Reduced muzzle blast, reduced recoil, helps keep the neighbors out of your business.

They can be cumbersome but once you get used to hunting with them, it's hard to go back. No more bombs going off in the blind with you.

I know a lot of people prefer to hunt without hearing protection, which makes sense.

And shrug off potential hearing damage from just that one shot….because its just one shot.

But its a lot of potential damage, and that risk is increased if you're shooting near reflective surfaces….like a hunting blind.

Hearing damage is cumulative and cant be repaired.

Reducing the risk with a suppressor is just plain smart.

Eta: also, if you want to try shooting suppressed, reach out! Always happy to introduce an Ag to new gun stuff.

CS78 said:

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Reduced muzzle blast, reduced recoil, helps keep the neighbors out of your business.

They can be cumbersome but once you get used to hunting with them, it's hard to go back. No more bombs going off in the blind with you.

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End of thread. Been 6 seasons with a suppressor now and not sure I can ever go back now.

The biggest surprise for me the first time I shot a deer with a suppressed rifle, the thud of the bullet hitting the deer.

IMO once you start shooting suppressed you wont ever shoot unsuppressed.

You will want to use it because you will shoot better with it. Once you try it and get the reduced noise and recoil, your groups will improve and it will give you that much more confidence.

Everything listed above...but will add. If you do go the suppressor route, you need to zero with it on. POI will be different suppressed vs. unsuppressed no matter how minimal the suppressor companies claim it to be.

Trying to save the hearing I have left in my right ear after shooting a braked rifle without ear protection on my last trip to Montana.

The noise mitigation should not be easily dismissed.

It should be understood that repeated exposure above 85 decibels will still damage the small nerve hair cells within the cochlea of the inner ear. Usually causing high frequency hearing loss first… as the first part of the cochlea is the high frequency part. It progresses to lower frequency hearing loss the further the damage goes inside the cochlea.

Even with a good suppressor, shooting certain cartridges at supersonic speeds can still have the potential to damage your hearing with repeated exposure if you are not wearing some type of hearing protection.

I have lost over 40% of my hearing due to many years of racing loud outboards and boats,running chain saws, power tools and shooting in my younger years without hearing protection.
I also have severe tinnitus.
I see an otologist/neurologist every year to monitor my hearing. He knows I shoot a lot and he himself is an avid hunter and shooter. He heavily recommends suppressors..but also cautions that people should still wear hearing protection when shooting certain cartridges at supersonic speeds….even while using a suppressor.


There is some accurate specs and data available that allows you to look up your cartridge/caliber types and see what the average sound decibels that are produced by that cartridge with different barrel lengths. Then you can look up the sound reduction specs of the suppressor you are using and you can figure out how many decibels of sound is still reaching your ears as a general average.


The advantage is, other than those things already stated by others, is when using suppressors, you don't have to wear muffs or in-ear canal plugs with such high a NRR rating as when you are not using a suppressor which allows greater comfort and still be able to hear some conversation.

Hollywood has made people think that having a suppressor makes all firearms "James Bond Quiet". You can approach and realize that quiet performance only with a good suppressor and sub sonic ammunition.

Our generation got hearing damage from shooting and machinery. The current generation will get it from earbuds.

Gunny456 said:

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Sounds like we are brothers here. Just about every word you just posted is my exact words.
Both my ears ring constantly. Loud enough to wake me up at night sometimes. Hearing aids help but can't wear hearing aids all night.
I have had it for well over 25 years.

My Otologist says my hearing, even with me being a fanatic on protecting it, will still decline as I age as the damage is cumulative as Bender stated.
The continued loss of hearing is going to make the tinnitus increase.
Right now, thank our God, my hearing has stabilized over the last two annual appointments.
He said the best thing we can do to preserve hearing, besides wearing protection, is to have good blood flow to the ear and brain by doing daily cardio exercises.
Stay strong my friend.

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I've posted once on this thread already, but feel the need to do it again. It is so important to protect your hearing. As Gunny and others have stated.... Tinnitis and hearing loss absolutely sucks. The constant ringing that never quits can be overwhelming at times, especially at night when all is quiet around you. Trust me, you do NOT want to deal with it. Please, please protect your hearing.

Hoyt Ag said:

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I use a can on all my rifles. I am also 60% loss on right ear and 50% loss on left ear. I'm 43 and am looking to get hearing aids sooner than later if my insurance goes through. If they are not going to cover it, I will be getting them abroad, ass they are substantially cheaper even with a flight and hotel added.

I will say, if you ever get one for western hunting, buy the lightest one you can afford.

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Tell us more about hearing aids abroad!