Is there such thing as a quiet centerfire cartridge

[Yak Angler]

I appoligize if this has been discussed before.

I find my .270 too loud even for 1 shot without muffs or plugs.  Because i am wearing muffs all the time while at the range I can't tell if theres a difference between my .270 and a .22 hornet

I am restricted to hunting with a bullet of .270 cal or smaller where i live. is there anything in a centerfire thats alot quieter then my .270 or am i better off just wearing hearing protection prior to the shot while hunting. I usually have corded ear plugs that i pop in quickly while coyote hunting before i shoot, I'm not looking for any alternative methods in the hearing protection dept as this system works good, i would just prefer not to have to do that and have a more discret hunting rifle so as not to alert half the county at 6am that i took a shot at something.

Anyone out there know of a relatively quiet say .17hmr/ .22 mag noise level in a centerfire under .270 cal with decent ballistics out to 350-400 yards for coyote sized game.

Thanks for the reply's

[quickdtoo]

There's no "safe" for hearing hunting round that won't cause hearing loss, even the miniscule 22Lr ranks a too loud 134dB and the rest go up from there. Short barrels are worse, so a 26" barrel would be better than an 18" barrel. Pop those ears on/in before shooting, or wear hearing protection that amplifies safe sounds and eliminates harmful sound. I opt for the latter because I was ignorant and didn't protect my hearing when I was younger, now I HAVE to wear hearing help.   

Tim

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?id=2052

[Yak Angler]

Hi Tim

I know that they say even a .22lr will cause hearing loss. Maybe thats true. I know my Anshutz with its 24" barrel is barely audible with sub-sonics while out in an open area. I think most of the decibel ratings will be taken directly in-front of the muzzle and not at the shooters left ear--for righties that is.

I am fully aware of the reprecusions of shooting un-protected and rarely ever do it, just hoping there was something out there besides the rimfires that were relatively quiet.

[quickdtoo]

There certainly is nothing unsuppressed that's good for the kind of range and game you're looking for.

Tim

[bikerbeans]

Adam,

I hunt with electronic muffs that limit sound to about 85dB.  Try and find the ones that limit the sound level but do not cutoff completely.  The ones that shutoff at a certain sound level will drive you nuts trying to talk to people at the range.  You keep getting 1/2 second mutes that always seem to happen at an important part of the conversation.  Tim is right, protect your hearing while you have it.  I have found that wearing hearing aids just to be able to listen to folks is a pain in the rear.  Guess I listened to "Free Bird" one too many times in my youth.

BB

[Yak Angler]

My hearing is currently great despite working as an auto technician for 8 years and doing a fair bit of shooting and hunting in the past 10 years. I usually can watch tv at night with the volume on the first setting above mute, I am certainly not looking to risk any hearing loss to be a hunter or target shooter but i appreciate the advice on the subject as it never hurts to hear what can happen if you arn't carefull until its too late.

Is it just a pipe dream on my part that a there is a small caliber longish range centerfire cartridge out there that won't piss off all the landowners neighbours when firing it at typical hunting hours. I wish i could use a suppressor but they are illegal in Canada.

[Dinny]

WHAT!  Did somebody say something!?  

I would like to be deaf in only one ear, the one closest to my wife. LoL  

There's nothing that can be done to take back bad habits and restore your hearing after it is gone.  Walker's make some game ears that may be helpful. Other than that, and what the others have mentioned, I know of nothing that can be seen as perfect.

Maybe try using a .357 mag rifle with .38 Special wadcutters. They seem to be quieter than some others I have tried.  


Thanks, Dinny

[gcrank1]

What did you'all say?
Been there, done that, cant hear in a small gathering of friendly conversation anymore........it all blurrs together.

[jeepmann1948]

A 22 hornet is about as Quiet as a centerfire gets  in a Handi available ( factory) chamber in my opinion.The 357 as Dinny said is also reasonably quiet with 38 spl loads maybe even quieter but they are limited to short range work.

