I am interested in a 9.3x74R barrel for my TC Encore. Anyone know of a source for something like this?

Don't know about others but you mite talk with David White

http://www.precisionrifleworks.net/

I think the way White does this is with a stub barrel. You take a donor barrel cut it about 3" long, bore it out and thread it then screw a 9.3 barrel in and chamber it.

quote:

Originally posted by AK Hunter:
I am interested in a 9.3x74R barrel for my TC Encore. Anyone know of a source for something like this?

I have a 9.3x74R made by Bullberry, but I had to buy the reamer and the barrel blank before he would do the job.

I think Dave Van Horn (Arizona), and Match Grade Machine, formerly Virgin Valley (Utah)does this kind of work. You would need to contact them for more info. Do a search on the internet for the phone number. If you can't find, I'll post the numbers for you.

There are several barrel makers offering the 9.3 mm, Pac Nor, Kreiger, Douglas, and Lilja.

I think the 9.3x74R is an excellent choice, and a natural in the Encore.

It is possible for you to arrange to have the appropriate gunsmith use my reamer, but first you have to let me know if you are interested in this possiblity. It's made to minimum CIP specs.

Hope this info helps.

That would be perfect in an Encore. Rimmed cases work the best. I have a 375 H&H and the belt is a bit of a pain to load.

Here is an another awesome custom barrel maker.

http://www.ottllc.com/

Pretty sure SSK can make you an encore barrel in that caliber, he has a pretty fast delivery time also.

Good Shootin

I'm planning on having SSK do me a .376 Steyr for an Encore, which is really not too far from what you want . It works out to a 9.5x72 since I believe it was based on the 9.3x74 case. Just buy a .375 JDJ barrel and have SSK rechamber it for about $70 and be done with it !!!

try reedercustomguns.com , he will make you just about any barrel for the encore frame you might want. His pricing for the same quality work is somewhat less than a few of the other barrel builders.

quote:

Originally posted by bowhuntrrl:
I'm planning on having SSK do me a .376 Steyr for an Encore, which is really not too far from what you want . It works out to a 9.5x72 since I believe it was based on the 9.3x74 case. Just buy a .375 JDJ barrel and have SSK rechamber it for about $70 and be done with it !!!

There is lots of stuff that ain't so. First the 376 Steyr ain't based on the 9.3x74R. It's a shortened 9.3x64, necked to .375 - a true odd-ball, destined to become really obscure - even more so than the parent case, and soon.

I doubt that SKS will rechamber any factory barrel, but you can confirm that with a phone call.

Either way, the 375 JDJ is a rimmed case, based on the 444 Marlin brass, and you can buy factory ammo. There is no way I would rechamber it to 376 Steyr, becauese the 375 JDJ is a good cartridge as is, and far better suited to the Encore.

This discussion was started as a question about the 9.3x74R. It's good to discuss comparisons. Of the three - 9.3x74R, 376 Steyr, and 375 JDJ - the 9.3x74R is the best choice. It is a cartridge that has stood the test of time - a long time - and it's found a new life lately. So it will be with us a long time yet. It's really a classy cartridge, long and slender - designed especially for break open type actions.

Check out the ballistics. 286 gr .366 bullet at 2300 fps is very good and plenty adequate performance, and the pressure is relatively low. The 376 Steyr achieves its performance at much higher pressure - strong bolt action type pressure - and it was not designed specially for break open actions - it has no rim, and I like rimmed cartridges in break open actions, even though the Encore doesn't require a rim.

If you need more power in an Encore than the 9.3x74R, then something in 40 cal plus is the way to go. Even the 405 winchester can not really beat the 9.3x74 in energy and especally in trajectory. I would like to try a 450/400 Encore barrel, but I'm not yet willing to pay the price for another custom barrel.

I'm still enjoying my Encore barrel in 9.3x74. I can seat those long 286 gr Barnes bullets way out there, in front of as much IMR 4350 and the case will hold to the base of the neck, without too much compression. No crimping necessary. I suspect that bullet will shoot through most anything Alaska has to offer, at most any angle, and make a large hole. The 300 gr 9.3mm Swift looks pretty neat too, and it has an even higher sectional density for real penetration, and with starting velocity about 2250 fps.

So that's my 2 cents.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by KB
The 376 Steyr achieves its performance at much higher pressure - strong bolt action type pressure - and it was not designed specially for break open actions - it has no rim, and I like rimmed cartridges in break open actions, even though the Encore doesn't require a rim.KB

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the .376 Steyr is much lower pressure than the .375 H&H and .300 Mag barrels that are made by TC for the Encore.

I stand corrected on the parent case, apparently I got some erroneous information from a web site concerning the case.

As far as rechambering, I called SSK when I was first considering this project, They apparently don't seem to have as much of a problem with it as you do !!

Just as a side note: The .454 Casull is a 65,000 psi cartridge. They even chamber Contenders in that caliber. Apparently these guns are stronger than you believe them to be.

I don't really want to hijack this thread, just correcting some incorrect assertions concerning the .376 Steyr.

Mr. Bowhunt,
Read my words carefully.
I said the 376 Steyr achieves its performance with much higher pressure - compared to the 9.3x74R. And the rest of what I said is true too - concerning the 9.3x74 designed for break-open actions. Also, I stated my preference for rimmed cartridges in break open actions, although I know rimless and belted cartridges will work in the Encore.

I didn't make a comparison to the 375 and 300 H&H, but now that you mention it - the max pressure for the 375 is 62,000 psi per Chuck Hawks, the 376 Steyr the best info I find says around 60,000 psi. The 9.3x74R is around 49,000 psi. It's difficult to find good comparisons because some sources still use CUP pressure.

When I used the words "much higher" I was thinking 60,000 psi is "much higher" than 49,000 psi. When I read your words "much lower" comparing the 62,000 psi for the 375 to 60,000 psi for the 376, I don't have the same sense of measure. I think 11,000 psi qualifies as "much higher" but 2,000 psi does not qualify as "much lower". Maybe it's just me.

Regarding what I think of the strength of the encores and contenders - it really doesn't matter what I think. It's what Thompson thinks that matters most, and I see that they don't offer the 454 Casull in their Contender as a factory chambering, nor does their custom shop. I say that the contenders & encores are not as strong as some believe them to be. That is why I feel much more comfortable using cartridges originally designed for break open actions.

Besides, there are some really neat rimmed cartridges, which the Encore allows the excuse to use. Save the rimless and belted cartridges for the multitude of strong bolt actions, where they are best suited. I think cartridges like the 225 Winchester, 6.5x57R, 7x57R, 7x65R, 7.62x53R Lapua, 8x57R, 9.3x74R, 450/400 Jeffery, and several other rimmed cartridges ought to be standard chamberings for the Encore.

If it is true that SSK offers the 454 Casull in the Contender, then I think that indicates a problem - specifically lacking good judgment. To say that because SSK does it, so it must be OK, is also a mistake in my opinion.

KB