Thread: DPT brake end cap

Originally Posted by Ruger7mm

Hi all, interesting thread, I have been using suppressors for 20 odd years now and believe they have a few advantages for the hunter. Firstly they definitely get the noise down below the single point exposure level for hearing loss, if you were repeatedly firing through the suppressor the noise would still be above levels that cause hearing loss. In a previous life managing professional hunters the straight can reduced the noise for the shooter, their dog's hearing wasn't hurt anywhere as much compared to no can and shooting over top of them, so didn't need retiring at 6 years of age due to deafness, and the goats and deer were often confused as to where the noise of the report came from allowing for multiple kills on many occasions. Hunting with ear muffs that filter the loud noise out doesn't work in the bush hunting scenario as sense of direction to a noise is lost when using them, you may hear a goat or deer but won't have any idea which direction to look. I have an early Hardy (12 years old) suppressor with a brake machined into the front cap and I can't notice any difference in sound when shooting, however if I am a bystander it certainly is louder. In open country where you generally have more time to shoot, a brake and grade 5 muffs are certainly an option, however for a North Island bush hunter they are not.
I feel the combination of a suppressor, a decent recoil pad, and a good trigger allow many people to shoot calibres that in their raw form would have been a bit much horsepower for them. With less recoil we all are able to be more confident with our shooting which should mean more one shot humane kills.

OK, my 0.02c on this is that in bush where you are likely to be near an obstruction in front of the muzzle like a tree trunk, bank, cutting or some other solid lump you are very likely to get a damaging amount of sound energy reflected back at you even with a suppressor fitted. I learned that the hard way shooting next to a bank in a patch of bush on my left side, fu**ing ow ringing and deaf left ear.

Decent brand and model electronic muffs should enhance the directional awareness of sound not decrease it, I'd suggest sourcing some decent Peltor of Sordin ones and trying those on for size.