On Friday, December 13, 2019, the Bundestag passed amendments to the firearms law, which were approved by the Bundesrat. Since then, new opportunities have arisen for hunters regarding the acquisition, possession, and use of silencers in the context of hunting practice. Here is the relevant excerpt from the firearms law:

Silencers (§13 Paragraph 9 WaffG)
• Allowed: Purchase and possession of silencers by holders of a valid hunting license. (i.e., without prior entry on a green firearms ownership card)
• Allowed: Carrying silencers on long guns approved for hunting for centerfire ammunition
• Prohibited: Carrying silencers on long guns approved for hunting for rimfire ammunition (e.g., .22 lr)
• Allowed: Silencers may be used during hunting and at shooting ranges


Important:

The firearms law consists of statutory provisions at the federal level. Therefore, existing hunting law provisions, prohibitions, or restrictions on the use of silencers in the respective federal states must also be observed.

In principle, a thread is always required to mount a silencer on a rifle. Most modern (bolt-action) rifles come equipped with such a thread from the factory, or can be delivered with one upon customer request. The disadvantage of this thread is usually the loss of open sights (rear and front sight).

However, even if one owns a rifle that does not have such a thread, there is the possibility to have the weapon modified so that it can later be used with a silencer. For this, the weapon must be fitted with such a thread by a knowledgeable gunsmith. This is referred to as “cutting a thread.” Again, this usually results in the loss of open sights. Such a conversion is also not advisable for every rifle. Whether a weapon is suitable for being fitted with a thread for a silencer is best discussed with the manufacturer or the gunsmith of your choice.

When acquiring the silencer, special attention should be paid to compatibility with the thread and the design of the weapon. There are weapons whose long fore-end makes it difficult to mount an over-barrel silencer. It is also important to ensure that the silencer is rated and tested for the corresponding caliber and caliber group.

If the rifle already has a thread that has been fired once, no new proof is necessary after acquiring the silencer. A new control and zeroing of the weapon at the shooting range is completely sufficient. 

However, if a new thread is cut into the weapon, it must be re-examined by the proof house afterwards.

A typical cylindrical silencer has several chambers that are separated by so-called “baffle plates.” The gases exiting the muzzle of the rifle during firing are slowed down and cooled by these baffle plates. This reduces the muzzle blast and muzzle flash.

The arrangement of the chambers and the relaxation of the gases through additional holes or slots are crucial in the construction of an effective silencer. The choice of ammunition is also decisive in optimizing the sound-dampening effect. 

The type of cartridge and the type of projectile used, as well as the load of the cartridge, also affect how well the silencer can reduce muzzle blast and muzzle flash.

It can therefore happen that the same silencer shows different effects with two different projectile types of the same caliber. Therefore, manufacturers usually only provide a “from-to decibel range” that is intended to indicate the effectiveness of the silencer.

The hearing should always be protected while hunting. Because hunting can lead to a strong strain on the hearing due to the firing of shots, which can result in irreversible damage to the hearing.

The safety precautions for the ear should therefore not be considered exaggerated! A large-caliber hunting weapon can reach a sound pressure level of up to 170 decibels, depending on the caliber. This is more than enough to cause irreversible damage to hearing. 

The use of a silencer is a popular method today to prevent or counteract these possible damages. 

However, a silencer cannot completely “silence” a weapon. Different types of silencers have different effectiveness, and the combination of projectile type, caliber, and silencer also affects how good the final sound-dampening effect really is.

Most common silencers for hunting have damping values between 22dB-35dB. This means that a silencer dampens the bang of a shot fired from a large-caliber weapon by one-fifth to one-sixth. The shot is still very loud - but no longer harmful to the hearing of the dog and the hunter.

While we have already outlined many advantages of silencers above, there are also a few small disadvantages that one might have to consider. However, if one is aware of these in advance, it may be possible to avoid some of them.

Here is a brief overview:

• Handling: The silencer almost always affects the handling of the weapon. It should be considered that the silencer extends and also adds weight to the weapon. It becomes somewhat bulkier overall. This should also be considered when storing the weapon.
• Balance: The silencer adds weight to the end of the barrel. This one-sided increase in weight causes the center of gravity of the weapon to change. This aspect should not be neglected, especially when shooting free-standing.
• Changed Point of Impact: The silencer, acting as a barrel-extending and muzzle-blast-reducing element, also affects the point of impact of the projectile. Usually, the deviation from the point of impact before using a silencer is not too high, but this aspect should always be considered.
• Changed Projectile Effect: In addition to the point of impact, the effect of the projectile on the game body can also change. Since the silencer usually takes away some energy from the projectile, it may be that with some projectiles the effect is no longer as satisfactory as before. This should be particularly noted after converting the weapon to a silencer.

