Integral suppressors, like the one on this Model 77/22 from John’s Guns, are built around the rifle’s barrel. They are by far the quietest and sleekest suppressors.

Semiautomatic guns tend to be louder than bolt-actions or single-shots given the same ammunition and suppressor design. Some of the increased sound is the noise of the action opening and closing, but most of the noise comes from gas escaping the action. As an example, take my two integrally suppressed .22s. One, built on a Ruger 77/22, is so quiet you can only hear the firing pin drop and the bullet striking the target. The other, built on a 10/22, is noticeably louder. Though it is still pretty quiet, I wouldn't even think of using it for suburban pest control.

Ammunition plays an important role because every time a bullet breaks the sound barrier, there is a considerable audible crack. Though a suppressed .308 Win. is tolerable without earplugs and a suppressor will make it difficult to determine where the shot came from, the sound is still recognizable as a gun shot. Special subsonic loads eliminate the crack, but they seriously reduce the effective range of the suppressed firearm.

With my suppressed .308 and standard ammunition, I can skip the earplugs, but it is clear that a firearm is discharged when I shoot the rifle. With subsonic ammunition, you can barely hear it, but it hits so low even the fattest hog is safe if I use my normal, 100-yard zero.

The ammunition I choose depends solely on my intended purpose of the suppressed gun. If I am practicing or plinking, I typically shoot whatever ammunition I have on hand. For nighttime hog eradication, I might sneak in close and use subsonic ammunition in hopes of head-shooting four or five pigs before they figure out why their buddies keep falling. Subsonic ammunition is also the cat's meow for suburban pest eradication.

Why I Use A Suppressor
I am often asked why I need a suppressor. I am tempted to say, "I'm an American, and need doesn't have a darn thing to do with it." But the truth of the matter is, a suppressor is a valuable tool for someone like me who manages the hunting on several ranches. Though suppressors are not legal for hunting game animals such as whitetails in Texas, they are perfectly legal for hunting varmints and for culling hogs and exotics at night. They're also great for keeping the raccoon population in check without busting turkeys off their roosts or disturbing other animals in the area.

The author is fond of suppressors for wildlife management. He used his suppressed .308 to drop this crop-raiding porker.

I have long held that muzzle blast is more apt to cause a flinch than recoil. I don't let my children shoot rifles with muzzle brakes because they increase muzzle blast. However, all their rifles are threaded for suppressors because a suppressor reduces both recoil and muzzle blast. That is also why my tactical rifles--all of which are fired almost exclusively from the punishing prone position--are threaded for suppressors. With their "cans" attached, my .308s are a joy to shoot, and my .338 Lapua is more than tolerable.

Suppressors, where legal to use in the field, are also great for varmint and predator hunting. When shooting distant prairie dogs, a suppressor reduces the strain on your ears, shoulder, and nerves. It also reduces recoil enough so that you can call your shots without the aid of a spotter. The ability to shoot all day without earplugs is a great bonus, too, because I can converse with my companions and avoid headaches and ringing ears at the end of the day.

The sound of a suppressed firearm being discharged isn't so loud that it spooks distant animals, which is beneficial when calling predators. If you keep calling, animals that were on the way when you shot their buddy may still come to the call. Try doing that with an unsuppressed rifle.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, suppressors are just plain fun. And for those of us who live in one of the 35 suppressor-friendly states, that's all the reason we need.