Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles recommendations for suppressed 308

I just ordered a suppressor for 30 cal and would like to buy a dedicated 308 to use it on.

Goal: short as possible hunting rifle for deer hunting from a blind

spec requirements:
1. available in 308 cal
2. 16-18" barrel, shorter preferred
3. no extended magazines
4. reasonably lightweight
5. <$1k
6. 5/8" threaded bbl preferred



rifles that I've considered - and why I dont want them
1. Ruger American Predator - is nearly perfect, but has a really loud safety that I wouldnt want to hunt with.
2. Ruger American Ranch - again..... nearly perfect but not available in 308cal, and safety a bit noisy
3. ruger Gunsite - heavier than needed, and the ghost ring/scout sights not what I need in a suppressed rifle. also a bit pricey
4. Savage - has guns very like the above rugers that dont meet my objectives - which is too bad, cause I'm a huge Savage fan.....
5. Howa Superlite- my "best option" thus far. meets all above specs and crazy light at 4# 3oz, has a 1/2x28 threaded pipe
6. I already have a stainless/laminate takedown BLR in 308 that I can get threaded for <$200, but it seems sinful to chop such a pretty rifle that's probably worth $1k as is.....

but I'm open to recommendations from the crowd. certainly the 'Fire is never short on opinions.....

Buy whatever rifle you prefer, then have a smith shorten and thread the barrel. The threads may be 1/2x28 but that works fine.

Just finished this one, DIY pre-fit. Barrel is 20" but that's the shortest I could get from Proof for a pre-fit, you can go shorter with a custom barrel, maybe 18". Your budget would be best suited by taking a rifle you already own and having a barrel fit to you specs.

That BLR threaded at 16” with a nice thread protector will be useful. Faster follow-ups than a bolt gun and no gas in the face and port pop like most semis. After that, the Gen 2 American Ranch 16” looks like a lot of bang for the $. I’m convincing myself not to buy a REM M7 threaded 16” 308 I’ve found, but….

This looks like a very good deal to me! The last receiver I bought cost more than this complete rifle.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1026375876?pid=456578

A tad more than a grand ,but the Suppressor ready browning xbolt is an option

If the noise level of the safety is the issue with the American, could you not use the bolt handle as the safety and leave it up? Might be quieter to slowly lower a bolt handle.

I have the Howa Superlite, and it is a rifle that'll probably need tweaking. I posted about it here, it is light but 4 lbs 10 oz bare rifle by my sampling of one. Here is where I posted about it, New Rifle!

Here is another thread I posted on about the rifle, Hoping it shoots as good as it carries....Howa S.L.

I like the rifle but I have about $300 more in it than it cost getting things tweaked by my GS. I got a new ejector and spring, the scope base milled off and recoated, and tweaking on the magazine and magazine well to get it to feed better. I'm not saying the issues I've been dealing with are typical, but I've had to deal with these.

I'd love to try the Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout, Skane has one he'd probably tell you about it. If you want a dedicated rifle for suppressor use I think it would be a good one. I just don't worry much about dedicated suppressor use rifle, I just make most of mine accept my suppressor.

The Ruger safety noise is only a problem if you're a conehead that just flips it. Some downward pressure, and slowly working it, cure those ills. But some are easily stumped.....

false.

I fiddled with it for about 20 minutes, doing exactly what you're recommending and it was still audible.

This one is 300BO

But for 308Win go Encore, then buy bbls with threaded muzzles.....

They make 22 subsonic just stupid quiet....

Short as you like....

Light weight, as you like....

NO dreaded safety noise....

Under a grand$$

thanks for your feedback, and for sharing your experience on the Howa SL. I hope it works out long run!

Is safety noise an issue when hunting from a blind?

I can't imagine the safety noise is a issue for almost all hunting, unless you are stalking within 10-15 yards?

most of the time, it wouldnt be a problem. it's just an issue I dont like, and frankly, not a problem on any of the other rifles I already have.

I had my son stand about 20 yards down the isle at Academy, and he could still hear it. I tried two different Ruger Predators and both safeties were obnoxiously loud, despite my efforts to keep it quiet.

I have a Savage Hog Hunter in 308 that I use for suppressed loads and full power. It puts 150 grain GameKings almost in the same hole. I highly recommend it.

Savage Hog Hunter would be ideal, if the barrel was a bit shorter.

on the 308, it's 20" long.

great recommendation otherwise.

Model 7 16.5 threaded

Are you incapable of getting a barrel cut and threaded?

thanks. I'll look into that.