Thread: Short range, short length bush rifle?

Pulling a full length rifle plus suppressor through tight bush isn't much fun. Looking for a short range rifle with a short overall length. By short range, I mean less than 50 metres, probably less than 25 metres most of the time. Primary quarry will be goats. I'd like the rifle to be as short as possible.

Bit random. I'm thinking a Ruger Ranch in .450 BM using subsonics. I wouldn't put a suppressor on it to keep overall length down. The rifle comes with a break anyway. Mad/bad/stupid idea?

I have a 44mag bergara for sale.

Mainly goats, 223 would keep it nice and quiet, have a t3 cut to 780mm threaded with a dpt going back overbarrel to boyds stock makes for a nice short rifle in the bush. Yeah 223 is a little 'gutless' on big animals but if you limit yourself to head and neck shots its fine

My second opinion would be ruger ranch in 7.62x39

308

Lever action .30-30

norinco bolt action 7.62x39mm with supressor right up hard against stock...better still take 2inches off forestock and but up to that...it worked very very well for me,and new owner will find the same...plenty of grunt for deer and just about perfect for goats...subsonic is easy and cheap to do if that tickles your fancy,

Thanks for all the replies. I should have said that I don't reload, so options are limited. At least no one has said my plan is completely daft!

I have the mentioned ruger American 450bm
It's 16inch barrel keeps it nice and compact
They have a muzzle break from factory and I personally wouldn't want to hunt near someone using it like that
Mine has a Dpt so I'm pretty keen to see some of the sub-x for it

Originally Posted by Bill999

They have a muzzle break from factory and I personally wouldn't want to hunt near someone using it like that

Why is that?

Originally Posted by Bill999

I'm pretty keen to see some of the sub-x for it

Have you tracked any of the factory ammo down yet?


Cheers!

Originally Posted by MB

Why is that?




Have you tracked any of the factory ammo down yet?


Cheers!

Iv ordered 2 boxes a few months back that I'm still waiting for, muzzle breaks make a gun louder and more obnoxious.
I prefer my gun wears the suppressor than me wearing ear protection.
The muzzle break on the ruger is about 2 inches long so only two inches more for a suppressor.
Tinnitus never goes away

Originally Posted by Bill999

Iv ordered 2 boxes a few months back that I'm still waiting for, muzzle breaks make a gun louder and more obnoxious.
I prefer my gun wears the suppressor than me wearing ear protection.
The muzzle break on the ruger is about 2 inches long so only two inches more for a suppressor.
Tinnitus never goes away

Thanks Bill. If I went down the unsuppressed 450BM route, I would only use it with subsonics. Do you think it would still be an issue?

You will still need to place the shots carefully with 450bm subs
Subs kill great just hit something that's important

Subs without a suppressor is hard for me to get my head around why you would want to do that
If length is an issue shorten the barrel 4 inches, with subs it really doesn't matter because you are not chasing max velocity

ok so
not reloading don't want a suppressor, short barrel.
means it has to be small volume case so it's not all wasted in a huge muzzle blast.
Also has to have OK ammo availability.
My first pick would be something like the 300 blackout. Easy on ears, can be had in both subsonic and fast loads.

Then 30-30, or one of the 35's, 35 Rem (gc stocks it) or the new 35 legend if anyone in NZ is stocking it.
Next stop being one of the pistol calibers', 38sp/357mag, 40 S&W, 44mag, 45 LC, etc
Load one of these in a nice lever action with a reflex dot sight and all will be good in the world.
Z

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

ok so
not reloading don't want a suppressor, short barrel.
means it has to be small volume case so it's not all wasted in a huge muzzle blast.
Also has to have OK ammo availability.
My first pick would be something like the 300 blackout. Easy on ears, can be had in both subsonic and fast loads.

Thanks. My first thought was 300 blackout, either supersonic with a suppressor, or subsonic without. What's held me back is that there have been quite a few comments on the forum about the subsonic rounds not being up to the job for live animals and that precise shot placement is important (i.e. head/neck shots). In the situations I'm thinking about, this is probably not going to be possible .