Selecting a sound moderator for your stalking rifle can be a very personal decision. Many shooters are bemused by the huge number of options available. Calibre certainly does play a part, as does the barrel length and diameter.
Here is a selection that I think covers all the bases for the eager stalker. You would think noise reduction would be at the top of the list of desirable qualities, but if a suppressor weighs a ton, it’s not practical, so decibel reduction, weight, longevity, ease of cleaning, and good looks are all relevant.
Ultimately, however, you should select the option that best suits the calibre, rifle weight, barrel length, and how frequently you use the rifle.
ASE UTRA JET-Z COMPACT AND ATEC PRS-2
Price: From £426 and £399, respectively
Contact: Jackson Rifles – www.jacksonrifles.com
› I include a couple here. The Jet-Z Compact remains one of the best all-round sound moderators you can purchase for a stalking rifle. It offers excellent noise reduction in a short, compact design. The muzzle-mounted moderator is offered in .25 to .30 calibres, including magnum. It weighs 493g and adds 155mm to the length of a rifle. With a diameter of 40mm, it is also slim enough to be used with a low-mounted telescopic sight. A variety of metric and imperial threads are available, including M14x1, M15x1, M17x1, M18x1, ½”x20 UNF, and ½”x28 UNEF.
Alternatively, try the A-Tec PRS-2. When is a sound moderator not a sound moderator? When it’s a muzzle brake as well. This hybrid moderator/muzzle brake combines the advantages of a traditional moderator, using internal baffle stacks to reduce the noise signature, with those of a forward-venting muzzle brake, which reduces recoil. This means you have a combination of decibel reduction for more covert use alongside far less recoil or muzzle flip, allowing for a quick second shot or observation of the bullet strike.
The PRS-2 model weighs 465g and is 175mm long with a 44.4mm diameter. A longer PRS-3 is also available. Its stainless-steel construction enhances longevity, protecting it against flame erosion and corrosion from internal acids and deposits. The tough satin-black Cerakote finish, which resists contact abrasion and shrugs off any moisture from the good old British weather, makes it a real winner.
RCC M48
Price: £249
Contact: Highland Outdoors - www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk
› I do prefer a muzzle can over a reflex mod, as I tend to use short-barrelled rifles. This is why the new RCC M48 sound moderator, made in Sweden, is ideal. It’s a large, aluminium-bodied, muzzle-mounted moderator with changeable muzzle thread and calibre inserts. It is modular in design, so you can extend or reduce the segments as you wish. The M48 weighs 375g and is 150mm long, with an outside diameter of 48mm. For threads, you can choose between ½”x20 UNF, ½”x28 UNEF, ⅝”x24 UNEF, M14x1, M15x1, M16x1, M17x1, and M18x1.
The individual baffles of the segmented design are removable and therefore replaceable, which is handy. In my .30 calibre model, I have four segments. The baffles enclose stainless-steel gauze to maximise noise reduction and slow the expansion of hot gases.
At the rear is the exchangeable stainless-steel threaded insert, which gives you the option to change this component if you need to use the moderator on another rifle with a different thread size.
This moderator is light, quiet, and does not upset the balance of even the lightest stalking rifle.
WILDCAT ELITE
Price: From £495
Contact: Wildcat Sound Moderators – www.wildcatmoderators.com
› Wildcat sound moderators are made in the UK, and there is a diverse array available for any application, from rimfire to centrefire and magnum calibres as well. Its flagship Elite line offers everything a stalker could wish for in three muzzle-mounted models – the Elite Compact, Elite, and Elite TI. As the name suggests, the Compact is a smaller version of the standard Elite, while the TI version is made from titanium. Prices are £495, £635, and £865.
The Elite in .30 calibre is a very well-built, premium product designed to be the ultimate rifle moderator. It’s extremely durable, rated for magnum use if necessary, and able to withstand a high shot count. The standard Elite is 44mm in diameter and 187mm long, but adds 172mm to the rifle since these are muzzle cans, which I prefer. It weighs 635g, while the titanium version weighs only 364g with the same dimensions.
The rear section has replaceable threaded inserts for different rifle muzzle threads, which cost £80 each. Options include 14x1, 15x1, 17x1, 18x1, 18x1.5, ½”x28, ⅝”x24, 11/16”x24, and ¾”x24.
The Elite employs a combination of 17-4 stainless steel and grade 5 6Al-4V titanium in its unique single-billet manufacturing process, which incorporates a front-mounted dual-core design. This achieves excellent durability and is highly effective at recoil reduction.
I also like the Compact Elite option, which I use on short-barrelled woodland deer rifles because it still provides excellent noise reduction and handling.
SCHULTZ & LARSEN ULTRADOME
Price: £210
Contact: Alan Rhone – www.alanrhone.com
› The Ultradome provides a slim, lightweight moderator for stalking or foxing and weighs only 322g. In its over-barrel reflex form, it measures 225mm long with a 38mm diameter, and it only adds 120mm to the length of the rifle. On a longer barrel, this setup provides better balance than a muzzle-mounted moderator. It is available in 6mm, 7mm, or 8mm calibres and M14x1, M15x1, ½”x 20 UNF, and UNEF threads.
The Ultradome forms part of the Hardcore range of moderators, which use stainless steel cone inserts within the core of the aluminium moderator. These resist the effects of fire erosion from hot, fast-burning gases, and this is a sensible answer to a question that many people ask me about the longevity of aluminium sound moderators.
The Ultradome is made as a strippable unit with three parts: a rear over-barrel section, a mid-connector section, and the baffles. The baffles are 10mm thick, threaded sections that all connect to form a linear baffle stack. There is a final large 19mm baffle that forms the end plug.
The number of baffles is governed by the calibre. I had a .223 version with a six-baffle stack, but it can be customised to suit your needs, making it a highly flexible and versatile sound moderator system.
STALON X108
Price: From £395
Contact: GMK – www.gmk.co.uk
› Sako and Tikka test rifles always come fitted with Stalon mods, and I have been impressed with their noise reduction and lightweight construction. The X108 model is a reflex/over-the-barrel design and therefore extends only 100mm past the muzzle. The minimal extra length makes the whole outfit far less cumbersome, especially when slung on the shoulder. The X149 is a longer version designed for larger calibres.
Offered in calibres from .204 Ruger up to .30-06, the Stalon design features calibre-specific baffles, maximising decibel reduction. You also get the ability to separate and exchange threads or baffle sizes to match your rifle’s cartridge. Threads include M14x1, M15x1, M17x1, M18x1, ½”-28 UNEF, ½”-20 UNF, ⅝”-18 UNF, and ⅝”-24 UNEF.
This aluminium moderator is 240mm long and 50mm wide. It only weighs 380g, with most of that weight rearward of the muzzle and back over the barrel.
The front, primary thick baffle deflects most of the gases away from the bore axis and rearward through the vented forward baffles. This gives the gas time to flow through every part of the moderator and diffuse its energy/noise by the time it exits.
Overall, the X108 provides excellent noise reduction, has minimal impact on the rifle's balance due to its lightweight design, and is well-priced.
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