OK.....This is a "THINKING" challenge. on paper, "build a "POACHING" firearm".

[Sourdough]

Really think about it. Suggest you start with prioritizing things, both essential and worthless. Really think about it. It is not what you would choose for hunting, it is what you would build for poaching (for food). This is mental masturbation. You may eventually decide to build one. I have for giggles built between 12 and 15. Each time you learn what is needed.....and what you don't need. NOTE: I did not say rifle or shotgun......you get to choose.

[Tugaloo]

I'd choose a bow and arrow and make it quieter.
There's a lot of ways to make a bow and arrow or a compound bow quieter. Limb dampeners, string stops etc.


An arrow moves a heck of a lot slower than a bullet or a kill with a bullet would be a miss with an arrow.

[Armyjimbo]

Aguilla Sniper sub sonic.60 grain 22 It matches the stuff that the Mossad uses. I love it as my Grouse load, its about 70 db unsuppressed. But with suppressors like they used good night and they showed nobody was the wiser. The IDF uses this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5MEeAzOn0Y

[Tugaloo]

Depending on the size of the animal being poached, kill type traps would be another method. As the last thing a poacher wants is an animal thrashing around making noise; a dead fall trap might be a good choice.

IMO, the key to not getting caught whatever means are chosen; it must be silent and kill not wound.

In WWII, the OSS used these:

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/guns-oss-high-standard-hdm/

The problem was as .22 RF has a lead bullet that are prohibited by the Geneva Convention. More importantly, the silencer would be ineffective after 20 or so rounds. Modern silencers are more tolerant of leading and unlike the HDM, cleaning is easy..

http://gatdaily.com/wtw-oss-hi-standard-hd-military/

The solution was a jacketed 22 RF or M24 ball ammo shown in the second picture.

[Garand]

I agree with the Ruger 10/22 fitted with a suppressor and a scope that hopefully has a thermal capability. If "the balloon ever goes up" I think very few people will give consideration the Geneva Convention.

[Tugaloo]

I agree with the Ruger 10/22 fitted with a suppressor and a scope that hopefully has a thermal capability. If "the balloon ever goes up" I think very few people will give consideration the Geneva Convention.

With the HDM; although it was an excellent suppressor, the technology was WWII. Modern suppressors are more tolerant of lead buttons than the HDM. If the suppressor got gummed up with lead; it was useless.
So they can play lip service to the Geneva Convention all they want.

In an effort to gain approval from the highest seat of power – the President – “Wild Bill” Donovan arranged for a demonstration of the gun in front of FDR. Donovan strolled into the Oval Office while FDR was busy working with his secretary, placed a sand trap on the floor, and fired ten rounds as fast as he could. He then walked over to FDR, handed him the pistol, and explained what he had just done while the President was otherwise occupied.

FDR was impressed and kept the gun – more on that later.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/guns-oss-high-standard-hdm/

What is odd was FDR or his secretary didn't hear the HDM cycling 10 times.

[Tugaloo]

I agree with the Ruger 10/22 fitted with a suppressor and a scope that hopefully has a thermal capability. If "the balloon ever goes up" I think very few people will give consideration the Geneva Convention.

Sorry for the double post; however, I was thinking. What do you plan on poaching with a .22 with sub sonic ammo?

[Armyjimbo]

As in the video it was very accurate . Put one below a deer's ear, under 150ish yard and lunch is served. Most poachers use something like a 22. to reduce noise, I ran my sound checks with my bolt action Ruger American Rimfire. So even the bolt noise is eliminated. As suppresors are illegal I can't run sound checks after it runs through one.

[Tugaloo]

A 150 yard shot with a suppressed 22 is or is not possible depending on where one lives. Where I live, unless I'm hunting the power line access or a clear cut the forest here is too thick to shoot 15.' The reason is the forests of the eastern US are that thick. The exception would be the if a deer would stand in the clear cut lane of our private range.
Vietnam had thick jungles and Afghanistan didn't; as a result snipers in Afghanistan set new records for the longest confirmed kills. To do so required using calibers that stayed supersonic a lot farther that the 7.62x51.
The reaso:

https://www.accurateshooter.com/ballistics/transonic-effects-on-bullet-stability-bc/

Yes, I know bolt actions are quieter than a HDM semi auto pistol firing 10 rounds fast. My point was how quiet a WWII silencer was in FDR's office, not one shot from a modern one.

[Garand]

If I have to resort to poaching then the SHTF truly. I would go after assorted birds, and being on the prairies during the summer provides endless gophers, also medium sized games like fox for example which these days are becoming far more noticeable in farming communities up here because of their adaptation to humans. For wild hogs and larger animals I'm more inclined to go with a larger caliber rifle.

[Armyjimbo]

Hogs aren't prevalent around here. They (from what I hear) have thicker skulls and tough hides. Even on my best day, wouldn't use a 22 on them.

[Tugaloo]

Garand,
Ditto. I have a RWS Diana M48 springer with a Leapers 3x9 on it. It is extremely accurate and it has taken out racoons at 35 meters (~115') and squirrels or offending birds even farther. Head shots are easy. OTOH, its exit wound removed most of a raccoon's skull and it still ran for 15'. In and out an opossum's ears and it ran away; as I could smell the stink he didn't get far. IMO, it takes more to put and animal down than people.

https://www.pyramydair.com/ammo/pellets?calibers=0_22 Pellets have increased by about $10 for 500. They used to offer buy 3 and get one of the least expensive free. I bought thousands at the old prices.

The reviews give an idea of what the Diana M48 can do. Mine is over 15 years old. I have extra springs, tar (spring grease) and built a spring compressor. I upgraded the trigger group; so have a spare.

Can’t tell you how many groundhogs I’ve dispatched at 30-50 yard range, aimed high and took couple out 60-70 yds. At 30 yds this gun will shoot through a 3/4” pressure treated board.

My results are the same and with a mil-dot scope it is easier than aiming high. If one knows how to play connect the dots and dope the wind.

AJ,
Locally, those whole hunt feral hogs use dogs and usually use a knife and some use a short spear. We've never seen a kill; however, we did hear one. We could hear the chase dog after the hog. The owner stopped to ask permission as there are no trespassing signs; I said go ahead, he took off with his truck with an 8 opening dog container cap. Next we heard more dogs and the hog squealing and all the noise stopped. As he had a holstered pistol; I could tell the pistol wasn't silenced or he used his knife. Why waste a bullet when using a knife was free?

[Sourdough]

They (around the world) typically use a bayonet to dispatch hogs, there is too great a chance of injuring a dog if a firearm is used. I was with some young men in New Zealand on a wild boar hunt. Total mayhem of dogs and hog.

[Armyjimbo]

Yes they are fighters to the end. I agree with the possibility of hitting a dog when they are close in. Lots of thrashing means dogs are moving too much to temp fate.

[Tugaloo]

They (around the world) typically use a bayonet to dispatch hogs, there is too great a chance of injuring a dog if a firearm is used. I was with some young men in New Zealand on a wild boar hunt. Total mayhem of dogs and hog.

The only hog hunters who use a firearm are foolish for the reason you stated or trapping them. I've noticed hog hunters who use dogs etc. seem to dislike the ones who trap. I see it as whatever works removing feral hogs is fine with me.

Did you eat wild boar meat? Feral hog meat here is too gamey for me.

Armyjimbo,
I honestly don't know the answer to is there a CNS etc. instant lights out shot with any animal.