[bikerbeans]

You could use Trail Boss and load a 223 to just over a 1,000 FPS but the only way to kill a deer would be a close head shot. 

[OSOK]

As everyone has said, there is no way to do what you ask with current technology. Even a suppressor with non-subsonic loads (required for the ranges you ask) will have the "crack" that will give you away.
However...
My brother has an AWC muzzle brake on his .25-06. You still need hearing protection, and the rifle is still loud, but you can't tell where the shot is coming from. There is just a boom in the woods. I can't remember the model, but it just looks like one of those fake cans you buy, with the exception of three holes in the top near the exit end of the brake.
Not cheap, but I can attest to its effectiveness.

[lee1954]

Here is my 2 cents    

Quiet loads only work on rabbit size game within 200 feet at best.
     I like shooting 22 CBs from CCI,,    they  claim they make no more noise then popcorn popping   -- For me - work good for rabbits..I tryed them on a pig - I gave him a headach   -- when we skined him out it make a bump in the skull , shot about a foot away..   and a pistol barrel, it is just as loud as a reg  .22  you need a long barrel to cut the noise..
 A .38 spc. / 22 inch Handi rifle- with under 2 gr. of bullseye and  100 gr lead is just a pop,,  same as a hand clap-- I look down the barrel befor reloading each time... (same charge in a .308 work with 100gr lead)  I use toiletpaper to keep the powder against the primer..
 The same charge in a 16 inch barrel of a hornet is about the same as a reg 22,
 So a long barrel is a big part of it.. And fast burning powder.. from what I've read all the powder must be burned  well before the bullet leaves the bore.

 There is a class of shooting that you shoot though 1 one inch pine board but not enough power to go thought two boards  .... use for things like hunting pigens --
 They were useing a 303 Brit. loaded with a single buck shot that was .311....

Someone wrote about the 300 Whisper , and said they were useing 200gr. lead and working on a quiet load ....

 I have heard,  Don't ever say you can't -- you may be interupted by someone getting it done    --

But I 'm afaid that the quiet loads   have very, very limited use..   Dan

[Mac11700]

Well...not exactly a center fire cartridge..but should be quieter..

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=37958

Mac

[miyata]

Tim,

While we're on this topic......

I have some moulded earplugs that I had made for motorcycling, they are also wired so I can listen to music.  I would like a gadget that would turn them in to a sort of hearing aid for use whilst shooting.  Do you know of such a thing?  Basically, it would just be a small amp and a mic, I guess.

[Yak Angler]

I would like to have one of those 357 mag handi's alot of you guys have so much fun with. I know some of the other threads talk about how then can be fairly quiet but i am not legally allowed to hunt with them in my area a max bullet diameter of .275" is all thats allowed in a centerfire rifle in my parts. They don't bother guys with .270's either even though the bullets measure .277" but anything larger then a .270 is out for hunting use where i live un-fortunatly for me. The governments outdated un-educated theory is they don't want to worry about stray bullets travelling into urban areas and somehow instead of putting togeather a list of acceptable cartridges based on science and ballistics they painted everything with a brush based on bullet size which in most cases has nothing to do with what they are worried about, because we all know those 45-70 bullets carry alot farther then my .270's do??

Maybe one day they will wake up and get a clue, I plan on placing many phone calls and e-mails to them this year to get the point accross, its time that a law which was made in the 1950's gets eliminated/updated. I really want to hunt with a 45-70 handi in my area , i know it won't be quieter then my .270 but the cool factor will be alot higher to make up for it.

I might check out one of those .22 hornet's don't know alot about them other then they have almost a cult following with the guys who do like them. Anyone have alot of experience using this caliber for semi-long range yote shooting?

[quickdtoo]

Tim,

While we're on this topic......

I have some moulded earplugs that I had made for motorcycling, they are also wired so I can listen to music.  I would like a gadget that would turn them in to a sort of hearing aid for use whilst shooting.  Do you know of such a thing?  Basically, it would just be a small amp and a mic, I guess.

