Last Minute Mountain Goat Rifle

[skierhs]

I have hunted with cans for years, but agree they have become ESSENTIAL GEAR for many when old fashioned ear plugs work even better than a can but that idea is laughed at by some. It's definitely not cool.

For about 1 gram with foam ear plugs you get 33db of reduction.
A decent magnum level can get you 30db of reduction for 340 grams of weight.

I hunt with cans for whitetail but never on animals where I will have the 10 seconds it takes to put earplugs in.
Where I'm at, a lot of my whitetail hunting is still hunting where I have to be as still as possible or take a shot right away, plugs are usually not an option.

For anything out West where I need to range the game, I have time to put plugs in.

It's not a perfect system, but it does save me 6" and a pound off my rifle plus plugs are more protective than a hunting can.

After hunting with cans for years, I've found the cost-benefit ratio of suppressors goes way down as the power of the rifle goes up. For small game hunting with 22 subs, a 6oz 5" can will get me movie quiet. For big game hunting with a magnum rifle a 18 oz 6" can will reduce my rifle's report from extremely loud to very loud. I usually carry the 22 can less than 5 miles and shoot it 5-10 times on a hunt while a big game rifle may be carried 60-80 miles and fired once or twice. Every way you look at it the more backcountry you get and the bigger the cartridge gets the suppressor makes less sense.

The best balance I have found is rounds designed for short barrels (such as the 350 Legend which looses about 200 FPS going from 20" to 11") then put a can on it. You have a shorter, lighter, quieter gun with a can and minimal velocity loss for that extreme barrel reduction.

Interesting. I find the exact opposite. As the chambering goes up, I find more utility out of a suppressor. When shooting a .22lr, the volume is already low, there is no recoil (or it’s extremely short), and zero muzzle rise. Whereas with a 300NM the volume is loud, recoil is stout, and there is plenty of muzzle rise. Putting a suppressor on the .22lr does only minimal effect. Where as putting a 5” 6oz drops the volume a material amount (over 20db on the top end), lengthens the recoil impulse (making it easier to manage), and reduces the muzzle rise.

 

[skierhs]

This isn't always true if you're using a brake.

Here is some interesting data on that. No brake, a 26” 300wm creates ~162db at the shooters ears. With brake, that would be louder. Some cans are equal to or greater to ear plugs, and vice versa. https://thunderbeastarms.com/sound/summit2025/

 

[nm.otter]

I'm in the same camp: Lighten the rifle as much as practical, then add back some weight with a can. Balances better, and really tames muzzle rise.

7 pound, 4 ounce 20" 6.5mm Creedmoor was rough to shoot.
7 pounds, 15 ounces with an OG 30 becomes pleasant -- yet still challenging to spot shots most of the time.

 

[ckt3]

I had Oregon mountain rifles build me a 16.5” 6 creed. I used a stainless tikka action and put it in a short action Hnt26 folding chassis. I have absolutely loved it. I was able to kill my mountain goat right at 400 yards. Performed excellent and was very easy to pack around.

View attachment 1026327

That looks super handy. What muzzle velocity and bullets out of the 16.5” barrel? Might do something similar down the road.

 

[z987k]

Wow.

He can't hear you.

 

[z987k]

Here is some interesting data on that. No brake, a 26” 300wm creates ~162db at the shooters ears. With brake, that would be louder. Some cans are equal to or greater to ear plugs, and vice versa. https://thunderbeastarms.com/sound/summit2025/

Ya, typically with a good directional break you get the full ~180db at the shooters ear. There's not any hearing protection than can make that hearing safe.
Not to even get into the concussive forces.

 

[43.6N]

Just thinking about shooting unsuppressed causes my tinnitus to flair up and gives me a migraine.

Suppressed short hunting rifles are the future.
Taking cues from the competition world, I think GT/BR sized cases will be the “Creedmoor” of the next 20 years.

OP, hope you bag a monster.

 

[z987k]

Unexpectedly drew a AK mountain goat tag, and now I’m on the clock for building a new rifle. I’m leaning towards a 7prc, 18-22” barrel, tbac 5 suppressor, with a NF 2.5-20 NX8, and the new Manner’s folding stock. I figure this should give me a solid kill range of 600 yards.

Any alterations do you recommend; and who would you go though for this build? I probably only need a barreled action. Looking to keep this whole thing under 8lbs.

Just find a better suppressor. AB, airlock, one of the OGs.
I'd also go down from 7prc. You're not going to be shooting goats anywhere in this state at 800+ yards when the 7prc starts to matter. I've walked past goats at 200 yards because of the cliff they were on.
I'd plan for more like a 500y max, and even that I wouldn't find likely, though possible, and work back from there. Unless you know the area and really think you'll be taking a 7-800 yard poke at a goat. I don't know any animal that won't let you get closer then 700yards, so I just don't see the need for a 7prc for anything in Alaska.
In 7mm, that puts you more in the 280ai or even 7saw/7-08ai territory depending if you are a copper person, or lead is fine.
My goat rifle is 22cm(because my goat rifle is a hair under 4lbs). I've also shot them with my 6.5cm and -06, they all kill them just fine.
Unless this is purely a I want to see how far I can shoot a goat exercise.

 

[43.6N]

Unexpectedly drew a AK mountain goat tag, and now I’m on the clock for building a new rifle. I’m leaning towards a 7prc, 18-22” barrel, tbac 5 suppressor, with a NF 2.5-20 NX8, and the new Manner’s folding stock. I figure this should give me a solid kill range of 600 yards.

Any alterations do you recommend; and who would you go though for this build? I probably only need a barreled action. Looking to keep this whole thing under 8lbs.

OP let’s explore this a little further.
You will definitely get 600yds out of the 7prc (more like 900-1200 if you’re hunting the altitude I think you’ll be at).

What led you to that cartridge in particular? Expecting high winds? Wanting to shoot a certain bullet?

I really like the idea of the manners folding stock. I would personally look for any way to justify a 16” barrel. From suppressor tip to the folding mech, I bet you could get your OAL right at 24-26 inches. A very tidy package for brush busting. It will probably be shorter then your tripod when folded.