Hunting with a can will I have to tweak hand loads

rickyb

New member
I'm having my tikka 22-250 and 243 threaded for a suppressor. Will I have to tweak my hand loads to shoot those tiny groups? I would think the harmonics on the barrel will change.
 
There will be a tad of change with POI with the suppressor on.
You will need to re sight it, otherwise the load wont need changing.
My rig prints 1" right with it off and dead on with it on.
Since I shoot with it on all the time my scope is dialed to that.
If I shoot with it off Ill just move windage 4 clicks left and Im dead on.
 
I have seen between 5-15fps increase when running a suppressor. Best thing to do Ricky once your stuff clears is to shoot it and see. You may have to make a minor adjustment.
I doubt it will be to much of a shift.
 
Anytime you hang something on the end of a barrel it's likely going to change things. Its been my experience that shorter and larger contour barrels are typically less affected than those that are longer and smaller in diameter.

My 223AI has a 22in. Sendero contour and it shoots nearly the same POI with the can off as it does with it on. That same can on a different gun with a skinnier barrel has a much more noticeable POI shift.
 
Out of the six guns i had threaded and shoot suppressed only one of the guns handloads had to be tweaked. A couple of my bolt guns put a better group together after suppressor and every one of my guns shot 1 to 1 1/2 inches low from unsuppressed to suppresed. The one handload i did adjust i did so by adjusting OAL and now the rifle shoots better than before.
 
Got another question. I purchased a browning xbolt in 308 with threaded barrel. I have never owned a 308 but have all my reloading components ready to reload for it. Would you guys wait for the suppressor or start seeing what bullets and powder combos will work? Then tweak when suppressor gets here in about 7 months.
 
I would start working up loads now. It will give you a chance to become familiar with the rifle and the odds are you wont have to change much, if anything, once your suppressor arrives. I've never heard of someone having to change a bullet or powder combo once using a suppressor due to substantial accuracy loss. Besides, who can wait that long to start shooting a new rifle!?!? Lol
 
Originally Posted By: 6724how do you work up a load without having the equipment you are going to use them in?

Not really following your question. I have everything but the can to work up the loads. I'm under the impression I can at least find a powder and bullet combo. I have Berger VLD, and classic hunters, Barnes triple shock and Hornady sst all bullets listed are in 168 gr and 180 gr. weight. Not to mention three different powders. Why wait I got lots of shooting to do. Ricky
 
Last edited:
Back
Top