Had to share this e-mail:

Hello everyone, I'm sending out a quick note to let our customers know that we are having a pistol sale for the summer. We've collected quite a few 10"-13" blanks over the years. These are lengths that are seldom ordered, so they stack up on the shelves. We'd like to get rid of them. Because they are blanks left over from other barrels, we can sell them extremely cheap. They are all Shilen blanks of the same quality we normally sell.



If you respond to this email (by phone or by replying to the email) we'll give any of these barrels to you for $200.00 each. That's more than $100 cheaper than the normal pistol price. You don't have to respond right away. This deal is good for the summer or until we run out of them whichever should come first.



We are in the process this week of updating our website as well. We've changed our pricing structure to make it easier to read. We also lowered our rifle barrel prices. We'll try and keep the site changing enough to make it interesting. I'm also going to be listing the blanks we currently have for the $200 price. That way you can check for the caliber you are interested in getting.



Thanks for your time everyone.


Jeff Stratton
Match Grade Machine
www.matchgrademachine.com
435-628-0071

Their website shows them all at $225 right now. I had my fingers crossed for a .25-35 Contender barrel, but no such luck. I'm not sure the .25 TCU would get it done. What do you think Bobby, good enough for antelope?

I suppose I could get the .257 Roberts Encore barrel, but then I couldn't carry an Encore rifle and Contender pistol. Unless of course I get a new frame...

I think you should call them. All the blanks were unchambered -- if I remember correctly -- and they'd chamber to your choice of caliber.

You may be looking at their existing inventory.

But as to the .25 TCU, if you can get it in at least a 13" barrel, you'd be able to handle antelope with no problem out to 175 or maybe even 200 yards using the 85 grain Ballistic Tip.

The 25-35 really would have no edge over it as the TCU can be run full throttle while the 25-35 must be kept to around 40000 c.u.p. But in the AI (or 25x30-30 AI, as MGM lists it), the performance certainly picks up as the case shape is much better suited to top-level performance in the Contender.

These are strictly for comparison given a 14" barrel & 85-87 grain projectiles: The 25-35 will get you into the 2600 fps area. The .25 TCU will give you right at 2700 fps. The 25x30-30 AI will give you 2850 to nearly 2900 fps.

For comparison, the .257 JDJ will do 2850-2875 fps fps from a 14" barrel and with 85 grain bullets.

Thanks for the input Bobby. I saw the email, then checked their site and saw that most of their pistol barrels in inventory were reduced to $225. I assumed those were the barrels of which they spoke. I have subsequently expressed an interest in a 13" 30-30 AI barrel, but if they have other options, I might consider a .25 again. They have a stainless .25 TCU barrel (13") that I was looking at. What do you think about availability of dies for the .30-30 AI, the .25 TCU, and the .25-35 (or is 25X30-30?) AI? I saw that CH4D had .30-30 AI dies, and I've read that Lee offers them too. Regular .25-35 dies seem common enough, and factory ammo is even available (not that it's a major concern). .25 X .223 dies are out there, but perhaps not as commonly available.

I'd really like to add a larger bore Contender barrel to my .223 to compliment the Encore rifle. I think the Contender makes a much nicer "carry" package with its lighter weight and the shorter barrel I would prefer on it.

I may be wrong here, think they have blanks that they'll chamber for you for the $200. I do know they've reduced prices on some items, and the existing inventory may be part of that, hence the $225 pistol barrels that are ready to go.

As to dies, the 25-35 AI and 25x30-30 AI are virtually one and the same. A simple adjustment on your die will take care of the tiny, tiny difference. You can even get .25 Bullberry IMP dies if CH4-D is out and there's be a long wait anticipated, as was the case when I got my 6.5x30-30AI. I got the Bullberry dies, albeit it at a somewhat higher price than CH4-D.

For the .25 TCU, there are several options, including using a 7mm TCU FL die for the body and the Hornady .25 caliber short die for the neck. The 7TCU dies are pretty inexpensive; I think the last set I got ran $27.

A short while ago, Midway carried the Lee 30-30 AI dies. So you have a number of options to consider here. Or heck, get a COUPLE of those barrels!

I certainly agree with you regarding the preference for the Contender over the Encore.

I'm thinkin 13" .357 max in Stainless. I have dies and brass.

Bobby


How are you going to use a 6 TCU die as a body die for the 25 TCU???......the 6 TCU die will neck the brass to 6mm as it resizes the body of the case.......that is, if it doesn't crush the case first


A 6.5 or 7 TCU die would probably work.......

Heck, I'd just go with the 6 TCU barrel instead of the 25 TCU......lot's of options in 6mm bullets......I can't think of a single advantage for the 25 TCU????

Typo and brain fart -- all at once. I meant to say "7mm TCU."

As to the TCUs, I do rpefer the 6mm over the .25, but I think the ready-to-go barrel in .25 TCU is what got his attention. Heck, I am the same way -- see it & have to have it!

I've used the 6mm-.223 (6x45) since the mid-80s and have done so in various formats, including rifles. The 6mm TCU is the ballistic twin but with a better configuration for the Contender (though I never had problems with the standard .223 case). I love the little 6mms and have taken all sorts of critters with them, from varmints and vermin to whitetail and exotics.

One of my more memorable outings involved taking a gorgeous catalina from 230 yards using an XP in 6-.223 and a Sierra 80 grain SSP at a bit over 2700 fps.

Forum member jsh now has that XP and is shooting the heck out of it!

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Typo and brain fart -- all at once. I meant to say "7mm TCU."

I figured as much, but couldn't let you off the hook without a bit of gigging!

I've had a 6 TCU in one configuration or another for 15 years or so.......I like 'em!!

I'm thinking I need another 6 TCU in a Contender carbine barrel. (I sold my last 6TCU carbine barrel about 2 years ago)

I have quite a few rounds loaded up for my current 6mm chamerings, but I have a bunch of 80 grain Nosler BTs on the shelf that look lonely and sad.

That justifies another barrel, right??? I wouldn't want those bullets to be traumatized thinking that I don't need them or something...

Sounds right to me.......I have 12" VVCG and 18" TC Custom shop barrels in 6 TCU.....