About Silencer Central
To understand the Banish selection, one must understand the parent company and its role in the market. One of the first thing that comes to mind with suppressor ownership is the long and tedious process of filling pages of forms, going out for fingerprinting, making appointments for passport-style photos, and waiting many months, often well over a year, to own a can.
Silencer Central has risen to fame with its simple, buy-from-home process, free NFA Gun Trust, and multiple lines of affordable, practical ship-to-your-door suppressors. We were lucky to find our can in the mail recently.
Related: Quiet Hunting – Four Quality Suppressors from Rimfire to Big Bore
Meet our Banish 30
The Banish is a .30-caliber suppressor built of titanium. It’s a direct thread device rated for everything from rimfire .17 calibers up to big centerfires like .300 Weatherby Magnum. That’s the definition of multi-caliber. Speaking of that, the Banish 30 achieves full modularity not only in its caliber range, but with its ability to morph from full 9 to a more compact 7 inches.
In its full 9-inch configuration, the can contains eight baffles. In moments, it can be shortened to 7 inches with six baffles. Weight is 14 ounces full or 11 ounces. The Banish 30 is fully user-serviceable, meaning it can be easily disassembled for through-cleaning. Fret not, as baffles are keyed and indexed for alignment and reassembly.
While we likely wouldn’t often feel the need to shorten the device, having the option is a major plus. Whether in a tight blind where length is important or wanting to cut weight on a handgun or rifle, the customization of removing 2 inches from the length is a win.
The can is threaded at 5/8x24 TPI. The direct thread design is incredibly user-friendly, making it simple to switch between many firearms without having to purchase a separate muzzle device or adapter for each. In addition, a 1/2x28 thread adapter was included with our purchase, so moving the Banish 30 to that common rimfire thread is a snap.
Black GunKote finish gives the Banish a basic durable look. There’s a limited full auto rating. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty and, best of all, is 100 percent made and assembled in the USA. If you like the sound of the Banish 30 but want something different, there are also Banish models in .22, .223, .338, .45, and .46.
Upgraded Banish Models
Since we first selected the original Banish 30, several new Banish .30-caliber variants have been introduced. Though we’re more than pleased with the standard model, let’s take a look at the newbies, because making such a time and financial commitment requires research.
Banish 30 Gold: Building on the success of the standard Banish 30 is the Gold variant. While the former is direct thread, this one uses quick detach mounts. The 30 Gold is rated from rimfire to .300 RUM. It remains user-serviceable with the same 36db reduction rating. It measures 8.2 inches and contains 11 baffles with a weight of 13.2 ounces.
Silencer Central Banish Backcountry: The latest can answers calls from mountain hunters where ounces count. The Banish Backcountry directly targets ultralight hunters. The .30-caliber titanium alloy can weighs only 7.8 ounces and measures 5.5 inches in length yet uses six baffles to reduce sound levels to 135 dB. It is rated for calibers up to .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM).
Buck 30: The Buck 30 is a no-frills .30-caliber can designed for chamberings up to .300 Win Mag. It measures only 6.9 inches long and earns its budget price by using tubeless, laser-welded construction. The Buck 30 marks the most cost-effective entry point into the Banish suppressor world, retailing at only $699 with the NFA gun trust included.
Range Notes
Off to the range we went with the Banish 30 and a truckload of different threaded-barrel firearms, including the Savage 110 High Country in 6.5 Creedmoor, Ruger Charger Takedown pistol in .22 LR, Savage 110 Predator in .223, and CVA Scout V2 single-shot handgun in 6.5 Creedmoor.
We shot in numerous configurations to learn the ins and outs of the suppressor. That meant firing with and without the can to compare sound and impact points, as well as using both standard and subsonic loads.
A few noteworthy findings? All on the range were pleasantly surprised with the amount of noise reduction with every firearm, even with standard ammunition. The move to subsonic rounds, where possible, made that reduction even more stunning. Though none were anywhere near “silent,” it was a pleasure to shoot without ear protection. Advertising shows the Banish 30 reduces the report of a .308 Winchester by at least 34 decibels (dB).
