What is the ideal cartridge, barrel length, and suppressor length?

[Loper]

What do you think is the ideal cartridge, barrel length, and length of suppressor for backcountry deer and elk hunts? I’m going to be starting the process of getting a suppressor soon and may consider modifying, buying, or building a rifle around it.

This year my buddy had an Omega 300 suppressor on the end of his 24” Tikka barrel and I watched him get frustrated with the balance of the rifle on his shoulder or pack and he often got snagged walking through brush.

I was thinking the shorter the barrel and suppressor the better handling and portability. However, like so many other things there are trade offs, such as velocity and sound & recoil reduction. So if you were starting from scratch what would be your ideal setup?

 

[PNWGATOR]

What bullet are you wanting to shoot and at what maximum effective range?

 

[Forest]

Certainly a lot of personal preference here. 24" with suppressor was too much for me too especially for elk hunting. Unfortunately there isn't a ton of great factory options with this in mind however it is catching on.

My wife packed her 20" 7mm08 this past weekend with it on. She almost refused to do it till she practiced shooting with it on, because she thought it'd be too cumbersome. I never heard a single complaint from her packing it in the field with it on.

I've only had my suppressor for a short time, but I can already see I'll want it to be on every gun I shoot from here on out, and willing to make some sacrifices to do so...

I'm personally building a 7saum on tikka action with a 20" barrel and will have an ultra 7 can on it. My research led me to the saum because it seems to not lose as much with the 20" barrel compared to others.

However at the end of the day it's kind of splitting hairs. Going to lose velocity with a short barrel on most big game cartridges. If dialing for a 600yd shot, what's a few more clicks??

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

 

[zion zig zag]

I have a TBAC Ultra 7 in jail, so making the same decisions. I’ve got a tikka t3x lite in 7mm-08 that I’ve been thinking about cutting down to 18 inches. 7mm-08 is a pretty efficient round that shouldn’t lose too much speed at 18” and with the 7” can it should still be easy to carry. I’m thinking I would carry this for mule deer and elk inside of 300 yards. Thoughts?

 

[Kimber7man]

I have a TBAC Ultra 7 in jail, so making the same decisions. I’ve got a tikka t3x lite in 7mm-08 that I’ve been thinking about cutting down to 18 inches. 7mm-08 is a pretty efficient round that shouldn’t lose too much speed at 18” and with the 7” can it should still be easy to carry. I’m thinking I would carry this for mule deer and elk inside of 300 yards. Thoughts?

 

[Tobey]

Tikka t3x compact in 7-08 or 308. Thread the barrel and go nuts.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

What do you think is the ideal cartridge, barrel length, and length of suppressor for backcountry deer and elk hunts? I’m going to be starting the process of getting a suppressor soon and may consider modifying, buying, or building a rifle around it.

This year my buddy had an Omega 300 suppressor on the end of his 24” Tikka barrel and I watched him get frustrated with the balance of the rifle on his shoulder or pack and he often got snagged walking through brush.

I was thinking the shorter the barrel and suppressor the better handling and portability. However, like so many other things there are trade offs, such as velocity and sound & recoil reduction. So if you were starting from scratch what would be your ideal setup?

There are a few variables to consider depending on how far you intend to shoot but here's my take on this subject:
Last winter I put a 16" barrel chambered in 6.5 saum on my tikka.
It's incredible to shoot with my Banish 30 suppressor, the 7" configuration is pretty good but the full 9 is flat awesome.
My wife packed it around during elk season and loved it.

I'm in the process of putting an 18" barrel on my other tikka for the same purpose, I was thinking 284 win but now I might just go 7 wsm to shoot 180 Bergers.
ADG is releasing 300 wsm brass so it would be easy enough to convert it to 7 wsm.

So yeah I'd say go 18" and run a custom throated 7 saum/wsm or a 300 wsm.
Get at least a 7" suppressor, and if you don't mind an 8.4" can then have a look at the Nomad LT

If you hand load then use something like RL26 to keep the speed up.

