Earlier this year, Mossberg introduced its suppressor-ready Patriot Carbine Bolt-Action Rifles. This is a dedicated version of its popular Patriot bolt-action rifle with shorter barrel lengths and optimized for suppressor use. Hunting with suppressors has grown significantly and is now legal in 41 states. Mossberg didn’t miss a beat in delivering the Patriot Predator suppressed with its new rifle series.

TESTED: The Suppressed Mossberg Patriot Predator

Key features include threaded barrels; compact barrel lengths of 16.25, 18, and 20 inches; a wide range of chamberings from 22-250 Rem to 7mm PRC; and durable synthetic stock with complementing matte blue metal finish. It comes with a threaded barrel with an 11-degree Match Crown. This Predator was born to hunt with optics-ready Picatinny rail and built on the proven Patriot chassis. With a smooth trigger and oversized bolt handle, Predator rifles offer unmatched accuracy and dependability. The Predator Carbine is magazine fed and is designed for performance. It includes Mossberg’s twin-lug, push-feed, machined-steel action and their patented LBA adjustable trigger set from 2 to 7 pounds.

I received the .308 Win version a little more than a year ago and have had incredible opportunities to truly test it. Spending a week at Gunsite Academy and traveling to South Africa with Mossberg for a plains game hunt gave me real world experience with an ultimate quiet setup.

Full-length view of Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle.

Training

Training and hunting with the suppressed Patriot Predator were an amazing experience. There are three major benefits that have stood out to me with this rife. First, the weight. This rifle is incredibly light, just under 6 pounds, so carrying it all day was far from taxing. Second, the accuracy. Mossberg’s accuracy claims are true. During my Gunsite Safari prep training, I was able to produce tight, consistent groups the entire week. In South Africa, I was able to drop a very large Gemsbock to the ground with one shot. Third, absolute reliability. In both the Safari Prep training and the South African hunt, everyone utilized the Patriot Predator in .308 Win. In both experiences, the environment was not always a prime condition. These rifles were exposed to consistently changing real world environments and combined there were zero malfunctions and no fail points.

For T&E with this article, I opted for subsonic ammunition to achieve “the ultimate quiet.” I chose a new, veteran-owned and American-made company, HOP Ammunition, which provided 190-grain Subsonic HPBT. This ammo is designed for long-range precision hunting and shined during testing. The 190-grain subsonic HPBT round provided excellent accuracy and quiet shots. The heavy bullet combined with a low muzzle velocity provided consistent performance, and the high ballistic coefficient (.515) helped maintain trajectory over long distances. I ran three test groups of three rounds each. The best group came in at .75-inch, with all the groups being sub-MOA.

Banish the Noise

The suppressor choice was the Silencer Central Banish 30. This suppressor works with rimfire and rifle calibers from .17 to .300 Weatherby and can be configured in two lengths. The Banish 30 comes as a 9-inch suppressor holding eight baffles but can be broken down to a 7-inch configuration with six baffles. Being made of Titanium, this suppressor also weighs considerably less than most suppressors of similar size. In the full configuration, it weighs 14 ounces; in the short configuration, it weighs just 11 ounces. Internal testing shows a reduced report of a .308 by an impressive 34 decibels at a minimum. Unlike comparable models from competitors, the can is completely user-serviceable. It easily comes apart for cleaning in a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or manually. Reassembly is easy due to the baffles being keyed and indexed for alignment.

The optic used was the Maven RS.2 – 10×38 SFB. This ultralight riflescope is one of the lightest all-purpose scopes on the market weighing just 12 ounces. It features crystal clear glass, precision milled adjustments, solid click detents, and durable anodizing that resists heavy use. It offers a very clear, bright, high-contrast image with great color fidelity. This optic is water and fog proof and comes with a lifetime warranty. It is also direct to consumer so there is no retail markup.

Mossberg rifle equipped with Hoplite Mini Tripod.

Get Solid

For stability, I went with the Hoplite Mini Tripod from Spartan Precision Equipment. This company has revolutionized this industry with its innovative designs. The Hoplite is an ultralight and compact mini tripod system that features Spartan Precision’s Magna Switch quick-detach system, allowing you to attach and detach quickly with ease. It may be “mini,” but it is packed full of beneficial features such as an integrated ball head with a wide range of articulation, four leg pitch positions, durable tungsten carbide tips with tethered synthetic boots, and a modular body design. The total weight is just about 1 pound.

Combined, this is one of the lightest setups imaginable providing “the ultimate quiet,” While the rifle is primarily built for hunting, it is also a solid range rifle. With its sub-MOA performance, light weight, and reliability, it would serve the general shooter well. I have been impressed with every Mossberg rifle that I have shot. Mossberg rifles fall into a very special category. These are rifles that perform well beyond what the price point may indicate. I have shot $5,000 rifles that shot the same size groups as a Mossberg. While there are obvious differences in expensive custom guns, rifles like the Mossberg Patriot Predator allow the average shooter to get a sold-performing rifle without breaking the bank.

I was lucky enough to put this rifle to the test in Africa, but it would be an excellent choice for large games here in the U.S. as well. With a variety of calibers and configurations available, there is something to fit any hunter. Add into that its light weight and compact size; it is a winner on long treks into the backcountry.