does it make a huge difference in accuracy? I am looking into getting a .243 and have seen them in .243. I will be using this gun as a deer/coyote combo. thank you in advance.

Heavy barrels are good if you'll be shooting alot. Those slim barrels seem to heat up rather quickly. When they do accuracy could suffer. Without getting too technical, heavier barrels reduce whip when shot as well resulting in better accuracy.

SIMP is exactly right regarding heat if you are shooting alot.

Myself, I prefer a heavy barrelbecause of the style of hunting I do, but if you are going to do a lot of walking or have to carry the gun alot then the standard sporter barrel is the better choice. The extra couple of pounds for the heavy barrel really make a big difference when you have to carry your gun alot.

As far as accuracy is concerned...out in the field in the application I mentioned above, the difference is negligable. A heavy barrel makes a difference when shooting on a bench but out in the field you don't have the luxury to shoot off of sandbags. Might as well have something you can carry more comfortably.

if you got the money for a rifle with a bull barrel go for it. d

In general I go for heavier guns with bull barrels:

Reasons:
1) heat dissapation and harmonics (typically more accurate)
2) less recoil (to me this is very significant)
3) typically shorter barrels (more maneuvarable in a stand/box)
4) I think I am generally more accurate with heavier guns because I feel I am more stable (could just be a mental thing though)
5) I don't walk a lot!

i like long barrels for better accuracy

Snowball, FYI - Long barrels do not equate to better accuracy. Matter-of-fact some accurized firearms, especially bull barrels are actually shorter than the "average" rifle.

Long barrels do offer a better sight radius, so your statement holds true if you are not using a scope, although the rifle itself is not more accurate.

I like bull barrels also many for varmints. For deer hunting where I generally have to carry the gun a good bit I go for a good sporter weight barrel. As for long barrels vs short. Long barrels will give more velocity, but generally short heavy barrels are more accurate due to the stiffness of the barrel. For shooting up to 400 yards at deer a sporter weight barrel should do you well.

Good answer newguy. I agree.

Unless your gonna be shooting a ton of rounds at one sitting or do a lot of prairie dog shooting, go with the standard barrel.If you are strictly a coyote and deer hunter I'd for surely go with the standard.

My first coyote gun was a heavy barrel. I listened to all the hype about the accuracy benefits and I thought it looked cool. I wish I would have took the advice offered by a friend that said I would regret it. After a year I had enough of lugging that thing around and sold it for a standard barreled gun. The standard barrel I got now is actually more accurate than the heavy barrel I had. There really are no benefits to using a heavy barrel when it comes to real hunting situations, except for prairie dogs.