 

[Antares]

A .308 with a 20" barrel and a 7" can is a pretty basic package.

My deer rifle is a Tikka is the above configuration. I spin the can off when I'm packing out or busting brush.

+1 on the gun bearer

 

[PantherCity]

I’m waiting on a .30 Nomad Ti (7”) and I cut down a rem model 7 I had rebarreled to 6.5 creed a few years ago. At 16.5” I was getting about 2650fps with 143 eld-x and H4350. Should make for a handy little rifle.


I have a NXS 2.5-10 on it and I’m thinking about the MDT LSS chassis so I can have a telescopic AR stock on it for my kids when they come of age.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GreenOne]

I think with everything it all comes down to order of importance. If sound suppression is number 1 on your list, then a 26” barrel and a 7 inch suppressor are the best bet. If lightweight and ultimate portability are the number one priority then a 20” lieghtweight unsuppressed rifle would be best suited.
There is not a be all end all rifle configuration, if there was all of us suckers would own it and have to find a different hobby to obsess over.
For an in between rifle matching a solid cartridge designed to run at good velocity out of a shorter barrel like a wsm or saum with a shorter titanium suppressor will help with the balance and portability aspect but it will give some back in the sound suppression area. For brush busting and carrying your rifle you could always get a quick detach suppressors and carry it in your pack or pocket until you’re on a stalk or in a spot where portability isn’t an issue. With this method you may have to worry about POI shift but, that shift is usually not an actual issue if you run into a situation where you need to make a quick shot at shorter distances. For longer shots there should be enough time to put the suppressor on and get a steady shooting position.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fatbacks]

I’ve hunted with a 24” barrel and suppressor before and was too long. I’ve messed around with a few different combos. Seems like I hit the sweet spot with a 22” barreled 6.5 PRC and Nomad Ti can. Still a bit long. About the same length at my other 24” barreled rifles with three port brake.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Loper]

Tikka t3x compact in 7-08 or 308. Thread the barrel and go nuts.

Between these two, which cartridge would be your pick for within 300 yards?

 

[Elkfitness]

I would think within 300 yds the 308 gives you many more options


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Loper]

For a first can, get a 7” 30 cal.
.

Why 7 inch?

Several others have mentioned the same length. Are you saying this length because it is good for reducing sound or recoil? Or is it just a happy medium for both?

 

[silverbullet555]

I have 3 hunting cans. Harvester which is my favorite. Gemtech tracker and Dead Nomad ti.

The Nomad is only 6.5". It'll end up on a 24" barreled 280ai. The Harvester will end up on a 22" 7mm RM. Total length ends up about the same.

I've been carrying a harvester on my 620" 6.5CM for the past couple years. The 20" barrel makes it nice. We'll see how the 24" barrel with a suppressor feels using the nomad which is relatively short.

No perfect combo. They are all an exercise in compromise.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve run a nomad Ti off a 22” Kimber Montana 308 through the gnarliest alders in Alaska, it was t impossible and honestly was far from my biggest concern. It’s amazing that guys make a big deal out of 2” or 4oz or whatever it is.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Between these two, which cartridge would be your pick for within 300 yards?

I’m a big 308 fan personally. I know there are newer models out there but the 308 has served me well for 20 years.

 

[Antares]

Why 7 inch?

Several others have mentioned the same length. Are you saying this length because it is good for reducing sound or recoil? Or is it just a happy medium for both?

5, 7, and 9 in are your basic options. Yes, 7 in ends up being a good compromise between dB reduction, weight, and length.

I have a Gemtech Tracker (7 in), but I'd like to get a TBAC Ultra 9 (9 in) because I don't care so much about weight and length as I do dB reduction.

 

[JPeters218]

Between 7-08 and 308, inside of 300 yards, I’d go .308. Bigger wound channel (possibly), and slightly more energy

 

[PNWGATOR]

Inside of 300 yds...got it.

16” .223 w/77 TMK twisted 1:8” w/TBAC of your choice.