Quietest Deer Caliber, Rifle, Suppressor Combo

[Yellowhammer66]

I am looking for the quietest rifle sufficient for deer hunting primarily. I have some ear issues. I am extremely sensitive to loud noises but do not want to completely quit rifle hunting. Currently, 2-3 shots from my Winchester model 70 in .243 (no suppressor) while wearing ear plugs AND ear muffs will give me ear pain and possibly ringing for a few days. I also have a Rugger 77 in .280 that I quit shooting because its louder.

The rifle would mainly be for deer hunting, up to 300 yards, and weight is not a big factor. I also would like to hunt elk later, but can get a different rifle for that too.

1. What is everyone suggestion for a quiet caliber for deer? Looking into a 6.5 Creedmore or another .243. Hoping not to go much smaller than .243, but I'm open to it if the noise reduction would be significant.

2. Same for the rifle model, barrel length, weight, etc. if those affect the loudness of the shot?

3. Am I able to put a suppressor on my current rifles? They have what I consider a sporting barrel. the one shop I talked to did not think there was enough barrel to thread.

*I am under the care of an ENT and my symptoms are most similar to secondary hydrops, but we don't think that is my diagnosis.

Thanks!

 

[Hydro557]

300blk?

 

[justin davis]

If you got a suppressor for the .243 it would be quiet I got a Thunderbeast and on a .243. I shoot it without ear plugs and it doesn’t hurt my ears

 

[Rich M]

350 Legend has less bark and less recoil than a 243

Would work to 300 yards. I shoot mine to 250 and wish i had a 300 yd range to shoot at.

Supressor would tame it quite a bit more.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Longer barrel will help too.
Would any of the custom ear pro help I wonder?

 

[ljalberta]

Suppressed .223. Hard to go wrong with a Tikka. Can’t speak to what suppressor specifically as we’re not allowed in Canada to wield such dangerous items.

 

[USMC-40]

.300 blackout bolt action rifle shooting subs.

Nothing else comes close, unless it’s another bolt gun shooting subs

 

[wesfromky]

The 300 yards and elk are the edge cases. If not those, 300blk or 350 legend with the right silencer would be hard to beat.

If those are hard requirements, I would think a longer barreled .308 with one of the bigger cans, like DeadAir Nomand L or LT.

 

[Formidilosus]

.300 blackout bolt action rifle shooting subs.

Nothing else comes close, unless it’s another bolt gun shooting subs

For 300 yard animals?

I am looking for the quietest rifle sufficient for deer hunting primarily. I have some ear issues. I am extremely sensitive to loud noises but do not want to completely quit rifle hunting. Currently, 2-3 shots from my Winchester model 70 in .243 (no suppressor) while wearing ear plugs AND ear muffs will give me ear pain and possibly ringing for a few days. I also have a Rugger 77 in .280 that I quit shooting because its louder.

The rifle would mainly be for deer hunting, up to 300 yards, and weight is not a big factor. I also would like to hunt elk later, but can get a different rifle for that too.

1. What is everyone suggestion for a quiet caliber for deer? Looking into a 6.5 Creedmore or another .243. Hoping not to go much smaller than .243, but I'm open to it if the noise reduction would be significant.

2. Same for the rifle model, barrel length, weight, etc. if those affect the loudness of the shot?

3. Am I able to put a suppressor on my current rifles? They have what I consider a sporting barrel. the one shop I talked to did not think there was enough barrel to thread.

*I am under the care of an ENT and my symptoms are most similar to secondary hydrops, but we don't think that is my diagnosis.

Thanks!

You absolutely can get your current rifles threaded for a suppressor. 243 is fine. Use a full length can such as a Hyperion 7.62, TBAC Ultra 9, etc; and cut your barrel to 18”. It will be truly hearing safe and be just fine we’ll past 300 yards even for elk.

 

[wildwilderness]

An Arrow is pretty quite, especially from a Trad bow .

Some places allow air rifles for big game hunting.

But as mentioned a subsonic load with a suppressor can’t be beat for quiet shooting.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Keep your rifles if you like them, get them threaded and spend $$$ on a large, quiet silencer.

 

[Hydro557]

.300 blackout bolt action rifle shooting subs.

Nothing else comes close, unless it’s another bolt gun shooting subs

Would need to use supers. Still relatively quiet, but you're just gonna deal with supersonic Crack.

 

[UnckleBob]

300blk?

Or 6.5 Grendel in a suppressed bolt action rifle.

 

[Southern Lights]

Like others said, suppressors are great but do nothing for supersonic crack of the bullet. You still need hearing pro when using them even in calibers like .223. You might want to look into something subsonic. Mates using them and the only thing you hear is a soft puff and steel ringing on the target. Sounds like a car door closing at most.

 

[6.5x284]

I'll be building an 8.6 blackout one of these days for hunting with subsonic ammo specifically. Should be a killer bolt gun sound wise and plenty of great bullets for a few hundred yards I would think.

 

[BjornF16]

Suppressed .223. Hard to go wrong with a Tikka.

This is the way.

Reference the .223 on big game thread:

.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET. “Bullets matter more than headstamps.” “Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”. I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened. The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223...

rokslide.com

Otherwise just thread your current .243 rifle and add suppressor.

 

[doc holiday13]

A threaded 243 with with 6.5mm sized suppressor from TBAC

 

[SIR_34:16]

Or 6.5 Grendel in a suppressed bolt action rifle.

^^^^^ This!

Used a suppressed 6.5 Grendel this year and could hear the bullet hit the deer.

 

[Rich M]

The only exposure i had w supressors was a guy at a private range i go to.

He had some kind of semi - all you could hear was the slide. He fired 15 or so rounds rapid fire and it was like someone working the slide.

He also had a 6.5 w supressor. We were shooting it (1 hole gun at 225) without hearing protection, you didnt need it. We were talking while his wife and kid were shooting quarters and nickels at 100-200 yards. Yes, these were supersonic bullets but not loud.

I was impressed.

 

[Southern Heritage]

.308 is my go to Suppressed Round.
I have one Gun set up shooting sub sonic hunting rounds. It’s good to a 100 yds. I like it more then my .300black out.
then my main deer rifle and kids deer rifles are .308 suppressed