Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Does the .243 seem louder than other .308 based rounds?

Consider the popularity of youth model 243's, Model 7's and the like. Most have 18.5-20" barrels. Lots of muzzle flash and muzzle blast.......

True enough.

My 223's just about all have 22" barrels or better, and I have gotten to where I keep all of them close to that.

My kids dodge noise more than recoil, and if I keep them protected hearing-wise, they're pretty deadly.

I find I shoot better when I'm not worrying about muzzle blast too, come to think of it...

DJ

This may be an entirely bogus (and not physics-substantiated)observation, but I sincerely believe the .243 (in a big game load) actually kicks "sharper" than say a .308.

Maybe its all perception on my part, maybe accentuated by the "sharper" report, but I honestly feel that the recoil from a .243 is more immediately intense than a .308. Something "knife-edge" about it.

Could well be that I am perpetuating the old "big bores just push, they don't really kick" theory, but it sure seems the .243 is more "here and NOW!"