Suppressing a Dangerous Game rifle - 458 lott

[coreydb]

Go for it. My PH even uses them.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Just returned from taking my daughter on her first safari in South Africa and the operation utilized suppressed 375HH for their rental rifles for buffalo hunts. My daughter handled the suppressed 308 on her plains game all week so well, and after watching both of my buffalo hunts as well, she was already talking about us both hunting a buffalo next trip. She is only 13yo, and not ready to shoot my Rigby, but with a little extra time on our final day, we played with one of the suppressed 375's and have to say it was super pleasant to shoot. My daughter even loved it off the sticks. I'm not likely to run a suppressor on my big bore, but can say I already have plans to shorten the barrel and mcmillan stock on on of my redundant M70 375's so she can start practicing with it now, and maybe we actually end up doing a little father/daughter buffalo hunt sometime in the coming years. Suppressors are a true game changer in several respects...

 

[BryceM]

I’ve hunted with a suppressed .375 H&H Sako in Namibia. It was handy enough, but it might be a bit cumbersome on a long stalk through thick stuff. It was pretty pleasant to shoot and accurate too. Got me a klippie at 250 yards smack square in the vitals.

That said, I see a .375 H&H as a do-it-all utility gun. I’d want a bit more for elephant, and for that particular beast, a handy, quick, reliable rifle trumps all other considerations.

 

[Luvthunt]

What is the advantage of a suppressor over a brake?

 

[Philip Glass]

I see very few if any examples of folks using suppressors on dangerous game rifles. Is there a reason for this other than people don’t like the “look”?

I’m contemplating having a 20” 458 Lott built and threaded for a silencerco hybrid. Silencerco told me the minimum barrel length is 20” for this suppressor.

I see the following pros and cons

Pros
- significant recoil reduction
- added weight to further reduce recoil and muzzle flip
- you won’t do significant hearing damage
-your PH will be happy
- the suppressor often throws the sound of the shot confusing the animal where it came from. I’ve witnessed this first hand hunting hogs and other game. This could be potentially helpful when hunting dangerous game confusing the animal for just a couple extra seconds to give you time to react if needed or get a second shot off.

Cons
- added weight and length (weight can be seen as a pro)
- looks if you care about that sort of thing. Personally this doesn’t bother me and I think a modern touch on a classic rifle is neat and unique
- possibly worse handling with the extra weight on the end. A 20” with 7” suppressor would probably feel like a 27” barreled 458 Lott which would be a little slower to whip around. However I’m quite strong (still in my 30s) so it’s not much issue to hold
- harder to shoot off hand with the weight out front while waiting for the animal to get in position for a shot. Sticks would be very beneficial but I know sometimes you don’t get a chance to set them up.

Anyways I was curious if anyone has ever done or seen this and what their takeaway was. My 375 ruger I shoot suppressed with a 22” barrel and it reallly takes the recoil and without the noise I have almost no flinch develop with it even shooting off a bench. I find in more accurate when the rifle rifles less and has less concussion and noise. I just wish it was 20” because I think it would balance better and make just enough difference to hold it steady freehand longer. Unfortunately the FTW model Ruger has a 22” barrel. But it shoots a 270 LRX Barnes at 2760 without any pressure signs.

Go for it. It will be a great project. Cut the Ruger down to 20". It won't hurt anything.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have the same suppressor that you speak of. I’ve never used it in the role that you speak of, but on a 458 that will be carried in thick brush for miles at the time, I think you’d be cursing it before your trip was over. Short and handy are the attributes I’m looking for in a buffalo/Elephant rifle. I just returned from an elephant hunt, where we walked for miles in the thickest brush you could imagine, and I guarantee I’d have taken that suppressor off and slung it through the woods before the trip was over. If you hunted in open country, it could work. But all of the DG I’ve done in Africa has been in very thick cover.
Maybe you could have it threaded and use the suppressor during practice, and then remove it for the actual hunt. I bet it would really help you to get more shooting in during practice.

Excellent points here.

 

[Philip Glass]

How big is the selection of suppressors fit for this in the us? In Europe there's multiple models of light direct thread telescopic cans for .458 magnum calibers and only one that I've found for .510 but cheap and light direct thread cans barely seem like a thing on the us market.

I've looked a little at building a very short, 45-50 cm barrel, 500A² to suppress it but that's just because it'd be cool and subs would have the kinetic energy to legally hunt everything here.

The number of suppressor manufacturers in the US is huge and growing daily. Custom suppressors are now available if you know the right folks. If you want it someone will build it!

