From the Gamkeeper Podcast Studio – Episode 399 Shotgun Suppressors with Brandon Maddox – Joined by Brandon Maddox, the CEO of Silencer Central to fully explain shotgun suppressors and discuss what will this mean for turkey hunters and kids learning to shoot. Subscribe on YouTube or Apple
Walking into the suppressor market for the first time can feel overwhelming. Between calibers, materials, lengths, and pricing, it is easy to get stuck before you even submit an application. Brandon Maddox, founder and CEO of Silencer Central, has spent two decades selling suppressors to Gamekeepers across the country, and he broke down exactly what a first time buyer should actually be thinking about.
Start With What You Already Shoot The Most
Maddox’s advice for first time buyers is refreshingly simple. Rather than trying to figure out the perfect suppressor for every possible firearm you might own someday, start with whatever you shoot most often right now. For most Gamekeepers, that ends up being a deer rifle, which is exactly why the 30 caliber suppressor has become the most popular first purchase by a wide margin.
The reason a 30 caliber suppressor works so well as a starting point is versatility. A single 30 caliber suppressor can be used across an entire family of common hunting calibers, including 6.5, .270, 30-06, .308, and .300 Winchester Magnum. That means a Gamekeeper who owns several different rifles chambered in those calibers does not need to buy a separate suppressor for each one. One purchase can realistically cover most of a typical gun safe.
Why Weight Matters More Than Most Buyers Expect
Once caliber is settled, the next major decision comes down to material, and this is where a lot of first time buyers get surprised. Suppressors are generally built from either titanium or heavier materials like stainless steel, and the difference in weight is significant once that suppressor is mounted on the end of a barrel for an entire day in the field.
Maddox pointed out that Gamekeepers typically do not want extra weight hanging off the end of their barrel, which is why titanium has become the preferred choice for most hunting applications. Titanium suppressors tend to cost more upfront, but they are also extremely durable and built to last for decades, which matters if the suppressor is going to eventually be passed down to a family member through a trust.
Length And Sound Reduction Go Hand In Hand
Suppressor length is another factor that catches first time buyers off guard. Longer suppressors generally produce quieter results, but they also add more bulk and weight to a rifle, which can affect handling in tight hunting situations like a shooting house or thick timber.
Some modern suppressors solve this with a modular design that allows the same unit to be adjusted in length depending on the situation. A typical modular suppressor might come in at nine inches standard for maximum sound reduction, with the option to shrink it down to seven inches when a shorter, more maneuverable setup is preferred. The tradeoff is that the shorter configuration will be somewhat louder than the full length version, so Gamekeepers need to decide which matters more for their specific hunting style.
Should You Buy One You Can Take Apart And Clean
Maintenance is another consideration that does not occur to most first time buyers until well after the purchase. Suppressors accumulate carbon buildup over time from repeated firing, and that buildup can actually reduce internal volume, which sometimes makes the suppressor louder rather than quieter as it gets dirtier.
According to Maddox, roughly 40 percent of Silencer Central customers specifically want a suppressor they can disassemble and clean, similar to how they already maintain the rest of their firearm. Suppressors built for easy disassembly allow Gamekeepers to remove carbon buildup from the internal baffles and keep performance consistent over the life of the product. Not every suppressor on the market offers this feature, so it is worth asking about directly if long term maintenance matters to you.
How Adapters Expand What A Single Suppressor Can Do
Beyond the core caliber match, many suppressors can be extended to work across an even wider range of firearms through the use of adapters. A piston style adapter can be swapped in and out of the back of a suppressor, allowing it to accommodate different thread patterns, including metric threads found on some foreign made firearms, as well as left hand or right hand threading. This means a single suppressor purchase, especially in a common caliber like .45, can realistically be used across a handgun chambered in .40, 9mm, and 10mm, simply by changing out a small component rather than buying an entirely new suppressor for each firearm.