You might get some ideas at The Earplug Store.

Tim

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/nasopl.html

[gcrank1]

You can load a .223 (and other .22CFs) down to 22 Hornet ballistics and still have the option of the higher velo loads. There are a lot more .223s around and the faster twists let you use heavier bullets than a Hornet, which often tops out at about 45-50 gr. The faster twist also lets you shoot sub-sonic because it will stabilize that bullet at lower velo.

[quickdtoo]

Current and recent H&R Hornets are 1:9", same as the 223.

Tim

[blacksan]

My hearing is bad and is a factor of both age and military service, I often wear plugs and muffs just to stay comfy due to tinnitus. It's amusing at times to get slammed by a heavy recoiling rifle when the muzzle report is so low because I have my head mummified with hearing protection. I would like to try the Surefire EP4's for hunting, but have don't know anyone with them for a practical/user evaluation

[Dinny]

My hearing is bad and is a factor of both age and military service, I often wear plugs and muffs just to stay comfy due to tinnitus. It's amusing at times to get slammed by a heavy recoiling rifle when the muzzle report is so low because I have my head mummified with hearing protection. I would like to try the Surefire EP4's for hunting, but have don't know anyone with them for a practical/user evaluation

What's tinnitus?! I can't hear anything because of the ringing noises in my ears.  There's just something about an IED/roadside bomb that makes your ears rings.....forever. I'm just glad that I have almost everything else intact.

I have an early model set of the Surefire ear plugs.  I hope they have changed them since that first model, The highs were too high and the lows were too low. Not bad for a second pair on under the muffs. The overall fit of the muffs is better due to a complete covering of the ears.

Thanks, Dinny

[quickdtoo]

I use a pair of SportEars for hunting, they work great for amplifying sounds that I can't normally hear, I can hear a distant gobbler long before my huntin buddy can, yet they cut off at the shot to protect what hearing I have left. I can hear songbirds singing again, I had a pair of muffs, but they're too hot, gave them to my buddy and he loves them, he's a bit older than I am and even more deaf that me, I once stalked up behind him when we crossed paths while hunting before he started using them, that was fun seeing how close I could get to him before he heard me, I got too close, so I had to stop and let him put some more distance between us before I revealed my self!! 

The only problem with them is the sound of wind in the trees is also amplified as well as the sound of my own foot falls, specially in dry leaves.

Tim

http://www.sportear.com/

[john-78]

dinny, i know what you mean, i drove through a daisychain, to answer the question NO, there isn't a such thing as a quiet centerfire cartridge period.  but if your asking if some have a softer retort than others, then yes.  most factory handgun cartridges fired from a 20 in. or longer barrel will be quietier than their high caliber counterparts.  the effect isn't as noticable to the shooter, but people in the area would notice.  but unless you want to be the guy no one talks to because they don't want to yell, always wear ear pro.  hope this helps.  john

[bikerbeans]

Dinny,

Tinnitus is the ringing you have in your ears.  It is from damage due to exposure to very high noise levels like bombs, rock bands and the first wife.  There are some meds that can help some but basically it is something you have to put up with.  Be careful next time you venture over to the unfriendly part of our planet.

BB

[Dinny]

Dinny,

Tinnitus is the ringing you have in your ears.  It is from damage due to exposure to very high noise levels like bombs, rock bands and the first wife.  There are some meds that can help some but basically it is something you have to put up with.  Be careful next time you venture over to the unfriendly part of our planet.

BB

Can't never be careful enough, that's the problem..... 

I'll try though.  

Thanks, Dinny

[dpe.ahoy]

Only quite ones I've had are the ones with bad primers.   DP

[Couger]

  WHAT!  Did somebody say something!?  

I would like to be deaf in only one ear, the one closest to my wife. .....

