For those of you have done so, what was your experience?

Did you use subsonic ammunition, or standard? If supersonic, did you use light-for-caliber (e.g. 130gr.), standard weight (147gr-165gr.), or 'heavy' bullets (180gr. or heavier)?

If you used subsonic ammunition, at what distance(s) did you make your kills?

Did you notice whether any other animals with the one you took reacted differently (as opposed to an unsuppressed rifle)?

Thanks,
George

George I had the opportunity to use a suppressed 308 in England five years ago for stag and muntjac.
The ammunition used was factory/standard weight 163g, supersonic. The suppressor functioned flawlessly even though it is a bit cumbersome in size and weight. The true benefit is to the surrounding countryside and its residents.

Thanks, Macs.

Did any of the animals near the ones you took react differently due to the diminished rifle report? Did they show less interest than usual?

George

George,
I hunted with tactical hog control, and used a 308 .. about a loud as a 22mag or hornet.. NOT quiet ...with federal standard ammo .. subsonic ammo wouldn't function that AR platform, per their statement ...

a subsonic 200/220 in a 308 would likely be my choice if i built the platform myself...

in other words, NOT anything like silent, but also not the instant skatter i would have expected.. of course, at night, which makes them react differently..

compare to hog hunting with an unsupressed 308 .. the animals run more with an unmoderated rifle, in my experience .. i seldom get more than 2 in that situation

Thanks, Jeffe.

I was wondering if the supersonic crack alone startled animals as much as the report seems to.

I've got my .300 BLK, but I ordered a LH .308 bolt-action and want to hunt with it suppressed...because I can.

George

Too cool. I would do a fast twist and think about Subsonic, but this is your project to enjoy

Jeffe,

It's a 1-10", but I have 200grs. and 220grs. bullets on hand and will try them out.

George
P.S. The .458 AR is getting its barrel Cerakoted.

George, I killed my last buck with my 308 suppressed. I played with subsonics when I first got it but decided I didn't want to sacrifice the range. Plus, it was more a matter of my comfort than stealth.

My standard load is a 150 grain Woodliegh protected point at 2780 feet per second. I didn't see any other animals at the time so no comment on reactions. But I'm pretty sure the buck knew I shot it


I have a 1:8 twist by 28 inches long 300 Weatherby hooked up to the suppressor this year with 200 grain Lapua Mega bullets at about 3000 fps. The noise is practically identical to the 308. Plus recoil is half what it was without the suppressor.

Nice, Harry. Which suppressor are you running on that .300Wby?

George

George,

I've hunted with a suppressed 300 BLK using 220 SMKs. Is very quiet. Didn't startle them.

Have also hunted with a suppressed, supersonic 6.8. Was some reaction to the shot within the herd ... but they apparently could not determine the source of the sound.

With piggies I was able to shoot more than one in a sounder whereas with an unsuppressed rifle that would not have been likely (though I have done it with a .375 H&H )

Thanks, Mark.

I also have a .300 BLK, and as quiet as it is suppressed, I don't think it can fight the wind very well. Hence, my interest in the .308.

Your experience confirms what I've read elsewhere; animals are not as alarmed by the supersonic crack of the bullet as they cannot locate its source, but the report of an unsuppressed firearm spooks them.

George

George I can't honestly answer if other game responded differently to the suppressed report of the rifle. We shot a nice stag with three kalb nearby but as expected everyone vacated at the shot except the target. I think the lessened origin noise from a suppressed rifle will have a positive impact on your hunt.

Thanks, but what are "kalb"? Is that "smartphone" for calves or cows?

George

Hunted with a mod 308win for the last 6years, 180gr bullets. My experience is that the animals nearby will hear and react mostly as "normal". However, it seems they sometimes find it hard to locate the gun, and may even run from the bullet slap towards the gun. At least if they have not seen you first. Small game react even less sometimes.

The sound of the shot does not carry well across terrain, and recoil disappears pretty much

Tusen takk, muntjac.

George

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Nice, Harry. Which suppressor are you running on that .300Wby?

George

Good morning, George. I have an AAC SDN-7.62-6 that I use on 4 different guns at the moment; the 308, an AR15, the Weatherby and a 10/22.

It's rated for full auto fire from an 8 inch 308 so the 300 Weatherby doesn't stress it at all.

Nice, Harry!

It didn't occur to me to get a full-auto rated suppressor when I bought mine.

George

They're more heat resistant, less likely to have the tube weaken so they can take higher muzzle pressure without deforming. Aluminum weakens pretty significantly as it heats. The SDN-7.62-6 is stainless and monel. Of course, you pay for it. Non-issue in a caliber-specific can but I was trying to get as close to one size fits all as practical.

No Inconel on mine, but everything (tube, baffles, end caps) is stainless steel.

George

I just went through Lehigh's bullet list and they have a 308 x 148 grain monometal designed expressly for subsonic hunting. I think it's been discussed before on different threads:

Lehigh subsonic

I may have to try a batch.

Interesting, but pricey. I bought some Nosler 150gr. E-Tips (Barnes TSX clones) for supersonic loads but will try them at subsonic velocities once I get dies.

George

True but these days I only shoot 5-10 rounds at edible big game so cost is relative. If I were going to stick with cup and core bullets at subsonic speeds I'd look hard at 30-30 bullets or even some of the 30 caliber bullets for handgun velocities in the 125-130 grain weight.

