Short Range Suppressed Rifle for Deer Woods

[204guy]

Too many wants, not enough time and $. Don't own a bolt 223 but been tempted on a 223 CTR since they introduced em, just sucks they seem to have short throats.

I have a heavy barreled 20" paper/steel shooting upper that has been getting fed 77 TMKs since they introduced them but it's a hog. Also have a 14.5" 7 twist upper that is about to get a TBAC adapter flash hider tacked on and would probably do well for whitetails but that's still not the same as a bolt rifle..

My wife's CTR is pretty chunky. Something like a chopped 1-8 tika lite is ideal.

 

[Traindriver]

I’ll second on the 350 legend Ruger Ranch rifle. It’s light weight, compact w/threaded barrel. They are tack drivers, very little recoil. Cool little gun that you could hunt some neighboring states with also. Good Luck

 

[Fordguy]

You could always go with the ruger american ranch series. Several of them come threaded for a suppressor or muzzle break, and if iirc the barrel length is a little over 16 inches. Depending on your knockdown requirements you could go with anything up to the 450 bushmaster (recoil is still mild compared to shotgun slugs and accuracy is really good occasionaly sub moa with factory ammo) for less expensive ammo the 350 legend is an option. Similar results to the 450 but cheap ammo is available winchester white box can sometimes be found for less than 10$ a box. I'd be surprised if they don't chamber the rar in 6.5 creed given its recent popularity, I just don't have any experience with that round or rifle.
Ive seen these rifles on the shelf priced between 350 and 450.

 

[Antares]

I’m putting together a .308 Tikka with a 20” proof barrel. Same idea, it’s going to be a suppressed deer rifle. I’ll be putting a Gemtech Tracker on it. It’s in a McMillan Game Hunter stock.

 

[308ghost]

I have a Ruger GSR scout with a 16” barrel. I love this rifle! I put my harvester and a Leupold fixed 2.5 mounted up front. It’s on the heavy side but I have the laminated stock. I love the ability to remove the scope and use irons if needed. I can smash steel at 400 yards pretty easy with this set up scoped and not to shabby at 250 300 with irons. I’d get the composite stainless 16” 308 if I do it over again. But I wouldn’t hesitate to pick one of these up. This rifle is ultra reliable and extremely easy to carry in the woods. (very similar to a lever gun without an optic wrapped hand around receiver). A good Magpul RLS sling and you can walk forever with it. You can mount a traditional optic as well if you wanted but I chose the trad mode with a can.

 

[Reddirtrifleman]

I built a 6.5 Grendel AR pistol for my compact/quiet deer woods gun. It's great. I would have no qualms with any of the Ruger ranch rifles with a can for anything in my deer woods.

 

[McCree]

I picked up a Traditions Outfitter G3 in 300BLK for my daughter for deer hunting. It has a 16.5" fluted, threaded barrel. For the price it is a sweet little gun!

 

[ericwh]

Just got it back last night. Cut 6" off so its about 18.5" to the vent hole in the action.

With suppressor, it balances right around the Henderson Precision arca rail.

As shown, minus bipod, it weighs 8.6 lbs. Very happy! Still feels light and handy.

 

[ericwh]

Lost about 200 fps.

 

[JoeDirt]

Lost about 200 fps.

So

My 17" 6.5 Creed shoots 2450fps. I dont take many shots past 300 yards. I shot two deer last year pass throughs with 143 eldx

My 6.5 PRC is 2450fps at 350 yards. I just pick the right gun for the day.

 

[ericwh]

Wasn't complaining, I'm happy with it. Just sharing info.

I'm shooting 130 tipped gameking at 2,660 fps. Should be > 2,000fps out to 400 around here and further at higher altitudes. Which is far enough for me.

 

[Rich M]

And as a follow up to my 300blk Contender, I put together this little 357mag. It also is wicked in the woods.

View attachment 240154

Very nice!

I shoot 357 Mag rifle deer hunting if under 200 yards. Rifles w 16 inch barrels.

If you load and haven't checked out the Fury .357 bullets, do so. They'll expand at velocities down below 1,200 fps. Mine run between 1,900 and 2,000 fps over a load of Lil Gun. Ballistic calcs say 1,225 fps at 250 yards (roughly 357 mag velocity out of a 4 inch revolver).

