Cartridge for Dedicated suppressed build?

[Dan-06]

Good to know. Haven’t played with a lot of Vihtavuori powders

Once you do…. Probably won’t go back much.

 

[brockel]

Once you do…. Probably won’t go back much.

I’ve got quite the stockpile of hodgden. Never use to see V powder around here but seeing it more and more now

 

[Addicting]

I’ve got quite the stockpile of hodgden. Never use to see V powder around here but seeing it more and more now

I do too, along with Reloader 16/22/23/26. 22/23 works very well in a 280ai, the 26 just collects dust now.

If I was running a creedmore again and 140’s, 26 is hard to beat.

130g and under the N555 is magic.

I even run it in my 300WSM with 175g LRX and it just outperforms Hodgen.

 

[TradeGun.62]

Some good info here. I've been thinking of a similar build for a few years but never got past the thinking part. Inspired by a rifle I saw at p_ham's shop.

Tikka T3X SS (upgrade stock when I can)
Barrel Length: 18" - 20"
Suppressor length: 4" - 6"
For a total barrel/suppressor length: 24"
Caliber: .308 or 7mm-08, with maybe a A.I or Sherman upgrade

Reasonable sized scope for balance and bring the whole rig to 7-7.5 lbs. Break out the smoker!!!!

 

[Dan O]

Noooo, when was this??

Started last year. Many employees haven't been paid and it has been shut down. Pretty sad deal.

 

[SCW]

With the endless discussions on “which caliber is best for elk”, I thought I’d start another thread, with a couple specifics thrown in.

Basically- suppressors are amazing, and I intend to get one. However, the tradeoffs they bring in terms of rifle handiness (length & balance) and decreased MV, means I would not consider my beloved cheap .308 a sufficient elk cartridge anymore, since I would lose MV from the suppressor, and even more from chopping the barrel- bringing its maximum range to under 300.

So I need a new rifle to go with the suppressor. Most of my shots seem to happen under 150 yards, a fair amount of them offhand, so I like a rifle short enough to still be handy. Which is pushing me towards an OTB suppressor.

Criteria-
1- needs to be lethal at 300 yards
2- from a total barrel + suppressor length short enough for offhand shooting in timber, and preferably short enough to fit in a normal rifle case.
3- Preference for calibers starting at 6.8/.277.
4- Bonus points for reliable feeding, ammo price and accessibility. I like short actions, but not mandatory.

So that’s it, and it leads to three questions:

1- What cartridge?
2- What barrel length?
3- What is the superior flavor for elk jerky?

Bought my son a 6.8 western in a Winchester xpr suppressor ready 16.5 barrel. Works nice but he has t got a suppressor yet and just got a chrono. Haven’t checked the speed yet. I have a tikka 300 wsm they just chopped to 18” and threaded. I put on a Um OG 30 suppressor. I like it really well but haven’t checked speed on it yet.

 

[rjthehunter]

I'm putting together a 6.5 creed for the plus peak ammo.
Tikka T3X stainless
Cut the barrel down to 16"-18"
add a 6" suppressor
It should still send 130gr bullets at ~2900 fps.
Lightweight chassis or carbon fiber eventually

I listened to a podcast with some of the engineers at Federal talking about getting 2900 fps out of a 16" rifle. They claimed shorter barrels don't affect the velocity as much when using plus peak (not sure how)

A 6.5 creed turned into a super capable rifle, even at range with the plus peak.

 

[X13]

None of my suppressors have decreased muzzle velocity.

Hard to imagine a 308 as not being effective at 300 yards unless you cut it down to an obscenely short barrel.

 

[smalls]

I had CCM build me a 7-08 similar to what you want. Im getting 2860 fps with a 140 gr accubond over big game out of a 22"tube. Scythe-ti can. It is effective well past 300 yards.

Its a joy to shoot. Given a choice its the rifle both of my daughters prefer to use.

Food for thought, the 25 creed shooting 134 grain bergers at 2850 fps out of a 20" barrel is very appealing. You can use one of hammers offerings if you need a stouter pill. Recoil is incredibly mild. This will be my next build.