This same flexibility applies to rifle suppressors as well. A Gamekeeper who owns a 30-06 and later adds an AR chambered in 5.56 does not necessarily need two separate suppressors. With the right adapter, the same 30 caliber suppressor can often be adapted to work across both platforms, which significantly reduces the total investment needed to outfit an entire collection of firearms.
What First Time Buyers Should Budget For
Pricing is naturally one of the first questions most new buyers ask, and it is worth understanding the full cost picture before starting the process. Beyond the suppressor itself, buyers should budget for the one time federal tax that applies to every transfer, along with any barrel threading costs if their current firearm does not already have a threaded barrel. Many dealers also offer payment plans that allow buyers to put down a partial payment and continue paying over time while the application is being processed, which can make the upfront cost easier to manage without taking on any interest or added fees.
Do Not Overlook Whether Your Barrel Is Already Threaded
One practical detail that trips up a lot of first time buyers is discovering that their current rifle barrel is not threaded to accept a suppressor. Many modern factory rifles come threaded standard, but older rifles or hand me down guns often do not. This is not a dealbreaker, but it is something to factor into your timeline and budget before you commit to a purchase, since the barrel will need to be sent off and threaded before the suppressor can actually be mounted. Some dealers offer a mail in threading service specifically for this reason, which can take some of the guesswork out of finding a trustworthy local gunsmith for the job.
Why Quiet Performance Should Be A Priority Over Everything Else
When comparing suppressor models, Maddox suggested paying close attention to how quiet a given suppressor actually performs, since that is usually the primary reason Gamekeepers buy one in the first place. Reviews and independent decibel testing can give a reasonably accurate picture of how a suppressor performs in real world conditions, rather than relying purely on marketing claims. A suppressor that is bulky or heavy but delivers exceptional sound reduction may be worth the tradeoff for a Gamekeeper hunting from a stationary blind, while someone who needs to move quickly through the woods might prioritize a lighter, more compact option even if it sacrifices a small amount of sound reduction.
A Rimfire Suppressor Deserve Consideration Too
While a 30 caliber suppressor tends to be the go to first purchase for hunting rifles, many Gamekeepers eventually add a second suppressor built specifically for rimfire use with a .22. These tend to be smaller, lighter, and better suited for plinking, small game hunting, or introducing kids to shooting without overwhelming noise or recoil. A rimfire suppressor also tends to be a more affordable second purchase, and it opens up an entirely different category of low cost, low recoil shooting that is ideal for younger or newer shooters.
Do Not Be Afraid To Ask For Help
One point Maddox emphasized repeatedly is that first time buyers do not need to figure everything out alone. Sales teams at established suppressor dealers spend their days talking through exactly this kind of decision with customers, and there is no obligation tied to asking questions before committing to a purchase. Describing your typical hunting setup, the calibers you already own, and how much you care about weight versus sound reduction can help a knowledgeable rep steer you toward the right first purchase instead of guessing on your own.
Setting Realistic Expectations Before You Buy
It is worth noting that even a well chosen suppressor will not make a firearm silent. Maddox was clear that most first time buyers are pleasantly surprised by how much quieter their rifle becomes, but they should not expect Hollywood style silence. What they can expect is a significant reduction in both noise and recoil, enough that many Gamekeepers report they never want to shoot without one again once they have tried it. Setting that expectation ahead of time helps avoid any disappointment once the suppressor actually arrives and gets mounted for the first time.
Conclusion
Choosing your first suppressor does not need to be complicated if you focus on a few core questions. Start with the caliber you already shoot the most, lean toward titanium if weight matters to you in the field, decide whether sound reduction or maneuverability is the priority, and think about whether easy cleaning is worth paying extra for. Getting those basics right on the first purchase will set up any Gamekeeper for years of quieter, more enjoyable time in the field, whether that means protecting a child’s hearing on their first hunt or simply making every trip out a little more comfortable.
There is no need to rush the decision or feel pressured into buying the most expensive option on the shelf. A well informed first purchase built around your actual hunting habits will almost always outperform a rushed decision based on price alone, and it sets the foundation for future purchases as your collection of firearms and suppressors grows over the years.
