By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Deer hunting a couple of years ago with a Ruger American rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster, I noticed a deer with a limp within range.  Personal policy dictated an obligation to end the suffering of the animal, even if it didn’t meet the normal criteria to be taken.  Pow!  The 8-point buck went down instantly and so did my hearing.

I had removed my hearing protection a bit earlier, because the plastic band around my head had grown uncomfortable.  Surely, I’d remember to slip them in place, if the need arose.  Duh!  My ears are still ringing.   That dang factory muzzle break may have helped felt recoil, but the report from a single gunshot was instantly damaging.

That behemoth of a deer-getter needed a muffler. To be correct they are termed sound suppressors (not silencers) and I made the commitment to ditch the sound amplifying muzzle break.  And, so the process began to save what hearing I had remaining.

A trip to Williams Gun Sight in Davison, Michigan (800-530-9028) turned out to be a wise decision.  The folks there were friendly and helpful and walked me through the lengthy paperwork required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).  I paid the $200 tax to save my hearing and the one-year wait commenced.

The experienced staff at Williams steered me toward a Silencerco Hybrid 46.

Silencerco Hybrid 46

Before leaving the store, however, I was required to pay for the $800 suppressor, which was to be kept by the store until my application was approved by the ATF.  A bit over a year later, I received the call of approval.

The Silencerco Hybrid 46 is the original multi-caliber, multi-firearm compatible suppressor capable of accommodating a majority of the applications expected of a truly versatile suppressor. Designed for use with pistol calibers from 9mm to .45 Auto, rifle calibers from 5.56mm to .45–70 GOV, and many in between like .458 SOCOM, the Hybrid 46 is both full auto and magnum-rated and can be used on pistols, submachine guns, and rifles.

Initial testing at my range was to determine several factors with and without the suppressor:  recoil, noise, velocity and accuracy.

Hornady’s American Whitetail ammo comprised of its Interlock bullet of 245 grains at an advertised velocity of 2200 feet-per-second (fps) was selected for my first test without the suppressor and with a factory cap on the exposed barrel threads at the muzzle.  Two rounds were fired and produced velocities of 2194 and 2203 fps.  With the Hybrid 46 in place velocities dropped about 100 fps to 2095 and 2091 fps.  I did not shoot this round for accuracy, because it is not my chosen ammunition for hunting.

My hunting ammo, Federal Fusion with 260-grain bullets, was then shot to determine if it would be accurate.  Only two rounds were fired at 75 yards and produced holes a scant 7/8 of an inch apart!  I can work with that!

Overall, I was satisfied with preliminary findings and will continue testing at various ranges before the season begins next month.  I found that the firearm’s muzzle jump was minimized along with felt recoil.  I kept hearing protection in place but the report was substantially reduced.

Adding over one pound of weight to the muzzle changes the diminutive firearm to more of a bench gun, but since it’s used exclusively as just that from my hunting blinds, having a more cumbersome package is not an issue.  Yes, the cost is steep but consider the cost of losing one’s hearing.  Saving my hearing was, and is, the issue now resolved.

From Jim Shepherd…

Earlier this week, Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor of the Massachusetts Federal District Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against U.S. gunmakers.

The Mexican government brought a $10-billion lawsuit against several gunmakers, alleging they had used negligent business practices that had led to illegal arms trafficking and deaths in Mexico.

According to the claims made in the case, Mexico’s “high-impact crimes” are primarily committed using U.S. made firearms.

The basis of their claim -the appeal of those guns- isn’t all that different from the argument used by California legislators in their latest raft of gun regulations: that the marketing and manufacturing of “high-powered weapons” by the manufacturers had “appeal” to a certain potential market demographic.

California claims the impressionable youths of that state are irresistibly wooed by the marketers.

Mexico, however, claims that irresistibility is to their (many) criminal cartels.

Saylor dismissed the Mexican claim, saying U.S. law “unequivocally” prohibits lawsuits that seek to hold gun manufacturers responsible when people use their products for their intended purposes.

The foundational law Judge Saylor cites is, of course, the law that anti-gunners have been trying to get repealed since its passage on October 26, 2005: the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Firearms act.

In his ruling, Judge Saylor said the court had “considerable sympathy for the people of Mexico, and none whatsoever for those who traffic guns to Mexico.”

But, he concluded, the court was “duty-bound to follow the law.”

Mexican officials say they’ll appeal the decision and will continue insisting that the “weapons trade be responsible, transparent and with accountability.”

As you might imagine, U.S. manufacturers were less than excited at yet another lawsuit trying to make them responsible for the criminal acts of others.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Larry Keane said that while he sympathized with the people of Mexico, the crime there was “not the fault of the firearms industry.”

“Under federal law,” Keane says, the firearms industry can only “sell their lawful products to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights- after passing a background check.”

The Mexican government’s response was simple: “we don’t accept that and therefore we’re going to appeal.”

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – October 6, 2022 – Silencer Central is slated to attend TriggrCon October 7-8, 2022, in Fall River, Kansas. As America’s leading silencer dealer, Silencer Central will feature a sneak peek of a new Banish product set to launch the first of November as well as a live-fire demonstration of the entire Banish line.

“TriggrCon showcases the most innovative products in the industry, and we’re excited to present our Banish line with a special feature of a brand-new Banish product,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “We look forward to hitting the road for this premier event and showing other professionals first-hand what this line has to offer.”

