Hunting Silencers 101
The 6 Best Hunting Rifle Silencers in 2024
If you ask ten hunters what’s the best hunting rifle on the market, you’ll get ten different answers. The same goes for silencers. Everyone has their favorite and their specific reasons for choosing one over the other.
Since we can’t know what will be the most important aspect to you personally, we decided to make a range of selections based on specific criteria. Below you’ll find choices based on caliber, decibel reduction, price, overall value, etc.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HUNTING RIFLE SUPPRESSOR
A lot goes into choosing the right hunting rifle suppressor. If you aren't sure which is the best one for your, read on. If you still have questions afterwards, reach out at the link on the bottom of the story for some more help.
Sound Suppression and Performance
There are some trade offs when considering the best hunting rifle silencer for you. You can go for maximum sound suppression, or you can go for sound suppression and lighter weight.
One of those things that we have found is that folks who intend to travel a ways to hunt, especially for things like elk, sheep, caribou, and goats, want a suppressor, but want the smallest option available to save weight and room. Hunters who plan to spend the majority of their seasons within shorter distances from the truck, cabin or house tend to go for the bigger, quieter cans. We get it, too. Touching one off inside a ground blind can do a number on your hearing.
Knowing what we do about decibel levels, one decibel can make a big difference when it comes to reduction. Think of it this way, a difference of 10 decibels means that if you increase the sound output by 10 decibels, that is a ten-fold increase in that sound's intensity. Choose your silencer based on how you will hunt.
Length and weight
In theory, a silencer made from titanium, like the majority of BANISH silencers, will be lighter than a can made from stainless steel. Backcountry hunters tend to sweat the details over ever ounce they carry simply because they tend to hike some serious distance and usually over some pretty rough and mountainous terrain.
The trend in silencer technology these days is to pack in as much decibel reduction as possible, into a lighter, shorter can. It makes sense, too. If you can get a silencer that is 4.5 inches long and weighs just a few ounces, why would you buy one that is twice as long and weighs more if the sound reduction is the same? The answer, most often, leads to the next point.
Price point
One of the biggest deciding factors in hunting rifle silencer purchases is price. There's no way around it, either. If you want a silencer, it is going to cost you some money. Sure, you may come across some cheap options on the internet, but if you're not buying from a reputable source, you can run into trouble in more ways than one. First off, make sure that you are going through the application process for purchasing an NFA item. This means ATF paperwork, tax stamps, and all of that. Anything that isn't, isn't legal. Secondly, do you really want to screw something onto the end of your rifle and shoot a bullet through it, and have it not be a precision-engineered item? Don't be that guy that we see video clips of on the Internet where the gun explodes and so does the shooters hands, etc.
Manufacturer
Choose a product from a quality manufacturer. Period. That is a benefit from buying a silencer from Silencer Central. We sell almost every brand, and we're working on getting them all in stock. We verify that the manufacturer is legit and knows how to build a can that works.
Best Hunting Suppressor - MeatEater by BANISH
The MeatEater by BANISH silencer is built for performance and rated for cartridges up to .300 RUM. The big news is the groundbreaking anchor brake that reduces recoil by up to 40% in the open position and 30% when closed, while also delivering an additional 5 dB of sound reduction. Overall, this amazing suppressor cuts average sound levels by a whopping 32 dB. It is one of the key features the MeatEater crew asked for in a new suppressor and the engineers delivered big time. It allows you to adjust your shooting experience to exactly what you need it to be.
But that’s not all. It uses interchangeable muzzle cap inserts that accommodate various calibers, allowing users to optimize the suppressor for their specific rifle setup. While it is, in essence, a .30-caliber can, you can set it up to work with your specific caliber, like a 6.5 or something else.
The MeatEater by BANISH can is constructed from lightweight titanium. The suppressor weighs just 10.3 ounces, measures 5.85 inches in length, and has a 1.73-inch diameter with an industry-standard hub mount. When you look at everything this can does and then to see how compact it is, it’s not hard to see why we feel the design team deserves a round of applause.
