The quietest calibre for roe (Scotland)

[doric_prince]

Thanks for all your respective responses. What I’m hearing is that there is some audio reduction dropping to a .222 but barrel length and fit of suppressor also a factor. Im more intrigued by the views provided than definitively counselled by them. For reference My .243 set up is a 18.5” barrel with a .30 cal magnum mod which I interchange/ use on a 7rm. So if I was inclined to reduce noise I should look to these variables first before deciding to change calibres. I agree with some posters on noise of first shot not as noticeable as follow up shots. To be fair not shooting lots of deer at home, nor has anyone complained, so likely I will keep the .243. But genuinely interested to see if, under Scottish rules, there was potential significant margins worth exploring, my reading is that there isn’t. Thanks again.

 

[long_range_rob]

Sako and Lapua both make factory .308 subsonic ammunition, just saying.

 

[tim@tcs]

I think it’s the addition of the min muzzle velocity that prevents us north of the wall from using a slow, heavy, subsonic round that I think you can use in England for deer.

I’m fairly sure that the minimum mv rule on .22 centrefires applies across the whole mainland

 

[doric_prince]

I’m fairly sure that the minimum mv rule on .22 centrefires applies across the whole mainland

Not 100% on this as I have never had the pleasure to hunt south of the border. However according to the basc link I posted earlier the min velocity isn’t a requirement for England & wales or n Ireland. I’ll admit to having had, at present, one too many Sunday beers (Sapporo) to be arsed to find the accompanying uk legislation to be certain, I’m afraid. Deer Stalking Code of Practice - BASC

 

[Triggermortis]

To my ears it’s the BOOM factor with the .243 that makes it seem so much louder than the deuce, the .222 seems to be more of a “crack” like the hornet, I for one have permissions that I cannot use the .243 on for this reason alone .

 

[wildfowler.250]

All I can say is that I shot a roe recently with a well respected guide using the .222 and he said “that was quiet..”. He stalks deer more or less all year round.

Totally subjective but may answer your question.


That’s with the smallest Freyr and Devik .22 mod

 

[Mungo]

Thanks for all your respective responses. What I’m hearing is that there is some audio reduction dropping to a .222 but barrel length and fit of suppressor also a factor. Im more intrigued by the views provided than definitively counselled by them. For reference My .243 set up is a 18.5” barrel with a .30 cal magnum mod which I interchange/ use on a 7rm. So if I was inclined to reduce noise I should look to these variables first before deciding to change calibres. I agree with some posters on noise of first shot not as noticeable as follow up shots. To be fair not shooting lots of deer at home, nor has anyone complained, so likely I will keep the .243. But genuinely interested to see if, under Scottish rules, there was potential significant margins worth exploring, my reading is that there isn’t. Thanks again.

You’ll struggle to get a short barrelled .243 with a 30 cal mod to be anywhere near as quiet as a .222. You might get close(ish) with a specific 6mm mod, but even then, I think the short barrel is against you.

 

[Ade8mm]

I was 60yrds from the house the other evening at about 10:30pm. Shot a fox that was 70yrds further away with an unmoderated .222
Wife and son both in the house (no telly on or music etc) and heard nothing.
In fact they didn't even notice I had been out

I believe we often over-think this issue. There are often firework displays for various events -birthdays and other celebrations - even in rural areas, and no one seems to give a stuff about neighbours then eh?
Ade

 

[HonestJohn]

With the amount of gas driven bird scrapers/‘bangers’ in every field around here from 7am till 10pm, can’t picture anyone telling the different between that and even an unmoderated CF rifle

 

[MAH]

With the amount of gas driven bird scrapers/‘bangers’ in every field around here from 7am till 10pm, can’t picture anyone telling the different between that and even an unmoderated CF rifle

We had a wee drama ignite on our village FB page..
Someone who'd recently moved into the village posted a long rant about the despicable people shooting crows in the woods behind the church. Like minded people joined the collective disgust. It went on for days. Finally after much giggling at the pup, someone pointed out it was a gas bird scarer on the corn field beyond the woods.

