Sound advice for choosing the right rifle moderator

The choice of sound moderator for your stalking rifle can be very personal, with many of us bemused and possibly confused by the huge variety on the market. Calibre does play a part in the decision-making, as does the length and the diameter of the barrel contour. Here is a selection that covers all the bases for the deerstalker. You would think noise reduction was the main concern, but if a moderator weighs a ton it’s not practical, so decibel reduction, weight, longevity, ease of cleaning and good looks are all relevant. Ultimately, though, you should choose what is best for the calibre, weight of rifle, length of barrel and amount you shoot.

Wildcat sound moderators are made in the UK and there is a diverse array for any application from rimfire to centrefire, and magnum calibres too. The flagship Elite mod 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 range from £495 for the Compact to £865 for the TI.
The Elite in .30 calibre is a very well-built, premium product designed completely from scratch with the aim of being the ultimate rifle moderator. It had to be 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 as these are all muzzle cans, which I prefer. It weighs 635g while the titanium version weighs only 364g with the same overall dimensions – that’s a whopping 271g weight saving.
The rear section has replaceable threaded inserts for different rifle muzzle threads, which cost £80 each. The thread options include M14x1, 15×1, 17×1, 18×1, 18×1.5, ½inx28, ⁵/₈x24, ¹¹/₁₆x24 and ¾x24.
The Elite employs a combination of 17-4 stainless steel and grade 5 6Al-4V titanium for its unique single-billet manufacturing process, which incorporates a front-mounted dual-core design. This delivers excellent durability for a high shot count or use with magnum rounds, and is highly effective at recoil reduction.
The Compact Elite
is best suited to use with short-barrelled woodland deer rifles, and though it is smaller, the noise reduction and handling qualities are still excellent.

RRP from £495
wildcatmoderators.com

Sako and Tikka test rifles always come fitted with Stalon mods, which are famed for their noise reduction and lightweight construction. The X108 model is a reflex design – over the barrel – and only extends 108mm past the muzzle. The minimal extra length makes the whole outfit far less cumbersome, especially when slung on the shoulder. The X149 is the longer version for bigger calibres as necessary. Offered in calibres from .204 Ruger up to .30-06, the Stalon design has calibre-specific baffles, thus maximising decibel reduction, and lets you separate and exchange threads or baffle sizes to match your rifle’s cartridge. Threads include M14x1, 15×1, 17×1, 18×1, ½x28 UNEF, ½x20 UNF, ⁵/₈x18 UNF and ⁵/₈x24 UNEF. This aluminium moderator is 235mm long and 49.1mm wide but only weighs 334g, with most of that weight being behind the muzzle and back over the rifle’s 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 – and therefore the noise –
by the time it exits the moderator. Overall it offers very good noise reduction and barely affects the balance of the rifle with little weight addition for its size, and
is well priced.

RRP from £345
gmk.co.uk

The S Series SL5i from ASE Utra is the smallest moderator on the market, but still yields an impressive sound level of less than 140dB at the shooter’s ear with a .308 Win calibre rifle. Finland-based ASE Utra has been making moderators for more than 30 years and has forged a notable reputation for producing some of the most durable and reliable mods for demanding conditions, such as the Arctic wilderness. Well suited for stalking in woodland and thick cover, the SL5i sound suppressors are the updated and lightened version of the popular SL5 range. They are available in a range of calibres, from .223 Rem up to .308, and come with a wide range of internal threads to fit directly on
to most rifle barrels. These stainless steel moderators weigh only 345g and are a mere
118mm long and 44.5mm wide. But don’t be fooled by the slimline design: these units can reduce muzzle noise by up to 25dB and feature a robust build to ensure a long service life
in the field.

RRPs available online
vikingshoot.com

The Svemko 1.0 series is a high-performance range of moderators featuring a hybrid construction comprising a grade 5 titanium core for extreme durability and an anodised aluminium outer tube to keep weight low. This design effectively prevents the burn-out common in standard aluminium sound moderators. The series includes four over-barrel models: the Hunter Standard (285g, 31-34dBc, below), Hunter Short (245g), Magnum 1.0 (350g, up to 37dBc) and the Ultra 1.0 (385g). Two front-mounted models are also available: the Micro 1.0 (267g) and the ultralight Nano 1.0 (185g). All 1.0 models are compatible with the Svemko Quick-Mount system, which enables rapid attachment and easy calibre changes by swapping internal modules. Each versatile unit is backed by a four-year warranty.

RRP from £510 for the 1.0 Nano up to £865 for the 1.0 Ultra
edgarbrothers.com 

The Roedale Delta series was developed in Germany using laboratory and field tests to create a cutting-edge centrefire suppressor. Designed with help from Osnabrück University of Applied Science, the range aims to take sound suppression technology
to another level. Delta Ultralight sound moderators are designed to be as light as possible while retaining robustness and efficiency. Weighing as little as 175g to 220g, the Ultralight will not affect the balance or ergonomics of your rifle; you will hardly notice its presence in the field. Manufactured entirely from specially made aluminium – which conforms to the highest aerospace specifications – and finished with anodising to a hardness of 400HV, this robust unit is easily able to stand up to harsh conditions and rough terrain. Each Delta IV mod consists of an expansion chamber – threaded to suit your barrel – four blast baffles and heat-resistant O rings. Spare baffles are also available to enable you to tailor the moderator to your exact stalking requirements.

RRP £244.99
sportsmanguncentre.com