moderator obsession

[WestCoastStalker]

Definitely the hearing aspect is the biggest reason for me. As has been already stated, when it starts to go then you're too late. My hearing in general isn't too bad yet but there are certain situations like being in the pub etc that I notice a big difference. I really don't want to be accelerating the process any further.

In addition to this I do think it does have other benefits. In my opinion it does allow more opportunities for additional shots if you're into a group of beasts as they seem to have less of an awareness of what direction the noise has come from. That might be ******** but it's just generally something I've noticed since changing to a Mod. It may be pure coincidence.

I use a .270 so the reduced recoil is also a plus point for watching the beast immediately after you've fired.

I really don't think I would ever go back to using an unmoderated rifle.

 

[Thar]

Anybody tried putting ear protection on a GWP? My first deerdog was stone deaf by the age of 7. Yes I was one of them anti moderator stalkers; I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear now as a reward. When I got my next deer dog that is now 8 I got a moderator and her hearing is still fine, she can hear the food bin open at 100 yards.

The new light weight alloy moddies make very little difference to balance of a rifle, and why do you need a balanced rifle? Good practice is to shoot from a rest; you only need to have good balance if you are shooting running game, not something we normally tend to do in the UK.

Who gives a dam what your rifle looks like, my dog don’t care and I am sure the deer don’t, who else is there to “admire” your rifle when out stalking? If it worries you that much take the thing off to pose to your mates.

If the rifle swinging round troubles you then fit the front sling to the barrel like on the old African Mausers, works a treat on my rifles.

PLK you can see a bullet strike from a stalking weight 30-06, what you shooting in it recoil managed loads. If the rifle is too heavy with a 200gn moderator fitted, you need to drop one of the running sessions and put in a strength/gym session in.

3:30 marathon errmmmm average mate, (those that don’t know that time is in truth pretty good by most standards)

Best regards

Tahr

 

[Roebuck]

I quite literally cannot imagine carrying a rifle on the hill or for extended time with a moderator, a bipod, and even a heavy x50 or x56 scope, it would drive me up the wall with not only the weight, but the balance being all off and the bipod digging into your shoulder. how do some of you guys do it?

I quite agree but in situations where they aid noise reduction such as culling and close proximity to properties they are a must!They just destroy the handling of a nicely balanced stalking rifle though.Obviously hearing protection is aided but for most stalking few shots are fired and its easy to pop on or in the plugs at the range!

 

[diverdave]

Thar

Good post, never even considered the dogs. My rifles, 243 and 30:06 are well balanced off sticks and my bipod and results are totally satisfactory. I grew up with moderated rifles, so that is what they look like to me, a neat modern mod looks fine to me. I am also lucky that in our open hill stalking quick snap shots are not needed, to date anyway.

I tend to see the bullet strike with the 243, the 30:06, moderated and with a 8x56 swaro jumps, and i have never seen it. But it is a new gun and scope so perhaps in time i will. I have however always heard the whack of of impact. Without the mod everything is muffled until my hearing recovers. Only twice to date, just to hear how loud it is, and i know it has done damage. The H&S dept at work would sack me for exposing colleagues to that noise in office hours!

I guess we will never all agree, we all have different environmental stalking, budgets and pleasure from the viewing of a fine rifle. We have different needs. Those who choose to shoot without a mod are not wrong - but neither are those of us who feel that help in they situations we stalk in

 

[Yorkie]

I have bad Tinnitus in both Ears but particulary bad in my right Ear. It sounds as if i have a Bee trapped in there. I do not want to preach but trust me you do not want this.
It is with you 24\7 for the rest of your life.
I really strongly suggest a Mod is used.
Failing that a friend of mine hates Mods witha passion so bought a set of the bespoke,fitted, electronic ear plugs.
Just my thoughts.

Yorkie.

 

[Hales Smut]

Yorkie and other victims : http://www.hear-it.org/Tinnitus-may-be-reduced-by-Acoustic-Coordinated-Reset-ACR
I also have a bad tinnitus, didn't try this possible solution yet, but plan to do it.

I live in a country were moderator's are not allowed and was strongly against it until I used one in the U.K. It was a very heavy version, but admit that I would get one of those very light ones the moment it was allowed. Once you noticed the benefits, you don't go back. A 20" T lite with a Roedale or CMM4 mod is only as long as most rifles with a 24 or 26" barrel and lighter than most.

 

[MONGOOSE]

Anybody tried putting ear protection on a GWP? My first deerdog was stone deaf by the age of 7. Yes I was one of them anti moderator stalkers; I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear now as a reward. When I got my next deer dog that is now 8 I got a moderator and her hearing is still fine, she can hear the food bin open at 100 yards.

