on the Alaskan Peninsula, working your way through an alder thicket. You’re chasing a trophy brown bear, but you start getting that feeling on the back of your neck that makes you question who, or what, is doing the hunting right at that moment. A twig snaps and suddenly someone in your group is yelling, “Shoot!”
You turn with your gun ready and see 1,100 pounds of claws, teeth, and anger barreling at you without any hint of bluff. You get off a shot and hear the wet thud as bullet connects with bear. It veers off and crashes through the thicket. Then... it stops. Every one of your senses is straining to find the bear. Do you really want your ears to be ringing loudly in your ears, or would you rather focus on the bruin?
Not just bears
The same thing can be said for a cape buffalo that really wants to smash you until your innards become your “outtards.” Lest we forget the lion that would gladly designate you as lunch. Don’t even get me started on the moose that wants to stomp you into tundra snot. All are situations that can make your hunt turn from a great experience into a survival situation in seconds. Having your rifle being suppressed in these situations can make a huge difference in keep you alert and focused.
Best Dangerous Game Suppressors
Here are some of the best suppressors you can get for either hunting dangerous game, or traversing through their territory. Plus a few suggestions on rifles and calibers.
BANISH 46-V2
The BANISH 46-V2 suppressor is designed for use with a wide assortment of rifle calibers including .338 Lapua up to the mighty .45-70 Government and the popular 450 Bushmaster as well as .44 Magnum. Made of titanium, the extremely durable Banish 46-V2 is lightweight at just 15.3 oz. It is only 8 inches long and 1.59 inches in diameter, making it a very compact suppressor for big-caliber rifles. Don’t let the smaller size fool you, as the BANISH 46-V2 offers a 30-decibel reduction in sound output. This compact size makes it a great option for dangerous game situations.
I personally like the 46-V2 on a Henry Lever Action in .44 Magnum or .45/70. For bears and other toothy critters, I'm really quite intrigued by the idea of Henry's Bear's Leg pistol in .45/70, converted to an SBR (which was kind of their intent with it). It comes threaded and is suppressor ready, giving you a terrific short brush-ready rifle with three shots of big lead. People like me who love shooting big guns are all over this one.
Dead Air’s multi-purpose .46 caliber Primal is a great dangerous game suppressor. It can handle big-bore, high-pressure rifle cartridges, What really helps with the adaptability is its direct thread simplicity. It can work with quick-attach KeyMo, Xeno, pistol boosters, and 3-lug mounts for sub-gun platforms. This is due to the use of 1.375-24 in. rear threads and Dead Air’s HUB to P-Series adapter. It comes with a 5/8-24 direct thread mount and the HUB to P-Series adapter. The Primal is ready for Nomad, Wolfman, and Ghost compatible mounts, right out of the box.
I am quite interested in the new Evoke rifle from Christensen Arms. The Evoke is winning a lot of awards for being a solid rifle and it can be bought in my favorite dangerous game caliber - .375 H&H. For around a grand, you get a Cerekoted barrel and action, a SUB MOA accuracy guarantee, and a threaded barrel with a muzzle brake (which I'd ditch for the Dead Air can).
The Alaskan360Ti is a lightweight, multi-caliber suppressor designed for extreme durability and versatility. Weighing only 5.6 ounces, it’s constructed from Grade 5 titanium, making it both strong and lightweight. This suppressor is rated for rifles up to .338 Lapua. Built to withstand harsh environments, the Alaskan360Ti is full-auto rated and offers exceptional performance for hunting. It comes with standard 1.375x24 threads making it compatible with the Rugged Universal Mount (R.U.M.), Universal Direct Thread, Universal Cage and other industry standard mounts. And if you're going to put Alaska in the name, it'd better be ready for some serious stuff.
I've come to really enjoy the Weatherby RPM series. Their .338 Weatherby RPM moves a .338 caliber bullet are some really stellar speeds and it packs a punch on big critters. I expect it to be in the 307 series rifles soon, but for now, I'll have to settle for the Mark V Backcountry 2.0. Yeah, settle for one of the best rifles on the market today. The .338 WBY RPM is a 6-lug bolt with enough titanium to bring the weight down to 4.7 pounds. When you're packing into dangerous game territory, it'd help to save the weight for sure.
There are so many great .30-cal cans on the market. I am partial to the BANISH 30 Gold-V2 mostly due to owning one. I have used it on several rifles, but it has found a home on my .300 WSM. I'm adding the BANISH Muzzle Brake soon, too. This suppressor is known for reducing decibels levels by and average of 36 dB. That's huge! It makes my .300 WSM sound like a .22 LR. Adding the Muzzle Brake will help reduce recoil even more There are a lot of .30-caliber cartridges that make solid dangerous game rounds. These include the .300 WM, .300 WBY, .300 RUM, the aforementioned .300 WSM, and the .30-06. Wait, the Aught-Six for dangerous game? Especially when you load it up with the heavier bullets, it gets the job done for sure!
I'll admit, my personal .300 WSM is a Savage that has been discontinued. However, the newer version is one sweet rifle. The Savage 110 Core Hunter Pro has all the things that make Savage rifles a favorite for many hunters. You get the latest AccuTrigger, a hyper-accurate barrel and a feel that makes you just want to shoot one. Plus, you can get one in a wide range of dangerous game calibers.
My cousin lives in Alaska and does a lot of hunting there. He hunts primarily with a .375 H&H Winchester Model 70. He even uses it for blacktail deer hunting on the islands. I asked him if it was overkill for the small-bodied deer. His reply stuck with me. He said that, for the most part, it puts a smaller hole in the deer than you'd expect, since the bullet doesn't really have the time to expand as much as it would with a bigger animal. He added that it is also a good idea to have it ready just in case the shot attracted one of the local grouches with big teeth and claws.
It hammers home the point that when you're hunting where there is a chance you could wind up being the prey as well, you should have enough gun to defend your life. The most important thing is to have a rifle and practice with it rough that shooting it is second nature to you. That goes for wherever your hunting adventure takes you.
More people die from being stomped by a cow moose in the North than any bear. They may seem docile, but when those ears fold back, you don't want to be there.
While many suppressors can be used on several different caliber firearms, we have some specific models that can make your shooting more enjoyable. Pick the caliber that you have in mind. If you don’t see your caliber, pick one close to it to see our recommendations.