 

[brockel]

I had CCM build me a 7-08 similar to what you want. Im getting 2860 fps with a 140 gr accubond over big game out of a 22"tube. Scythe-ti can. It is effective well past 300 yards.

Its a joy to shoot. Given a choice its the rifle both of my daughters prefer to use.

Food for thought, the 25 creed shooting 134 grain bergers at 2850 fps out of a 20" barrel is very appealing. You can use one of hammers offerings if you need a stouter pill. Recoil is incredibly mild. This will be my next build.

I’d think you’d have to be leaning on a 25 creed pretty hard to get 2850 out of a 134 from a 20” barrel.

Just wait till the 6.5 creed plus peak cases become available. Neck down to 25 and be able to push that 134 Berger 3000+ out of a 20” 25 creedmoor

 

[DFS]

How about a 107 tmk out of a 16 inch barrel at 2800. 6.5 creedmoor.

 

[Stcknstringer22]

The terminal ascent out my 20 inch barrel 308 dropped 5 fps with a banish meateater . That could be difference in temperature, very minimal. This at 2560 will reach out to 400. Weatherby Compact hunter

 

[GearJunky]

I know you said you like a larger caliber. But the .243/6mm is the easy answer. I have shot elk with a .223 to .300wm. The 6mm seems to be an excellent sweet spot for killing ethically and wind drift.

My go to rifles are now 16” 6 creeds that are suppressed and insanely fun to shoot.

Tikka now offers a 6 creed and a fast twist .243.

 

[R.K.]

The terminal ascent out my 20 inch barrel 308 dropped 5 fps with a banish meateater . That could be difference in temperature, very minimal. This at 2560 will reach out to 400. Weatherby Compact hunter

What weight are you shooting? That kinda makes me want to just have my 308 threaded.

I shoot 168gr copper monolithics (TTSX, E-tip), and I've had great success with those on deer/antelope. I just can't mix & match them, because the E-tips shoot high and left compared to the TTSX on the same zero. From what I can tell, these both top out inside of 400 yards based on min expansion velocity from the manufacturer.

 

[MThuntr]

6mmPRC with OG6 suppressor (adds 3 inches to total length). 116 TMKs at 3100fps. Impact velocity of 2000fps at 800 yards or 1800fps at 1000. Less than 2mil (36 inches) to 500 yards. An 18" barrel will likely result in similar performance

 

[El Jason]

What weight are you shooting? That kinda makes me want to just have my 308 threaded.

I shoot 168gr copper monolithics (TTSX, E-tip), and I've had great success with those on deer/antelope. I just can't mix & match them, because the E-tips shoot high and left compared to the TTSX on the same zero. From what I can tell, these both top out inside of 400 yards based on min expansion velocity from the manufacturer.

Use your .308 but drop the bullet weight. You aren’t going to lose as much velocity as you think, but you’d be better served with a light bullet. Especially if you want to shoot monos.

 

[brockel]

How about a 107 tmk out of a 16 inch barrel at 2800. 6.5 creedmoor.

Have you shot anything with these? Curious on depth of wound channel

 

[DFS]

Have you shot anything with these? Curious on depth of wound channel

My buddy shot a whitetail buck last year at pretty close range. Got a pass through if I remember correctly. So pretty limited data.

 

[El Jason]

Just to illustrate how much we magnify the effect of chopping a barrel, here is some real world data.

55 grain Barnes TSX .223 ammo is published at 3200-3250 FPS out of a 24” test barrel. I chronographed these loads at 2900-2950 FPS from 11.5” barrels with a can.

For a 300 yard rifle, it’s really easy to overthink this. For me, it’s a pretty easy choice to go 6-6.5 mm, pick a good bullet and shoot the heck out of it. Your recoil will be negligible and you will enjoy shooting it.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

6.5 creed is my vote. Peak + made it all the more versatile.

I primarily use a 18" 6 creed for hunting. Would consider spinning the 18" 6.5 barrel on or using my 7 SAUM if I were elk hunting but wouldn't be afraid to use the 6 either.