308 with suppressor out to 200 yards

I was thinking of getting my wife a new gun. A 308 with a suppressor to help on the recoil and to use sub-sonic ammo, again to help on recoil. She is 70 and the 30/06 kick is starting to get to her. . Now all that I am reading is that may help on the kick but not a good choice for taking down deer at 200 yards. Anyone have any first hand knowledge? A lot of her kills are at 200 yards, so that's the rule instead of the exception.

I wouldn't use a sub on deer past 100 yards. YMMV

Agreed.

I shoot my 308 at 200 yard steel suppressed and with subs. There is 8.5 mils of drop at 200 from my 100 yard zero (with supers) and from my ballistics calculator only 372 pounds of energy at 200 yards. Subs for me are just a novelty to say look how quiet my gun is, but when it comes to hunting I use super sonics.

Get Her a .243 with a good recoil pad and she'll be back in business. You can add a suppressor and the recoil would be even less. Ruger American Predator in .243 with a suppressor would be a good combo.

One last thought. Several ammo manufacturers now offer reduced recoil ammo in multiple calibers.

^^^^^^^^THIS

What they said.

Or a muzzle brake and good ear protection. I would choose the suppressor, but the brake is alot less money.

I don't think I would shoot anything I want to find with sub sonic. I have seen to many get away from other hunters. I don't shoot sub sonic in my 338 Lapua suppressed and it kicks about like a 243. Suppressors are fun but she may not like the added weight on the end of the gun.

My daughter uses a 30/06 and I sighted it in with Hornady low recoil. She loves it. Kicks like a 243. She got an 11 point with it this year.

A suppressor over a braked adaptor is the best of both worlds.

First, I'd get some light loads for the 30-06 and see how it shoots with them. I honestly think that's all you need to do.

If not, I 2/3/4 the suggestion of the Ruger American Predator in either .243 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Just throwing the can on a gun works pretty well at taming recoil, even with supersonic ammo.