Suppressed rifle for elk?

Loyalist Dave said:

I think many folks are shooting at more than 100 yards on an elk, and at that distance or double that wouldn't the suppressor become something that handicaps the load more than it contributes to the attributes of the rifle?

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By "handicap the load", do you mean the suppressor will negatively affect the ballistics? It's a common misconception that silencers slow the bullet down, but that's not the case.

In almost all modern silencer designs, nothing inside the silencer touches the bullet. As far as ballistics: accuracy is usually the same or even better, and bullet velocity isn't lowered. In fact, velocity is often increased a small amount in a phenomenon called "suppressor boost".

A 308 with regular ammo and the right suppressor will reduce the noise level at your ear below the damage threshold. I'm not sure I would want to risk an elk on subsonic ammo out of a 308. If you want to shoot subsonic I would go bigger -- a 458 Socom or 338 Spectre, etc. You would need to limit your range. One thing to keep in mind with a suppressor is that you should have some means to securely store it. Your hunting buddies shouldn't have independent access to it unless you have it on a trust and they are named on the trust.

I hunt moose with a suppressed 6,5x55 with 10,1g quality rounds (full power).

The suppressor allows me to shoot without hearing protection (IMO opinion, shooting without a suppressors and without hearing protection will, over time, make you a deaf old bat and less effective at hunting). The suppressor sometimes also allows me to hear the impact of the bullet, which is somehow reassuring

I agree with my Nordic comrade, that a suppressed bolt action makes for a great hunting rifle. I hunt with a Sako l579 in 308 with a stalon suppressor on it. I use it for every kind of hunting, mostly mobile hunting like stalking. Low recoil and less noise is just great.

A big bore with a heavy cast bullet will do a fine job on elk. Far better than any small bore.

By "handicap the load", do you mean the suppressor will negatively affect the ballistics? It's a common misconception that silencers slow the bullet down, but that's not the case.

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I'm sorry for being unclear. I mean using a suppressor coupled with subsonic ammunition. I suppose I'm of the group that doesn't see reducing the noise alone with a suppressor and standard ammunition enough of an advantage to justify the use. I remember when firing an H&K MP5-D using standard M882 ball it didn't seem that quiet...but that's not a suppressed rifle, so my experience probably doesn't apply.

LD

A game warden SHOULD arrest you on sight. You are jacking elk instead of deer.

"jacking"? Huh? Subsonic might not be legal if the state has a minimum energy level, but there's nothing "jacking" in the use of a suppressor in hunting.

As I wrote earlier, nowadays I always hunt with a suppressor. It's probably not hearing safe, but it's most likely a lot less harmful. The decreased recoil makes it a lot more comfortable to shoot. I doubt it increases my stealthiness in any way. I wouldn't hunt large game with a subsonic .308, because of the decrease in impact velocity and the increase in the rainbowness of the bullets trajectory.

My bolt action rifle weighs less with the (somewhat outdated and unnecessarily heavy) suppressor attached than my Norinco m-14 type rifle does clean.

All in all, I really enjoy the combination of a reasonably lightweight .308 calibre bolt action rifle with a suppressor on it.

My suppressed .510 Whisper with subsonic 950 grain cast lead is nearly as powerful as a standard .308 Winchester and weighs less than 9.5 pounds. The range to the elk needs to be closely estimated as the bullet tops out 15" high at 100 yards for a 200 yards zero.

You are better off with a suppressed .308 with standard ammo.

Ranb

Don't let anyone tell you a few shots while hunting won't damage your hearing.

Paul7 said:

Don't let anyone tell you a few shots while hunting won't damage your hearing.

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Exactly.

Just get a decent lightweight .30 can and don't worry about sub-sonic ammo. Regular .308 ammo shot through a can sounds to me like an unsuppressed hyper-velocity 22; not quiet by any means, but not anywhere near as loud as an unsuppressed 22. Your ears will thank you.

Here's my setup, a Ruger GSR, 16" barrel with a YHM Phantom Ti.

I have a subsonic load for my 308 chambered rifles, but havent used it to hunt elk with. Hogs, coyote, and whitetail only.

I will stick with 165gr sierra game kings for hunting big game, as my favorite hunting rifle shoots them well. ( Sound signature while shooting them thru my can resembles my 1022 without a can.

