Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
We ran the Silencer Central Banish 12 on a Browning A5 during a Texas dove hunt, and it flipped the script on noise, recoil, and follow-ups. Once you try it, it is hard to go back.
Why Shotgun Suppression Just Went From Novelty To Need
For years, we have been able to suppress rifles, pistols, and SBRs, but the idea of suppressing a shotgun always felt like a novelty. After spending real time behind the trigger with the Silencer Central Banish 12 mounted on a Browning A5 while dove hunting in Texas, I can tell you that mindset is outdated. With the ATF tax stamp requirement going away on January 1, 2026, suppressed shotguns are about to move from niche to mainstream. Once you experience it in the field, it is hard to imagine going back.
Table of contents
- Why Shotgun Suppression Just Went From Novelty To Need
- Watch It Work In The Field Video Demo
- Hearing Safe Hunts Without Electronic Ear Pro
- Recoil Drops Hard With The Banish 12
- Quieter Hunts Win Landowner Trust
- Field Advantage: More Opportunities And Less Echo
- The Banish 12 Shotgun Suppressor: What It Is And How It Mounts
- Why The Browning A5 Makes A Strong Suppressor Host
- Verdict: A New Standard For Shotgun Use
- Banish 12 Fast Facts And Specs From This Test
- Pros And Cons After A Full Day In The Field
- Related Reads From GunsAmerica Digest
Watch It Work In The Field Video Demo
Hearing Safe Hunts Without Electronic Ear Pro
The immediate benefit is hearing safety. You no longer need electronic ear pro in 100-degree heat just to protect your ears. You can hear birds flush, communicate clearly with your hunting partners, and stay fully aware of what is happening around you. It is not Hollywood quiet because shotgun ammunition is still supersonic, but it is hearing safe. Your ears are not ringing after a few boxes of shells, and that alone is a massive upgrade for anyone who hunts or shoots regularly.
Recoil Drops Hard With The Banish 12
Recoil reduction is the second major benefit, and it is not subtle. The Browning A5 has always had a reputation for being a harder-kicking shotgun, especially with high brass loads. With the Banish 12 mounted, the recoil is dramatically reduced. I shot multiple boxes of high base game loads, and the difference was immediately noticeable. Less recoil means faster follow-up shots, less fatigue over long hunts, and a much more enjoyable shooting experience overall.
Quieter Hunts Win Landowner Trust
There are also serious practical advantages for hunters who rely on access to private land. Being able to tell a rancher or farmer that you are hunting suppressed carries real weight. Less noise means less disturbance to livestock, neighbors, and surrounding property. Horses and cattle do not get pushed through fences by repeated shotgun blasts. For anyone who hunts birds, predators, or pests around agriculture, this is not a gimmick. It is access.
Field Advantage: More Opportunities And Less Echo
For field hunters working birds with dogs or flushing on foot, suppression also reduces how far sound carries. Animals are not alerted from nearly as far away. Your second and third opportunities on a covey improve because you are not echoing across the landscape with every shot. It simply changes how the hunt unfolds.
The Banish 12 Shotgun Suppressor: What It Is And How It Mounts
The Banish 12 is a dedicated 12-gauge suppressor built from 3D printed titanium using additive manufacturing. It looks different immediately because it is intentionally shaped like half a suppressor. That design allows you to still see your front bead and maintain a proper sight picture when mounted. It weighs just over a pound at roughly 17 ounces, which is impressive for a suppressor of this size and volume.
Mounting is accomplished through a choke replacement system. You remove your factory choke and install the Banish 12 mounting insert using a standard choke tool. A loose collar threads onto the suppressor body and then tightens against the mount using the provided tool. This system allows you to index the suppressor so the top remains open for visibility down the barrel. It is a well-thought-out design, and it works exactly as intended.
At the front of the suppressor is a second choke. The Banish 12 ships with three chokes, including a full choke option that allows you to maintain effective pattern density even when running shorter barrels. Reliability was flawless through multiple boxes of shells with zero malfunctions. Everything needed for mounting is included, and the only requirement is selecting the correct mount for your shotgun model.
Why The Browning A5 Makes A Strong Suppressor Host
The Browning A5 is one of the best shotgun platforms ever produced for reliability, handling, and speed. I have competed with the A5 in three-gun for years, and it has earned its place as one of my favorite shotguns of all time. The inertia-driven action runs clean, cycles fast, and is brutally reliable across a wide range of loads. That matters even more when you introduce added mass and pressure at the muzzle, and the A5 did not miss a beat with the suppressor installed.
Balance and swing are where the A5 really shines as a host. With a 28-inch barrel and suppressor attached, the setup is long and changes the swing slightly, but it is still completely manageable. With an 18.5-inch barrel, which I tested, the combination becomes almost unnoticed. The suppressed short-barrel A5 actually ends up shorter than a standard long-barrel A5 without a suppressor. The handling feels natural, quick, and familiar, which is exactly what you want when transitioning to a suppressed shotgun.
The A5 also benefits more than most from the recoil reduction provided by the suppressor. The inertia system already manages recoil well, but with the Banish 12 attached, the difference is dramatic. The recoil that the A5 is known for with heavy loads is nearly gone. That translates into faster follow-up shots, less shooter fatigue, and better control under stress or during rapid shooting sequences.
From a reliability, balance, recoil, and handling perspective, the Browning A5 is simply an outstanding suppressor host. It feels purpose-built for this role even though it was never designed with suppression in mind.
Verdict: A New Standard For Shotgun Use
The more time I spend shooting suppressed shotguns, the harder it is to justify not using one. For home defense, recoil and blast reduction indoors is a major advantage. As for property defense against predators or pests, the ability to shoot without alerting the entire valley matters. For bird hunters, being able to hear your surroundings, protect your hearing, and reduce recoil in the field is a genuine upgrade, not a novelty.
The Banish 12 from Silencer Central worked exactly as advertised. No reliability issues, excellent mounting design, and real-world performance that matches the promise. After hunting suppressed, I genuinely do not want to go back to shooting an unsuppressed shotgun if I do not have to.
Banish 12 Fast Facts And Specs From This Test
| Model | Silencer Central Banish 12 |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 12 gauge |
| Material | 3D printed titanium |
| Approx. Weight | 17 ounces |
| Mount | Choke replacement system with indexable collar |
| Chokes Included | Three, including full |
| Sight Picture | Half can profile keeps front bead visible |
| Host Tested | Browning A5 28-inch and 18.5-inch barrels |
| Reliability | Zero malfunctions during multiple boxes of shells |
Pros And Cons After A Full Day In The Field
- Pros: Hearing safe, noticeably less recoil, maintains bead visibility, easy choke-based mounting, real benefits for private land access, and faster follow-up shots.
- Cons: Adds length on 28-inch barrels, requires correct mount selection, still supersonic report, so not movie quiet.
Related Reads From GunsAmerica Digest
Available on GunsAmerica Now
As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.
Interesting, thank’s !
May I suggest you include price in future description boards (spec.). Yes it is easy to find by an internet search but I am of the opinion it should also be included in any description board. Keep on good work !