 

[Red Leg]

I own suppressors and for hunting use them on two dedicated AR platforms for pigs and coyotes. As @mdwest notes, a suppressor is far from silent, but does increase the chances of a successful second animal in a sounder of pigs at midnight.

Unless sitting in a stand, I have zero interest in trying to drag a suppressed rifle through a stalk - particularly for a dangerous game animal. I just used a Mauser so equipped in Hungary for that role stalking roe deer and found it an abomination.

Thread 'HUNGARY: Roe Deer On The Hungarian Plain And Mouflon Of The Bakony Mountains - Or, How I Came To Despise A Bolt Action Equipped With A Suppressor'

Apr 24, 2025

Not wishing to drive off any Gen X, Z, or tacticool readers immediately, I’ll withhold my rifle evaluation until later.

I had visited Budapest twice before over the last twenty-five years, but I never had the opportunity to see anything of the country. However, thanks to the Cold War, I at least was very familiar with its terrain from map studies and exercises. We had concluded back in those days that it represented excellent tank country once our formations moved east of the Danube. It was to this area, the Great Hungarian Plain (lföld or Nagy Alföld), that a local friend, Rick, and I...

• Red Leg
• Replies: 49
• Forum: Hunting reports Europe

• 
• 

In thick country, I carry the rifle slung, butt up over the left shoulder with the the left hand controlling it on the forearm. It goes everywhere I go effortlessly, is almost impossible to snag, and comes up as quickly as port arms. The suppressed Mauser, negotiating a wood line in Europe, much less the jess in Africa, it was like trying to maneuver a revolutionary war musket, and would have dug a furrow in the dirt with the butt up carry.

Also, on dangerous game, how does that whole follow-up thing work? Open sights are a non-starter. How much of your vision is hampered by the can when the scope is dropped to 1X to deal with something angry and inbound.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Look, a suppressed bolt gun with even a 16” barrel is about as long as an unsuppressed 26” rifle. That, and large caliber suppressors that actually work well have large volumes. Think it through carefully.

From top to bottom:
26”
20”
16”
17”

The bottom rifle has a Bowers Vers 458.

 

[Datchew]

I like suppressors and have one on my 375. It's wonderful but my r8 has a carbon fiber thumb hole stock. It's a function built setup.

A lot of folks are all about the looks.

While I may be more of a function over fashion type of guy, I do admit
that the optics of a blue steel and walnut gun give me pause on whether to add a suppressor. You won't see one on my Ruger no1, but that's a "fair weather" rifle.

I've found if you remove 3-4" of steel barrel and add 5-7" of titanium you don't really affect the handling and you get reduced recoil and noise.

 

[Nhoro]

Generally I like suppressors for hunting however they are illegal in Zimbabwe. I have shot a few rifles with "barrel weights" and like saving my hearing. As for length, my rifle is a CZ standard length at 25 ". I don't struggle in the thick stuff any more or any less. Generally I carry the rifle in my hands when it is thick because a slung rifle is a pain in the a*** whatever the length.

As for muzzle brakes, they are for the range with full ear protection, not the hunting field with everyone getting blasted by your noise. So I reckon if you are happy with it, it helps everyone around you so then use a suppressor.

 

[jbirdwell]

Here are the pics of my 19" 375 Ruger I put together on a Savage action. I all the parts except for a barrel laying around so ordered the carbon fiber barrel to help with weight on that end. It has great balance with my 46M suppressor in the short version. Hope to use it for Nilgai in November.

 

[Daisy]

I own suppressors and for hunting use them on two dedicated AR platforms for pigs and coyotes. As @mdwest notes, a suppressor is far from silent, but does increase the chances of a successful second animal in a sounder of pigs at midnight.

Unless sitting in a stand, I have zero interest in trying to drag a suppressed rifle through a stalk - particularly for a dangerous game animal. I just used a Mauser so equipped in Hungary for that role stalking roe deer and found it an abomination.

Thread 'HUNGARY: Roe Deer On The Hungarian Plain And Mouflon Of The Bakony Mountains - Or, How I Came To Despise A Bolt Action Equipped With A Suppressor'

Apr 24, 2025

Not wishing to drive off any Gen X, Z, or tacticool readers immediately, I’ll withhold my rifle evaluation until later.

I had visited Budapest twice before over the last twenty-five years, but I never had the opportunity to see anything of the country. However, thanks to the Cold War, I at least was very familiar with its terrain from map studies and exercises. We had concluded back in those days that it represented excellent tank country once our formations moved east of the Danube. It was to this area, the Great Hungarian Plain (lföld or Nagy Alföld), that a local friend, Rick, and I...

