I have the opportunity to purchase a T/C Custom shop barrel that is full bull in .454 Casull with a recessed crown. Anyone have any experience or comments on this set-up? It will be used for Iowa whitetails out to 150yds. It's the caliber I'm looking for, just want opinions on the barrel. He says it functions fine, just more gun than he needs, he's already got a .375 and .44 mag barrel for deer. The guy wants $150 for it, pretty reasonable in my opinion. Thanks for the input.
Yardbird

Sounds like a reasonable price for what you get. I've personally started buying custom barrels because I think they give you more accuracy/velocity than T/C factory barrels. Unlike some, I have not had a bad T/C barrel but there are certainly some who claim that theirs did not shoot. I've had super results with Virgin Valley and Bullberry (and hopefully soon from Van Horn).

I suspect that you will have the necessary accuracy for 150 yard whitetails, but you will certainly have to do some testing with it first. Good luck and keep us posted!

Yardbird,

I have been developing loads for a 12" 454 barrel for a while now.

Velocities are simply amazing. Max loads out of the Speer Manual drive the 300 gr Speer uni-Core SP to 1930 fps. Recoil can only be discribed as stiff in this open sighted light handgun. Reduced loads in the 1750 fps are still punishing but not nearly as painful as full tilt loads.

The only conplaint I have with the T/C Encore barrel I have is that it has an EXTREMELY long throat. In fact, I can take a 300 gr Speer bullet, sit it on top of a sized case and chamber it without the bullet touching the rifling.

Because of this I have found accuracy to be a bit unpredictable. I have just ordered a batch of 395 gr Hard Cast WFNGC bullets from Cast Performance Bullets hopeing that I can seat these out long enough to get near the rifling and improve accuracy.

Had I know the chamber was like this before I baught the barrel, I would not have done so but I'm confident I can make it work with the heavier bullets.

If your barrel has a short throat, go for it, if it has a long throat, PASS. I suspect this is the reason this fella is giving you such a good deal.

Good Shooting!!!

50

Thanks for the info about the throat, I haven't had a chance to inspect the barrel myself, but I asked him about accuracy and he said he was getting 1 1/4" groups at 100 yds. with it with winchester factory ammo, and I'm sure I could improve on that with handloaded fodder. I'll be sure to check the throat out when I get it.
Yardbird

Technically most straight wall cartridges are given a forcing cone instead of an actual throat. While I haven't looked down a .454 barrel, I suspect that it actually utilizes a forcing cone setup (as to the .357 Mag & .44 Mag barrels I have seen). This is certainly not the optimum setup for a fixed chambered gun. However, with that said, if the guy was actually able to get groups between 1-2" @ 100yds then I would consider that acceptable for hunting purposes. Ask for verification on group size...if it is a friend with the barrel then ask to shoot it before you buy (or you could just trust him...maybe).

The 12 Encore barrel will be ok. I have one of the tapered ones and though I rarely shoot it I like it. Winchester 300 grainers do slightly over 1800 from it. The long throat will shoot ok. Remember it is not an extreme range gun. In mine I have used 405 grain Remington bullets in it and also a 525 grain cast for the 458 cal rifles. The long throat will allow you to seat these bullets out so you can get the velocities needed. The 405 will run slightly over 1500 and the 525 cast will do slightly over 1300. With loads such as these it would also serve well as a big game gun if you can handle the recoil. At that price get it and don't look back.

MePlat, I'm going to get it, that's pretty much a given now. What cast bullets do you use? I look for cast bullets and find so many options, over on Graybeard they recommended Billy Marr's bullets, and they are a good price. Beartooth have also been recommended, as have Oregon. Let me know what you think, I know I won't cast my own, I'd like to, but not enough time or money right now. Thanks.
Yardbird
PS a 525 gr. cast would pretty much knock the hell out of a whitetail at 1300 fps, wouldn't it? Almost sounds like over kill, but I bet it works good!

I use a bullet cast from an NEI mold that I bought years ago. It is a plain base and it is a 2 diameter bullet. Or bore ride you could call it. I seat it way out after sizing it to .452. Also the 405 Remington bullet is sized to .452 also. It is seated out far enough that it does not infringe on powder space as much as a 300 does seated for a revolver. Just work up slowly. WW296 is good.