Think I want to switch things up next year and hunt suppressed. With the way the ATF is I know I need to start planning now. I have a .30 cal suppressor that was literally just approved by the ATF moments ago, but I'm not tied to using that one.

Gun needs to be a reasonable length with the suppressor on. Don't want anything too long. Shots taken up to 300 yards. Will definitely go with supersonic rounds.

All that said, what caliber would you go with that will give the best combination of "quiet" and killing power? And which rifle would you buy? I'm a big Tikka fan, currently shoot a 25-06 most of the time. Would you buy something and have it cut down and threaded, or buy something already short and threaded?

Buy the rifle you want that will fit your needs. You can have the barrel cut down very easily. Just make sure you plan your suppressor mounting to the barrel. I use direct thread (5/8"), which is most common. But many suppressor mfg have their own proprietary mounting system, so it depends on that.

Caliber wise, anything 30 cal and less will work. Personally, I'd go 308 Win.

308 for hunting anything less than a few hundred yards.

Nothing at all wrong with a 308 but if you have and like 25-06 there is no reason not to use that.

Buy the rifle you want, and have it cut and threaded. I love Tikka Rifles, just be advised that even at 16" the T-3 barrel doesn't have enough meat for 5/8-24 threads. If you can get an end cap for your suppressor that is 1/2-28 threads, then have the barrel threaded for that.

Non hand-loader 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win

Hand loader 7mm-08

Really, 300 yards and less, on whitetail it's not going to matter. They will all work just fine.

I start every build with picking a bullet I want to shoot and at what speed...then build around what will do that.

LOTS of options but in my opinion hunting out of a blind....go w/ a 16" and 6" suppressor. I'm the guy that likes speed because I believe bullet magic happens around 3k fps...so I live in that world. My current rig is a 16" 6.5 saum that shoots a 130 Berger hunting vld at 3055fps...this is my second one, my buddy wanted my first one bad enough I sold it and built another one. My first I shot 123 scenars at 3060 and initial impressions are I really like scenar better than the vldh.

I owned a 16" 7-08ai that I shot 120 ballistic tips @ 2960 and it was a great deer rifle too.

Good luck!

One thing you need to know...should you go with a 5/8-24 thread...you need the barrel to be .725 thick at the shoulder. You can get away with a 1/2-28 thread and have a smaller shoulder requirement...but very few gunsmiths will cut a 1/2" thread on a .308 bore. Just something to think about.

If you want a short rifle, consider one of the single shots.

That thought crossed my mind but that gun shoots lights out. Didn't want to risk anything by chopping the barrel on it. Plus I want a new gun.

This.....+1.

I just chopped my McWhorter 7-08, 24" bbl to 18", and suppressed it with a Resonator K. It will cluster 120 BT's 2975'at muzzle into tiny clusters, and that bullet will kill any whitetail or mule deer on the planet, easily. If you're wanting a new rifle, get the Tikka T3X and chop it. Can't go wrong IMO.

I just picked up a 20" CTR in 6.5CM for this very reason. The 24" makes for a looong gun with the suppressor. So far very happy; it's a .5 MOA rifle, just like my 24". You could easily get the same rifle in .308, OP, and it would be a killer out to 400.

I would cut a stainless ctr down or now they have the weidland but will be cut in the flutes.

Easiest way

budget?
optic?

Here is a 16" 6.5c

My original thoughts were a 7mm-08 or a 6.5 CM. I do not hand load.

No real budget, I'll spend for something good, but I'm not a good enough shooter to justify a multi-thousand dollar custom rig.

I'm open on the optic as well, Really like the VX5-HD I have on the Tikka so would lean that way again but I could be persuaded to do something different. I don't range shoot for the sake of range shooting. Don't ever plan to shoot a mile. Just want to kill deer, pigs, and coyotes w/o ear protection.

Any decent gun makers make a rifle with a 16 or 18" threaded barrel? All the Tikkas I see are 20" at the shortest. I thought Bergara had some short barrels but I'm not finding them if they do.

That Tikka Super Varmint is intriguing....

Look for the Bergara Ridge special purpose or the Steyr Pro THB.

I just cut down my 270 to 18 inches and am awaiting for the stamp on my nine inch suppressor. Can't wait.

I've got the exact same rifle, and ditto to how it shoots. Suppressors will sure spoil a guy.

I had a bergara HMR in 6.5 manbun shortened to 18" for use with my .30 cal can, it makes a great blind hunting gun. You wouldn't want to take it for a long walk however, its more of a short stroll type of gal.

CVA makes 18” 5/8x24 threaded factory rifles in 308 and 6.5CM. All but a few of my rifles are threaded 16-18” barrels,

It’s butt ugly, but I have a Ruger Scout I bought specifically for a lightweight, handy, suppressed hunting rifle.

Thompson Encore cut and threaded at 16 1/4” in 6.5 Juddmoor. It shoots 3/4” MOA. I don’t think there is a better deer blind rifle as far as size. However, I learned real quick the other day I don’t want to be taking shots at 200-300 with it.

Why not?

Why not?