Big game (Elk, Deer) with subsonic ammo?

C

CCCLVII

New member
I recently found out that hunting with a suppressor in Idaho is legal. I have booked a elk and deer hunt for the fall of 2013. I would like to use a suppressed weapon.

What I am looking for is advise on what round to use. While I know a 30-06 or a 338 work well on deer and elk, but load them at subsonic speeds I doubt they would have a lot of killing power. I am looking for a gun that will still have enough power to kill even at 1000-1050FPS. SO big bullets are a +

I am willing to buy a new gun and suppressor and tax stamp.

I am mostly doing this for a change of pace. I have hunted with rifles, hand guns, archery and black powder. I am just looking for some thing new.
 
maybe .458 socom or .50 beo.


Why does it need to be subsonic? sure the high velocities will be louder but still quiet enough to not really need hearing protection. Even with a suppressed sub sonic load it will still be plenty loud to spook game.
 
Like i said this is not because its really practical, I just want a change of pace. I feel that learning the hold over for a big slow bullet would be more of a challenge.
 
That's a cool idea. I wish suppressors were legal for hunting out this way. Do you reload? If so I'd buy something in .375 H&H or even like a .465, and power it down to where you want it.
That way, if you decide to go bear hunting (or if you want to explode some pumpkins), you can replace the suppressor with a muzzle break, and you'll be good to go.
 
This is more of a stunt than anything else, IMO. A 500-gr bullet at 1,050 fps will have 1,230 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Depending on the BC, it will not have a whole lot more than 1,000 ft-lbs at 200 yds. Yes, it will kill an elk. And yes, you will have to learn to hold over. But you will not be shooting very far.
 
Yeah its more for fun. I figure it will be much like shooting sacred black (black powder) with less noise and cleaning. I dont think ill be shooting much more than 100 yards unless I find I am exceptionally good with hold over (doubtful).

Its just some thing different.
 
I am working on a similar project. Mine is a 45/70 Marlin SBL. I have all ready threaded the barrel, payed for the suppressor and gotten finger prints and taken my Visa pictures. I am still weighting for AWC to finish building my suppressor so I can send the forms in to the sheriff and then to the feds.

I will not be shooting sub sonic ammo (except to play with). I just wanted to make my hunting rifle not damage my hearing any more than it already is. When I wear hearing protection I get a plugged up feeling in my head. While I can tolerate it for a range session. Hunting all day with it becomes unbearable.
 
Buy a Sharps 45-70 and shoot it smokeless. Way more than enough power to kill anything in North America and a big slow bullet. I shoot mine (High Wall and Sharps) with 405 grain bullets at between 1250 and 1450 fps. Both guns will shoot MOA and are a LOT of fun to hunt with. I got into this a couple of years ago to do something different.
 
Use the suppressor, but don't go subsonic. The reduction in decibel level will be more than enough.

However...
Unless you get cracking right now, you may not even get approval for the suppressor purchase, before the hunt comes around. There are always delays. The only real way to try to speed things up, is to buy a suppressor that is in stock at a local dealer, or that a local dealer can get their hands on very quickly.
 
Always keep in mind that the deal is "clean, ethical kill".

So you go out and Gee! The only game seen is at 300 yards or thereabouts. Sub-sonic does not strike me as a wise decision.

I was a bystander at Whittington as a guy was shooting a suppressed bolt-action .308. He was regularly clanging the steel targets to at least 400 yards as I watched. I was surprised at the amount of reduction in muzzle blast.

And remember, the higher the elevation, the slower the speed of sound. :) At 5,000 ft, sub-sonic is around 1,050 ft/sec.
 
The problem with going 510 Whisper or similar solutions based on the 50 BMG round - while there are some hunting-legal hollow point bullets, most won't open up or fragment at the slow speeds you're aiming for. So even when you use the heavy rounds to get the energy you still get poor target ballistics.
 
How bout getting an NEF single shot in 500 S&W or .45-70 and loading some thumpers for that? I had a load for my NEF, which I sold, that I used to shoot with good success. Granted, these were only 350 grain bullets, but they were going 1000 fps with 11 grains of unique. You could bump that up quite a bit if you wanted to a heavier bullet. With the 500 S&W, there would be the 440 grain hard cast lead. Then, you get the barrel threaded and a suppressor to match.
 
Always keep in mind that the deal is "clean, ethical kill".

So you go out and Gee! The only game seen is at 300 yards or thereabouts. Sub-sonic does not strike me as a wise decision.
Click to expand...
The OP talked about hunting with archery and handguns as well as black powder. I don't passing up a shot is a huge deal.

I believe he was wanting to do it for more of a challenge. Shooting full bore ammo through a suppressor does not add any challenge.
 
The military tried the .458x 2" a long time ago. It failed to meet expectations mostly because it only worked well at very short range. Even conservative hunting ranges require some significant holdover and energy levels are much too low to be viable on big game.
 
I have hunted Elk with a 44 magnum hand gun. I am sure the heavier bullet will be just fine. I have passed animals many times while hunting. My primary type of hunting is archery. I see no reason why it cant be done. I actually have long sense tired of hunting with a rifle on non-dangerous game. I believe variety is the spice of life. I think it will be very similar to shooting a muzzle loader in 45 caliber. A little slower bullet but the bullet will all so be heavier. Ill test it out to see how far I can keep the shots on a plate from a standing position.

Sorry, but to a suspicious cop type this sounds like a poaching setup to me...
__________________
Click to expand...

ah yes. Just because I choose to hunt different (while still legal and 100% in my rights) I am sure I must be poaching. :rolleyes: . I have also hunted in places where you most people hunt with a suppressor such as Norway. So obviously most people who hunt in Norway must be a poacher as well? Reminds me of a F&G officer that came unglued on me because I was hunting white tail deer with a 50BMG. He actually took my gun for about an hour while called around on the radio trying to find some thing to sight me for. In the end he had nothing and just looked like a jerk.

*edited to say I am leaning toward the 510 Whisper at this point but I still have time to look at others.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top