The firearm thread

[scumdog]

I think there are so many different theories behind it and none of them are wrong.

I, for the life of me, cannot understand why people fit moderator to their .308's and .270s when the go hunting. Do you ever see professinal marksman do that? Want a quiet round, .300 murmer...

Cos a silenced (or 'moderated for the pedantic) 308 sounds like a non-silenced 22 magnum - also when firing across open gullies or canyons in the high country they sound even quieter, nowhere near the noise they normally make.

Try this: Fire a silenced 22 using a super-sonic load at a target 50 yards away over flat ground, listen to the sound.

Now fire a shot using the same type of cartridge straight up in the air.

The second shot will be almost silent.

Reason? The 'sonic boom' needs a hard surface to hit for there to be a the noise to be audible.

Why? Effd if I know but it does.

A silenced 22 semi-auto with sub-sonic loads is A1 for high rabbit population areas (or in built-up areas for you latte' drinkers) as the noise is minimal (the action cycling is often the loudest noise) and as there is no movement needed from the firer to action the weapon - movement will pin-point you more than the sound.
And the rabbits or whatever in the next gully will have no idea you are near them.

[Wolf]

Almost as scary as a cold, wet MDU wanting to climb in the car

Now, that'd be scary.

I can't say Ive been next to a 30-30 but if its anything like a Gimpy going off 5 feet away from your bivvy because the guys think it would be funny, then I can sympathise

The .30-30 was not so bad during daylight while everyone's awake and firing rifles. But when you're half asleep, relaxed, in the midst of the bush with only the wind in the trees, the river the crickets and the occasional Morepork breaking the silence, a .30-30 going off at close range is like the Apocalypse.

I had my eyes open as the bloke who fired it had just said "It's too quiet" so I looked over in his direction. I swear the flash extended from him to the river bank some 20 metres away - has to be the after-image of the red-hot arse of the projectile or something because there's no way the hot particles could have reached that far.

His girlfriend was asleep at the time but not for long...

[scumdog]

Now, that'd be scary.


The .30-30 was not so bad during daylight while everyone's awake and firing rifles. But when you're half asleep, relaxed, in the midst of the bush with only the wind in the trees, the river the crickets and the occasional Morepork breaking the silence, a .30-30 going off at close range is like the Apocalypse.

Use to do that kinda shit when I was younger.

Wait out of sight of the track and knowing my mate was trudging up the steep hill, deer on his back, head down, sweat rolling over his eyes, mind miles away, focussed on getting out out to the road and a cold beer.

Then KABLOOM!! a 308 gets fired into the air about 15 feet away from him.. mwahahaha!!

Mind you, I use to get the same treatment when my mates thought I needed it.

[Swoop]

Ummm, to quieten it down to the level of a .303?

A chap, at the club, had an over-barrel surpressor for an L1A1 some years back. It screwed onto the flash suppressor thread once that item had been removed.
Sound was like that of a hi-velocity .22.

[Wolf]

A silenced 22 semi-auto with sub-sonic loads is A1 for high rabbit population areas (or in built-up areas for you latte' drinkers) as the noise is minimal (the action cycling is often the loudest noise) and as there is no movement needed from the firer to action the weapon - movement will pin-point you more than the sound.

Something for me to bear in mind if I'm camped out near Bunny Central - I have a bolt action. Need to make sure they don't see my arms.

[Sniper]

Something for me to bear in mind if I'm camped out near Bunny Central - I have a bolt action. Need to make sure they don't see my arms.

Thats should contribute, but no where near as much as if you were standing up and walking along. I've always found that walking along the top or bottom of a ridge and then stopping and sitting down (if at the bottom) or peaking over the top will bring the bunnies out.

Im sure you are aware, but when shooting downhill, be careful of the high-low factor.

[Wolf]

A chap, at the club, had an over-barrel surpressor for an L1A1 some years back.

It bloody needs one - the .308 I fired was an L1A1 and my second thought (the first being "FUCK!") was that if you ever converted one to fire full auto, every cop in the country would hear it and converge on your location...

Made the old SMLE sound tame.

[Wolf]

Then KABLOOM!! a 308 gets fired into the air about 15 feet away from him.. mwahahaha!!

Bwahahahahahahaha! That I can appreciate!

[Sniper]

A chap, at the club, had an over-barrel surpressor for an L1A1 some years back. It screwed onto the flash suppressor thread once that item had been removed.
Sound was like that of a hi-velocity .22.

You might find that he has skimped on a bit of the powder if if sounds like that. Any rifle I have fire with a moderator (bar .22) has left alot quieter, but still sounds like hell.

[Swoop]

You might find that he has skimped on a bit of the powder if if sounds like that. Any rifle I have fire with a moderator (bar .22) has left alot quieter, but still sounds like hell.

'Twas a few years back and I think he was using surplus ball ammo.

[Sniper]

'Twas a few years back and I think he was using surplus ball ammo.

Hmmm, I can't explain that then. All I can say is............... AWWWWWEEEEESSSSSOOOMMMMEEE

[Swoop]

Hmmm, I can't explain that then. All I can say is............... AWWWWWEEEEESSSSSOOOMMMMEEE

There were a few of us going "So, how much do you want for it then???"

[Wolf]

'Twas a few years back and I think he was using surplus ball ammo.

I think we were firing cheap PSPs, not certain. Possible it was some surplus FMJ - certainly not anything flash. My friend picked up over a thousand rounds of ammo - some army surplus, some brand-X "hunting ammo" (pointed soft points) - for SFA so it could have been anything except Winchester, Remington, Federal... anything with an actual name, anyway.

[ManDownUnder]

Tis true, they can scare the shit outta ya. Almost as scary as a cold, wet MDU wanting to climb in the car

Hey - I was cold - you looked warm... sounds reasonable to me...

[SPman]

It bloody needs one - the .308 I fired was an L1A1 and my second thought (the first being "FUCK!") was that if you ever converted one to fire full auto, every cop in the country would hear it and converge on your location...

After the first burst on a L1A2, You dont hear anything, anyway - even with ear protectors....although at sea, they didn't sound too loud....