Almost unanimously, shooting with the suppressor led to a substantial reduction in perceived recoil. It’s difficult to measure the amount, especially when none of the chamberings are hard kickers to begin with. Our group of range shooters, in spite of wagers to the opposite, were surprised to find that 100-yard groups of both 6.5 Creedmoor and .223 Rem showed fairly minimal changes in point of impact when shot without and with the can. Without a doubt, though, responsible hunters need to re-zero their rifles when adding a suppressor.
Why Hunt Suppressed?
The reasons to use a suppressor have been covered in the past, but we’d be remiss not to hit the high points for using said device specifically for hunting.
The quiet factor: Hunters are notorious for going “without ears” or hearing protection. I’ve done it myself. It’s simply not always practical to wear hearing protection all day, though it should be done. Likewise, many hunters keep earplugs handy with the best intentions, yet things happen quickly on a hunt, and we don’t always make time to address the ears.
Less disruptive: This factor applies to two subsets. First, quieting gunshots mean they’re less obnoxious to those around us (fellow hunters, neighbors, and those looking for a reason to dislike hunting). We can look to other countries, many of whom are far advanced in views of suppressors. We’ve recently hunted South Africa, Namibia, Scotland, and England. In each, suppressor use is actually encouraged rather than heavily regulated, with this a main reason.
Secondly, though, there’s also a benefit to wildlife. Sure, hunters are out there pursuing game, but less startling noise means keeping the surroundings more natural. Fewer animals – target and otherwise – will be disturbed.
Reduced recoil: Surely, the main reason for suppressors is reduced noise, but with the device’s properties comes a reduction in recoil as well. Whether measured or perceived, the happenings are legitimate. Studies formal and backyard have proven that a reduction in sound makes for more accurate shot placement, as shooters tend to respond to the noise as much as the actual kick.
At their core, quite literally, suppressors essentially trap and disperse gasses prior to leaving the muzzle, thereby reducing some of the recoil energy. At the end of the day for hunters, the goal is making quick, clean harvests, and it’s difficult to argue that adding recoil makes anybody more accurate and efficient.
Legality & the Suppressed Myth
It is currently legal to hunt with a suppressor in 41 states, with more anticipated to follow, thanks to education and outreach from companies like Silencer Central and numerous hunting organizations. A limiting factor centers on a misunderstanding that has the general public believing that all firearm “silencers” completely remove any sound from the shot.
In reality, suppressors minimize the sound, but do not truly “silence” it. The myth that gunshots will be perfectly silent and allow legal owners to become stealthy poachers is a fairy tale indeed, for multiple reasons.
Though we’ve yet to meet many suppressors that are truly 100 percent silent, hunters can make use of recent ammunition technology to maximize the potential of their cans. Companies like Hornady, Winchester, and CCI – among others – are offering dedicated factory lines of ammunition loaded at subsonic levels. While hunters must always use a proper projectile and load for the quarry at hand, having the option of subsonic rounds is a boon.
A few of the choices we’ve tested and appreciated are Hornady’s Sub-X in .30-30 Win and .45-70 Gov’t, Winchester Super Suppressed in .308 Win, and CCI’s .22 Suppressor in the old standby .22 Long Rifle. Though subsonic loads grant the greatest benefits in sound suppression, hunters shooting standard loads will still find a list of paybacks to hunting with the device.
What Can You Hunt Suppressed?
Those new to the idea of hunting with a suppressor often wonder what types of game they could pursue with the benefit of a can. The answer is surprisingly simple: after verifying that suppressed hunting is indeed legal in the target area, the potential is nearly limitless. Perhaps the most common game pursuit with the greatest sound-reduction benefits are big game like elk, moose, and deer, as they’re most often hunted with harder-hitting, louder chamberings.
Of course, the use of a can is often overlooked during the chase for medium-sized critters like antelope. Many varmint chasers have long reaped the benefits of hunting suppressed on exceptionally wary coyotes, when the use of a suppressor prevents multiple ’yotes from taking off so quickly, hopefully granting a second bag. And lastly, at the smallest end of the spectrum is hunting small game. From squirrels to rabbits to long-range prairie dogging, the hearing protection and muzzle control with a suppressor can’t be beat.
No matter the size or type of game you pursue, regardless of the brand of can, or caliberof firearm, we’re confident you’ll appreciate the plethora of benefits to hunting suppressed.