Features/Advantages:
- Adjustable anchor brake
- User-serviceable
- Lightweight titanium construction
Disadvantages:
- It may be out of the budget for some people
Specs:
- Caliber: Rimfire to .300RUM
- Weight: 10.3 oz
- Length: 5.85”
- Sound reduction: 32 dB
Price: $1,299
Best Deep Country Hunting Silencer - BANISH BACKCOUNTRY
The two most important factors for picking a suppressor for a backcountry hunt are sound suppression and weight, and the .30 caliber BANISH Backcountry suppressor was built with those factors in mind.
The Backcountry is a fixed-length suppressor that measures 5.5” in length (5.7” with QD mount) and weighs just 7.8 ounces. That’s a full 1.3” shorter and 2.2 ounces lighter than the BANISH 30 in its short configuration. That may not sound like much, but it makes a world of difference for backcountry adventurers who carefully pack their gear with size and weight in mind.
Rated for calibers up to the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM), the BANISH Backcountry utilizes six baffles that drop the decibel level down to 135 dB for .308 Winchester, 137 dB for .300 Win Mag, and 138 dB for .300 RUM at the ear – all of which fall below the hearing-safe threshold.
Utilizing a 1.375×24 Universal Mount, the BANISH Backcountry is a direct-thread suppressor designed to eliminate any extra weight associated with a muzzle device method of attachment, but it is also available with an optional muzzle brake attachment.
When size, weight, and sound suppression are of the utmost concern, the BANISH Backcountry suppressor allows you to pack in ounces, shoot at hearing-safe levels, and pack out pounds.
Features/Advantages:
- Quick-detach and direct thread options available
- User-serviceable
- Lightweight titanium construction
Disadvantages:
- It may be out of the budget for some people
Specs: BANISH Backcountry
- Caliber: Rimfire to .300RUM
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Length: 5.5”
- Sound reduction: 35 dB
Price: $1,099
THE QUIETEST HUNTING SUPPRESSOR - Yankee Hill Machine Resonator R2
Not long ago, we put together an enormous suppressor test that pit 27 different cans against one another to see where they ranked in terms of weight, length, price, and sound reduction.
When it came time to tally the results, the Yankee Hill Machine Resonator stood at the top in terms of decibel reduction on a .308-caliber rifle. It brought the sound down by 35 decibels.
The Resonator R2 uses a tubeless design of heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel and a heat-treated 718 Inconel blast baffle which allows for a suppressor that is designed for rigorous use. In short: take it on your most strenuous hunting trip imaginable, and it will pass with flying colors.
Features/Advantages:
- Impressive 35 dB reduction on a .308-caliber rifle
- Priced right to be affordable for just about everyone
- Includes a quick-detach mount of your choice
Disadvantages:
- Minimum barrel length with .300BLK is 8”
- They include a muzzle device mount, but you have to use one of theirs
Specs: Yankee Hill Machine Resonator R2
Caliber: Up to .300RUM
- Weight: 16.8 oz
- Length: 6.9”
- Sound reduction: 35 dB
Price: $829.95
THE BEST 8.6BLK SUPPRESSOR - Q PorQ Chop
The 8.6 bulk round is catching on, and there are a few variants out there, too, like the .338 Federal and the 8.6 ARC. This can is made from deep-drawn and laser-welded stainless steel and even though it is a steel can, the construction process is advanced enough that the weight is much lower than you might expect at just 12 ounces! That is lighter than many titanium suppressors.
This suppressor is, as you may have guessed, just 8.6 inches long and 1.75 inches in diameter. The result is a suppressor with outstanding sound reduction. It uses Q’s Quickie Fast Attach mounts making it possible to swap it onto other rifles quickly.
Features/Advantages:
- Front and rear flats for secure attachment
- Tubeless design saves weight
Disadvantages:
- Not user-serviceable
- Direct thread only
- Not the quietest option out there
Specs: Q FULL NELSON
Caliber: 8.6 (.338)
- Length: 8.6 in.
- Weight: 12 oz.
- Diameter: 1.75 in.
- Sound reduction: 31 dB
Price: $850
THE BEST MULTI-CALIBER HUNTING RIFLE SUPPRESSOR - BANISH 30
Whether you’re hunting small game with a .17-caliber rimfire rifle or big game with the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, the BANISH 30 has got you covered. Again, we might be a bit biased, but the BANISH 30 is a fantastic multi-caliber, lightweight suppressor that you can take apart and clean yourself.
