Slappy

One of my buddies was in the first unannounced batch of 3,000 bar code test submissions. I've ordered a Sandman K and am excited about not having to wait 12-14 months like I did for my pre-41f submissions.

Cool. Makes sense. I'll keep something lightweight on my list for an eventual purchase, but i'll use what I got for now.

Very nice. At some point, I think i'm interested in getting a 'hunting specific' can. Something like the SiCo Harvester, Gemtech Tracker or Sandman TI. Do you feel like your suppressed hunting experience would be enhanced if you had a lighter can? Just curious if you notice the weight much or if I am overthinking the benefits of a lighter can. The can I have right now is the Dead Air Sandman L which is 21.8oz. I have SiCo Omega in my trust as well but someone else will be using that one. It says its 14oz, but I doubt that includes the mount and break.

Man I hear ya! I've often thought about filming some hunts but the editing part is probably what keeps me from doing it. I've got a buddy or two that could show me what to do. I'm sure, as with anything, the software makes all the difference and its probably not cheap either.

Great info Chris. I also agree on the ethicacy preferring supersonic 300blk over subsonic. I had heard, as Shorty mentioned, its harder to locate the source due to the suppressed sound signature. Thats pretty cool to see that there is some truth behind it. What suppressor are you running?

Thats a good point about temperature variances.

Right now it will be 308. I have a 300blk bolt action, and i'm sure i'll try that out as well with supersonic ammo. I grew up shooting a 270, but for some reason, I just have too much sentimental value with my 270 and don't want to thread it. I I also have a 30-06 threaded in M13 x 0.75 but silencerco and dead air don't have mounts for it at this time. Silencerco is working on it currently though. So in the future, I will also suppress a 30-06.

My skills are not good enough yet to get the most out of the rifle. I've been a hunter and gun owner for 23 years so far and the longest shot I maid prior to that was 187 yards. The day I made that 700 yard shot, I also shot at 200, 300, 400, 500 and then 700. So it was an experimental session purely to see if I could ring steel. I'll be getting some formal instruction at some point to learn more and get the most out of my platform. I put a Timney Trigger in that 700 and I set it at 2lbs. I've felt a Jewel trigger at 1-1.5 and it scared me how light it was,haha. So I feel like 2lbs, for me right now, is good. The box magazines are nice, but they don't drop freely. I think the AICS mags are supposed to drop freely, but I don't care enough about that to pay the cost for them. Also, the Magpul mags are set to hold 5rds because of mag limit restrictions in other states, however one of the plastic parts in there is designed to be ground down to fit a 6th round in it if you so desire.

Well you best get on that brother! Season is fast approaching! I have an Omega and a sandman L.

You got the Omega yes?

Good job Ruger. I can't wait to see your hunts!

Interesting. Fortunately we don't have hogs in my area! Funny thing is i've never noticed a supersonic crack until I shot suppressed. The explosion from he end of the barrel unsuppressed is always so much louder.

I love it. Installation was easy. I did have to buy the high cheek riser kit for it to use with my scope. The bedding seems solid and its free floated. I'm guessing you'd have to pay exponentially more money to get a stock thats slightly better. So, I think its a good value for the price. I paid around $210. I'm a complete newb with long range stuff....but here is a 700 yard shot I made recently with it.

Heres my setup....

Good info. Maybe one day I'll brave up and try lapping.

Ok good to know....I was worried that lapping perfect rings might make them imperfect somehow. I have a Vortex Razor HD Gen II on my Remington 700 using the Vortex Rings made by Seekins. I haven't noticed any accuracy issues....but then again I haven't lapped them either. haha

