.300 blackout or something different as a handy farm rifle.

[zero]

I've been thinking about treating myself to a fresh rifle. Currently have the usual .22 lr, a 17hmr that is probably my favourite and a .243 that's big enough for any deer on my farm. Used to have a .308 but sold it as it wasn't screw cut for a moderator and didn't quite fit me plus the ground I shoot on is more 30-30 country than .308. We have lots of small fields with most shots being 70-80 yards at the most. However it did come with a nice Swarovski scope which I kept.

Which got me thinking about the .300 blk. I think it would be ok for foxes around the lambing pens with subsonics which is my main attraction as we have alot more neighbours living in barn conversions ect.. but I can't really think of much else it would be used for as they haven't enough ooomph to be deer legal though I think standard rounds would drop a close range roe. Do many folks use them in England use them for pest control?
Which brings me to part two of my post, what other calibre could I buy instead? I've already got a .243 with lots of ammo available so any suggestions could be unusual with less ammo choice availability though i don't fancy re loading. I've also half fancied a .223 or a 6.5x55 or should I get a nice short single shot .243 and have less sizes of ammo to store? Even the odd 7x57 has caught my eye but it was mostly .300 blackout I'm curious about at the moment..

Thanks in advance, Zero.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

A 223 would seem like the obvious answer

 

[Wmjas]

I’ve researched the same thing as I control deer close to houses and was looking at subsonic options to use at night over short distances.

My research basically ended with me looking at a short fast twist .308 barrel. It’s the same bullet diameter but I can load 2 lots of rounds (one sub and one supersonic) and can push the supersonic ones much more effectively when I need to.

300blk seems to just be .30cal but optimised for ar-15 rifles, as I will never own one it’s seems like a silly waste of a slot only to achieve what my .308 can do anyway.

Does that help?

 

[Lloyd90]

Shots under 80 yards around the farm and lambing sheds … just use your 17 HMR.

I’m not sure about 300 blk, but if it’s not deer legal like you suggest then what benefit will it offer?

223 also not deer legal.

For the range and area you are want to shoot it won’t make any difference what you shoot with tbh.

 

[Andy RV]

If you fancy something different and ‘interesting’ how about the CZ527 Carbine in 7.62x39? It’s deer legal and fox lethal! While mine isn’t they can be screw cut for mod.

Mine weighs just over 7lbs as pictured.

 

[Foxyboy43]

If you fancy something different and ‘interesting’ how about the CZ527 Carbine in 7.62x39? It’s deer legal and fox lethal! While mine isn’t they can be screw cut for mod.

Mine weighs just over 7lbs as pictured.

Yep. A pal has one and I love it. Very handy to carry and with the set trigger extremely accurate.
The only problem with any subsonic round, apart from range limitations, is their tendency to bounce in all directions so IMHO you win on the noise but lose on safety - especially around buildings! This becomes very obvious with heavier bullets!

 

[Smellydog]

Yep. A pal has one and I love it. Very handy to carry and with the set trigger extremely accurate.
The only problem with any subsonic round, apart from range limitations, is their tendency to bounce in all directions so IMHO you win on the noise but lose on safety - especially around buildings! This becomes very obvious with heavier bullets!

Yes, I was thinking 357 levergun but they are bounce a mastic. Possibly small deer legal though.
With some common sense they can be very safe.

 

[3.5mag]

.222/.223 with a frangible round such as a 40gr Vmax....I use the above on a small holding to great effect. Quiet, with a decent mod & very rarely pass- through on foxes.
Ideal for small deer with 55gr soft points.

 

[jb7x57]

If you home load a 300blk you can get them deer legal with a 100/110 grn bullet
I have a begara break action use 110 grn Sierra in sub and super as well as 200 grn in sub handy quiet rifle

 

[Foxyboy43]

Yes, I was thinking 357 levergun but they are bounce a mastic. Possibly small deer legal though.
With some common sense they can be very safe.

Indeed - 157 gns lead wadcutter and 2.8 gns of Bullseye out of a six inch barrel and you have a damned good impression of The Dambusters!
Not that you would try live quarry with them….

 

[Smellydog]

Indeed - 157 gns lead wadcutter and 2.8 gns of Bullseye out of a six inch barrel and you have a damned good impression of The Dambusters!
Not that you would try live quarry with them….

