The Best .338 Suppressors for Big Bore Rifles

For the majority of shooters who are on the periphery of the suppressor world, they may not be aware of all the suppressor options available to them. There is a wide variety of centerfire rifle suppressors on the market today, but the vast majority of them top out at .30 caliber cartridges.

This could lead to some people thinking that you can’t adequately suppress big bore rifles like those chambered in .338 cartridges. That thinking is dead wrong. 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.

We’ve broken it down into our top five options when it comes to .338 suppressors for big bore rifles.

In an attempt to appeal to as many shooters as possible, the suppressors on this list have a nice 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.

Here’s a preview of our top picks:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A .338 SUPPRESSOR

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!

OK, so here’s a quick view chart of our picks:

Category	Name	Caliber	Weight	Length	Price
Overall Best 338 Suppressor	TBAC .338 ULTRA Gen2	Up to .338 RUM	16.9 oz	10.4”	$1,930
Best 338 Lapua Magnum Suppressor	Banish 338	Up to .338 LM	17.5 oz	9.1"	$1,499
Lightest 338 Suppressor	SilencerCo Omega 36M	Up to .338 LM	9.8 or 12.5 oz	4.9" - 6.8"	$1,169
Best 338 Win Mag Suppressor	Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light 338	Up to .338 LM	12.7 oz	8.75"	$995
Best Bang for Your Buck	Elite Iron SIERRA 338	Up to .338 RUM	29 oz	9.1”	$925

BEST OVERALL .338 SUPPRESSOR: TBAC .338 ULTRA GEN2

When trying to determine “the best” of something, you do a lot of research. Generally, what wins out is something that shows up repeatedly in that research, and with good results overall. In this case, we were looking for a suppressor that wasn’t too big or too heavy, could handle .338 cartridges with ease, and had plenty of positive reviews and endorsements by people who own one.

That’s what we found with the Thunder Beast Arms Corp (TBAC) .338 ULTRA Gen2 suppressor. Essentially, TBAC took an already great product – their .338BA Suppressor – and made it even better. Compared to the prior 338BA, the 338 ULTRA Gen2 is 33% lighter, 2-4 dB quieter, and much stronger.

If we’re completely honest, we couldn’t find a single negative review of this can – or any TBAC can, for that matter. This is both a blessing and a curse. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this suppressor, it can be a hard item to find in stock. As with many items in the gun industry right now, demand is outpacing production, and the TBAC .338 ULTRA Gen2 suppressor is no exception.

The new Gen2 is available in two configurations: BA and SR. The BA version uses the original TBAC large Brake Attach (BA) brake attachment, the same mount as the original 338 ULTRA, and older 30BA series. This design is backwards compatible with all 338BA and 30BA brakes. It can be used on our smaller CB brake mounts with the addition of a CB2BA adapter.

The SR has the same SR (Secondary Retention) mount as TBAC’s Dominus-SR, Dominus-K-SR, and Magnus-SR. This model is 0.60-inch longer and 2.8 ounces heavier than the BA version. This version has the same Hard-Use/Full-Auto as the DOMINUS-SR, ie, Lifetime to exceed at least 10 SURGE cycles on a 10.5″ M4 / MK18.

The BA version of the 338 ULTRA is NOT full-auto rated due to the mount being insufficient. The Gen2 SR weight is 0.2 ounces lighter than the Gen1 version.

Advantages:

• Very popular can with lots of positive user reviews
• No discernable first round pop
• Great noise reduction: 35 dB

Disadvantages:

• Not user-serviceable
• Frequently out of stock across the board
• Most expensive option on the list

Specs: Thunder Beast Arms Corp (TBAC) .338 ULTRA Gen2 (BA version)
Caliber: up to .338 Lapua Magnum or .338 RUM
Weight: 16.9 oz.
Length: 10.4”
Sound reduction: 35 dB
Price: $1,930

BEST .338 LAPUA MAGNUM SUPPRESSOR: BANISH 338

The .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge is a beast. 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: $1,499

LIGHTEST .338 SUPPRESSOR: SILENCERCO OMEGA 36M

Guns that are chambered for .338-caliber cartridges tend to be on the heavier side. This is because the guns need to be beefy enough to handle the powerful loads they can deliver. Even though the guns will be heavier to lug around, there can be a benefit to it. The added weight helps with some recoil reduction.

