Since my arrows don’t wear out fast, I don’t find myself buying all the time. Given that, I tend to look, and pay for, quality. One less thing to worry about when I find myself in a less than ideal situation.
Like ZAK, I find that the right socks make more of a difference than the boot insulation. Find good boys that fit and adjust socks according to conditions.
Unsuppressed, the .243 sweet spot seems to be 22-24”. Suppressed, I’d imagine you’re fine at 16.5-18”. The Nomad is rated for .243 with no minimum barrel length, so you’re good to go whatever you decide.
I just put a bunch of Senior Grand Slam Breakfasts from Dennys in the freeze dryer so I don’t have to change my diet while I’m up country. Now I’m looking for instant prune juice.
It's a pretty efficient cartridge. Almost all of the powder is burned in 18-20 inches. So while you might get a few additional fps per inch after that, but there won't be a big, scary fireball.
First cc in 2002 was an early Ultra Carry lightweight with full melt. Carried daily for 6 years. Thousands of trouble free rounds at the range, and it ate everything. Natural pointer and very accurate. Not sure about today's version, but mine was solid.