Mission: Hunting Deer
Location: Virginia and West Virginia
Hunting Terrain: Mountainous woods with some fields, 300 yards max visibility, most shots much closer.
Action: Bighorn TL3
Suppressor: TBAC Dominus SR 30 cal
Caliber range: .243-.300 (.223 illegal in VA)
Current configuration: 300 WSM 24" proof carbon barrel, unsuppressed
Priorities: Handy, More than adequate effectiveness, Good Suppression,
As the title says, I'm considering buying a new barrel for my rifle for dedicated suppressed deer hunting, my hearing is starting to fade and remembering to wear ear pro in the woods is hit or miss. I like my current rifle and the 300 wsm, but a 24" barrel plus the 6.3" the suppressor would add is too long. I have a bias for 30 calibers and am considering the following options, but am open to others:
1. 14.5" 308 pinned and welded to 16" with TBAC SR muzzle device
Pros: ~20" total length with suppressor, light and handy, easily within suppressor specs, cool in a subversive way
Cons: married to a muzzle device, limited performance, adding a new caliber (not a big deal, but a slight negative)
2. 16" 308 rifle with TBAC SR device
Pros: ~22" total length with suppressor, not married to muzzle device, easily within suppressor specs, slightly better performance than 1
Cons: Only saving two inches off of status quo, Performance still diminished over a typical length barrel, adding new caliber, like buying a minivan - sensible and dull
3. 18" 300 WSM with TBAC SR device
Pros: Stay with what I have ammo for, significantly more power than 1 or 2, can use heavier bullets, within suppressor specs, cool in a subversive way
Cons: May be defeating the purpose of a magnum, harder on the suppressor than 1 or 2, louder than 1 and 2, roughly same length as status quo ~24", god help me if I touch it off with just the break
4. 20" 300 WSM with TBAC SR device
Pros: Best performance on list, well within suppressor specs, keep same ammo, can use heavier bullets
Cons: Still limiting performance of magnum, two inches longer than status quo ~26, still probably fairly loud
I'm leaning towards 2 because it is the sensible middle option, but it also just seems so vanilla. Any other factors I should consider or suggestions?
Location: Virginia and West Virginia
Hunting Terrain: Mountainous woods with some fields, 300 yards max visibility, most shots much closer.
Action: Bighorn TL3
Suppressor: TBAC Dominus SR 30 cal
Caliber range: .243-.300 (.223 illegal in VA)
Current configuration: 300 WSM 24" proof carbon barrel, unsuppressed
Priorities: Handy, More than adequate effectiveness, Good Suppression,
As the title says, I'm considering buying a new barrel for my rifle for dedicated suppressed deer hunting, my hearing is starting to fade and remembering to wear ear pro in the woods is hit or miss. I like my current rifle and the 300 wsm, but a 24" barrel plus the 6.3" the suppressor would add is too long. I have a bias for 30 calibers and am considering the following options, but am open to others:
1. 14.5" 308 pinned and welded to 16" with TBAC SR muzzle device
Pros: ~20" total length with suppressor, light and handy, easily within suppressor specs, cool in a subversive way
Cons: married to a muzzle device, limited performance, adding a new caliber (not a big deal, but a slight negative)
2. 16" 308 rifle with TBAC SR device
Pros: ~22" total length with suppressor, not married to muzzle device, easily within suppressor specs, slightly better performance than 1
Cons: Only saving two inches off of status quo, Performance still diminished over a typical length barrel, adding new caliber, like buying a minivan - sensible and dull
3. 18" 300 WSM with TBAC SR device
Pros: Stay with what I have ammo for, significantly more power than 1 or 2, can use heavier bullets, within suppressor specs, cool in a subversive way
Cons: May be defeating the purpose of a magnum, harder on the suppressor than 1 or 2, louder than 1 and 2, roughly same length as status quo ~24", god help me if I touch it off with just the break
4. 20" 300 WSM with TBAC SR device
Pros: Best performance on list, well within suppressor specs, keep same ammo, can use heavier bullets
Cons: Still limiting performance of magnum, two inches longer than status quo ~26, still probably fairly loud
I'm leaning towards 2 because it is the sensible middle option, but it also just seems so vanilla. Any other factors I should consider or suggestions?
