PRO'S TIP
Silent Night How to Put A Suppressor Under T he Tree In Time For Christmas. **Next
By Dan Kidder Managing Editor
I
just returned from a trip to Finland to visit the Sako rifle factory. While there, we got to do some hunting in the Turku Archipelago on Nagu Island. One thing that really surprised me, being an American, is that nearly every one of the hunters in the Nagu Hunting Club had a suppressor on their rifle. In talking with them, they explained that in Finland, a suppressor is as easy to purchase as a rifle sling or scabbard. They are suggested by authorities as they protect your hearing; minimize felt recoil, which reduces flinch and results in fewer wounded animals; and protects your night vision in low light from muzzle flash. The neighbors also appreciate not hearing rifle shots early in the morning. In the USA, we have a different view of suppressors. Perhaps informed by the super assassins of Hollywood movies, our lawmakers have seen fit to require a special background check, hefty tax and a very long wait for your paperwork to be processed, followed by another background check when your tax stamp finally arrives and you are able to pick up your suppressor.
The Omega 9K from SilencerCo is a compact suppressor without a lot of bang for your buck. It is tiny but mighty and drops a standard velocity 9mm down to about 131 decibels. The long wait and complicated process, so I thought, kept me from trying to purchase a suppressor for many years. After talking with the folks at SilencerCo at the industry’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show last year, I was armed with the information I needed to begin the process of purchasing my first suppressor. The first step is to locate the suppressor you want. Most people don’t realize that Sportsman’s Warehouse has a wide selection of suppressors. They are only available in seven of their stores and you must show up in person to file your paperwork and
A suppressor, like this Omega 9K from SilencerCo, allows you to shoot without hearing protection, reduces recoil, and minimizes muzzle flash. I attached it to my Glock 17 with a SilencerCo replacement threaded barrel and the proper piston. A Vortex Razor red dot and suppressor height mount from Dueck Defense let me aim with the suppressor attached. December 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS
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