Depending on what you’re hunting, you can use the BANISH 30 in its full 9” configuration weighing 13 ounces, or you can remove the tube extension and drop it down to just 7” overall weighing 11 ounces.
Features/Advantages:
- User-serviceable
- Can be used with a wide variety of calibers
- All titanium construction means lightweight
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost compared to some sealed stainless steel competitors
- Direct thread only with no quick detach option
Specs: BANISH 30
- Caliber: Up to .300RUM
- Weight: 11.2 oz.
- Length: 7”-9”
- Sound reduction: 34 dB
Price: $999
THE BEST Coyote HUNTING SUPPRESSOR FOR THE MONEY - Coastal Guns XDS
It has become increasingly more popular to hunt with AR-platform rifles, so it would make sense to have a suppressor on this list that is designed for the .223 and 5.56mm cartridges.
The Coastal Gun XDS (Xtreme Duty Suppressor) is constructed entirely of 4130 chrome-moly steel and is rated for semi-auto and limited full-auto fire (not that you need that while hunting). Plus, the entire unit can be disassembled for cleaning.
Using the standard AR-platform rifle system, the XDS gives a sound signature of about half that of an unsuppressed Ruger MK 3 22LR pistol.
We list this unit as our best bang for your buck because most people have an AR-platform rifle, and for the great price on this suppressor, you’ve got a great can that will pull double-duty for you.
Features/Advantages:
- User-serviceable
- Great product for the price
Disadvantages:
- Limited caliber usage
- At 28 oz, it’s not exactly light
Specs: Coastal Gun XDS
- Caliber: .223/5.56
- Weight: 28 oz
- Length: 8.5”
- Sound reduction: 29 dB
Price: $550
Why use a suppressor for hunting?
This is a question we've gotten a few times. The answer is simple - you need to protect your hearing. The decibel level from a gun shot is high enough to do permanent damage to your hearing.
Sound Reduction
When you can lower the decibel output of any activity to down below the threshold for permanent damage to your hearing, that is a good thing. For short, impactful hearing damage, such as you would encounter hunting, we try to get the level down below 140 decibels. The average gunshot comes in around 140-160.
Remember what we said at the beginning of this story. Every decibel level multiplies the amount of decibels, so a 10 decibel level increase raises that amount by a factor of ten. The same goes in reverse. Reduce the decibel level by ten and you decrease the force of that sound wave by a factor of ten.
Think of sound as a tidal wave and your ear drum as a house on the shore. If you have a 3 foot wave coming and you increase that power by a factor of ten, how big is the wave now? 30 feet. a three-foot wave won't likely damage your house, but a 30-footer means you''ll likely be rebuilding. A suppressor is a solid break wall, protecting your house from that wave.
Reduced recoil and better muzzle control
Most silencer, by design, have the added bonus of reducing the felt recoil. The baffles spread out the gases from the shot and direct them away from going backwards. A silencer that is as advanced as the MeatEater by BANISH has an anchor brake that is adjustable for increased recoil reduction - up to 40%.
Reduced recoil also gives you better muzzle control. The muzzle is stabilized, which not only makes your shot inherently more accurate, but makes it easier to get back on target for a follow-up shot should you need to take one.
Increased situational awareness
This is something we've talked about before and is very true when hunting predatory game, like coyotes, bears, or cats. A suppressed rifle being fired is harder to find for a =n animal than an unsurpassed one. Using a suppressed rifle increases your odds if you have to make a second shot.
TAKE A SUPPRESSOR ON YOUR NEXT HUNT
Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that your next hunt should be your quietest hunt! Whether you choose one of the options on this list or something else that better suits your needs, Silencer Central is here to make your buying process as easy and cost-effective as possible. We offer free gun trusts, free thread protectors with barrel threading, and an eZ Pay Plan. Our motto is “Silencer Buying Made Simple,” and we mean it!
With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, we’re 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. Our experts are ready to help you by phone or email, Monday through Saturday from 8am – 8pm (CT).