I did try them in live quarry. They worked just fine

 

[zero]

Yep. A pal has one and I love it. Very handy to carry and with the set trigger extremely accurate.
The only problem with any subsonic round, apart from range limitations, is their tendency to bounce in all directions so IMHO you win on the noise but lose on safety - especially around buildings! This becomes very obvious with heavier bullets!

Subsonics aren't too bad here for bouncing as there as I'm usually up on stacks of bales shooting down into grass fields. Always try and step my straw stacks so it's an easy climb .

 

[zero]

If you home load a 300blk you can get them deer legal with a 100/110 grn bullet
I have a begara break action use 110 grn Sierra in sub and super as well as 200 grn in sub handy quiet rifle

Did you put it down for deer on the variation form or start with fox then make your own home loads for deer ?

 

[zero]

.222/.223 with a frangible round such as a 40gr Vmax....I use the above on a small holding to great effect. Quiet, with a decent mod & very rarely pass- through on foxes.
Ideal for small deer with 55gr soft points.

I have been offered a .223 recently so it's on my list.

 

[zero]

I’ve researched the same thing as I control deer close to houses and was looking at subsonic options to use at night over short distances.

My research basically ended with me looking at a short fast twist .308 barrel. It’s the same bullet diameter but I can load 2 lots of rounds (one sub and one supersonic) and can push the supersonic ones much more effectively when I need to.

300blk seems to just be .30cal but optimised for ar-15 rifles, as I will never own one it’s seems like a silly waste of a slot only to achieve what my .308 can do anyway.

Does that help?

That's something I keep leaning back towards, still have my 30cal cleaning gear and empty brass so it might make more sense in the end to get another .308 and get someone to make up a few subsonic loads..

 

[Smellydog]

Even a reduced supersonic in 308 is quiet.

 

[Kevgun]

.222/.223 with a frangible round such as a 40gr Vmax....I use the above on a small holding to great effect. Quiet, with a decent mod & very rarely pass- through on foxes.
Ideal for small deer with 55gr soft points.

I do quite a bit of Urban Fox control for my mate, when he gets a Foxing job in, I get the call. I use exactly the same as you 40gr vmax in a .223 with a predator 12 Moderator, As you can see I had a bit of a tidy up at a private school, surrounded by properties, called them into a safe area and clobbered them with a 40 Vmax, No exits on most of them. no complaints from anyone, no one knew I was there apart from the local constabulary.

 

[Smellydog]

I do quite a bit of Urban Fox control for my mate, when he gets a Foxing job in, I get the call. I use exactly the same as you 40gr vmax in a .223 with a predator 12 Moderator, As you can see I had a bit of a tidy up at a private school, surrounded by properties, called them into a safe area and clobbered them with a 40 Vmax, No exits on most of them. no complaints from anyone, no one knew I was there apart from the local constabulary.
View attachment 342970

I have alway wondered why 224" bullets are not so popular anymore. I used them often many years ago and they were perfectly fine.

 

[jthyttin]

I don't think there are 7.62x39 factory loads that make the 1700ftlbs limit? Happy to be proven wrong.

Efficient use of subsonics really requires homeloading, since you need to match the load to the rifle. Factory loads might not be subsonic at all, have less than optimal bullet (terminal performance) etc. Pistol calibers might be an exception, in something slow enough like 38 Special or 45 ACP.

Subsonic 308 is a PITA if you want to keep velocity spread low. And especially if you want to use mixed subs and supers. And even more so if you want to use lighter weight (pistol) bullets, that are otherwise great since they're designed to expand at subsonic velocities etc.

17cal centerfire might be the best option regarding noise and ricochets. Heavy, slow, poorly expanding bullets might ricochet even when shot from elevated position. If you do go for subsonics and are concerned about making deer legal supers, 9mm/357/358 is the next logical step from 30cals. But the noise and "ricochet potential" go up.

 

[25 Sharps]

If you fancy something different and ‘interesting’ how about the CZ527 Carbine in 7.62x39? It’s deer legal and fox lethal! While mine isn’t they can be screw cut for mod.

Mine weighs just over 7lbs as pictured.

View attachment 342940

Guessing you have to reload to get it deer legal?