exile
01-29-2013, 05:21 PM
So, I recently purchased a T/C Encore Pro-hunter rifle with a 28" barrel in .243 caliber. I will use the original barrel for deer, coyotes, etc.,. However, I wanted another barrel for plinking, fun, cast boolits... I have decided on a .300 AAC Blackout barrel. The problem is, the barrel is only 16 1/2 inches long, making the total length of the rifle only 30 1/2 inches long. I plan to shoot this barrel a lot, and I am concerned about muzzle blast with the barrel being so short. I know everyone shoots a 16 inch AR with no problem, but the way the Encores and Contenders are set up, with a rifle barrel this length, it seems like muzzle blast could be a problem? This will be basically the same rifle length and barrel length as the new H & R Handi-rifle in .300 BLackout. The barrel is back-ordered, so I am asking these questions while I am waiting for the barrel.
Also, I am somewhat concerned about having enough eye relief, so I have considered buying a long eye relief scope, such as those made for Scout rifles. I have purchased Luepold rings and base for the rifle.
So, am I just being an alarmist, or are these things really something to be concerned about? I would be happy to purchase a longer barrel and avoid the problem altogether, but a longer custom barrel would probably cost me twice as much.
Also, what manual can I buy that will give me both jacketed and cast loads for the .300 Blackout? I have several manuals including the Lyman Cast boolit manual, but of course, there are no loads for the .300 Blackout in any of these manuals.
Finally, can someone from Nebraska tell me if this cartridge is legal for deer? I would probably not take a shot beyond 75 yards, but I would like to try it if the opportunity presents itself.
I apologize if these questions have been covered somewhere in another thread, but most of the stuff I have seen deals with AR's, rather than T/C's and Handi-rifles. I have watched some Youtube videos where muzzle blast is an issue with 16" Encore rifles in larger calibers, but I think that the muzzle brakes used in those videos might be the issue rather than just barrel length.
Thanks for your opinions.
exile
Also, I am somewhat concerned about having enough eye relief, so I have considered buying a long eye relief scope, such as those made for Scout rifles. I have purchased Luepold rings and base for the rifle.
So, am I just being an alarmist, or are these things really something to be concerned about? I would be happy to purchase a longer barrel and avoid the problem altogether, but a longer custom barrel would probably cost me twice as much.
Also, what manual can I buy that will give me both jacketed and cast loads for the .300 Blackout? I have several manuals including the Lyman Cast boolit manual, but of course, there are no loads for the .300 Blackout in any of these manuals.
Finally, can someone from Nebraska tell me if this cartridge is legal for deer? I would probably not take a shot beyond 75 yards, but I would like to try it if the opportunity presents itself.
I apologize if these questions have been covered somewhere in another thread, but most of the stuff I have seen deals with AR's, rather than T/C's and Handi-rifles. I have watched some Youtube videos where muzzle blast is an issue with 16" Encore rifles in larger calibers, but I think that the muzzle brakes used in those videos might be the issue rather than just barrel length.
Thanks for your opinions.
exile