Suggestions for .308 Bolt Rifle

[Morrey]

My goal is a suitable .308 Bolt gun to shoot suppressed with subsonic loads. Some things I need to consider...

Barrel length - My Sig QD suppressor is 8". I'd like to get a fairly short threaded 1:10 factory barrel so the overall length is not crazy long with the suppressor affixed. I prefer not to have to go to a gunsmith and have this barrel cut down and threaded if factory options are available. The highly expanding 180gr subsonic bullets I load from Maker Ammo are designed for this 1:10 twist.

Picatinny Rail - I'll be using a standard day scope along with a CO-X Armasight Night Clip-On. I'll need some extra Picatinny rail out front to affix the night sight when in use.

Trigger - Pretty much like 2 stage triggers that break cleanly at perhaps around 4 pounds for a hunting gun. A clunky trigger with pre-travel is a deal breaker for sure.

I don't know for sure an ideal gun like I am describing exists. I suppose I could always piece a gun together and build one as described, but if a factory option exists as described, I'd prefer that option.

Thanks all for your options to take a look at.

 

[horsey300]

My goal is a suitable .308 Bolt gun to shoot suppressed with subsonic loads. Some things I need to consider...

Barrel length - My Sig QD suppressor is 8". I'd like to get a fairly short threaded 1:10 factory barrel so the overall length is not crazy long with the suppressor affixed. I prefer not to have to go to a gunsmith and have this barrel cut down and threaded if factory options are available. The highly expanding 180gr subsonic bullets I load from Maker Ammo are designed for this 1:10 twist.

Picatinny Rail - I'll be using a standard day scope along with a CO-X Armasight Night Clip-On. I'll need some extra Picatinny rail out front to affix the night sight when in use.

Trigger - Pretty much like 2 stage triggers that break cleanly at perhaps around 4 pounds for a hunting gun. A clunky trigger with pre-travel is a deal breaker for sure.

I don't know for sure an ideal gun like I am describing exists. I suppose I could always piece a gun together and build one as described, but if a factory option exists as described, I'd prefer that option.

Thanks all for your options to take a look at.

You want the howa hcr

 

[FL-NC]

I recommend the Mossberg MVP patrol. It can use 20 rd 308 Pmags, is 1:10, and threaded 16". My thunder ranch MVP in 223 exceeds all expectations. I also have a Ruger American predator- also 1:10, 18" and threaded- but I have had issues feeding 175 grain rounds possibly due to OAL and/or mag design- works fine with all 150 grain loads. For your UNS, you should just bite the bullet and get a Larue STOMP mount. I have used them extensively and have found nothing that works as well on any bolt gun.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

The Ruger American Predator is pretty close to your specs except that the pic rail is for scope mounting and does not extend forward of the receiver. I have not tried your specified bullet weight.

The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle looks like a good bet.

 

[SamT1]

https://www.cdnnsports.com/aac-model-7-300-blackout-16-threaded-picatinny.html#.WkhMVB1MGEc

Not exactly a 308, but if your gonna shoot subs only you’ll be happier.

 

[Gtscotty]

A polymer stocked Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (10 twist, 16.1" barrel) was the first thing to pop into my mind. I'm not sure if the forward pic rail would work for your purposes, but it might.

 

[farmerboy78]

Savage 10 PC

 

[z7]

How much are you wanting to spend?

A 20” Tikka Ctr might be the ticket, ($1100)

 

[cowboy77845]

A CZ550 is hard to beat. I particularly like the single set trigger. All the ones I have shot have been accurate. A gunsmith on one of the forums a few years back believed the bbls were good enough to be used on custom firearms. I just traded a varmint model with a 17" bbl and Surefire flash hider off. I think one could slip a suppressor over the flash hider.

 

[bme27]

I second the Tikka CTR. I may also be biased as that is one of the guns I want the most. Tikkas accuracy and fit and finish are all remarkable. I have a T3 in .22-250 for coyotes, but getting one a CTR in .308 would be even better.

 

[hq]

Not exactly a 308, but if your gonna shoot subs only you’ll be happier.