Harry,

Why do you have to make so much sense? Are you trying to cause a recession in ammunition component manufacturers?

George

No, I'm the Emelda Marcos of reloading components! I can't pass up a good sale and have even bought bullets for calibers I don't own (yet).

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
No, I'm the Emelda Marcos of reloading components! I can't pass up a good sale and have even bought bullets for calibers I don't own (yet).

OK! Let's not quibble. I thought I had that title!

Houston Armory, Stafford, Texas has custom manufactured suppressed ammo. I am going to try their .308 this year.

Rusty,

There is no information about ammunition on their web site. Would you please post what types of subsonic .308 they offer when get a chance?

George

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
George,
I hunted with tactical hog control, and used a 308 .. about a loud as a 22mag or hornet.. NOT quiet ...with federal standard ammo .. subsonic ammo wouldn't function that AR platform, per their statement ...

a subsonic 200/220 in a 308 would likely be my choice if i built the platform myself...

in other words, NOT anything like silent, but also not the instant skatter i would have expected.. of course, at night, which makes them react differently..

compare to hog hunting with an unsupressed 308 .. the animals run more with an unmoderated rifle, in my experience .. i seldom get more than 2 in that situation

+1 I was on that hunt.

HERE IS A LINK TO A HUNT REPORT AT 300 BLK OUT iT ADDRESSES THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED.

http://www.300blktalk.com/foru...ic.php?f=145&t=86463

JD,

I have a .300 BLK already, but want something with greater range, too.

George

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
George,
I hunted with tactical hog control, and used a 308 .. about a loud as a 22mag or hornet.. NOT quiet ...with federal standard ammo .. subsonic ammo wouldn't function that AR platform, per their statement ...

a subsonic 200/220 in a 308 would likely be my choice if i built the platform myself...

in other words, NOT anything like silent, but also not the instant skatter i would have expected.. of course, at night, which makes them react differently..

compare to hog hunting with an unsupressed 308 .. the animals run more with an unmoderated rifle, in my experience .. i seldom get more than 2 in that situation

+1 I was on that hunt.

I was back on the Glick Ranch for Thanksgiving and backed up a lady shooting her first big game (a Fallow)with my 300 Weatherby and the SDN 7.62-6. She nailed it but later we chanced upon some hogs and I had to finish one with the Weatherby. Of 7 people in and out of the vehicle, only 4 noticed that I shot. It wasn't quiet by any means but enough so that 3 people distracted by conversation didn't register the shot. This was the first time I shot the package at game in the presence of others who were not focused on listening to a silencer to see how one performed. The load was a 200 gr Lapua Mega at a chronographed 3000 fps, not subsonic by any reach of imagination.

I think the lesson for me is that the nature of the report counts for more than the absolute decibels. At this point I'm pretty disinterested in pursuing subsonic loads and living with their limitations until a specific need drives it...(ZOMBIES!!!)

George,

You must be thinking abt running the 308 supersonic if you're looking for better range (that is a better trajectory). Velocity after all is what will cure the trajectory issue.

I have 16" Rem SPS and 22" Savage that are threaded that I use with an SAS Ti Arbiter can. Both are 1:10 twist and are happiest with ammo in the 175 gr range. Both are not quiet as the supersonic shock wave isn't quiet.

Just as with the supersonic 6.8 game does seem to be confused about the origin of the sound. They do react to the sound but seem to search for its origin.

Unless you're looking for a very significant increase in range, you might consider running 125 gr NBTs in the 300 BLK. You should be able to get 1900 fps or more with it. The NBT is not nearly so explosive at that velocity.

Thanks, all.

I will most likely end up using supersonic loads for hunting at longer ranges, and save the subsonic loads for close-range (hogs, called-in coyotes).

George

Mike,

I was looking for something to use on antelope in Wyoming.

The areas I've hunted there are windy and called for shots of 300yds. or more; I just don't think the .300 BLK with 125gr. or 130gr. bullets can shoot flat enough and buck the wind well enough to work.

George

George,

Yup ... I think you're right.

My experience at range has been with SMKs. 1:10 twist seems to favor bullets in the 175 gr range whereas 1:12 seems to work fine with 168s.

The military likes the 175s because they fly further before going trans sonic where they begin to be less stable ... thus increasing the reach of the sniper.

Not a major concern for you at 300-400 yards.

look into the 260 rem, it should work well with your can.

JD,

I already have the .308 Win. with a threaded barrel.

George

I have used my suppressed .308 on several hogs and deer. I decided to use normal loads and don't regret it. The noise level is still much lower than normal. I shoot 165grn gamekings then switch to 168grn matchkings if need be. Perfect combo.

What can you expect with subsonic bullets ( 308) to comfy kill zone?
Is 100 yards too far?
What is reasonable distance expectations?

quote:

Originally posted by boarkiller:
What can you expect with subsonic bullets ( 308) to comfy kill zone?
Is 100 yards too far?
What is reasonable distance expectations?

Match your cartride/bullet/gun combination to wind conditions, game being hunted, etc. Wind and time-of-flight are big factors in wind drift.

From a stand or blind, I'd stick to 100yds-150yds. s maximum using subsonics; the trajectory is too rainbow-like. If there is wind >15mph, I'd keep it under 100yds.

If I were hunting in a timber thicket or south Texas brush with a suppressed .458 SOCOM, 50yds. would be a long shot.

George