.243 Barrel Length For Suppressor Use. 16” or 18”?

[jazz3ring]

I’m getting the barrel cut and threaded on a .243 Win.

Primary use will be for shorter range whitetail hunting out of tree stands and box blinds.

Would you cut it to 16” or 18”? Pros & cons?

 

[AZ_Hunter]

16”. It will be more handy in the blind and the short range use, there is no reason to go longer

 

[hereinaz]

You can easily kill whitetail with a 14” barrel out of a blind.

I only say 16” cause that’s the shortest you can go without a tax stamp.

I hunted in TN with an 18” cause it was the shortest. When I go back I am taking a 12 or 14” barreled mini rifle.

2 inches gets you 50fps and that is irrelevant inside 300 yards.

 

[h2so4]

16”!

 

[Long Cut]

16” and stop overthinking it

 

[TMKSHOOTER]

I feel like 18 inch is a compromise just go all the way and cut it 16.

 

[jazz3ring]

Thanks for the replies. You have me convinced to cut it to 16”.

 

[SloppyJ]

Either is fine. I'm around 2860 with the right load of n555 and 108s in my 18" 6cm and I'm perfectly happy there.

You'll love either one.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I like 18-20” for long range big game hunting and 14-16” for shorter range. For your application the 16” will be great.

 

[JDBAK]

16 is plenty long, just louder. Which you could use a greater volume suppressor and be fine.

 

[ACHILLES]

16” 243win is one of my favorite hunting guns. 7.2lbs all up

 

[teamsprock]

What velocities are you getting out of your 16" .243's? I just cut down a factory tikka barrel (1:8 twist) to 16.5". I am hoping I can get the 103 gr eldx bullets to shoot 2600+ FPS. Seems like I should be in the ball park, based off my back of the napkin calculations.

 

[CBB1]

What velocities are you getting out of your 16" .243's? I just cut down a factory tikka barrel (1:8 twist) to 16.5". I am hoping I can get the 103 gr eldx bullets to shoot 2600+ FPS. Seems like I should be in the ball park, based off my back of the napkin calculations.

I’m getting about 2820 with 108s out of a 17” .243. Same Tikka as yours loading with H1000.


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[Natebonebusta]

18.5” barrel suppressed gets me 2,995fps from the 95gr Nosler BT at the muzzle.

 

[Marbles]

16. I generally go 16.5 so if the threads ever get boogered up it can be cut and rethread.

I went 17 on my 243 Tikka, and at sea level with 108 ELDMs it will work well further that the 450 yards I'm willing to shat at game too.