The dropping of the $200 ‘tax stamp’ wasn’t the main reason, been on the fence for years. A friend has a few, been around them some. The big sellers really streamline the process, all my documentation submitted, no idea on the wait time, no hurry. I have 2 Howa Rifles, threaded, ready to go. I got a thread adapter from JoeBobOutfitters, seems great. The main use will be the 16.25” barreled ‘ultralight’ in 6.5 Creedmoor. The intended use is coyotes & deer inside 150 yards, likely inside 100 yards. I ordered a Nosler suppressor, lighter, modest size to match short & light rifle. In case anyone is unaware, with a regular rifle there’s still the report, the suppressor only lessons the sound a certain amount. To get ‘Hollywood quiet’ it takes slower, subsonic ammo. My plan is to try it on the Howa rifles, the other is 243. I see IL is a no-go, in WI & MI no problem. The suppressor cost varies, averages $500 to $1500, not cheap. For whatever reason, Europe seems ahead of the USA with ease of ownership. It’s a little easier on the ears, less annoying to neighbors.
I know with this new year they had a different way to clear them. I just sent my fingerprint card off Monday. I really don’t think there will be all that big of a rush with dropping the $200 fee. One still has to jump through the background check hoops, then the suppressor itself can easily be $1k. I’m looking forward to trying it out.
I really would like get a can for my deer rifle. 18" barrel on a .308 is pretty obnoxiously loud. I just wish they weren't so danged expensive.
I have owned several since around 2014. When you start playing with sub 1050 stuff, pay close attention to twist rate and barrel length along with grain weight. I'm finally starting to get my head wrapped around heavy bullets used for quiet shooting. It takes a bit of spin to stabilize them. Patch is to run a lighter charge so a lighter bullet can be used and still not break 1050fps. I have been shooting some 255 grain out of an 18" with a 9.5:1 rate. Kindof a no no honestly with keyholing almost assured beyond 100 yards. I'm still learning. Don't fart around...get yourself a rimfire can...the best (most fun and quiet) of all the suppressed weapons I have yet fired.
I got myself an AAC Jaeger30 last year. Made for hunting suppressor (low volume rate of fire, low price). Easily had for under $500 and no tax now like I had to pay last year. I'm all in at around $625 on it as I found a great deal. So far only 7.62x39 from it but am happy. I had tried to wade into the myriad of 30 cal suppressors prior to purchase. Got fed up trying to navigate all the jibbly jabby and decided on a simple and economical choice rather than an 'end all be all' with zoomie adapters and turbo encabulators. Should knock your 308 down by about 40db. Jaeger 30 – AAC
Thanks for posting. I make about 3 shots a year from that rifle. I don't need anything fancy, just something to keep my hearing intact.
Most shops around here do the fingerprints & all the peripheral garage in house. PIA having to do a set of prints for every suppressor. If you buy more than one suppressor at time, one set of prints should suffice for all, not a set for each one. BUT the tax stamp did get nixed so that is a big step forward.
I do believe it when you say the 22 & subsonic centerfires are the way to go. On a related note, I have shot some Aguila 22 ammo at various reduced velocities that’s quiet without a suppressor. I have some mostly for backyard pest control & intro for new shooters. Now CCI has the ‘quiet’ lineup. These have been 20 grain bullets at 325 then 500 FPS, kinda like a pellet gun. Yes, limitations no doubt at those speeds. https://www.aguilaammo.com/ammunition/rimfire? I was kinda hoping the suppressor rules would be loosened up for hearing protection, but not the case.
I have a few boxes of Colibri. Cautionary to shoot from barrels longer than 10" due to squib potential. They are *very quiet. I may have had a friend who's grandpa may have dispatched pigeons with some that liked to roost on his roof many years ago inside city limits. Maybe. To be remembered with quiet shooting that the type of action used will affect sound levels. Semis have to move the bolt and open a gap when they do. Bolt guns or anything with manual cycling will be quieter (and not blow stuff in your face, yes that's part of the deal in some cases). Semis will also require more maintenance to remove the gunk which is also part of the deal with 22lr. It will require some cleaning, the gun and silencer. Worth it. Centerfires take many many rounds to get to a point where performance is diminished. It can happen in 500 rounds of 22 which is just an afternoon at the range for me. I plan to do some testing with the CCI 'clean' coated lead rounds that purportedly cause half as much fouling. Recommended to heat your rimfire silencer parts in the oven for a bit then quench with some silicone based brake fluid (DOT5) so the gunk doesn't hold on as tightly. Seems to help a little. Dental picks are handy. Want to restate that centerfire doesn't share the dirtiness of the rimfire and don't want anyone scared of the gunk. Just making people aware so they aren't surprised. The gunk dictates more regular maintenance but again worth it. 9mm is my second favorite because pistols with no ear ppe. I don't own any 45s but I gather they are nice as well as almost all are subsonic loadings by nature of the caliber.
Years ago, someone I know well motioned me over to where he was standing, holding a .22 bolt with a new can. I have hearing loss, and adamantly wear ear pro for anything that makes much noise. As I walked over I reached in my pocket and pulled out my earplugs and started to put them in. He said you don't need them, I said you know me, he said I promise. I looked at the rifle and can and felt it. About 300 yards away were woods, and a couple large sycamores. I threw the rifle up, threw off the safety, aimed high on one of the white trucks, and squeezed the trigger. All I heard was the firing pin hit and then the bullet hit the tree 300 yds away. Astoundingly quiet. Hollywood quiet. He did say there was some form of sub ammo in there, maybe the colibri's.. It. Was. Awesome.
