Caliber for deer hunting suppressed /subsonic

[klemm]

Looking for a caliber for Whitetail.
Will be hunting at night, on a crop damage permit.
Rifle will be suppressed.
Ranges will be from 100 to 300 yards.
Looking for something that will work in the subsonic range if possible.

 

[Raingull]

Subsonic to 300 yards, you won't have enough adjustment for elevation and range estimation will be hyper-critical. You can either give up half of the range you want (at which point you may as well use a crossbow or large PCP rifle if legal) or go supersonic (or try and tough it out and actually deal with 100"+ drop).

Hornady has a specific page for subsonic ammunition where you can get a good idea of what's available. (hope nobody objects to the link) https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/subsonic#!/

This is why I'm not a fan of suppressed rifles (unless they're rimfire). They work great for handguns that already live with these velocities though.

 

[Plinker147]

Suppressed .223 will do the trick. I've killed a good # of deer at night in orchards with that combo

 

[klemm]

I understand the whole subsonic idea probably wouldn't work. But I thought I would ask you to see if anyone had any advice.

I also thought maybe a larger caliber would have more foot pounds of energy if I stretched it out to 300

I didn't play with any numbers, but was thinking about having a 200 yard zero which might get me out to 250 give or take

Just spit balling looking for ideas

 

[TC338]

Look into the 8.6 blackout. X-Ring on YouTube has an interesting video shooting it out to 700 yards. 300g .338 projectile running out of a 1-3 twist barrel.

 

[Bucklowery]

I use both super and subsonic for the same purpose but it is not one gun etc fits all for me. Some instances supers with a repeater for follow up shots get the job done. Others I go subsonic and pick them off quietly. 308 win and 300bo. 223

Thanks

Buck

 

[jake545]

Since it's a crop damage permit and having them run off out of the field to die might be preferable, a 223 or 308 would be my suggestion. 30cal would hit harder.

Everyone I know that does this shoots supers thru a suppressor though as sub are not going to keep from clearing the field out in the first shot. Plus they are not the most effective for putting animals down.

 

[hankle]

458 Socom

This guy is shooting 1001yds suppressed from a bolt gun.

This is quit possibly the coolest video on youtube...

 

[Raingull]

When you start talking energy and deer about the only time you hear people advocate for less than 1000ft/lbs is when they're trying to get by doing something they know is less than ideal. Often they use non-linear analogies like arrows or bygone times when wounded or lost game wasn't so frowned upon to excuse their preferences. We all know you can Chris McCandless/Alexander Supertramp a moose with a 22lr, but we all also know you shouldn't unless you have no better choice to survive. We all love watching Jerry Miculek/Bob Munden hold a snubbie upside down and snap off a 200 yard shot, but most of us don't pretend it is a viable option.

 

[SamuelBerryhill308]

Can't beat 308 for whitetail I'm shopping around for a can for mine now will be better for my boys to shoot and not as hard on my ears when hunting alone

 

[GAHunterJim]

Can't beat 308 for whitetail I'm shopping around for a can for mine now will be better for my boys to shoot and not as hard on my ears when hunting alone

totally agree, I put a Harvester EVO on my 308 with 20" barrel, a favorite!