M

PS: Re the OP, I used a 22.250 with a Ase JetZ .250 mod. Very effective and quite.

 

[HonestJohn]

We had a wee drama ignite on our village FB page..
Someone who'd recently moved into the village posted a long rant about the despicable people shooting crows in the woods behind the church. Like minded people joined the collective disgust. It went on for days. Finally after much giggling at the pup, someone pointed out it was a gas bird scarer on the corn field beyond the woods.

M

PS: Re the OP, I used a 22.250 with a Ase JetZ .250 mod. Very effective and quite.

it's always the new people in town...same here..they think they move into little Alice in Wonderland territory, then when they find out the only way locals can make a living is through country sports and farming efficiently, they get all wound up and their dreams destroyed, then move back down south

 

[RTreble]

Owning both a 243 & 222, yes the .222 is certainly quiter and capable to take roe. Lighter on the recoil and cheaper to shoot.
what I can’t tell you and as yet haven’t found - at what range is the energy of the .222 insufficient to take a roe. Does it carry enough at 250M for a chest shot? Anything i shot with the .222 has been max 100m where as the .243 carries that energy giving me peace of mind on a longer target.

 

[Cyres]

204 with a 50grn Berger would be an excellent tool
Super quiet minimal recoil velocity and energy no issue.
D

 

[doric_prince]

Owning both a 243 & 222, yes the .222 is certainly quiter and capable to take roe. Lighter on the recoil and cheaper to shoot.
what I can’t tell you and as yet haven’t found - at what range is the energy of the .222 insufficient to take a roe. Does it carry enough at 250M for a chest shot? Anything i shot with the .222 has been max 100m where as the .243 carries that energy giving me peace of mind on a longer target.

Thanks for this. An interesting consideration. Like so much in life, it’s always a compromise.

 

[doric_prince]

204 with a 50grn Berger would be an excellent tool
Super quiet minimal recoil velocity and energy no issue.
D

The .204 ruger? Thanks, hadn’t considered that calibre. I take it you need to be a reloaded to use the 50grn?

 

[Cyres]

Problem getting Bergers as no longer listed on their Web site. 55s available in USA. It was a special order by Graffs from Berger. I am aware of 1 uk rifle builder who has several box's of Bergers. 39 BK would be the bullet to use but weight does not conform to Scottish law. Also these are currently unavailable in UK. 222 would be 2nd choice.
D

 

[25 Sharps]

Yeh sure that would work but FAO probably won’t give a variation on that basis.

taken From the basc website Deer Stalking Code of Practice - BASC

Species

Min bullet weight

Calibre

Min muzzle energy

roe

Scotland

50 grains

n/a

1,000 foot pounds (min muzzle velocity 2,450 feet per second)

I think it’s the addition of the min muzzle velocity that prevents us north of the wall from using a slow, heavy, subsonic round that I think you can use in England for deer.

No-one is using subsonic for roe legally in England, you'd need a 700 gr bullet to be deer legal at 1050 fps

 

[25 Sharps]

The .204 ruger? Thanks, hadn’t considered that calibre. I take it you need to be a reloaded to use the 50grn?

You won't find the bullets so bin that idea, even if you can berger bullets even including the varmint ones are hard, you don't want a .204 bullet sized hole that has pencilled through a deer!

 

[scrumbag]

Relatively Short barrel .243 and a mod with a too larger hole down the middle won't help I'm afraid.

.222 and a correctly sized moderator will be an improvement I should think

 

[jthyttin]

For reference My .243 set up is a 18.5” barrel with a .30 cal magnum mod which I interchange/ use on a 7rm. So if I was inclined to reduce noise I should look to these variables first before deciding to change calibres

Probly you would get just as quiet as 22cal by using good (or even execptional) caliber specific mod and reduced load. Meaning the difference would not be noticeable given everything else that affects how the noise from shot is judged (time of day, weather, direction of shot etc.)

Obvious way to get reduced loads is developing a suitable homeload, but there's even factory stuff like Hornady Custom Lite (87gr SST @ 2800fps) that seems to be available in UK (but maybe not in stock at the moment). Of course 2500fps with fast powder would be quieter still.