How's that? .308 is one of the most widely R&D'd platform for subsonic loads and it's been by far the most popular suppressed rifle round for several decades now. It's safe to say it's a very well established subsonic-capable caliber in countries where suppressors aren't regulated, can be (and are) bought over the counter and are pretty much as common as guns themselves. Unless we're strictly limited to AR platform, I'd intentionally choose it over .300BO any day of the week.

 

[Browning]

As others have already said Tikka CTR.

 

[Gtscotty]

I like my CTR, but didn't suggest it because the OP said he needed a 10 twist. The 11 twist on the CTR might or might not cause any issues shooting subs. It would be a shame to have a baffle strike because your twist was marginal though.

 

[Browning]

I like my CTR, but didn't suggest it because the OP said he needed a 10 twist. The 11 twist on the CTR might or might not cause any issues shooting subs. It would be a shame to have a baffle strike because your twist was marginal though.

Non-issue. Seriously. Much ado about nothing.

 

[SamT1]

How's that? .308 is one of the most widely R&D'd platform for subsonic loads and it's been by far the most popular suppressed rifle round for several decades now. It's safe to say it's a very well established subsonic-capable caliber in countries where suppressors aren't regulated, can be (and are) bought over the counter and are pretty much as common as guns themselves. Unless we're strictly limited to AR platform, I'd intentionally choose it over .300BO any day of the week.

because 308 has improper case capacity for subs. That alone makes it “harder” to load subs that are consistent across temperature ranges and perform well in real world hunting scenarios. It’s hard to find a 308 with a short barrel also, I don’t get excited about a 20” barrel with a can hanging off it.
The blackout was made for subs, at least as a secondary thought in its design. Cases are full of power so that removes all inconsistency. Rifles come with 16” barrel and most all are threaded.

I know lots of guys load 308 subs. I’ve done some myself. I would never tell a guy not to do it. But if a guy is buying a gun just to shoot subs 308 isn’t on my list (even though it’s my favorite chambering of all) if a guy has a 30 cal can a blackout is king, if not I’d look at one of the larger caliber pistol type cartridges.

 

[hq]

if a guy has a 30 cal can a blackout is king

Only if the rifle happens to be an AR and LGS is fresh out of .458 Bushmaster and .50 Beowulf uppers. Most of the subsonic factory and handload data for BO has been borrowed/derived from age-old (but very functional) 7.62x39 subsonic loads that have been very common, plentiful and affordable since early 1970's. While its case capacity is very similar and the benefit of inert case filler isn't as obvious, the only major difference is that .308 has even more versatility over the BO at the upper end than 7.62x39 yet the much larger case to bore volume ratio hasn't hindered the popularity of commercial and handloaded subsonic rounds or even SWOS (silent without suppressor) w/ extremely fast powders, an old principle that doesn't seem to have become a part of the BO hype yet.
I give it so much that .300BO is still at its infancy as a subsonic cartridge, but regardless of that, the only tangible benefit it offers is that it can feed through the constricted magwell of an AR.

I played around a bit in the 90's when it was still called .300 Whisper and wasn't particularly impressed. Cute concept but nothing new under the sun.

 

[SamT1]

Only if the rifle happens to be an AR and LGS is fresh out of .458 Bushmaster and .50 Beowulf uppers. Most of the subsonic factory and handload data for BO has been borrowed/derived from age-old (but very functional) 7.62x39 subsonic loads that have been very common, plentiful and affordable since early 1970's. While its case capacity is very similar and the benefit of inert case filler isn't as obvious, the only major difference is that .308 has even more versatility over the BO at the upper end than 7.62x39 yet the much larger case to bore volume ratio hasn't hindered the popularity of commercial and handloaded subsonic rounds or even SWOS (silent without suppressor) w/ extremely fast powders, an old principle that doesn't seem to have become a part of the BO hype yet.
I give it so much that .300BO is still at its infancy as a subsonic cartridge, but regardless of that, the only tangible benefit it offers is that it can feed through the constricted magwell of an AR.

