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

[tim@tcs]

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

Guessing you have to reload to get it deer legal?

It’s deer legal on small deer and with handloads ok for large deer but I’ve only taken roe with handloads and fallow when very close

 

[Foxyboy43]

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

Out of a six incher?

 

[Bowland blades]

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.

223 ! for fox and legal deer especially as your not reloading . 308 win is handy with heavy Subsonics ( which are available in factory ammo via order in ) but i question if you really need Quiet , it can certainly be fed a full load and kill and deer , boar . Ammo again is very available and cheap compared to most in its class . Whatever you get also consider the 12 bore shotgun 3" magnum as a farm gun and the .22RF both of these can be had for a song when they have been well used and under £300 for the pair is a reality at many dealers as they wont fetch any more at auction

 

[kenbro]

Sure you must know someone who reloads…..and as you already have an 243, and if you want to shoot sub sonics get them to load some 243 with 100 grain bullets.
Hodgdon’s list it on the reloading site.
Ken.

 

[Smellydog]

Out of a six incher?

Err, no. 20" with extra lube.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Err, no. 20" with extra lube.

Ahah!

 

[Tarquin]

The key to this is reloading what ever you choose. 6.5 grendel would be a pleasant round too. CZ and Remington make them IIRC.

 

[Andy RV]

Guessing you have to reload to get it deer legal?

I reload anyway for all of my rifles, 27.5gr of N130 & a Sierra 125gr Prohunter just breaks through the limit.

 

[Laurie]

The key to this is reloading what ever you choose. 6.5 grendel would be a pleasant round too. CZ and Remington make them IIRC.

........ and Savage and Howa. Very much a handloading proposition though unless there are factory (Hornady) ammunition stocks in-country.

 

[zero]

223 ! for fox and legal deer especially as your not reloading . 308 win is handy with heavy Subsonics ( which are available in factory ammo via order in ) but i question if you really need Quiet , it can certainly be fed a full load and kill and deer , boar . Ammo again is very available and cheap compared to most in its class . Whatever you get also consider the 12 bore shotgun 3" magnum as a farm gun and the .22RF both of these can be had for a song when they have been well used and under £300 for the pair is a reality at many dealers as they wont fetch any more at auction

I've got a Benelli 12 bore with an A tec mod on it. It's no louder than a cattle trailer door closing even with clear pigeon cartridges. But it's just a bit long and numb when not being used so was after something more compact.

 

[zero]

Sure you must know someone who reloads…..and as you already have an 243, and if you want to shoot sub sonics get them to load some 243 with 100 grain bullets.
Hodgdon’s list it on the reloading site.
Ken.

.243 subsonic is something i hadn't thought possible so it's one of the few things I hadn't googled!

 

[billgatese30]

For 243 subsonic you might want to check if you can stabilise your preferred bullet at such a slow speed. Most 243 have a 1:10 twist rate, and if you can only use light 58gr bullets for example you probably aren't going to see much advantage over. 22lr

 

[Oracle]

BA13 in 300BLK & Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24. Accurate with Hornady 110g V Max & 190g subsonics. Short, light, easy to carry. Ideal for muntjac shooting within our woodland regen blocks.

 

[jb7x57]

Yes mine is listed on my permit for deer fox vermin target and dispatch
The bergara above is the same as mine

 

[kenbro]

For 243 subsonic you might want to check if you can stabilise your preferred bullet at such a slow speed. Most 243 have a 1:10 twist rate, and if you can only use light 58gr bullets for example you probably aren't going to see much advantage over. 22lr

I think Hodgdons only list one x 6mm bullet for subsonic and that’s the 100 grain one.
My 2009 Tikka T3 lite shot them fine.
K.

 

[jb7x57]

You can buy specific subsonic bullets for the blackout that expand and break up at subsonic speeds

 

[Bowland blades]

Sure you must know someone who reloads…..and as you already have an 243, and if you want to shoot sub sonics get them to load some 243 with 100 grain bullets.
Hodgdon’s list it on the reloading site.
Ken.

With a UK legal powder ? Got to be fair i wouldn't trust another to load subs for me and i would not think it could match the factory loaded subs in 308 ( which are supplied to uk militrary / Police units ) Edgars should have them or will get them

I've got a Benelli 12 bore with an A tec mod on it. It's no louder than a cattle trailer door closing even with clear pigeon cartridges. But it's just a bit long and numb when not being used so was after something more compact.

Over barrel single break action , drastically shortened perhaps ?

 

[Bigboab29]

I’ve had a blackout for a couple of years now, just got a cheap savage axis (which is actually better than I thought the new trigger is decent!) and it’s a very handy calibre. I have two loads, a high velocity load doing 2450 with 110gr vmax which is deer legal and it’s also really quiet compared to my 204, 222 and 243, then I have a subsonic load which is 190gr subx doing 1000 and it’s pretty silent and deadly out to 70-80 yards, much more than that and it plummets like a rock. I use mine for a couple of farms that do livery and have horses in the fields but still want the foxes and deer kept down

 

[kenbro]

With a UK legal powder ? Got to be fair i wouldn't trust another to load subs for me and i would not think it could match the factory loaded subs in 308 ( which are supplied to uk militrary / Police units ) Edgars should have them or will get them

Over barrel single break action , drastically shortened perhaps ?

If you have the right powder (I do) it’s not illegal to use it.
Ken.

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

If you have the right powder (I do) it’s not illegal to use it.
Ken.

I'm looking at developing a subsonic 308 load.

What is "the right powder"? Do you mean legally ? Or the most effective powder for subsonic 308 loads ?