Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Suppressed hunting rifles ?

In my experience the extra length of a suppressor most definitely interferes with handling. I highly recommend shortening a bolt action rifle barrel to 16-18" if it will be run suppressed, as doing so will keep similar OAL to a "standard" hunting rifle. The balance point will still be pushed out further forward, helping with off-hand shooting, but not so far as to make the rifle unwieldy if a decently heavy scope and mount are used.

What makes for a really nicely balanced and not overly heavy suppressed bolt action hunting rifle is to start light - something like a Barrett Fieldcraft or Kimber Montana or Adirondack. Cut/thread the barrel, or buy one of the 18" Barretts or an Adirondack. Mount a 6-7", 12-14 ounce can. Then use a scope such as an SWFA 3-9, Nightforce SHV 3-10, or similar in good mounts - those scopes weigh 19-21 ounces, brings the balance point back a tad, and most importantly won't need to go back to the factory every couple years due to zero loss or tracking issues. This combination makes for a quiet to shoot, light recoil rifle, which also has a scope setup that will maintain zero. All of this in a rifle with an all-up weight between 7-8 lbs, and an OAL similar to many other 22-24" bolt action rifles.

Cartridge selection for an suppressed hunting rifle (or SHR) should be based on intended game, range of shots, and logistics (just like cartridge choice for any other rifle), but one should keep in mind a velocity range with bullets of interest and choose a cartridge that will match those speeds with a shortened barrel. For instance, a short barreled 30-06 is likely to turn in velocities at or slightly below those of normal factory ammo in a standard length barreled 308. Just something to keep in mind when building an SHR.

Dan I misread what you said and was quick to be a smart azz. I should have read slower. Sorry.

Does it still take about a year to get the suppressor?

Does it still take about a year to get the suppressor?

Cut my 06 from 22" factory down to 18". Lost around 100 fps, but is shooting great and so much more comfortable with the UL7 on it. Velocity with 180s is 2680ish in 20 degree weather.

I just picked up my latest In early January, it was 150 days on the nose from when they cashed my check to the the day it was approved (another two weeks or so to make it back in the mail). Individual submissions are running around 5 months right now, trust applications significantly slower at 9 months. I honestly think things will speed up in the next 6 months or so, it's probably not a bad time to file.

You can look at self reported times on the chart on the page below

http://www.nfatracker.com/nfa-transfer-time-tracking/





That's interesting to hear, I've been trying to decide on a caliber for my dedicated suppressed elk rifle, been considering .30-06, .300 WSM, .280/.280AI, but I think I've settled on another '06, it's just so hard to beat the balance and economy offered by that round. I was thinking 20", but from your numbers, 19" sounds like a sweet spot for what I want.