I played around a bit in the 90's when it was still called .300 Whisper and wasn't particularly impressed. Cute concept but nothing new under the sun.

Ok if you like a challenge keep up. I can understand wanting to earn it or if a guy wants a 308 for dual purpose.
On the left we have a 308 win sub.
It’s tailored to 1 rifle, shoots 1.5moa, took me a month of range trips to perfect. I had to try 3 different bullet sizing dies. Everything has to be spot on, like loading match ammo.
On the right a blackout sub. It was actually the first load I tried, just less 4227 than a 125 grain I usually shoot. I didn’t change my press at all and just ran it with whatever length it came out. Like magic it shoots the same 1.5 moa in both my rifles, cycles carbine and pistol length systems, requires no specific efforts to make it work.

These bullets are statistically identical. Same velocity, same accuracy, both subsonic, both kill pigs up close. But the blackout works in anyone’s gun, requires no intense detail to load, standard primer, same powder I usually use, etc.
I know there is better subs for hunting if a guy has a big bore suppressor, that’s next on my list. Still kicking myself for not getting at least a 45 cal. But I’ll probably get one that I can run 480 Ruger through. 400 grain bullets running 1100 are the real ticket and I’d love to plink with the 45/460 carbine too.

 

[hq]

Ok if you like a challenge keep up.

There isn't much challenge to it. Lapua B416 FMJBT 200gr subsonic factory ammo shoots approximately 1-1½" groups at 100m with most of my .308 rifles, Lapua S374 123gr FMJ or 130gr hardcast loaded with 6.20gr of Vihtavuori N310 pistol powder results in ~900fps V0 with minimal variation in velocity even without case filler and, more often than not, accuracy matching or exceeding full power ammo. It's also fairly insensitive to seating depth and primer variations. That's a baseline for one of the loads I've been using since mid-1980's. It also works great with common 1:10 and 1:12 twist .308 barrels which often fail to stabilize heavy, long bullets, making it ideal for occasional subsonic shooting with a rifle that's mainly used with regular supersonic loads.

Disclaimer: use this load data at your own risk. Max powder charge is around 14gr and going below 5gr risks undercharge detonation. It'll also go supersonic with approximately 8.7gr charge so there's no point in exceeding that.

ps. 4227 is WAY too slow burning for proper, reduced muzzle report subsonic loads.

 

[SamT1]

There isn't much challenge to it. Lapua B416 FMJBT 200gr subsonic factory ammo shoots approximately 1-1½" groups at 100m with most of my .308 rifles, Lapua S374 123gr FMJ or 130gr hardcast loaded with 6.20gr of Vihtavuori N310 pistol powder results in ~900fps V0 with minimal variation in velocity even without case filler and, more often than not, accuracy matching or exceeding full power ammo. It's also fairly insensitive to seating depth and primer variations. That's a baseline for one of the loads I've been using since mid-1980's. It also works great with common 1:10 and 1:12 twist .308 barrels which often fail to stabilize heavy, long bullets, making it ideal for occasional subsonic shooting with a rifle that's mainly used with regular supersonic loads.

Disclaimer: use this load data at your own risk. Max powder charge is around 14gr and going below 5gr risks undercharge detonation. It'll also go supersonic with approximately 8.7gr charge so there's no point in exceeding that.

ps. 4227 is WAY too slow burning for proper, reduced muzzle report subsonic loads.

From your bullet selections, we clearly have different goals with our subs, I suspect that’s why we don’t see quite eye to eye. I’m glad your having success.

 

[hq]

From your bullet selections, we clearly have different goals with our subs, I suspect that’s why we don’t see quite eye to eye. I’m glad your having success.

Thanks. For any more serious subsonic hunting I still prefer a suppressed shotgun with custom cast 2oz+ slugs. Bottleneck rifle calibers are just a sideshow because putting any serious weight in the bullet means they'll be excessively long and require such a tight twist rate to stabilize that few if any factory rifles can accommodate. The recipe above is a decent compromise with hardcasts.