.308 or 300 Whisper, AR-15 or Bolt Action?

[too_many_hobbies]

Okay, I am tired of researching and want to make a purchase, but need to decide on one of the following combinations:

1. AR-15 in 300 Whisper

2. Bolt Action in 300 Whisper

3. Bolt Action in .308

With any of the above, I will be shooting subsonic loads through an AAC 7.62-SD sound suppressor. I don't want to bias anyone's response by saying which way I am currently leaning before I hear the reasons why you think I should go one way or the other.

I expect this weapon to be used for predator hunting 95% of the time, but might want to deer hunt with it for the novelty. I will mainly be bowhunting for whitetail deer anyway.

I bought one of the electronic calls and started predator hunting this year which has been a lot of fun!

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[DonT]

Here is my Opinion based on my experience with the .300 whisper and the AR Platform as well as .308 bolt gun platforms tempered with 40 years shooting & reloading experience.

I like AR's they are excellent weapons for what they were designed to do as well has having fun. Nothing draws a group at the range like me throwing 2 levers, pulling the barrel on my MGI uppered rifle and sliding in a different caliber, throw the levers, redial the scope and we are off and running in a whole different caliber. My experience in this area is based on a dedicated AR in .300 Whisper, and a MGI QCB (Quick Change Barrel) Upper with 4 barrels (.300 Whisper/.223/7.62x39/.17-223) with a DPMS lower. I also have another collapsible stocked lower with a 16" upper dedicated to 5.56 nato.

BUT................
For accuracy, reliability hunting I would choose a Savage 12Bvss in .308 and here is why:
With the Accutrigger you get an excellent trigger out of the box.
In a pinch .308 ammo is available almost anywhere.
It, for the most part, is not finicky as far as functioning with different bullets, powder, brass, seating depth, trim length, etc.
It allows you to change loads at will without a special gas system.
It will function with the same ammo in subzero weather that you use in +80 degree weather (I live in Sunny Warm Minnesota so have first hand expereince with this).

And for a meager investment in a barrel nut wrench ($25), barrel blocks ($50), a .223 bolt head w/extractor ($25) and a .300 Whisper barrel ($250 and up, check with Spook on this board he did a NICE one for me) that is threaded and chambered you can switch calibers in about 15 to 20 minutes (with a little practice).

I base the information provided on the bolt gun on the fact I have had 3 Savage 12Bvss' in the last few years. One in .308 (still have), one in .223 and one in .300 Whisper (which I regret getting talked out of). This is a very versatile platform allowing for various combinations (as long as you stay with the shorter cartridges in the .308 and shorter family). Barrel changes can be done at home or anywhere you have access to vise, can be done by anyone with a little understanding of firearms and common sense and for substantially less than you will wrap up in one AR Platform rifle dedicated to .300 whisper.

If I had it to do over again I would get myself a couple of Savage 12Bvss (this one has a nice laminated wood stock with lots of beef to it and comes pillared with free floating barrel) and the barrels in the lengths I wanted and calibers I needed and keep a whole lot of money in my pocket. AND if you were going to hunt somewhere where the suppressor might cause you greif you could have 2 barrels set up and just remove the one with the can and put the one without on the gun, then you don't have to explain why the end has that funny appliance on it or is threaded...

When running the lower end of the power curve (subsonic) with semi-autos you are suseptible to malfunctions with drastic changes in temperature. Ask the guys I shot with last weekend in our pistol leagues who where shooting semi-autos with homerolled target ammo outdoors in -10 temps. My old wheel gun didn't seem too slow to them when they started getting failure to feeds, failure to ejects and stove pipes due to the powder-temp combinations.

Anyhow this is one old guys opinion and I am sure many will find fault in the my line of thinking but when someone asks for an opinion I like it to be based on what I have hands on experience with and even then it only makes it right for me...

Good luck in your quest...
DonT

[m21black]

It looks like you own several HP rifles already based on your posted pictures. That said if "I" only had one rifle besides a 22 LR it would be one of my 300 whispers. Most likely the TC but maybe the CZ bolt gun and of course I'd need my AAC Cyclone. I haven't shot a heck of alot of animals with my whispers but I have taken 3- 100 lbs sized deer all with one shot each, a number a squirels and a bunch on neighborhood feral cats. I have done a little testing with 125 grain heads but have lost interest for the time in supersonic. I lucked out a bought a couple of thousand 240 grain SMK's.

A well placed 240 grainer traveling at 1040fps +/- does a great job. It's unreal how quite the little bugger is and plent accurate. At 84 yards I'm zero and at 50 yards 2" high and 100 yards 2" low. It's the perfect NE gun with all the commie anti-gunners. One of these days I'm going to to some testing at 200, 300 and 400 yards.

I also built a 300-221 or 300 Fireball. It's fun to shot but you just plow through to much ammo.

[too_many_hobbies]

Thank you both for what I think is some really good advise taken from "been there, done that". It's funny because I had come to the same conclusion myself after sleeping on it last night. I have decided to wait until I get some more experience with the AR-15 platform with my son's custom .243 WSSM upper project to see if I catch "Black Gun Disease" or not. I have decided to go for maximum quietness and minimum hassels with a bolt action platform in 300 Whisper.

In the AR-15, the 300 Whisper conversion uses the standard 223 mags and other parts. I assumed that you would have to start by ordering a bolt action in 223? Can someone expand on this a little for me so that I have some idea what I am calling to order. Also, please recommend a couple of custom barrel gunsmiths. I need to order a 16" 300 Whisper barrel in 1:8 twist and 5/8-24 threads for the sound suppressor mount.

[DonT]

Look on the board there is a member goes by Spook. He worked me up a barrel and I was very happy with it. The price was fair, he kept in constant contact with me on the progress and turn around was quick. I beleive he uses Brux Barrel Blanks.

Anyhow as to you other questions. Yes, .223 (5.56 nato) bolt gun will give you what you need. Or like I said start with a .308 Savage and pick up a .223 bolt face w/extractor (they are easy to change). Here is a link to the Savage Users Forum and there is lots of good info on changing barrels and smithing these rifles.. http://www.savageshooters.com/

Have fun in your journey and holler if you got any specific questions..

DonT

[m21black]

The first Whisper I built was real simple, I bought a 16.25" barrel from SSK for my TC G2 Contender. I shoots an honest .75 MOA. This is what I'd recommend to get started with.
The second Whisper is an Olympic Arms barrel that I installed on a flat top upper. I'm not sure what kind of groups it shoots as it sits mostly idle. The 3rd is a CZ action that I had Mike Rock install one of his famous 5-R barrels on. It shoots between .375 and .5 MOA. If I where to build a bolt action again I'd find a short action Remington 600 or 700. You just have to be patient with Mike as it could take a year but it would be worth the wait.