They changed how I look at and shoot 357 Mag. 158 gr XTPs will give a fist size group at 125 but won't group at 150 yards for me. We shoot an 8 inch plate at 225 yards with a 4x scope using the Fury bullets. Not sure I'd shoot a deer at ranges over 200 yards with Fury but will stretch it to 200 at least once.

Haven't shot a deer with the Fury bullets yet but have with 158 gr XTP FP (x13) and 158 gr (might be 180s - forget) Swift A Frame (x2). XTP is a deer dropper. A-frame is a HP but has no shock power and is like a lead solid. Stopped using the A-frames on deer cause I don't like tracking as much.

I'll stop babbling - really like the 357 mag as a deer rifle.

 

[caesAR15]

Very nice!

I shoot 357 Mag rifle deer hunting if under 200 yards. Rifles w 16 inch barrels.

If you load and haven't checked out the Fury .357 bullets, do so. They'll expand at velocities down below 1,200 fps. Mine run between 1,900 and 2,000 fps over a load of Lil Gun. Ballistic calcs say 1,225 fps at 250 yards (roughly 357 mag velocity out of a 4 inch revolver).

They changed how I look at and shoot 357 Mag. 158 gr XTPs will give a fist size group at 125 but won't group at 150 yards for me. We shoot an 8 inch plate at 225 yards with a 4x scope using the Fury bullets. Not sure I'd shoot a deer at ranges over 200 yards with Fury but will stretch it to 200 at least once.

Haven't shot a deer with the Fury bullets yet but have with 158 gr XTP FP (x13) and 158 gr (might be 180s - forget) Swift A Frame (x2). XTP is a deer dropper. A-frame is a HP but has no shock power and is like a lead solid. Stopped using the A-frames on deer cause I don't like tracking as much.

I'll stop babbling - really like the 357 mag as a deer rifle.

Oooh, you have my attention sir. I'm planning to whitetail hunt with a 16" suppressed 357 lever gun this fall. Just kind of planned to run with a Buffalo Boar load - probably the Outdoorsman, hadn't settled on the exact load yet. I do reload though and will have to give these bullets some thought. FYI, suppressed 158gr 38spl out of a lever gun is a freaking riot...

 

[Rich M]

Oooh, you have my attention sir. I'm planning to whitetail hunt with a 16" suppressed 357 lever gun this fall. Just kind of planned to run with a Buffalo Boar load - probably the Outdoorsman, hadn't settled on the exact load yet. I do reload though and will have to give these bullets some thought. FYI, suppressed 158gr 38spl out of a lever gun is a freaking riot...

I bet! - suppressors are great. I don't have one but did shoot with a guy who has a silent 300 BO and we were talking over the noise of a 6.5 CM. Can imagine the .38 Spcl being at or near silent.

Send me a PM if you want to talk specifics about loads and such. Started with a single shot and then moved into a M77-357 bolt.

The pointy bullets changed things - 140 gr FTX, 158 gr Fury, 165 gr .355 FTX (for 350 Legend): For me, the 140 isn't impressive in the 357 or 350 Legend. I had gotten them for ease of use cause m77-357 doesn't take bullets out of the magazine very well - needed the point to have a prayer for a quick 2nd shot - haven't needed one yet.

BUT BUT the 158 Fury and 165 FTX are for real. We were blowing up 1-gal water bottles at 150 yards and apparently getting decent expansion w the bullets. Couldn't catch any bullets.



The pointed lead tip is Fury, HP is XTP HP FP (Flat Point has higher impact velocity rated than a regular HP - regular is 800-1,600 fps, FP tops out >1,800 fps). The flat soft point lead is a Speer - haven't shot any critters with those yet. All are 158 gr. Have to seat the Fury bullets deep to fit in the magazine for the M77-357.




This is the .355 FTX (for the 350 Legend) - works in the 357 mag. Loads long - I couldn't bring myself to seat the bullet any deeper - won't fit the M77-357 magazine. That's why I stopped using them in 357 mag but they'd be excellent in a single shot or as the first shot in a bolt and maybe lever gun.

Shot 2 deer with this bullet out of 350 Legend at 2,250 fps. Yearling DRT, the larger doe fell at shot yet somehow got up and moving, went about 100 yards - was spray painting trees out the entrance hole after 50 yards - blew a fist sized hole in the loose meat just behind the shoulder blade at about 50 yards. Exited thru paunch so not much blood out that side tho there was some.

If you like reloading, the 357 mag is a great round to reload - so many options for 38 spcl and 357 mag from shot shells to 200+ gr subsonics.