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Unusual .45 ACP Suppressed Rifle Optics

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farscott View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Unusual .45 ACP Suppressed Rifle Optics
    Posted: February/27/2009 at 07:33
Due to the economic downturn and the nature of barter, I ended up with a Contender barrel that I never would have dreamed of owning.  It is a 26-inch Shilen stainless bull barrel chambered in .45 ACP by SSK Industries and is wearing an alumimum Contender Weaver scope mount.  Yes, it is a 26-inch barrel for the .45 ACP.  Yes, 26-inch .45 ACP barrel.  I have to repeat that because it is a strange product, and I cannot figure out why it appeals to me or why the original owner had it made.  Seems like too much barrel for a cartridge originally designed around a five-inch barrel.  Add to that my ability to find a project that is a money sink, you get my shooting economic stimulus package.

I have an AAC Evolution .45 ACP suppressor (stimulus to industry and the $200 tax) on the way for the barrel, and the barrel will be threaded this weekend for the suppressor.  To get the least bang for my bucks, I want to keep the bullet velocity subsonic.  Which kinda defeats the purpose of a 26-inch barrel for this cartridge.  There is a strong possibility that this barrel might become two or more barrels in the future, with the Contender barrel length chopped down to nine or so inches, leaving me sixteen inches for a short carbine length barrel.

So my question is, what kind of optics does one mount on such a barrel.  I am guessing that my maximum shot distance will be under 200 yards, with the vast majority under 100 yards.  This will probably end up a plinker or a way to get rid of old 1911 carry ammo.  It may do a bit of varmint control, mostly beavers that keep damming my stream or a coyote that is trying to get into the chicken coop.  While Contenders and Shilen barrels have a great reputation for accuracy, I am having issues devoting much magnification to this project.  I am kinda leaning toward a 1.5-5X or a 1.75-6X type scope, perhaps one with an illuminated reticle due to the coyote issue.

Comments?  Other than I am crazy as my wife has already told me... twice.  Suggestions?  About a scope that is.
Scott
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swtucker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote swtucker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 07:42

How about an Aimpoint?  That should fit most of your needs. 

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silver View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 08:31
You need to clear the can with the rings.  Try shooting the gun without having cut the barrel is should be quiet and no flash for NV.  Sounds like it was a set up for deer control.
"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane."   Jimmie Buffet

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Sgt. D View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 09:12
If you get more than 80 to 100yds. out of it let us know. Unless you load your own and load em hot I would wonder if there is enough volocity beyond that to be reliable. Keep us in on it. Good Luck!
 
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farscott View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 09:50
I also am not sure that I will get any range over 100 yards with any accuracy; the trajectory is gonna be sharply parabolic.  On the other hand, people had decent luck with Thompson SMGs, so I might be surprised.

Setup for deer control.  Interesting idea I had not considered.

I will take a look at Aimpoints.  Thanks for the suggestion.


Scott
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Shenko View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shenko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 15:24
A 26" bull barrel has to weigh a lot, so recoil will be approximately nothing.  Maybe a 22 scope, with AO for short range.  You don't state the diameter of the suppressor.  If the scope has to be mounted high so you can see over the suppressor, there should be room for any size objective you like. 
Maybe a red dot or a laser mounted on the suppressor.  Maybe a flashlight and a laser both.
My guess is that the long barrel will result in very little velocity gain, if any.
 
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farscott View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 15:55
The suppressor diameter is specified to be 35mm (1.38").  The Shilen bull barrel diameter is right about 0.80".  So the suppressor is taller than the barrel by about 0.30.  With the Weaver mount and the "medium" rings, I do not think I will be seeing the suppressor in the bottom of the field of view.  But I will need to verify that.

I am not sure about velocity gain.  I actually would like to stay subsonic; otherwise, the benefits of the suppressor are lessened by the supersonic crack of the bullet itself. 
Scott
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Shenko View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shenko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 17:37
Standard 230 gr. loads will probably be subsonic.  Staying subsonic should not be a problem.  Be aware that some folks who load slow ammo in long barrels have had problems with stuck bullets.
 
 
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rifle looney View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rifle looney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2009 at 17:53
I have a 26' bull barrel on a T/C and it will be kinda off balance, I would use a red dot scope they are a lot of fun. if you can put some weight in the butt stock?
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hunter12345 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter12345 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/01/2009 at 18:46
The bullet drops a bit at 100 yards with the 230 grain loadings.The bullet travels at around 985 FPS.This same round travels out of my Sig 226 at 780 FPS.The longer barrel maximizes the 45 acp range but would keep shots on game like deer under 100 yards.I have an older Leupold Vari XII 2-7 on it.It shoots nice groups with the 230 grain loadings.
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farscott View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/02/2009 at 05:26
Thanks for the ballistics info.

Right now I am leaning towards a Leupold 1.5-5X VX-3 with the illuminated reticule or a C-More Railway with a 2-MOA dot.
Scott
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farscott View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/11/2009 at 08:05
I made my scope purchase for this rifle from SWFA this morning.  Went with the gloss 1.5-5X20 VX-III with the Heavy Duplex reticle.  Thanks to our host for this site as it helped with my decision making process.  Thought I would explain my choice as others might find my thought processes interesting -- or scary.

I eliminated the red dot scopes because I wanted something that would look right on a rifle stocked with exhibition-grade Bastogne walnut from Bullberry which is what is going on this rifle.  My wife hates synthetic stocks, and I want her to be happy since this is OUR money I am spending.  So I went with a gorgeous stock that I can use when the suppressor is not attached.  I can use the synthetic stock when the weather is not quite as nice.  Good excuse for me to spend some money on nice wood.  That meant a classic look, and a red dot is not yet old enough to be a classic.

This rifle is, even with the long and heavy barrel, light by rifle standards.  It weighs about six pounds without the scope.  It is a slender rifle.  So a big scope is not a good fit.  The Contender looks better and balances better with a smaller, lighter scope.  I considered a 1.75-6X scope for better visibility at dusk, but the objective bell just looks wrong on this rifle.  For some reason, I have always liked the tube diameter objectives.  I should have enough light with the scope dialed down at 3X or so at dusk.  And 3X is all I really need for this application.

Optically, the scope I chose is likely not the best for its price range.  I looked through a Zeiss at a local dealer, and I was impressed.  But there is a lot more to a scope than glass.  I chose this scope for a variety of reasons, and I gave a lot of weight to customer service and support.  Leupold did right by me about ten years ago with an EER scope, and other companies did not do as well as Leupold in those ten years.  So there is the happy customer reason.

Another reason is scope durability.  While I do not expect this application to be tough on scopes, I could move this scope to something with a bit more thump, like my .45-70 Marlin 1895, without worrying about scrambling the scope innards.  Peace of mind so to speak.

A third reason is resale value.  While I have no plans to sell the scope, it is nice that it will depreciate somewhat less than other brands.

That is my logic such as it is.  Now just waiting for all of the pieces to arrive, so I can hit the field.
Scott
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barrabruce View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote barrabruce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/25/2011 at 08:11
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