Lowest noise deer rifle

[1stmarine]

try a subsonic 45/70 400gr load. It will take the deer down withing 150 yards and there will be half of the noise. It will not be louder than a rig dropping a construction load. USe caution and stick to cast bullets, you do not want a brass bullet sticking to your barrel. The longer the barrel the less noise.
Same concept can be applied to any big bore, heavy bullet gun in subsonic mode, including shotguns. I would say a 32" waterfowl benelli with a subsonic 12gauge 600gr. lead slug should be very quiet.

Just do not take it to the extremes like these guys...

http://www.dillerdesign.com/quietgun/

Cheers.
E.

 

[hometheaterman]

I don't know that you'd be happy with a muzzle loader either. They are still pretty damn loud. I had a buddy shoot a deer about 300 yards from me earlier in the season with a muzzle loader, and it sounded like it was right on top of me. I knew they were very loud when shooting at the bench, but they were also very loud 300 yards away. Not sure I can tell much of a difference from a muzzle loader and my centerfire rifle. The only thing I've heard relatively quiet is a .22 or .22 mag, but those aren't good choices for deer. A .223 is still fairly loud, but it might be another option. In all honesty, I'd just not worry about it and shoot your rifle you have now.

 

[6.5swede]

The other thing to consider about rifle report noise is the direction you are shooting. I've often been amazed that sometimes I can't hear a hunting buddy take a shot less than a 1/2 mile from me. Usually the wind and shot were going in a direction away from my position and I couldn't hear it or only faintly heard it. So with your 6.5xs55 and having to shoot in a direction away from roads and houses, you may be just fine.

 

[mikerault]

+1 for the Crossbow

 

[memphisjim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zia1VzdBGQ

 

[Tirod]

600 yards, 1800 feet, over a quarter mile. Still, if there are few neighbors, it's not like you are shooting frequently over hours of time. It will be one or two shots during the season.

I had a similar opportunity, but it was a development literally just over the fence line. I'm not taking it up, too many dogs, kids, and livestock animals around. There are better places to hunt, too. I would certainly bowhunt there, if I saw deer, I'd move the stand. They can and do alter patterns, you have to move with them to get the shot.

Not every state prohibits suppressors, and many nations require them. It's most definitely NOT a poachers tool, that is usually a cheap single shot .22 that can be thrown under the brush and left behind. Most poachers are locals, after a known trophy buck, who think because it's on their land, they own it. Hunters using suppressors are likely fully licensed, BATF approved, and have a substantial investment in the gun. Suppressors DON'T make a gun perfectly silent, the action still clacks around just like when loaded, and the actual technology means using sub sonic bullets - for hunting, that's a huge negative, the loss of over 2000 fps isn't happening with hog hunters in Texas. They live with the sonic crack, but the hogs are becoming so wary it's reported they spook on the sound of the first impact. Nothing can be done about that.

Current Missouri law allows suppressors hunting. so do many others, and most animal control wardens in larger municipalities have suppressors. It's not a poachers tool at all, it's a medical insurance liability and hearing loss on the job problem. The US military is considering issuing a suppressor to every soldier, the Koreans are in the process of fielding their's right now. When you really can't wear hearing protection, the suppressor is the answer. Ask any armed forces veteran getting hearing aids from their branch of service or the VA.

Plan on suppressor use becoming more widespread, just like CCW, and don't listen to those misinformed "shooters" who think the tool is only for evil purposes. It's the same kind of logic that wants to ban hi-cap mags, outlaw AR's, and unarm every American to make it a safer place to live.

Poacher's tool? Complete BS, and wasn't even a problem when passed in 1934. Just a revenue maker and political football.

 

[XxWINxX94]

On a different note,
If the neighbors know that the area is regularly hunted why would they complain about it? Its kind of their choice to live there, and if they don't like it then why don't they move/relocate?

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but as long as your not on their land, thats tough toenails for them.

 

[Vaarok]

Have you considered making a baffle? Take some rug and line the inside of a pipe, or shoot from inside a blind or even with the muzzle next to a tree, and if the sound shockwaves are deflected, dispersed, or trapped by the environment it'll be a lot quieter for the neighbors.

Pistol caliber carbines are also relatively quiet.

 

[Cosmoline]

Remember barrel length! It's a bigger factor than the cartridge, for sure. Make the barrel longer and the noise will be reduced. A traditional flintlock long rifle in .45 with a long barrel on it makes less noise than any centerfire I know of.

If you go with smokeless, use cast bullets at low velocity and again have a long barreled rifle. Like the NEF Buffalo Hunter or the long barrel Marlin "Cowboy" Or heck a Sharps if you can afford it.

Another option would be an M91 Mosin with the long barrel shooting 200 grain cast slugs. You almost don't need hearing protection for that.

