Looking for a Subsonic Carbine for pest control

[.22LRGUY]

Considering that a 22LR will do everything described, and, that bigger calibers can=better stopping power even with an imperfect shot...I'd say it's a question of how much do you want to spend, and how complicated do you want to get?

PCP air guns will be on the expensive/complicated end of things with little advantage in terms of noise they make over a rimfire. For occasional pest work I can't see loading down 357 just so I can cycle it through a better or more interesting gun....but a guy I know has loaded down 45/70 for grouse...so not that crazy an idea.

Most of my hunting experience is with groundhogs in Ontario and gophers in the west, so I an definitely comment on the effectiveness of a WIDE variety of calibers/gauges when it comes to say...groundhogs out to 75-125 yards. (not far off the animal size or distance) The best/simplest tool for the job would have to be 22WMR. (22 magnum) If you'd seen what I've seen shooting groundhogs with 22WMR vs 17HMR=nobody would pick the 17HMR if killing power was the real objective.

These days, I use centerfire for groundhogs so I can pop them from way off if I want to but even then....have moved towards the Hornets to put more challenge into it. Been years since I popped one with the 204.

 

[SkydiverChris]

A lever action carbine in .357 Magnum would be perfect. You can easily shoot cheap .38 Spl. loads through it.

Are you into reloading at all?

I used to reload when I had my 9mm and .40, but sold everything once I sold the handgun. I think any handgun calibre would work and I actually really like the Derya DYPA-12 in 9mm. That'd be about as cheap as it gets to shoot and sub-sonics are readily available. I believe it would be the same for .357. I'd like to avoid reloading as it'd be another hobby that I couldn't invest the time it deserves. The more I look at 357...it seems to be a great option, thank you!

Have you considered an airgun? I think the newer bigger bore pcp stuff would fill that niche pretty well.

I definitely have - and muzzleloaders as well. Decent PCP guns in larger calibre are more $$ than a rifle, so I'm still leaning towards a rifle to keep costs lower.

 

[Deng577]

I load 158grain wadcutters into 9mm cases with 2 grains of Hodgdon's Lilgun. They're indoor hearing safe (quieter than a 22, about as loud as a cap gun) and go about 500fps. They're accurate at least to 25 yards.

 

[VICIOUS]

BAIT !

 

[struff55]

cheap that's not going to happen

 

[WereWeasel]

.450 bushmaster 395gr Hornady SubX. Available subsonic from factory in Canada from site sponsors. Overkill for anything smaller than a deer but the same bullet can be pushed to 1600fps with a hand load. Uses .452” bullets and Ruger makes a ranch rifle for it (loose the muzzle break for sub work, definitely obnoxiously loud when left installed even at sub levels). Only down side is lrp brass can be hard to come by and most load data is rated “AR safe” so limited to 35 000 psi (experiment with caution)

 

[boxhitch]

I own a 100 acre farm and need something for pest control (skunk/porcupine/raccoon). Shots would be less than 100ft, so ultimate accuracy is not a concern. I have several large calibre rifles (.222, .243, .303, .308, shotguns (.410, 12ga) and multiple .22's, but a .22 is too small to ethically take these "medium" animals (IMO), but a large claibre is unnecessary and very loud. We have neighbours with horses and other farm animals so I'm trying to be respectful to them and I'm always happy to find a reason for another gun.

you must have lots of time on your hands....and a good nv set-up
our traps are working 24/7, so we can take our guns out to enjoy

 

[Suther]

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...le-sharps-in-22-hornet.2592447/#post-21393891



Now that's a ###y skunk gun.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I've told this story before, but it relates exactly to the OPs situation.

An army officer acquaintance met and fell in love with a French widow while he was posted overseas. Her late husband's effects included an ERMA .22 copy of the M1 carbine, and a variety of hunting and shooting pieces. When the household goods were laid out on the table at the Montreal customs' shed, the agent picked up a metal cylinder and asked what it was. My friend answered truthfully, "I think it is a silencer". The agent shrugged and put it back in the pile! So he had a legally imported sound suppressor.

I was asked to find .22 ammo that would fire accurately. Who would refuse to test a silenced .22 rifle? I went around to a dozen places that sold ammo, and bought one box of every type of .22 sold - CB, short, long, long rifle, high velocity, etc. The ERMA struggled to feed the shortest cases, but always fired. The CB did not push the blowback bolt back far enough, and it was the least noisy. I recall the short was the most reliable cycling with nearly the quietest sound. After the first magazine, I remember taking off my earmuffs because the sound was mechanical not concussive. The groups certainly opened up as the distance increased, but I can't remember the numbers.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

None of the listed varmints are "medium" in size. They are all small game and the 22 rimfire or 17 HMR would be the best choice.

Subsonic 30 caliber would be a terrible choice for such small game. Subsonic rifle bullets have no chance of expanding and will simply zip right through producing little damage. Additionally subsonic rifle bullets are guaranteed to bounce unpredictably. I wouldn't even think of shooting them anywhere near where people live.

