Guys, I'm trying to find someone to cut me a Thompson barrel in .312 so I can shoot all the Wolf 122grn. or Russian 123grn. HollowPoint cheap ammo.
I talked to Fred at BullberryBarrels and I got the snob treatment- If I wasn't going to handload the 7.62x39 to .308 I was a low class scum.
I just want a simple .312 barrel that only shoots the cheap stuff- just for plinking and varmits. If I'm going to handload- I'll do it for something else.
I found an old Contender frame for under $200 that would make it feasible to build the 7.62x39(.312)RussianJunk plinkin gun but Fred doesn't want to build me a barrel because he's a snob.
HELP!!!!

Try Dave Van Horn at http://www.mygunroom.com/dvgunshop/

Words of wisdom:

Everything in writing.
Specify everything:
Length
Profile
Chambering
Sight mounting holes
Forearm dovetail lock spacing
Finish
Crown

Does good work relatively quickly and relatively inexpensively (not cheaply).

The 7.62X39 runs pressures that are too high for the contender frame, even with a .311-.312" bore.

Folks who handload the 7.62X39 in .308" bores, can do so to safe pressure levels. Mil surp 7.62X39 is too hot for the contender frame, but is fine in the encore. There aren't that many shops that even offer the .308" bore 7.62X39's, for fear of folks running mil surp through them.

[ 10-02-2002, 03:12: Message edited by: Paul H ]

CaptJack, all good advice above. I have seen and fired the 250 savage and the 300 savage, along with a 6PPC on the contender frame. BUT you better reload and watch your pressures really close. I have seen several contender barrels rechambered for the 7.62x39 at some of the local shows. A freind of mine was a dealer and sold a fellow one of these, he told him not to fire mil surplus ammo in it. What did he do, you guessed it, he went and bought some took it home and fired it. Locked it up, stretched the frame. Makes an interesting paper weight, as well as expensive.
If you are going to spend the $$$ on a custom barrel, there are a lot better choices than the 7.62x39.
Just my .02
Jeff

Guys,
The point is to shoot nothing but the military surplus/Russian- 122/123HP- it's 8-10 cents a round.
The barrel will never be used for anything else.

TC Reps told me at one of the NRA meetings that they (TC) would NEVER chamber for 7.62X39 because ammo was drastically variable in "pressure". As I remember they said up to 40% over normal pressure.

Who how bout a 9 mm and use it as a plinker with cheap russian ammo.

79 bucks a thousand is tough to pass up for plinking purposes

LouisB

Ok cap'n, after hearing from these guys (who are all absolutely right), do you still think that Fred was a snob? Maybe he was just savin' you from yourself?

As for me, I leave your continued participation in the gene pool up to you.

Capt Jack-

Fred wasn't being a snob; he was trying to save you from your own potential mistake. He knows what he is talking about. If you want to shoot cheap ammo, get the same chambering in an Encore.

You're asking for trouble if you do so in a Contender.

I am amazed with the name-calling when all Fred was doing was giving you the honest truth and fill you in on something you did not understand. Mike Bellm suffered similarly when someone asked if he'd chamber a .338/378 or a .378 Weatherby in a Contender. He directed them to read the info on his site, which prompted the name-calling from someone who had absolutely no concept of the Contender and pressures...

When I used the term "snob", it is in regards to Fred's attitude towards me on the phone when I was asking if it was possible to have a barrel set up to shoot surplus Russian ammo(.312).
I'm not calling Fred names, I'm just pointing out his attitude in regards to my request and the fact that I wanted to use the surplus ammunition in the first place. His attitude was- How dare I shoot such ammo. My reasons are my own. I'm just looking for someone to set up a barrel for me so I can.
Please note that they offer a 7.62x39 barrel for both the Contender and the Encore.
In discussion with my gunsmith, (who has two of their barrels) he thinks that they have to assume that if they sell the barrel, it is assumed that eventually someone will shoot the surplus ammo in the barrel.
Not having had the opportunity to test the pressures of the rounds I want to shoot, I don't know whether they are a potential threat to the barrel and Contender receiver or not. At this point it is opinion and speculation.
I have to agree that it would be safer with the Encore frame or the new G-2 once it's released.

Back to my original question-
Who else makes barrels for Thompson Contenders?

[ 10-02-2002, 08:42: Message edited by: CaptJack ]

Have you tried Gary Reeder? I have seen some of his stuff and it looks really good.
http://www.reedercustomguns.com/tc/index.htm

CapnJack,

You dense so and so, if you intend to do what should not be done, follow the link I gave you to Dave Van Horn. He chambers Contender barrels to 7.62x39 AND has .312 barrels.

I should like to point out, that if it comes to the place and time where your heirs are suing Mr. Van Horn and/or Thompson Center, they may come to us for witnesses that you were suitably warned. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.