Maybe try using a .357 mag rifle with .38 Special wadcutters. They seem to be quieter than some others I have tried.    Thanks, Dinny

Do you enjoy living dangerously occassionaaly, Dinny?   

I've never tried a mild .38 wadcitter load in a rifle, altho I've heard it reported many times that load is indeed supposed to be "quiet-ish" and a good small game getter.  Will have to try it this summer.   

[Dinny]

  WHAT!  Did somebody say something!?  

I would like to be deaf in only one ear, the one closest to my wife. .....

Maybe try using a .357 mag rifle with .38 Special wadcutters. They seem to be quieter than some others I have tried.    Thanks, Dinny

Do you enjoy living dangerously occassionaaly, Dinny?   

I've never tried a mild .38 wadcitter load in a rifle, altho I've heard it reported many times that load is indeed supposed to be "quiet-ish" and a good small game getter.  Will have to try it this summer.   

I don't know if I enjoy it so much as it just happens that way.....

Thanks, Dinny

[mcwoodduck]

I would also suggest the Electronic ears to protect your hearing.  If you live on one of the 38 states that allows a Supressor that may be an option to look at.  A 223 with a supressor would be an awesome coyote or Varmint rifle.  The surefire website may be a place to start looking at the supressor option, if you can or want to go that direction.
But there are a whole group of ctgs called the Whisper rounds.  A copy of Cartridges of the World would be a good and bad thing to own.  Good as a guide line to find what you may want and bad as it gets you to think thinks like, OH I could cram this round into that gun...and if I ever find a Ruger 77/22 In hornet that is beat up or shot out, a 308 Micro would be cool.
But back to the Whisper rounds
They are rounds that use a little bit of powder to launch a big heavy slug and were designed for the contender and steel targets.
For instance they cram a 150 grain 308 slug into a 30 Luger case (pictiure a 9X19 case necked to 308, that is 30 luger). and shoot it out of a rifle.  All the rounds are sub sonic but the heavy slugs carry energy out a ways.  The only down side is like your sub sonic 22's if you hit anything hard like a rock you hear that Vzzzzoooot of a Rick O'Shea.
I know you said 270 or smaller, the 308 micro Whisper was an example.
I hunted in and around Southern CA with a 17HMR, 22 Mag and 22 Hornet.  All three were relitivly loud but not when compared to the 223 and really did not carry sound more than 150 to 200 yards,  they made more of a POP than a crack and one or two shots did not have neighors calling the police.  I used the three above because I was worried about rounds zinging off and with 17 grain, 33 grain and 35 grain bullets respectivly they came apart when hitting something hard rather than zinging off if I missed the ground squirrels, coyote, or crow.
You may want to look at the longer barreled guns in 22Hornet like the Ruger VZ (that stainless steel thing)and heavier bullets for more of that POP than the CRACK of the faster, lighter bullets out of the shorter barreled guns if you are not worried about a round zinging off due to hard ground or rocks.

[briannmilewis]

They are advetising a natural over-the-counter remedy for Tinnitus, called Quietus.

http://www.quiettinnitus.com/tinnitus-reality.html

[Sourdough]

I have a suppressor on one of my 30-06s.  I use 25gr Reloader-7 to get subsonic loads.  People are amazed as to how quite my gun is, a soft whisper just like in the movies.  The hammer falling and bullet striking actually makes more noise than the gun going off.  I hear the hammer fall then the bullet strike, I don't hear the whisper that other folks hear standing beside me.  Have not used it to shoot anything but paper so far, range is poor, due to low velocity.  I have been loading the Speer 170gr FP bullet designed for the 30-30.  I have loading Data somewhere for Trail Boss in the 30-06. 

Preditor Xtreme has an article this month about down loading a .223 with 5gr of Trail Boss and a 60gr bullet.  Am thinking about looking at that load for stray cats.

Glad One of the old moderators is no longer here.  He jumped all over me once for mentioning shooting a stray cat, and deleted the post.  To me a stray cat is no different than a Coyote.