This will be my first year hunting suppressed. In my early days of hunting, I never wore ear pro, at least when deer hunting. One day in high school, I woke up and noticed both of my ears ringing like crazy and they've never stopped since. I was never one to try and damage my hearing. I really hated loud noises (except deer hunting). So, I don't know why they all of a sudden started ringing, but since then, I've been super paranoid about protecting my ears. I was the goober all through high school and college who wore ear plugs to dances, concerts and SEC football games....well I went to Mississippi State and the Cowbells can leave a lasting impression lol. I have this awesome velcro wallet with a pouch on it thats just for carrying my ear plugs just in case I find myself in a painful location....i'm super cool as you've already noticed. Anyways, since my ears took a dump, my love for hunting has only grown. I'm blessed with access to quality land and I take full advantage of it. I've never fired a shot without ear pro since high school and never intend to either. Honestly, if there was a Boone and Crockett buck in front of me, and I couldn't manage to get some ear muffs on, I would pass. It wouldn't be worth the lifelong hearing damage. When deer hunting, I don't wear any ear pro until I'm about to shoot. That way I can still use whats left of my acuity to pinpoint where sounds are coming from. There have been several times the deer ended up on top of me to where I couldn't put my ear muffs on without running them off. While turkey hunting, I wear Pro Ears electronic muffs. Some of the best money can buy and while they are great, audio acuity (judging distance and direction of sounds) is still not as good as my bare ears. So, i've acquired a few gun mufflers over the last year and am looking forward to seeing how this changes my hunting. I'm also interested in seeing how animals react differently to the sound of a suppressed rifle...which is harder to locate, than that of an unsupressed rifle. I mean, they are going to hear it....its still loud...but just curious if maybe they would be less spooked? Maybe after you've shot, you've noticed new deer enter the field afterwords because they were hanging out a little further and just not spooked? I still plan on throwing on some muffs even though its technically "hearing safe". I'm not sure the governments number of 140db's is law for everyones ears but I did shoot my 308 suppressed 3 times without ear pro, and its still pretty loud....but it didn't ring my ears at all. So, if that Boone and Crocket shows up....he's going down ear pro or not! I'm curious, anyone care to chime in on their suppressed hunting experiences? Anyone going to be shooting suppressed this year for the first time? Anyone run out yet to get you a velcro wallet?

Someone with more experience chime in here.....but some of the rings I've used specifically say NOT to lap them or you void the warranty. With todays precision CNC machining i'm not sure how much lapping helps. So, if you buy quality rings, I wouldn't feel to bad about not having the lapping parts. I have lapping parts, and have not used it.

I still haven't received mine. I sure hope I didn't throw it away.

I was apprehensive about mounting scope as well but as i've done more of them, they processes has gotten a lot smoother and easier. It helps to have the right tools though. Have a good gun vise, I use a Tipton. Have a good torque wrench (Wheeler FAT), and a extensive set of Wheeler bits. Also I use a wheeler leveling kit, the kind that attaches to the barrel of the rifle. You'll also want BLUE loctight and some sort of degreaser like acetone, goof off, or the like. I watched a fair amount of youtube videos to get the process down, and like i've said, its gotten easier with time. Totally doable for you....and undoable if you mess up! Good luck.

nothin!

SilencerCo has started a podcast. SiCo Radio....its really good, and not just a huge SiCo plug the entire time. Also, Dave Ramsey, Glenn Beck and Michael Savage have podcasts.

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. I know that not getting sleep breeds more anxiety about getting more sleep the next night, which leads to a sleepless night and then added frustration and anxiety for the next night.....and so on and so forth. I remember as a kid and a teen how much I looked forward to going to bed. I'd fall asleep fast and wake up refreshed. Then one day my senior year in high school, I woke up to ringing in my ears for no apparent reason, and I've struggled for years to fall asleep like I used to. While its never been the same, a few things have helped me in the past. I'd avoid alcohol. It does help you sleep, but not very well and can you can easily become dependent. Make sure your bedroom is for sleeping...not laying in bed playing on your phone/computer, not finishing up work e-mails. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. You won't be ready for bed when you first start doing this, keep at it and your body will adjust. If you take Melatonin, don't expect it to knock you out like your going for surgery. Make sure you have the lights out after you take it and are in bed. Light is a natural killer of melatonin. So if you leave a light on, it won't be effective. Give yourself permission to not be tired right when you go to bed. Do what you can to relax and free yourself from the anxiety of not falling asleep instantly. Deep breathing, praying, or counting sheep. I'd say the biggest thing is get into a routine. It will feel awkward at first. Maybe even for the first few weeks, but stick with the process. If you wake up in the middle of the night. Write down what you are thinking about and once you do so, its on paper and you can deal with it the next day. Don't let your mind keep thinking about it after you have it written down. Sometimes my mind just runs and it prevents me from sleeping. Hopefully you get some relief. I wouldn't expect anything life changing at first, but over time, i'm sure it will get better with better habits. Sweet Dreams! lol

Never seen that before....is it leather or kydex? Pics? I'd be pretty aggravated if it was maliciously done.

Went to Europe once. It was cool, but I like America better. Tourists are heavily targeted by pickpockets. Make sure she has some sort of secure way hanging on to her valuables. They can unzip and button like nobodies business so it needs to be more than a purse with a zipper. Let her go and have a good time. Plan something cool for yourself while she's gone!