I’ve worked with plenty of rifle suppressors over the years, tested them in the field, hunted with them, and written about how they make shooting safer, quieter, and better. So, when a press release from Silencer Central about a shotgunsuppressor hit my inbox, I had to read it twice.
A suppressed 12-gauge? Now that’s interesting. It’s not a new idea. SilencerCo’s Salvo 12 has been around for a while and does the job, but this new one, the Banish 12, is different. Is it better, or just another take on an old idea?
To find out, I reached out to Joe Kurtenbach, Senior Manager of Media & Relationships at Silencer Central, and started with the obvious question.
1.Why?
“Shotguns, particularly 12-ga shotguns, are great for their versatility but they come with a very loud report and often a stiff recoil. Too, shotgun shooting events are also often high-volume affairs - think clays, waterfowl, or doves -- compared to a morning at the range with a rifle. Using a suppressed shotgun reduces the noise, preventing long term hearing damage, and reduces recoil, making for a more enjoyable experience.”
2. What is unique about a shotgun when it comes to building and using a suppressor?
“Lots of unique design challenges and requirements. Most shotguns have low profile iron sights, unlike most rifles use scopes, so it's important that the suppressor does not interfere with the line of sight. Also, unlike rifle suppressors that allow the bullet to pass through the suppressor without touching anything, shotgun suppressors have to be designed to keep the wad of the shotgun shell intact until it exits the suppressor. It also needs to be able to be properly choked so users can tune their patterns for the intended pursuit. It must also be capable of handling a variety of shot sizes and materials.”
3. Shotguns, and the use of them, are often very swing and point sensitive - how does this suppressor mitigate the impact of its presence on a shotgun for shooters?
“The overall profile of the suppressor sits level, and below the top side of the shotgun barrel allowing the sights to clearly pass over the suppressor without impeding the sight picture. The Banish 12 is made of 100% lightweight titanium and only adds a total of 17oz to the gun. You can tell the suppressor is installed but it doesn't feel overly muzzle heavy and most shooters report minimal or no impact to how the shotgun presents and swings.”
4. How does this impact hunting dogs and their hearing?
“The same benefits that shooters will gain from the shots being hearing safe will also protect hunting dog’s ears who are nearby in the field or blind. We train our dogs, we desensitize them to the report of a shot, but the up to 21 dB of noise reduction means we can now protect their hearing.”
5. Is shotgun noise different than rifle noise? if so, how? Why does this matter (or not) to shooters?
“The overall peak noise impulse is similar in terms of the pressure wave and impact it has on hearing. Rifles, depending on caliber, do tend to have a higher sound pressure level and a higher frequency (crack rather than thump) sound.”
6. Why aren’t there more shotgun suppressors?
“Shotgun suppressors have been done before, but they have been long, heavy, and haven't taken into consideration things like interchangeable choke tubes or the ability to sight down the barrel. The BANISH 12 is the first shotgun suppressor designed specifically for sporting pursuits and addresses the needs of shooters from the blind to the field, and the clays course. Shotguns are more difficult to suppress due to how the shells are designed to use wads and shot/BB's rather than a single bullet. They require more volume (space inside the suppressor) to suppress the noise which makes it difficult to design and manufacturer effective shotgun suppressors that are compact enough to be useful in real world shooting pursuits.”
7. Why can’t you simply get an adapter and repurpose a rifle suppressor that’s big enough for a shotgun?
“Shotgun suppressors need to be designed specifically to contain the wad from the shell as it travels through the suppressor. Rifle suppressors utilize different types of baffles that are not designed for this.”
Jay Pinsky
Editor – The Hunting Wire
jay@theoutdoorwire.com