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Sub sonic vermin rifle.


ElvisThePelvis
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Am I correct I thinking that the only sub sonic option is .22LR? I need something that is as quiet as possible due to the bulk of the bunnies spending most of their time amongst the paddocks. I went out with a friend yesterday who has an open .22 LR and was impressed how effective it was, even out to 80 yards.

 

It would be handy to have something that can reach out a bit further for the crows and also if it were a fox calibre that would be great, I would ideally like to have only one rifle but I don't think that the 'bigger' rounds come in sub sonic?

 

I fear that It may be the case that I need more than one rifle.

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Thanks, keen to be as quiet as possible around the paddocks, just to avoid startling the horses ( or worrying the owners)

 

Subject to my abilities, how far out would an hv round through .22lr be suitable on Corvids?

 

I can suffer a second rifle for fox and deer (.243) if a .22lr will cover things at lower power end of the spectrum, I haven't got enough space/spare cash/brownie points for a myriad of rifles, scopes, bipods etc but 2 rifles to cover all eventualities will be fine.

Edited by ElvisThePelvis
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two rifles there is going to be some compromising to accept if you want everything in the uk. to go with your .22lr Probably a 270 w or even a .2506 thats about as minimal as you can go with two rifles here.

Edited by TONY R
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A 22LR can quite easily reach out to 100 yards with a great deal of accuracy, even with subsonics. HV will obviously be a bit louder, but still a lot quieter than every other possibility. The advantage to HV over subs is that there's a lot less holdover on the longer shots, and less wind drift.

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You can load subs in a few chambering s, 300 whisper is an example take a look at that.

That is a highly specialised round, if you want quiet then 22LR shooting SSHP is the way to go, 75 yards is about its lot reliably but a good rifle in ideal conditions will be good for around 100 yards given that you range/dial it. From a 50 yard zero drop at 75 yards is about 4 inches, the height of a rabbits ears.

 

300 Whisper is unlikely to be granted if the only permission is some UK size paddocks, think the ME would make it doubtfull for Roe upwards deer. Ricochet potential is LARGE, you dont want 150gr pills wandering around the countryside.

 

Crow rifle with some reach then go 17 Hornady Hornet, good for 200 yards, but add foxes as well then have a small case 20 cal or a 223. 17 Hornet is not a reliable fox stopper especially front on.

 

One rifle to do that lot for me would if I were not reloading be 223 or 204.

 

A

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That is a highly specialised round, if you want quiet then 22LR shooting SSHP is the way to go, 75 yards is about its lot reliably but a good rifle in ideal conditions will be good for around 100 yards given that you range/dial it. From a 50 yard zero drop at 75 yards is about 4 inches, the height of a rabbits ears.

 

300 Whisper is unlikely to be granted if the only permission is some UK size paddocks, think the ME would make it doubtfull for Roe upwards deer. Ricochet potential is LARGE, you dont want 150gr pills wandering around the countryside.

 

Crow rifle with some reach then go 17 Hornady Hornet, good for 200 yards, but add foxes as well then have a small case 20 cal or a 223. 17 Hornet is not a reliable fox stopper especially front on.

 

One rifle to do that lot for me would if I were not reloading be 223 or 204.

 

A

300 whisper is as safe as the bloke shooting it same as anything else.

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This is where a .223 loaded with subsonic ammo would pay off. A .223, shooting a subsonic, lead, 65 grain HP bullet at about 1050 fps would be as silent as a .22lr but getting on for twice the energy at about 160 ftlbs.

 

Yes, I know it's not ideal - there does seem to be a problem with accuracy with downloaded .223, they don't compare with a .good .22 at 100 yards which, I feel, is just lack of development.

 

There's also the argument about shooting lead then jacketed without cleaning or two different zero points or some clown might get the ammo mixed up etc..

 

How often when you're out with the .22 do you see a fox just out of humane range.

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you can kill bunnies and crows out past 200yds with subsonic 22lr...you just have to hit them!!

 

Subsonic centre fire have all the same issues as subsonic .22lr

if you think a 40gr lump of lead presents a ricochet problem try a 100gr soft point .243 round doing 1000fps!

 

I sure as hell wouldn't want to be slotting bunnies in a paddock of horses with one no matter how safe I am. and then there is the cost

 

FAC air is another option but personally I would stick with one rifle and learn to range and adjust for drop either with dial or reticule

I use a pair of RF binos now

they are bright enough in all but the darkest conditions to get accurate distance

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22lr. Just run it with subsonic rounds and you'll be fine. Shooting out to 100 meters with some practice and time shooting.

243 will be fine for fallow and smaller but expect some meat damage. You can load 55gn bullets for fox as well so like the 223 but faster and flatter. Then load 100gn for the deer.

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