I've solicited and received some great advice from this group about caliber selections for my G2. Following the suggestions that I've received, I bought a 7mm TCU and a .357 Magnum. I really enjoy casual shooting and target work with my .357 Mag 10 inch TC factory barrel. However, despite trying lots of powder and projectile combinations, I'm not quite satisfied with its accuracy. The best that I can muster is about 4MOA, which looks OK at 25 yards, but not at 100. I'm thinking that perhaps an upgrade to a custom offering will deliver something along the order of 1-2 MOA or better. Bullberry comes highly recommended, and the prices seem decent. Is this a logical conclusion? Also, what are the downsides to shooting .357 Mag in a .357 Max barrel? The max would give me more versatility and better performance for hunting or silhouettes, if I get serious about either pursuit. Also, anybody know the practical difference between Bullberry's .357 standard and match offerings? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 68 | Location: Dayton, OH USA | Registered: 05 February 2005
I bought a 6mm Bullberry Improved from Fred back in 97. I love the the barrel and is very accurate. Why dont you get something with a little more zip, like a rifle cartridge? but ethier way I think you will be happy with one of his barrels. I also bought one of his forearms and he does nice woodwork too.
People kill people, Not guns.
Posts: 83 | Location: Lapeer, MI | Registered: 19 February 2004
You can call Fred to confirm but I believe his match chamber in a bit tighter.....reduces case stretch. I shoot a .357 max and yes you can load it with your 38/357 dies, yes you can shoot both 38s and 357 mags in it. If you do this you should clean the chamber well after as the shorter cases will leave a bit of buildup in the chamber...subsuquent max cases won't chamber correctly. I have shot all three in mine but prefer not too and really only did it to see how it did. My barrel is a VVCG SS tight chamber that will make your accuracy critieria.
Posts: 901 | Location: Denver, CO USA | Registered: 01 February 2001
Crimp_me, I enjoy shooting paper, most of the time; no need for something in the rifle caliber power range. To be honest, a .357 Mag is just about perfect for me. skb2706, thanks for the input. Kind of makes me lean towards the .357 Mag. match barrel. I seriously wonder if I'll ever hunt again, and if I want to shoot silhouettes, I always have my 7mm TCU, which is very accurate. It's nice to have the extra power of the Max on tap, if I feel that I want it, however.
Posts: 68 | Location: Dayton, OH USA | Registered: 05 February 2005
I heard that rumor as well, sorry to hear it is actually true.
Either way, I would not pay any extra bucks, as in for a Bullberry, than I would for a T-C because either system is absolutely terrible and in all reality should be very inconsistent.
Regardless of how either is made....the overwhelming majority of both are considered very accurate. Bullberry guarantees 1/2" three shot groups from his barrels at 100yds. I have a few and all make that. VVCG made the same guarantee when they were in biz....theirs all made it too. I have a new TC carbine barrel in .204 Ruger that will match all of the BB and VVCG barrels I have. If they shoot well they could be made with a rock hammer and nail file.................
Posts: 901 | Location: Denver, CO USA | Registered: 01 February 2001
If you are going custom I would go with a 14" 30-30 Ackley Improved or if you want to save some money go with a T/C Custom Shop. Every T/C Custom Shop barrel I had will shoot 1" to 1/2" at 100 yards. The 30-30AI is the best caliber going for the Contender. Easy to form and load just shoot regular 30-30 ammo in the chamber and presto bingo you have formed 30-30AI brass. Recoil is very mild as is muzzle blast. My 14" 30-30AI shoot's 150's at 2350fps with only 33grs of Re-7.
Posts: 608 | Location: Washington | Registered: 28 May 2003
I didn't realize Bullberry chambers as stated, it might help explain why my 218 mashburn that Fred made fell short of my expectations.
There is a relativel easy way to get what you want, have a good smith re-chamber your 357 mag to a 357 max. It'll clean up the sloppy factory throat, and cost way less than a custom barrel.
I'm also a big fan of the 357 mag and max. Out of a 10" tube, the 357 max can develop nearly the same power as a 30-30 rifle.
__________________________________________________ The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Originally posted by IKE: Actually TC "Does Not" chamber their barrels with drill presses as some would have us believe....they do it just like Bullberry does.
There is a thread now over on Speciality Pistols where a fella that actually works for TC has joined in to dispel the old drill press rumor.
Go over to Speciality Pistols and scroll down to "Break Action Pistols" and read the two page thread titled "Custom Barrels Expensive"
Ike
My info came from Jim Henry who,, as far as I know,is the only person that TC authorizes to do warranty work, besides the factory. He brought this out at a seminar at the IHMSA Internationals in Ohio in 2002.He stated that the factory TC barrels, not Custom Shop, were chambered on a drill press.Figured he knew what he was talking about. Melvin
Posts: 198 | Location: Greenwood, SC, USA | Registered: 28 March 2002
After going through their week of training at the factory a year or two back Ed Kirkpatrick is another person that is now certified by TC to work on Thompson Center products....I don't know how many there are total.
It was good to see the fella that actually works at TC join in the two page conversation over on Speciality Pistols, maybe now the "ole drill press rumor" has finally been put to rest.
Melvin if you're still competing in IHMSA and ever make it to central Okla. I've been running a match now for five years and us Okies would be happy to have you stop by and shoot with us.
Ike
Posts: 230 | Location: Central Oklahoma | Registered: 15 December 2003
Originally posted by IKE: After going through their week of training at the factory a year or two back Ed Kirkpatrick is another person that is now certified by TC to work on Thompson Center products....I don't know how many there are total.
It was good to see the fella that actually works at TC join in the two page conversation over on Speciality Pistols, maybe now the "ole drill press rumor" has finally been put to rest.
Melvin if you're still competing in IHMSA and ever make it to central Okla. I've been running a match now for five years and us Okies would be happy to have you stop by and shoot with us.
Ike
Ike, I would love to get out that way to shoot. I've been shooting IHMSA since 1982. Robert Walker and I run the matches at Little River Gun Club in Lincolnton, GA. One of our friends, Steve Riddle, recently moved from GA to Texas. I believe he used to shoot some in OK and KS. I don't believe I'll be able to make it to TX for the Int. this year, but will be in Ohio next year. Good shooting, melvin
Posts: 198 | Location: Greenwood, SC, USA | Registered: 28 March 2002
Skid 2964, I'd love to see the load data that you are using. Perhaps that will give me a less expensive way to acheive the accuracty that I'm looking for. Please send it to therimstidts@sbcglobal.net. I'm a big fan of H110 - 16.7 grains behind a 158 gr. GDHP has done best for me so far. Thanks a lot.
Posts: 68 | Location: Dayton, OH USA | Registered: 05 February 2005
Originally posted by Ferdinandd: Skid 2964, I'd love to see the load data that you are using. Perhaps that will give me a less expensive way to acheive the accuracty that I'm looking for. Please send it to therimstidts@sbcglobal.net. I'm a big fan of H110 - 16.7 grains behind a 158 gr. GDHP has done best for me so far. Thanks a lot.
Email sent! I sent the 4 most accurate loads. Using the Hornady 180gr XTP and Sierra 170gr JHC.
Posts: 151 | Location: Brandon, Mississippi, USA | Registered: 09 July 2004
