Suppressed shotgun experience?

[CodeSeven]

Avid upland hunter here. Get about 50+ days a season, and the constant cracks of a shotgun over my dog is gaining my concern (for the sake of his hearing).

One option is hunt less, so that’s not an option. Second option is getting a suppressor for an upland gun. I like using an auto for quail especially. Does anyone have experience running a suppressed auto? Upland hunting suppressed?

Thanks

 

[turbobrick]

I have had a Silencerco Salvo since October of ‘15. When I first got it, I was surprised at how loud it was. But, I was shooting hunting loads out of a 12” SBS through it, so with the combo of supersonic and short barrel that made sense. Since then, I mostly shoot subsonic shot or mini shells out of it, the mini slugs are quiet, and make a cartoonish ‘bloop’ noise.

It’s a large, bulky can that feels pretty heavy, but it’s still one of my favorites. I have only hunted jackrabbits with it. I think with a fairly traditional length shotgun and some practice it would be a great fit for your use case. There are a few other shotgun cans on the market these days, but with the combo of big bore, wads, and loud powders, shotguns just aren’t the easiest to suppress, so I’ve not heard that any of them are much better.

I really need to put it on my full length pumps and SBE2 to see how it sounds and handles, I have all my shotguns threaded for chokes, and all the chokes to adapt it to any of them, it’s overdue. One thing I did find, was that I needed to go down one choke (more constriction) than I normally ran to get the pattern I was used to when running the Salvo.

 

[CodeSeven]

I have had a Silencerco Salvo since October of ‘15. When I first got it, I was surprised at how loud it was. But, I was shooting hunting loads out of a 12” SBS through it, so with the combo of supersonic and short barrel that made sense. Since then, I mostly shoot subsonic shot or mini shells out of it, the mini slugs are quiet, and make a cartoonish ‘bloop’ noise.

It’s a large, bulky can that feels pretty heavy, but it’s still one of my favorites. I have only hunted jackrabbits with it. I think with a fairly traditional length shotgun and some practice it would be a great fit for your use case. There are a few other shotgun cans on the market these days, but with the combo of big bore, wads, and loud powders, shotguns just aren’t the easiest to suppress, so I’ve not heard that any of them are much better.

I really need to put it on my full length pumps and SBE2 to see how it sounds and handles, I have all my shotguns threaded for chokes, and all the chokes to adapt it to any of them, it’s overdue. One thing I did find, was that I needed to go down one choke (more constriction) than I normally ran to get the pattern I was used to when running the Salvo.

Good info on the patterns. I was curious about that as well. My idea is an 18.5” with the 12” Salvo, which would put me at my normal 28” barrel length I’m use to

 

[Samson7x]

I bought a Salvo with the intention of duck and turkey hunting with it and gave up on it very quickly. In full length configuration it is unwieldy. In 8" it is manageable but obviously louder. I was also not happy with the patterns. Ultimately it never gets used and was a waste of money. I may slap it on an SBS in a "home defense" type role at some point but it's not a priority right now.

 

[TxLite]

I bought a Salvo with the intention of duck and turkey hunting with it and gave up on it very quickly. In full length configuration it is unwieldy. In 8" it is manageable but obviously louder. I was also not happy with the patterns. Ultimately it never gets used and was a waste of money. I may slap it on an SBS in a "home defense" type role at some point but it's not a priority right now.

This was my concern with it and why I never bought one. 28” barrel plus suppressor would not be quick to get up and swing and would constantly be getting hung up on brush etc. might not be horrible for waterfowl but I wouldn’t want to carry it around all day for upland.

OP, no experience with them but have you looked into any of the dog ear protection? I know there’s a few different styles that might give you what you’re after without adding a brick to the end of your shotgun

 

[bullmtn]

Phoenix Weaponry will do an integrated suppressor to your shotgun. I have been looking at them really hard, but I have no review or have not seen them firsthand. I am really itching to send them a shotgun. Seems pretty reasonable and shouldn't be as unwieldy, I will probably take the dive and give them a shot.