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I don’t think I’ve ever sat down and fired two rifles of the same caliber with different barrel lengths during one session at the range. I keep hearing, though, that 2 inches of barrel length can make a noticeable difference in noise and “muzzle blast.” I’m wondering how true this is. Will a 24” barreled 243 be noticeably more pleasant to shoot than the same rifle with 2” cut off the barrel? What if you cut the barrel down to 20”?

I always wear ear protection, but I am still curious about this issue.

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You'd probably have to shoot 2 guns side by side to notice a 2" difference. 4" difference can be noticed by memory.

Of course, the cartridge in question makes a difference. 4" off a .22 isn't going to be as noticeable as 4" off a .223.


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Whichever one is closer to your face is louder...how much depends on how much. wink

....but seriously (and anecdotal) I notice blast/noise (with hearing protection) much more in smaller bores with higher velocity when under 22”, than is notable with larger bores and medium velocity. I can’t recall noticing as much difference between 22-24, unless there’s a receiver length in play. I don’t play with magnums much anymore, but they can be nasty under 22”.

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Yep. My 20" barreled 243 has a sharper bark than my 20" barreled 308 burning similar amounts of powder.

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Two sources for the bark a gun makes. 1) sonic crack and 2) gas escape at the muzzle. There is a distinct correlation between volume of sound and gas pressure when the bullet leaves the muzzle. More pressure = more volume. Shorter barrels mean higher pressure if all else is equal.


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First rifle I shot a deer with was a model 7 in .260 with a super short barrel. I shot it for the first time in years recently and was very surprised at how big and loud the bang at the end of the barrel was. Did not have another .260 to compare it to but it was very noticeable compared to the .243 and .30-06 with longer barrels we were also shooting.

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I shot a 260 with an 18 inch barrel and a 20 inch barrel at the same range session. The 18" had a lot more "buck and jump" as well as noise vs the 20". The 18 inch was my buddies and mine was the 20" both shooting the same ammo. He noticed it as well, and committed on it as well.
Both were Remington model 7's

Last edited by pullit; 04/02/21.

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I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
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I agree with the fellas above. 4” is usually very noticeable, while 2” is often still noticeable. 20” is my cutoff for a short 7mm-08/308, while I prefer another inch or two for smaller bores with that case capacity. At the bench not long ago, I mixed in a magnum weight 22” .308 sporter with some various carbines and magum-chambered sporters. It was a downright sweetheart to shoot, both to the ears and the shoulder.


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.243/.243AI with a 23" barrel always seemed much sharper/louder than a 22" .308 and a 21" .358 when I was hunting or shooting with it. It's a weakness of mine....my shoulder is tough enough but my ears are sissy's.

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I've had rifles in 30-06 and 308 with 18" barrels. Muzzle blast and flash were visible from outer space. Now all of my barrels are at least 22" long.


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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.

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To elucidate on what DigitalDan said, muzzle blast is part sonic crack and part muzzle pressure. Here is a standard rifle pressure curve, obviously different powders give slightly different traces but with typical centerfire rifles pressure rises fairly rapidly and then slowly lessens as the bullet moves down the barrel (more volume for the gas). Instead of using time as the X (bottom) axis think barrel length, the more length - the farther out you are on the pressure curve - the lower the pressure when it is released into the atmosphere.

Slow powders and short barrels are the kings of muzzle blast since the pressure curve stays higher longer, ie. that "tail" stays up higher on the graph as it extends to the right, longer barrels and quicker powders will put the pressure curve at a lower point when the bullet exits.


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My shorter barrels are ear burners.


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I'm always amazed how loud an AR is. Not sure if it's just barrel length or gun design, but those 16" AR's are ridiculous. Even my 20" version is bad. I run 24" on most hunting rifles.

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It's barrel length and what I call the loudener they often have on the end.

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I always thought an AR would be good predator calling gun...then I owned one. Can't see hunting without earplugs in which is tough when calling.

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Got 2 Ruger M77 bolt guns in 223. One is a compact with a 16.5 inch barrel, the other is a 20 inch UL. The shorty is tough on the ears, while the 20 is one of my favorite rifles.

Had an 18.5 inch 260 Model 7. Noise and barrel jump was terrible. Sold it and replaced it with a 700 with a 24 inch barrel. So much better, but I do prefer a 22 inch barrel so I may have it chopped.

To me, 20 is about right for a 223, 22 is perfect for most standard 308 or 30-06 based rounds, and 24 for magnums. I've got a few longer ones in the safe, but they just aren't as handy and don't get hunted very much.


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Cut to 18", install 6" can, overall is 24" and very quiet. Got a 223 waiting for the bob now, but may go 17" on it for 23" oal length.

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Originally Posted by JCMCUBIC
It's a weakness of mine....my shoulder is tough enough but my ears are sissy's.


Good way to put it.


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Originally Posted by JPro
Originally Posted by JCMCUBIC
It's a weakness of mine....my shoulder is tough enough but my ears are sissy's.


Good way to put it.


As time passes I increasingly appreciate less noise and less recoil. Why put up with more than what easily satisfies my purposes?

My 24" barreled 700 Classic in 250 Savage is a real sweetheart in this regard.

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