The new light weight alloy moddies make very little difference to balance of a rifle, and why do you need a balanced rifle? Good practice is to shoot from a rest; you only need to have good balance if you are shooting running game, not something we normally tend to do in the UK.

Who gives a dam what your rifle looks like, my dog don’t care and I am sure the deer don’t, who else is there to “admire” your rifle when out stalking? If it worries you that much take the thing off to pose to your mates.

If the rifle swinging round troubles you then fit the front sling to the barrel like on the old African Mausers, works a treat on my rifles.

PLK you can see a bullet strike from a stalking weight 30-06, what you shooting in it recoil managed loads. If the rifle is too heavy with a 200gn moderator fitted, you need to drop one of the running sessions and put in a strength/gym session in.

3:30 marathon errmmmm average mate, (those that don’t know that time is in truth pretty good by most standards)

Best regards

Tahr

Well said that man......

 

[eggy s]

I use a mod on mine because my Father was stone deaf (bit of selective hearing as well) from shooting.

I used to walk around with a T8 and a bipod on my T3 it used to drive me insane.

Now the R8 is equiped with a Maxim (lightweight), and a Verspa-pod bipod. I have added one of these Bipod mount for Blaser R8 | eBay My Bipod goes on in seconds and now find the rifle perfectly balanced.

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

Anybody tried putting ear protection on a GWP? My first deerdog was stone deaf by the age of 7. Yes I was one of them anti moderator stalkers; I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear now as a reward. When I got my next deer dog that is now 8 I got a moderator and her hearing is still fine, she can hear the food bin open at 100 yards.

The new light weight alloy moddies make very little difference to balance of a rifle, and why do you need a balanced rifle? Good practice is to shoot from a rest; you only need to have good balance if you are shooting running game, not something we normally tend to do in the UK.

Who gives a dam what your rifle looks like, my dog don’t care and I am sure the deer don’t, who else is there to “admire” your rifle when out stalking? If it worries you that much take the thing off to pose to your mates.

If the rifle swinging round troubles you then fit the front sling to the barrel like on the old African Mausers, works a treat on my rifles.

PLK you can see a bullet strike from a stalking weight 30-06, what you shooting in it recoil managed loads. If the rifle is too heavy with a 200gn moderator fitted, you need to drop one of the running sessions and put in a strength/gym session in.

3:30 marathon errmmmm average mate, (those that don’t know that time is in truth pretty good by most standards)

Best regards

Tahr

+1 PKL and Bewsher take note.

Jimbo

 

[blunderbust]

Common sense, Health and safety with reference to ear protection and with larger more potent calibres less recoil.

 

[bewsher500]

+1 PKL and Bewsher take note.

Jimbo

I dont have a dog!

 

[BRORA260]

PKL,
Every morning before I walk out the door I stick 5 k,s worth of hearing correction, not protection due to exposure to noise (excessive noise). Machinery and firearms of too many types and calibres and bangs, please as someone I regard as a friend get your head in gear and get with the program and protect your hearing. A good can is a bloody sight more effective and less awkward than the over ear protectors. The can is on the rifle from the time the rifle leaves the cabinet and you can hear what is going on around you. I really do miss my hearing and would prefer that it does not happen to you but remember the damage starts from the first shot so you are probably already on the downward slope, you have been warned.

 

[Tuck]

what's the obsession with moderators? why does everyone feel they need to have one before they can even go out the door with their rifle...

is it really 'that' great given most countries don't even allow them, or are people in the UK being led down the garden path and subsequently spending a fortune on threading, mods, and having their barrels chopped, top-heavy, potentially leading to barrel-stock touching issues, leading to more money on bedding and eventually expensive american synthetic stocks...etc. etc.

I don't know, I'm not convinced yet... LOL

Not with you on this! When I started rifle shooting about twelve years ago they were not that common on centrefire rifles, but like you say they have become the norm, I personally think they are one if the best things to happen to centrefire rifles over the last 10 years, what's not to like they help the shooter in so many ways accuracy, hearing, noise control around public areas shooting gets enough bad press anyway the only negatives from what I see is the added weight for a stalking rifle and te added cost just my opinion anyhow!

