I'm going to apologize, right now, for some of the questions I'm going to ask - I don't know a durn thing about suppression and I've been asked, by my wife, to find her a rifle and suppressor. So, I'm trying to learn enough to give her some advice; and that means I have to ask some newb questions and, probably, some strange ones - to accommodate what she's looking for: A quiet gun with limited recoil that will be good for deer, hogs and the occasional predator.
I know that a suppressor will reduce recoil, but how much? - shooting standard loads and shooting subsonics? I'm talking in broad generalities here because I know there are a lot of variables
Let's take a .308, for example. If you shot a standard supersonic 168gr .308 round through a suppressor, what would the recoil equate to - a .223? A .243? A 20ga shotgun?
If you shot a subsonic 168gr .308 through a suppressor, what would the 'felt' recoil equate to?
In case you're wondering why I ask - my wife is suffering some health issues that make recoil especially uncomfortable and, at times, downright painful. So, she's looking for something with a lighter recoil; but she also likes the knock down power of the .308 If a suppressor would lighten the felt recoil on a .308 to something she could tolerate, that's the route she'd like to go. She can always go with a .243 or .223 but she's really hoping that a suppressed rifle will allow her to shoot a heavier round.
Another possibility is a 300 Blackout. I've never shot one. What is the recoil comparable to (assuming the use of a suppressor) with a supersonic load and with a subsonic load?
Suggestions? If it helps, think of picking a caliber for a 12-14 year old kid on his first big buck hunt.