What caliber for a suppresed short barrel lightweight build

338 federal is a good suggestion. I'm running a suppressed 338 Spectre AR-15 that throws 300gr subs and 165gr supers at 2000fps out of a 10.5" barrel. Maneuverability is phenomenal, and should still be excellent when my tax stamp gets approved and I can finally take my enormous 338 suppressor home. That's a great option up close, and the subs are crazy quiet. However if you are planning on shooting 450 yds you will want something with a little more boiler room. The spectre is hard to beat for subs out to 250yds though. Did I mention it uses 25-30rd mags 😁
 
Initially I was going to suggest a 458 socom. However on reading what you're looking for possibly the 375 socom would be even better.
 
338 fed or 308 win to accommodate subs. Once 8.6 CM drops, if it drops, 338 projectiles will probably get more diverse. A Sierra 215 gr 338 started at 2500 will still have over 1500 ft/lbs at 400 and about 1800 ft/sec. That has my vote
 
Have you looked at Q's / Hornady's NEW 8.6 BLK round? HERE is an overview article. Of course, the 8.6 BLK is so new no one (including me) has any field experience with it yet. All I can add is that I love my 13.5" 308 and my 10.5" 300 BLK gas guns so I am a believer in the potential of fat little rounds in short barrels.

Rasyad
 
Hello everybody, I am considering my next build which is inspired by one of my favourite rifles (16 inch suppresed Bergara BA13 takedown rifle). Considered style of hunting means in my case shots up to 400 meters/cca 450yards. As I will shot with suppressor and need good manoevrabilty I want maximum barrel lenght 16 inch. In my country is no limit for barrel lenght so I can go even lower, but I consider this as reasonable minimum for practical use of the powder without excessive fireballs :). Plan is to shoot both subsonic and supersonic (in 90% cases, subs are just for finishing shots with my dogs around) I am reloading so no problem to go even with most exotic wildcats. Main aim is find out whether there might be something surpassing quality of this small toy I already use with possibly larger caliber. I was thinking about something in 338, or bigger.
 
Hello everybody, I am considering my next build which is inspired by one of my favourite rifles (16 inch suppresed Bergara BA13 takedown rifle). Considered style of hunting means in my case shots up to 400 meters/cca 450yards. As I will shot with suppressor and need good manoevrabilty I want maximum barrel lenght 16 inch. In my country is no limit for barrel lenght so I can go even lower, but I consider this as reasonable minimum for practical use of the powder without excessive fireballs :). Plan is to shoot both subsonic and supersonic (in 90% cases, subs are just for finishing shots with my dogs around) I am reloading so no problem to go even with most exotic wildcats. Main aim is find out whether there might be something surpassing quality of this small toy I already use with possibly larger caliber. I was thinking about something in 338, or bigger.
Josheph com Benedikt just did an excellent podcast just on this topic where we weights the pros and cons. His podcast is called Backcountry Hunting. You'll see the episode called "short barrels for back country hunting with a suppressor". I believe 7 SAUM, 300 WSM, and .280 AI were at the top of his recommendations.
 
A short barreled Grendel has always been on my list. Buddy of mine hunts pigs with a 12" and it does a really good job. Subs may be a problem though.
 
338 Spectre in an AR-15 would be a neat option.

In the EU, a metric caliber might be a bit easier to work with but, a 375 Socom or similar would be a good option.

The other options are pseudo wildcats like the 8x57 and 30-06 variants though subsonic use probably rules those out.

A 9.3x57 would not work well as a subsonic option but, that or a 9.3x62 would put a world of hurt on a large Russian Boar.
 

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