Silencers are certainly cheaper than some might assume. Entry-level models for certain caliber groups are available from around €150. However, the situation with silencers is similar to other hunting equipment. Those who wish can invest a lot of money. Silencers are also available above the €1000 mark.

The cost of the silencer is usually also dependent on its performance data. It makes sense to inquire in advance about which silencer is really needed and to make a decision based on the cost criterion.

The market for used silencers is also steadily growing. Therefore, it may also be worthwhile to look for used ones before purchasing a brand-new silencer. 

On Gunfinder.de, you can search for new and used silencers and sort the search results according to your preferences using intelligent filters.

Silencers are surprisingly low-maintenance. For those made of steel, the outer shell should be regularly protected from corrosion with gun oil, and a little oil inside now and then doesn’t hurt either. This is not necessarily required for silencer housings made of aluminum, titanium, or carbon. 

If the silencer can be disassembled, cleaning is quite simple. But even with non-disassemblable silencers, proper cleaning with the right tricks can be done quickly. The silencer should always be cleaned when the weapon is due for cleaning - especially after it has become wet or dirty.

A suitable procedure is to rinse it out with lukewarm soapy water and then rinse with brake cleaner. It can then be left to dry on a radiator at medium heat. If the silencer has steel baffles, it should be sprayed with a little Ballistol for corrosion protection after drying. 

Here are some well-known manufacturers of silencers:

A-Tec: The Norwegian manufacturer A-TEC produces high-quality silencers for hunting, sports, and law enforcement weapons. A-TEC products are exclusively produced in Norway and extensively tested. Due to the increasing prevalence of silencers among German hunters, the products are now very widespread and known and appreciated for their quality.

A-TEC

B&T Silencers: B&T is a Swiss company that specializes in the manufacture and distribution of silencers. The silenced shot was the focus of B&T during a time when the silencer was still mystically adorned in agent films - or generally frowned upon and prohibited. The then-liberal gun laws of Switzerland and the Swiss penchant for tinkering allowed a team led by company founder Karl Brügger to explore new paths.

B&T Schalldämpfer

ERA Silencer: Under the brand name ERA Silencer, the German company Recknagel manufactures silencers with the aim of achieving the best possible sound dampening with compact design and minimal weight - all while being fully magnum-compatible and having a long lifespan.

ERA Silencer

Hausken: HAUSKEN has specialized in sound and recoil suppression since 1992. Since then, HAUSKEN has gained unique experience with sound suppression technology inspired by the needs of hunters. The current products are the result of more than 25 years of work, development, and passion. HAUSKEN's robust and effective baffle plate concept has been continuously developed over the years. Today, the Norwegian manufacturer proudly presents itself as offering the leading design solution. 

Hausken

Jaki: Under the brand name Jaki, silencers have been manufactured in Finland since 1996, which are supposed to impress with low weight and high precision when firing. Jaki silencers are made for almost all common caliber groups and are also intended to convince with their good price-performance ratio.

Jaki

Krontec: The company KRONTEC Maschinenbau is based in motorsport: The portfolio mainly includes hydraulic quick-release couplings, pipe and hose systems in lightweight construction, and quick refueling systems. The top F1 supplier also provides hunters and sport shooters with state-of-the-art silencers: extremely durable, fully disassemblable, partially self-cleaning, and with a characteristic eccentric design. This ensures that the field of view is not restricted - ideal for driven hunts. Krontec is considered the premium brand for silencers par excellence.

Krontec

Nielsen: Nielsen Sonic is a Danish manufacturer with many years of experience in building silencers. The German importer is Markus Göggel (www.jagdschalldämpfer.com). The Sonic silencers are primarily intended to impress with their robust design and good price-performance ratio.

Nielsen

Stalon: The Swedish company Stalon manufactures silencers and accessories for hunting and shooting sports. The company is particularly known for its robustly built over-barrel silencers. According to the manufacturer, the silencers have good damping values and are easy to clean. Price-wise, Stalon silencers are positioned in the lower mid-range.

Stalon

The best test reports on silencers can be found at our premium partner Geartester. Additionally, Geartester provides high-quality video content on the topic on YouTube: