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Taking the plunge to suppress my bolt 223

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December 28, 2020, 09:37 PM
abnmacv
Taking the plunge to suppress my bolt 223
Have a coyote 223 bolt action Savage. Looking for a quality unit, money not the driving issue. Suggestions?


U.S. Army 11F4P Vietnam 69-70 NRA Life Member
December 28, 2020, 10:07 PM
old rugged cross
If you shoot other calibers I would do a .30 cal myself. Which you can use on your .223. Honestly there is no just want to suppress one rifle. Trust me.



"Practice like you want to play in the game"
December 29, 2020, 06:41 AM
SIGfourme
Subsonic is much easier to suppress effectively than supersonic.
A bolt action with a heavy subsonic bullet is the ideal gun to suppress.
December 30, 2020, 01:54 PM
fritz
I agree that a .30 cal can is the way to go. I have one dedicated .223 suppressor, but all my others are .30 cal. I use the .30 cal cans on AR15s in 223 & 300blk, AR10s in 6.5CM & 6CM, bolt actions in .308 and 6.5CM. According to the owner of Thunderbeast Arms, the smaller bore reduces the noise levels by maybe 2 dB, which human ears can't distinguish at the relative noise levels of gunfire. There is less back pressure on an AR15 when using a .30 cal can on a .223 bore.

Good suppressors reduce noise levels by 30 dB or more, essentially by eliminating much of the noise from powder burn. Of course, a subsonic suppressed round will be even quieter, as there is no crack from the bullet's breaking the sound barrier.

However, subsonic 223 has its challenges. First, it won't cycle a semi-auto, unless the semi-auto is horribly overgassed with supersonic ammo. Of course this isn't an issue with a bolt action rifle.

Second, subsonic 223 is anemic. Low muzzle velocity means low muzzle energy. Bullets heavier than 75 grains are unlikely due to both stability issues in a 1/7 barrel twist, and magazine length. One has essentially turned 223 rifle ammo into a 22lr round, although with a little more energy than a standard 40-grain subsonic load. Expect a subsonic 223 load to have the rainbow trajectory of a 22lr round.

Third, subsonic 223 ammo isn't known to be very accurate. The guys who handload will likely state that there's not much powder sloshing around in a relatively big case.

****
Quite a few options for suppressor brands and models. Consider your mounting type -- direct thread or quick detach to a muzzle device are common options. I have Surefire SOCOM and Thunderbeast Arms cans. Both work really well. The Thunderbeast cans are targeted more towards the precision shooting folks.

You also should consider availability of models. Can manufacturers are pretty backed up, due to high demand over the past two or three years. In the summer of 2020 I ordered a Thunderbeast can -- but that model isn't scheduled to go into production until spring or summer of 2021. Then comes the approval wait, as the ATF won't start the process until the suppressor is completely manufactured and a serial number has been assigned.
December 31, 2020, 05:24 PM
David W
quote:
Originally posted by fritz:


However, subsonic 223 has its challenges. First, it won't cycle a semi-auto, unless the semi-auto is horribly overgassed with supersonic ammo. Of course this isn't an issue with a bolt action rifle.

Second, subsonic 223 is anemic. Low muzzle velocity means low muzzle energy. Bullets heavier than 75 grains are unlikely due to both stability issues in a 1/7 barrel twist, and magazine length. One has essentially turned 223 rifle ammo into a 22lr round, although with a little more energy than a standard 40-grain subsonic load. Expect a subsonic 223 load to have the rainbow trajectory of a 22lr round.

Third, subsonic 223 ammo isn't known to be very accurate. The guys who handload will likely state that there's not much powder sloshing around in a relatively big case.



It's basically .22LR.

If you are 100% sure you wont use it for other calibers I would get a .224 can for sure. YHM make a few that are incredible deals that sound great and Dead Air has a .224 can coming out. Honestly, I would not wait get something sooner than later.


David W.

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud. -Sophocles
February 06, 2021, 09:40 PM
MikeinNC
30 cal can is the way to go.I have a sig 762qd can that I move between two AR15s, & of 300BO,. I plan on threading a 243 and installing the qd muzzle devise also.

I reload and made plenty of 223 subsonic ammo. But a 22lr suppressed is just as effective.



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