Suppressed Wingshooting: Duck Season With the Salvo 12
Kat Ainsworth Stevens
Fall brings vivid colors, cooler days, and for duck hunters, the excitement of ducks winging their way into your decoy spread. Whether you’re hunting flooded timber, coastal waters, or rice fields, fall is probably your favorite time of year.
To make your waterfowl hunt a success, you need a few essentials — a shotgun and ducks are at the top of the list. But what about ear protection? With the Silencerco Salvo 12, you can suppress your shotgun and enhance your duck hunting experience like never before. Here’s how.
Silencerco Salvo 12
If you want to duck hunt suppressed, you’re going to want the Silencerco Salvo 12. It’s a 12-gauge suppressor with a modular design that allows you to adjust the length according to personal preference.
The exact decibel (dB) level of your live fire shotgun depends on the specific load you’re using, but the average decibels produced by a 12-gauge shotgun range between 154 decibels and 162 decibels.
When you use the Salvo 12 in its full configuration — meaning its 12-inch length — with No. 7 shotshells, the average decibel rating is 136.8 dB. That’s a fantastic reduction in the noise generated during live fire, and if you’re a duck hunter shooting from a pit where sounds could be amplified, it’s even more important.
What is the SilencerCo Salvo 12?
If you want to hunt ducks with a suppressed shotgun, the Silencerco Salvo 12 is your go-to choice. This 12-gauge suppressor features a modular design, allowing you to adjust its length to suit your preferences.
The exact decibel level during live fire depends on the load you use, but typically, a 12-gauge shotgun produces between 154 to 162 decibels. With the Salvo 12 in its full 12-inch configuration and using No. 7 shotshells, you can reduce that noise to an average of 136.8 decibels—a significant reduction, especially if you’re shooting from a pit where sound is amplified.
The Salvo 12 is a dedicated 12-gauge suppressor, meaning it’s not compatible with other gauges or bores. It’s also user-serviceable, so you can maintain it yourself through years of hunting. The modular design allows you to adjust its length to 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches. You can mount it using an Echo Choke Mount, available in various patterns. Plus, the Salvo 12 comes with a breech plug and spanner wrench for easy installation.
Can You Duck Hunt Suppressed?
Yes, in most of the United States, you can duck hunt with a suppressor. However, some states have restrictions on the use or possession of suppressors, so it’s essential to research your local laws (specifically, the place you intend to hunt) before heading out. Ignorance of the law is never a valid defense.
How do you duck hunt with a suppressor?
Hunting with a suppressor is much like hunting without one, with the added benefit of noise reduction. This protects your hearing and that of those around you, making conversations in the pit more enjoyable — assuming all shotguns are equipped with a Salvo 12.
There are a few things to consider when hunting with a Salvo 12. First, mounting your shotgun will feel different due to the added length and weight — anywhere from 19.6 to 34.4 ounces, depending on the configuration. While this may seem like a lot, the benefits of noise reduction and reduced recoil far outweigh any downsides.
The Salvo 12 also adds length to your shotgun, so practice maneuvering it, especially in tight spaces like a blind or pit. For example, a Remington VersaMax Waterfowl Pro with a 28-inch barrel measures 49.9 inches overall, and the Salvo 12 in full configuration pushes that length over 60 inches. In flooded timber, be cautious not to submerge the suppressor while waiting for ducks.
The Benefits of Suppressed Duck Hunting
The pros of duck hunting with the Salvo 12 go beyond just hearing protection. The suppressor also helps reduce felt recoil, allowing you to get back on target faster and take more accurate shots. This means you can shoot more rounds without your shoulder taking a beating — making it easier to hit your daily duck limit with a quieter, more manageable shotgun.
Tips for Duck Hunting With a Suppressor
Adjusting to the increased length and weight of your shotgun is the first step. You’ll also need to get used to the slightly altered sight picture. While the Salvo 12’s design minimizes obstruction, the suppressor is still visible ahead of your front sight.
The shape of the Salvo 12 is designed to maintain a clear field of view, concentrating most of its size below the barrel to avoid obscuring your line of sight. This allows you to aim at ducks just as you always have, with a minimal adjustment period.
Keep in mind that while the Salvo 12 is compatible with most 12-gauge ammo, there are a few restrictions:
- Avoid using steel shot with Improved Modified or Full chokes.
- Do not use rifled slugs.
- Avoid ammo with flight-controlled wads.
- When using steel shot with a Beretta Optima choke, use an Improved Cylinder.
- Observe velocity restrictions: 1550 feet per second maximum with a 16-inch barrel and 1350 feet per second maximum with a 10-inch to 16-inch barrel.
Why Suppressed Duck Hunting?
Aside from protecting your hearing and making your shotgun more comfortable to use, suppressors enhance some of the best aspects of duck hunting. The early morning conversations in the duck pit are a cherished part of the experience, and quieter guns make these moments even better.
Duck hunting allows for more freedom to talk and move compared to other types of hunting, so why not make those moments even more enjoyable with a suppressed shotgun? The camaraderie of duck season is unbeatable — make it even better with the Salvo 12.
Kat Ainsworth Stevens