 

[Maverick223]

My vote goes to a .30-30WCF, .45LC, or .44Magnum. Barrel length does matter, but that is mostly a factor of burning all the powder. You need a efficient cartridge to begin with...the aforementioned pistol cartridges are the epitome of efficient powder burn.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i don't think any of the residents are gonna know the difference. just hunt.

 

[Tirod]

I live about a mile from the police range in town, I definitely know when they are shooting on a weekend. But, that's the point - I am used to it, and don't mind at all.

When someone is hunting in the creek valley that bisects town, I notice that, too. It's in the city limits, is banned, still happens. Those shots are a lot closer, and there's no telling what's being used for a backstop. Enough that I periodically check the metal roof on our A-frame house for holes in season.

Non-firearms citizens may not be home, or inside during game season for deer, but don't expect them to just quietly put up with it. Comments will be made to the landowner, even a call to the local authority. There may well be very little they can do about it, but constant badgering on their part - if it gets to that - is the problem.

Again, one or two shots over a two week or longer season isn't much, nonetheless, if there are concerns, then they exist. Don't hunt there with firearms, just hunt harder with the bow. There are plenty of less populated areas to go to.

 

[sansone]

I shot a marlin 1894 .357 20" barrel with 38 special loaded in it and GOSH it was quiet !!
If you need more power throw some 357's in it.. choices are sweet

 

[Fishman777]

77/44

I'd say a Ruger 77/44 with a suppressor.

 

[Gordon]

I use a Remington 788 in .44 mag with a 2.5xscope for that purpose. I load a 300 grain wide flatnose bullet over Unique powder to stay under 1100 FPS. The powder is LONG burnt in the 24" barrel. The big bullet allways passes thru with much shock even when I cast them soft so they rivet to 3/4". This is as quiet and effective for deer as I can get in a suppressor free state and have been using the combo to humanely take deer out of my apple orchard for 20 years. I have a neighbor just over 1000 feet in the opposite direction I shoot, no complaints.

 

[teumessian_fox]

It's all about the same re noise levels and sleeping neighbors.

.22 caliber rifle 130dB
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.
20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.
12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.
.25 ACP 155.0 dB.
.32 LONG 152.4 dB.
.32 ACP 153.5 dB.
.380 157.7 dB.
9mm 159.8 dB.
.38 S&W 153.5 dB.
.38 Spl 156.3 dB.
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.
.44 Spl 155.9 dB.
.45 ACP 157.0 dB.
.45 COLT 154.7 dB.

 

[ball3006]

With everything being legal, just don't shoot towards the houses. Are we getting the whole story on this? chris3

 

[Skyshot]

I'm confused, With in 600 yards of houses but you can't get a deer inside of forty yards? Change tatics.

 

[T.R.]

44 MAG shooting 44 Special has a very soft report. But trajectory is weak. I suggest limit your shots to 40 yards with the 44 Special.

Have you considered a crossbow?

TR

 

[cane]

I remember an article written by Donald Hamilton (of Matt Helm books) titled "The Quite Gun". I believe it was in a Gun Digest late 80s or early 90s. IIRC his researce led him to a 26" Winchester 94 in 30-30.

 

[Motega]

Funny, people don't seem to care much about driving their motorcycles down my street at all hours. 1 shot at sunrise isn't going to wake anyone up... it was a dream...it was all a dream...

 

[bhk]

My farmer friend owns two farms totalling several hundred acres that touch the city limits of our town on two sides. There are subdivisions that go right up against both farms on the town's edges. Nothing but country when shooting away from town. Over the years, gobs of deer, quail, doves, and turkeys have fallen to guns on those farms. Much of the shooting has occured within 100 yards of those subdivisions, some of it much closer. Never a complaint - not one. I think you are worrying too much. It may, though, depend somewhat on how strong the shooting/hunting culture is in your area. No problem here!

 

[Hurricane]

If you're looking at 40 yards, have you considered a shotgun with slugs? To my ears, the sound hits you all at once like a pop rather than the rolling crack/thunder of a rifle.

Also, as said before, if you're facing away from the inhabited area, it will make a difference. I wouldn't worry about waking anyone up unless you're inside 200 yards. It would be different if it was something you did every day.

Just make the first shot count.

 

[Motega]

I live in an area where the 2nd amendment is not very well respected (NJ) and we haven't had a problem during gun season- and by that I mean no complaints in the paper or anything and BELIEVE ME I would have read it... our local paper has a "tumbs up thumbs down" where people basically anonymously gripe about their neighbors and petty pet peeves and though lots of "don't kill bambi" opinions never anything about gunfire.

 

[hardluk1]

Compound or cross bow. Might as well take it up as most states have a bow season and some will let you use them year round.. Can you run some food plots or bait . Even a salt block or jar of penut butter screwed to a tree will keep more deer comeing by for a treat.
Or a 45 cal BP loaded to 80 to 100gr with a long barrel would be the quitest firearm but none really are.