Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Barrel length advice on a 243??

Guys,

I traded for a nice 243 Ruger MKII Target that has been customized with a muzzlebrake and an awesome trigger. It has the big laminated stock on it and I have ordered a Hogue stock for it to make it easier for my style of hunting. It has the 26" barrel with the muzzlebrake.. I am thinking about having the barrel cut down to make it easier to handle in my box stands.. what length should I go to with the brake on it (want to keep it as I will prolly let kids hunt with this rifle) Thanks for the help. Rob

My 243 is 21" and 22" with the brake. I wish I had gone 24" without brake.

While the brake takes the recoil to virtually nothing, the muzzle blast is a sight to see. As a result I rarely use the brake. My 9 year old son does better without the brake too

Just take the brake off put a cap over the threads and kill bucks 243 with out a break is 9year old boy approved.

My 243 AI is 22" and works great. I wouldn't go any longer than 23" IMHO. Good luck.

Ok, you are in a box stand with a small window. The deer will be feeding or at a slow walk, long barrel should be ok, mine is. If the deer is running, then you can't get a shot anyway.

Cutting the barrel can also change the harmonics.

So, sounds like you now have a great excuse to buy another rifle.

A 243 Varmint with a short barrel will be very hard to sell if you ever do, you will most certainly decrease the number of perspective buyers.

That is a big clunky gun for kids to be using, even with a 20" barrel.

I went LONG on my 243AI barrel.....22.5". Almost the longest in my safe.

That rifle is much too big for your stand or kids.

Consider selling it as it is and shopping for a neat compact rifle.

I know my Kimber 84M's are handy and light and other companies make similar rifles.

Here is the Ruger American rifle Compact at only 6 #.

Ruger Compact 243



Why did you want a muzzle brake on a 243? They don't kick much but that 'brake' will send the blast back to you.

That is not a Ruger M77 of any type...

Thanks guys.. I am thinking about listing this rifle in the classifieds.. I traded my hunting buddy out of it as I had a rifle he really wanted. He claims it shot great, somebody has spent some money on this rifle.

Don is a 'contra-indicator'....


Whatever he says, you can count on it being wrong, and do something else.

A 21-22"heavy barrel 243 would be badass. (sans brake)

I went 23", fluted & I'm happy with it wouldn't change a thing.

I'd trim to 21-22", sell the brake on gunbroker, and rock on.

Blast will be much more of an issue w/ that rifle than recoil. Brake is sure to increase blast exponentially.

If I do a custom barrel in .243, it would probably be 23". In a sporter at least...

Thanks guys..I sold it on here and am now in the process of finding a lightweight 243, 260 or 7-08. Might even get a 300 BK out American Ranch rifle. Thanks for the help. Rob