• Red Leg
• Replies: 49
• Forum: Hunting reports Europe

• 
• 

In thick country, I carry the rifle slung, butt up over the left shoulder with the the left hand controlling it on the forearm. It goes everywhere I go effortlessly, is almost impossible to snag, and comes up as quickly as port arms. The suppressed Mauser, negotiating a wood line in Europe, much less the jess in Africa, it was like trying to maneuver a revolutionary war musket, and would have dug a furrow in the dirt with the butt up carry.

Also, on dangerous game, how does that whole follow-up thing work? Open sights are a non-starter. How much of your vision is hampered by the can when the scope is dropped to 1X to deal with something angry and inbound.

Except when you use a 375 Ruger instead of h&h
and your suppressed rifle is the same length.

I, and many others, feel a suppressed rifle balances better than unsupressed. Especially when using a reflex or over the barrel suppressor.

 

[Red Leg]

Except when you use a 375 Ruger instead of h&h
and your suppressed rifle is the same length.

I, and many others, feel a suppressed rifle balances better than unsupressed. Especially when using a reflex or over the barrel suppressor.

Good for you and the "many others" in your circle who have lots of experience pursuing dangerous game with a suppressed rifle. Or do you or they have any? I think I gave a thorough and very accurate description of my experiences and impressions. I would never use one on a dangerous game rifle - or on any rifle with which I was attempting to actually stalk game.

 

[Daisy]

Good for you and the "many others" in your circle who have lots of experience pursuing dangerous game with a suppressed rifle. Or do you or they have any? I think I gave a thorough and very accurate description of my experiences and impressions. I would never use one on a dangerous game rifle - or on any rifle with which I was attempting to actually stalk game.

I’ve stalked lots of game and mine balances better. Just showing folks there are multiple view points that are all valid.

Pretty much all ph will be using them soon in Africa. It’s coming. Where legal of course.

New budget bill that passed house takes supressors off of NFA items. They will be over the counter soon. I personally wouldn’t hunt with someone not using one.

 

[Red Leg]

I’ve stalked lots of game and mine balances better. Just showing folks there are multiple view points that are all valid.

Pretty much all ph will be using them soon in Africa. It’s coming. Where legal of course.

What I thought. And yes, I am sure you have vast experience which is particularly informative reference the future of hunting on the African continent.

 

[generalzip]

Just returned from taking my daughter on her first safari in South Africa and the operation utilized suppressed 375HH for their rental rifles for buffalo hunts. My daughter handled the suppressed 308 on her plains game all week so well, and after watching both of my buffalo hunts as well, she was already talking about us both hunting a buffalo next trip. She is only 13yo, and not ready to shoot my Rigby, but with a little extra time on our final day, we played with one of the suppressed 375's and have to say it was super pleasant to shoot. My daughter even loved it off the sticks. I'm not likely to run a suppressor on my big bore, but can say I already have plans to shorten the barrel and mcmillan stock on on of my redundant M70 375's so she can start practicing with it now, and maybe we actually end up doing a little father/daughter buffalo hunt sometime in the coming years. Suppressors are a true game changer in several respects...

That’s awesome and what it’s all about. This is why I hope the bill passes the senate. Suppressors are a safety device and should be permitted without tax or registration. Very happy to hear your daughter enjoyed herself so much. You are blessed with such a life.

 

[Daisy]

What I thought. And yes, I am sure you have vast experience which is particularly informative reference the future of hunting on the African continent.

Yep. Glad you see the light

 

[Datchew]

In case the OP doesn't already know, there have been a few things tossed around here that can get confusing. Forgive me if I'm being captain obvious here.

Different rifle models have different lengths of actions to accommodate bolts, falling blocks, or other variances in design. Thus, the overall length (OAL) of each design can vary.

Larger calibers are likely to have a long action to accommodate the bolt. But in the case of a ruger no 1 (falling block) or a blaser r8, the action is a good bit shorter. Sometimes up to 2-3".
Long story short, different models have +/- a few inches of OAL due to bolt and action style.

So a short-action rifle such as a ruger no 1 or a blaser r8 can have a normal length barrel (let's call 22") in a DG caliber and support a 5-7" suppressor and end up with the same OAL as another bolt gun in the same caliber with no suppressor.

 

[generalzip]

What is the advantage of a suppressor over a brake?

Not doing permanent hearing damage to yourself. Shooting a braked rifle especially a shoot barreled one absolutely does some degree of permanent hearing damage. The other option is to put in ear plug you wear around your neck but as many know in the heat of the moment you either don’t have time to do this (especially with dangerous game) or you forget because your adrenaline is going and you’re rushing to get into position for a shot. Everything happens so fast