Of course, weight is still weight. Whether you’re carrying it from the truck to the bench or from the truck to a distant shooting location, that weight can add up quickly. As a result, if you can save some extra weight with your suppressor, that could be a good thing depending on your application.

Made from a mix of stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, and Cobalt 6, the Omega 36M can be used on a variety of firearms in multiple calibers, including 9mm handguns and .338 Win Mag rifles, with plenty of other options in between. This makes the Omega 36M highly versatile – and incredibly lightweight. In the short configuration, it weighs less than 10 ounces. That’s basically unheard of for such a capable big bore suppressor.

The Omega 36M is a lightweight, compact, modular suppressor built specifically for big bore centerfire rifles. Modular in design, it can be run in long or short configurations depending on your specific needs. If sound suppression is the most important, run it in the long configuration. If size and maneuverability take top priority, remove the front section, run it in the short configuration, and still get very good sound reduction.

Featuring a durable lock-ring, SiCo’s Omega ensures that it stays firmly on your firearm through all of your adventures. Compatible with the Charlie mounting systems, including the ASR, direct thread, 3-lug, and piston housings, the Omega 36M offers a fantastic blend of sound suppression, versatility, and durability.

Advantages:

• Multiple different mounting options
• Modular lengths for different uses

Disadvantages:

• Barrel length restrictions for different calibers

Specs: SilencerCo Omega 36M
Caliber: Up to .338 LM
Weight: 9.8 oz. or 12.5 oz.
Length: 4.9” or 6.8”
Sound reduction: 35 dB
Price: $1,169

BEST .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM SUPPRESSOR: GRIFFIN ARMAMENT SPORTSMAN ULTRA LIGHT 338

The Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light 338 is an incredibly close second for the lightest .338 suppressor, missing out by just 0.2 ounces, but it’s still an exceptionally capable suppressor that will take a beating from .338 Win Mag rounds all day long and still perform like a champ from the first round fired to the last.

Taking advantage of the low mass properties of 7075 aluminum, Griffin Armament was able to make a suppressor with the durability typical of titanium silencers with incredible weight savings utilizing a hybrid baffle stack. The hybrid baffle stack consists of two 17-4 stainless heat treated blast baffles followed by 7075 anodized aluminum baffles to keep the silencer lightweight and durable.

Designed to be a user-serviceable suppressor, this can features Griffin’s patented H.E.D.P. baffles that offer high performance sound reduction. Along with the new high performance baffles, the baffle stack also features RTZ (return to zero) geometry that allows the user to easily align and lock in their baffle stack to keep a repeatable zero even after disassembly of the silencer.

Advantages:

• Very compact unit
• Priced point is reasonable

Disadvantages:

• Sacrifice a few decibels compared to other models
• Be aware of the cleaning differences between aluminum and titanium

Specs: Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light 338 Suppressor
Caliber: up to .338 LM
Weight: 12.7 oz
Length: 8.75”
Sound reduction: 33 dB
Price: $995

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: ELITE IRON SIERRA 338

We all know that suppressors aren’t cheap. When figuring out how much you’re willing to spend, Uncle Sam reminds us that you’ve got to factor him into the equation, too. There’s no way around the extra $200 tax stamp that gets added to your overall cost.

With that in mind, we’ve determined that the Elite Iron SIERRA 338 is the perfect balance between performance and price. At just 9.1” in length, it’s the second shortest can on the list. Weighing in at 29 ounces, however, makes it the heaviest on the list. But then again, at $925, it’s the most affordable on the list. So, it’s all about balance and sacrifice.

Made of stainless steel, the SIERRA 338 is a robust magnum class suppressor. Elite Iron makes cans that are rated up to .50 BMG, so they know just how important it is for a silencer to be robust.

If you’re going to have to compromise, we think the SIERRA 338 does a fairly good job at it. Our customers seem to think so, too, as we sell quite a few of these direct thread suppressors.

Even after you factor in the cost of the $200 tax stamp, the Elite Iron SIERRA comes in at a price point that is less than three of the five options on this list before the tax stamp. That definitely makes this can the best bang for your buck!

Advantages:

• Size; 2nd shortest on this list (same as BANISH 338)
• Price; it’s the most affordable one on this list

Disadvantages:

• Weight; heaviest on this list
• Direct thread attachment only

Specs: Elite Iron SIERRA Suppressor
Caliber: all .338 varieties up to .338 RUM
Weight: 29 oz
Length: 9.1”
Sound reduction: 31 dB
Price: $925

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!