Rob

 

[User00003]

PKL,
Every morning before I walk out the door I stick 5 k,s worth of hearing correction, not protection due to exposure to noise (excessive noise). Machinery and firearms of too many types and calibres and bangs, please as someone I regard as a friend get your head in gear and get with the program and protect your hearing. A good can is a bloody sight more effective and less awkward than the over ear protectors. The can is on the rifle from the time the rifle leaves the cabinet and you can hear what is going on around you. I really do miss my hearing and would prefer that it does not happen to you but remember the damage starts from the first shot so you are probably already on the downward slope, you have been warned.

20 practice shots with the 30-06 yesterday and I have to admit I feel a little bit more inclined towards the mod tbh, I feel particularly guilty about the dog when it gets exposed to the noise.

so assuming, and assuming (don't get your hopes up too high! LOL) that I was going to invest in ONE moderator (as that would be all I could afford), it would have to sit across 30-06, .243, and .223 - what's around that still works? that atec cmm4 I looked at previously, should work I think?...

or...would I be better off focusing on the .243 and .223 which is 80% of my shooting and leaving the 30-06 unmoderated as it's only a few shots a year on big stags....

BRORA,,thanks for your comments, I know it's foolhardy not to take good advice when it's given by a credible person

 

[ejg]

I find it very interesting that hunters want save a few bob on a moderator that will save their hearing.
but.... will easily pay an extra 1000£ just to have a scope that might have a fraction of an improvement over the cheaper model.

My point, biggest ammount of money is wasted on scopes with the least return.
Moderators would be a good and important investment, not a place to save.

edi

 

[andibrains]

20 practice shots with the 30-06 yesterday and I have to admit I feel a little bit more inclined towards the mod tbh, I feel particularly guilty about the dog when it gets exposed to the noise.

so assuming, and assuming (don't get your hopes up too high! LOL) that I was going to invest in ONE moderator (as that would be all I could afford), it would have to sit across 30-06, .243, and .223 - what's around that still works? that atec cmm4 I looked at previously, should work I think?...

or...would I be better off focusing on the .243 and .223 which is 80% of my shooting and leaving the 30-06 unmoderated as it's only a few shots a year on big stags....

BRORA,,thanks for your comments, I know it's foolhardy not to take good advice when it's given by a credible person

I bought a moderator two weeks ago after having. Similar opinion to them as yourself. I argued with anyone who would listen that they were a waste of money because I always wear defenders......boy did I have to eat my words. It has transformed my brutish .308 into something I could quite happily put round afte round through all day long. I wonder now why I waited so long. If cost I an issue remember you can always buy s/h like I did got one for £120.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I understand the reason for them and technical benefits, but they're just ugly. Not a good reason I know, but there you go.

Good enough reason for me Pine Marten!
At least with a rimfire you can get away with something small (ish) and, if prepared to spend the money, that is at least a nod to the rifle's inherent aesthetic:

Cheers

K

 

[Hornet]

Maybe you need to up your fitness i do not have a problem and i am 62. As for yout quote the bipod digging in your shoulder i have never ever experienced this. Perhaps you should invest in a quake anti slip sling problem solved. As most moderators are granted on FAC for hearing protection i think that this alone explains why most people have them fitted. Also when you make the shot you hear the bullet impact with the animal being shot not so with unmoderated rifles also, if there are opportunities for multiple shots your quarry does not know where the sound has come from using a moderated rifle. I have had Deer run towards me when i have shot first animal and then shot second and third as they did not see me or knew where the shots were comming from. This is why i use moderators on all my rifles. HEARING PROTECTION and an aid to concealment. They are also a must when lamping at night as you do not wake the neihbourhood up that may complain to the Police about your activity.

Jimbo

Yes I have to agree with all the above,some of my permissions have horses in several fields,I have a very good relationship with the landowners,however I could see that ending rather abruptly if the horses started charging around at midnight,due to me letting drive with no mod fitted.

 

[Cooter]

20 practice shots with the 30-06 yesterday and I have to admit I feel a little bit more inclined towards the mod tbh, I feel particularly guilty about the dog when it gets exposed to the noise.

so assuming, and assuming (don't get your hopes up too high! LOL) that I was going to invest in ONE moderator (as that would be all I could afford), it would have to sit across 30-06, .243, and .223 - what's around that still works? that atec cmm4 I looked at previously, should work I think?...

or...would I be better off focusing on the .243 and .223 which is 80% of my shooting and leaving the 30-06 unmoderated as it's only a few shots a year on big stags....

BRORA,,thanks for your comments, I know it's foolhardy not to take good advice when it's given by a credible person

If you buy a P8 or P4 you can buy different sets of calibre specific baffles for it.
I got one with .308 baffles in, but I also have a set of baffles for the .223.
Just make sure you have a slot for each on your ticket.