A 165gr sgk chambered in 308 has plenty of juice for big game hunting in my experience.
So far, I have used it to take down elk, bear, moose, and bison. ( All legal hunts and none involved subsonic loads.)
A friend of mine has successfully hunted musk ox and polar bear above the article circle in Canada, and uses the same type of rifle I use. ( His M1A sports a 22in tube while mine is 18.5inches)
Simply put, there is nothing native to North, Central, or South America that could not be taken in a humane manner with a rifle chambered in 308...... Not too mention a large portion of other non magnum rifle cartridges.

Planning another elk hunt in the works and will be using the same rifle, but wont be needing a can

Consider a 6.5x55, hits like a .308 with much less noise and recoil.

I get the arguments for using a suppressor while hunting, but honestly the use of subsonic ammo for larger game like elk seems like a bad idea.

Regardless which case you are loading, subsonic is subsonic. Wouldn't matter if it was a Lazzaroni or a 300BLK, the same bullet at same speed. Consider the following rounds: 150gr SP 7.62x39, 150gr FP 30-30, 150gr SP .308, 150gr 30-06, 150gr .300 Win Mag. All of them are shooting the same weight 30 caliber bullet, but velocity varies from the low end of 2100 fps up to 3300 fps. Many people are convinced the 7.62x39 to be under-powered for the task, the 30-30 to be marginal. If they are right (a BIG if), then why would cutting that bullet speed in half from there with a subsonic round be a good idea especially since below 1500 to 1600 fps big game bullets do not expand and essentially act like a FMJ?

illinoisburt said:

I get the arguments for using a suppressor while hunting, but honestly the use of subsonic ammo for larger game like elk seems like a bad idea.

Regardless which case you are loading, subsonic is subsonic. Wouldn't matter if it was a Lazzaroni or a 300BLK, the same bullet at same speed. Consider the following rounds: 150gr SP 7.62x39, 150gr FP 30-30, 150gr SP .308, 150gr 30-06, 150gr .300 Win Mag. All of them are shooting the same weight 30 caliber bullet, but velocity varies from the low end of 2100 fps up to 3300 fps. Many people are convinced the 7.62x39 to be under-powered for the task, the 30-30 to be marginal. If they are right (a BIG if), then why would cutting that bullet speed in half from there with a subsonic round be a good idea especially since below 1500 to 1600 fps big game bullets do not expand and essentially act like a FMJ?

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Which is why a lot of people don't use sub sonic ammo while hunting with suppressors.

Why do you want to shoot elk with a suppressor and a suppressed load?

Aw j1, a suppressor is sorta like the mute button on your TV clicker. You don't really want to listen to a stupid ad, right?

Making a loud thing more quiet is a blessing.

Regardless which case you are loading, subsonic is subsonic.

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Yes, the only way to gain energy once a speed limit is set is with mass.

You can buy bullets as heavy as 600 grains in .458 @ 1050 fps they have 1469 ft/lb of energy.

The 150g bullets in your example have only 367 ft/lb.

I do not understand it but with age I have learned that there were many things I do not understand. Isn't the load underpowered for elk?

j1 said:

I do not understand it but with age I have learned that there were many things I do not understand. Isn't the load underpowered for elk?

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What load? A sub-sonic load...yes. But like I and others here have tried explaining, one does not need to shoot sub-sonic loads though a suppressor to still take advantage of the suppressor. Sure the noise level with full-powered loads will be louder, but it's still not nearly as loud as it would be without the suppressor.

Captains1911 said:

What load? A sub-sonic load...yes. But like I and others here have tried explaining, one does not need to shoot sub-sonic loads though a suppressor to still take advantage of the suppressor. Sure the noise level with full-powered loads will be louder, but it's still not nearly as loud as it would be without the suppressor.

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Thank you, Captains1911.

"jacking"? Huh? Subsonic might not be legal if the state has a minimum energy level, but there's nothing "jacking" in the use of a suppressor in hunting.

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In Michigan you would be art. There not allowed in the hunting field. You can own one but cant hunt any game animal with it. Stupid law but it is the law.

Consider a 6.5x55, hits like a .308 with much less noise and recoil.

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Yeah It's one of my favorite rounds...but here in the People's Republic of Maryland the vast majority of deer areas are shotgun and muzzleloader only.

LD