A 20” 243 is the loudest gun I’ve ever fired in the woods. I’ve shot numerous other rifles with 22” and up barrels while hunting without ear protection and never been bothered but my ears rang for a day after shooting a 20” 243 once.
I won’t deer hunt with a rifle under 22” now cause I’m not wearing ear pro and I still want to be able to hear turkeys gobble when I’m old.