 

[Deng577]

Dont know why i didnt think of this before, but you could get a chamber insert for your 308 or 303 to shoot 32acp pistol ammo. I have one for my 30-06, no louder than a 22lr and extremely accurate. Depending on the bullet you'll also get good expansion.

 

[HotToddy]

I am in the market for a subsonic rifle but the market seems to be very limited. I saw the Ruger American or MRA Renegade in 300 BLK, could go with something in 7.62x39 or a pistol calibre (9mm.40 etc). There's the Henry Homesteader in 9mm, but I want to consider other options I may not be aware of as well. I already have a Ruger American Gen2 in .243, so I'd love if I could get another in 300BLK, but it seems that no one sells them in Canada (out of stock everywhere).

The primary requirement would be good availability of subsonic ammo, secondary requirements would be:
1) Cheap'ish & ammo (ie: 9mm)
2) Short barrel (12.5"-18")

I own a 100 acre farm and need something for pest control (skunk/porcupine/raccoon). Shots would be less than 100ft, so ultimate accuracy is not a concern. I have several large calibre rifles (.222, .243, .303, .308, shotguns (.410, 12ga) and multiple .22's, but a .22 is too small to ethically take these "medium" animals (IMO), but a large claibre is unnecessary and very loud. We have neighbours with horses and other farm animals so I'm trying to be respectful to them and I'm always happy to find a reason for another gun.

I'm interested in any recommendations on specific guns, or specific calibres that I may not have considered. If you have a used gun in a subsonic calibre...hit me up!.

Thank you!

You could get a Morrison 357 Magnum lever Action like I have (and love) and shoot 38 special out of it

 

[lawn gnome]

A full power 22 is quieter than a subsonic 9mm, so whats the issue exactly. Seems like 22 is absolutely perfect for what you need. Also if the reason is "i just want it subsonic" thats perfectly fine too just trying to understand why a subsonic 9mm/7 62 would be acceptable but a hv 22lr would not be.

This.
For the animals mentioned and the distances stick to .22.
If you are worried about cruelty to rodents, then it calls for a follow up shot on closer inspection.
A22 is a great choice.

Being on a far, I doubt they will hear a .22 on the next lot.
If concerned still, do shorts or CBs out of a bolt action like a Cooey.

 

[gdawg]

I agree that a 22 lr would still probably meet most of your needs but if you really wanted a new toy, I'd add another vote for a short barrel 357 carbine with 38 sp.

 

[maifire]

Rounds like CCI SV are very accurate and just under the line of your subsonic pursuit. A 22lr would get the job done, as a whole bunch have said.
As far as the ethical argument goes, only shot placement will help you there. Slow rounds rarely open up or provide lethal cavitation/shock.

 

[platnumbob]

I don't know if it has enough power for the varmints you are dealing with, but I use CCI .22 "Quiet" out of a short .22 rifle on squirrels at my acreage. It sounds like a cap gun (maybe quieter than that). It runs at 710fps which is perfect for me. I do seriously doubt it would cycle a semi though.

 

[Dylan4570]

Cold bore pop with CCISV can be pretty loud. I like the CCI Quiet segmented hollow points. Even the cold bore shot stays subsonic and quiet. They don't pass through coons, but still one shot kill them. Obviously you should only be shooting them in the head.

 

[hunterhenderson]

I cast and powdercoat 158gr .357 bullets and load them into 9mm with 3gr of bullseye. They operate the semi auto action and are subsonic. They also go though ~3 feet of clear ballistics gel.

He probably doesn't come across clear ballistics gel sneaking around his farm very often........

 

[alpining]

I used to reload when I had my 9mm and .40, but sold everything once I sold the handgun. I think any handgun calibre would work ... The more I look at 357...it seems to be a great option, thank you!


.. Decent PCP guns in larger calibre are more $$ than a rifle, so I'm still leaning towards a rifle to keep costs lower.

I think most of this has been said already, but maybe it bears repeating: 22LR works pretty well with good shot placement on a clean target. But reality doesn't always allow for this, so I get it. Subsonic 9mm out of a rifle barrel is a lot quieter than a hunting rifle, but it will never be very quiet. Off the shelf "subsonic" 357Mag ammo might become supersonic if shot out of a rifle. 38Spl is probably better for this issue, and it can actually be made very quiet if you get back into reloading, make reduced power loads and use a long barrel. But personally, I think detachable magazines are generally superior for the stated purpose (that's probably another discussion).

Also, if you got back to handloading, you could make some low-power cast loads for your 308 - Much, much quieter than full-house loads, and potentially an economical solution.

FWIW, with some pretty basic handloading, I got 45ACP shooting really, really quiet (and reliably) out of a semiauto carbine. But I don't think we have that option anymore. Maybe someone will make a pump or lever or bolt action in 45ACP one day... A guy can dream.

Other thoughts: After the original post, I was thinking a long-barrel 410 with buckshot (expensive, but it has its uses). And I'm sorry to say it (because it means that I probably want one now), a big bore PCP rifle might actually do exactly what you want here...

 

[alpining]

...our traps are working 24/7, so we can take our guns out to enjoy

Can't argue with the logic, if the OP can get traps to work the way he needs.