I don't like shooting without hearing protection either. I don't wear it hunting. I'm normally not going to get more than 2 shots where I'm at before the animal is gone. Either dead running dead or I missed. When watching fields I have some ear plugs I slip in when I think about it. A lot of hunting here is close shots in the woods.
I would want the shorter barrel for a can but mines still in jail. Maybe one day I can have a opinion on a short barrel with a suppressor...ha.
I found the 6.5-284's to be more effected by barrel length too. I used the same powder for my longer and shorter barreled rifles and I was getting 260 speed with 23" 6.5-284's. Not that it's a problem and not that a different powder wouldn't have sped it up. I just never tried because I had good results with 140 vlds in the 27-2750 range.