Presented by UN12, TriggrCon exhibits exclusive debuts of leading products from a variety of brands and companies. Industry professionals, media and shooting enthusiasts will gather at the Flint Oak Hunting Lodge to experience these major product launches and a look into what has made an impact on the industry this year. Read more

Rogers, AR – HatsanUSA brings another quality break-action air rifle to the market. The Mod 130S QE Carnivore is a versatile and powerful .30 caliber (7.62mm) air rifle that is at home both in the field and on the range.

Hatsan airguns are renowned for exceptional accuracy and a superior shooting experience. The Mod 130S QE Carnivore is no exception. It features a precision-rifled, German steel barrel that produces velocities up to 590fps (.30/7.62mm). The integrated Vortex gas piston technology is also proven to provide outstanding reliability and performance. Surrounded with their QuietEnergy barrel shroud and integrated sound moderator, the Mod 130S QE Carnivore also includes Hatsan’s Quattro 2-stage adjustable match trigger and a metal trigger blade.

This premium break barrel is built with an elevation adjustable Monte Carlo cheekpiece, a pistol grip thumbhole stock, and checkering on the grip and forend. With its SAS (Shock Absorber System) and the Trio Pad rubber recoil pad, with adjustable spacers to change the length of pull, the Mod 130S QE Carnivore is incredibly accurate, feels secure, and is comfortable to hold and shoot. Read more

(CINCINNATI, OH) – Faxon Firearms, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based manufacturer of quality rifle and pistol components, and complete firearms, has launched their 2022 Glocktober event at FaxonFirearms.com.

Throughout the month of October, Faxon will have weekly mystery deals across many of their products for Glock®, including barrels, compensators, and more.

Highlighting the sale are special deals on Faxon’s FX-19 Hellfire, and FX-19 Patriot handguns that will run throughout the month of October while supplies last.

For complete details, visit: FaxonFirearms.com/Glocktober22 Read more

Sanford, NC –Bear Creek Arsenal®, an industry leader in AR-style rifles and components, announces the release of their cold hammer forged line of AR-style barrels, made in house with Bear Creek Arsenal’s® brand new, GFM Steyr® robotic cold hammer forged machines.

Trusted by militaries around the world, cold hammer forged barrels are renowned for their durability and accuracy. Bear Creek Arsenal® now produces cold hammer forged barrels with tighter tolerances than most standard barrels at even more affordable prices for both retail and OEM customers. Read more

CAMEO (AGirlandAGun.org) — A Girl & A Gun welcomed 12 women who traveled to Grand Junction, CO, for the inaugural Sniper School event. Comprising riflecraft and fieldcraft instruction blocks, AG & AG Sniper School utilized several areas of the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex that served as the perfect backdrop for learning internal and external ballistics, wind, mirage, concealment, movement, angles, and more. Sniper/spotter teams engaged targets up to and beyond 2,000 yards in the mountainous desert terrain.

“It’s common to see military and law enforcement working in these conditions, but A Girl & A Gun was proud to offer this experience to everyday women,” says AG & AG Executive Director Robyn Sandoval. “Some of our participants had never recorded DOPE before or had the thrill of ringing a steel target that was over a mile away. The ladies came a very long way in just a matter of days and gained a solid foundation of long-range shooting. I’m very proud of their successes!”

Savage Arms donated ten custom 110 rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with Savage Arms actions, donated MDT stocks, and camo dips provided by Veil. Primary Arms donated ten Athena optics that allowed ladies to accurately calculate distance and holds. Stag Arms donated two AR-10 rifles in flat dark earth and Vortex Optics donated two Razor Gen II scopes and Carbon tripods. Voodoo Tactical provided shooting mats, Rite in the Rain provided waterproof DOPE books, and Daniel Defense contributed Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.

“We’ve never had a lady in any of our Snipercraft or Sniper School courses, yet when 12 showed up from AG & AG, we knew it was going to be an epic experience,” said Adam Winch, Lead Instructor of Defenders USA, whose instructor team presented the course material. Firearms instructors Russell Anthon and Hank Ownbey were assisted by Myles Standish, who served as an infantry sniper in the U.S. Army with multiple deployments to the Middle East. Read more

(Accokeek, MD) Today, Beretta celebrates its 496th anniversary as a firearms manufacturer, making it the manufacturing company with the longest history of continuous operations in the world. Beretta products have accompanied sportsmen and women all around the globe on countless hunting excursions, performed flawlessly in five decades of the Olympic Games, and been combat tested as the official sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces for over 35 years.

In 1526, Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta (1490-1565/68) of Gardone Val Trompia, Brescia, Italy, received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice, marking the first documented sale of Beretta products in the known world. It is from this foundational point that our company began its commanding presence in the firearms manufacturing industry.

“It’s a proud day for all members of the Beretta USA family. Beretta has been continuously reinventing itself for nearly 500 years, and we are part of this tradition of innovation. Generation after generation, we create products that define new markets,” Francesco Valente, General Manager and COO of Beretta USA, said. “We focus on the long-term: we invest in research and development to provide the best solutions to our client’s needs, and in environmental conservation to preserve the future of our planet. The company’s birthday is an excellent opportunity to remind ourselves and our customers of our relentless commitment to innovation and quality.”

Read more