Author Topic: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel  (Read 611 times)

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Offline jackpine

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Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« on: November 21, 2012, 04:49:58 AM »
I have been a member of this board for many years and have found a lot of great info, but don't think I have ever posted.  I have gained a great deal of knowledge by simply searching, but in this case, came up with nothing, so thought I would ask. 
I have developed the "need" to own a light rifle in 357.  Want it primarily for my grandson, but would also just like to play with one.  Was going to order a H&R barrel, but found out that they charge additional for fitting and by the time I pay shipping both ways, I had in excess of $175 in it.  I own several H&Rs and think they are a neat little gun for the money, but my experience is that a Contender is generally quite a bit more accurate.  I got hooked on Contenders when I shot handgun silhouette from the late 70s thru the 80s and aquired quite a few frames and a pile of barrels, most of which now languish in the safe, but barrels occasionally seem to follow me home and get added to the list of things I will "play" with someday.
Anyway, I came upon a 14" 357 Maximum barrel.  I have a 10 inch Maxi and a couple of Ruger SBH in that caliber, so I have brass and dies already.  I am thinking having my gunsmith thread and permantly pin a 2 1/4 in barrel extention on, with bore slightly larger than 357, which would make it a legal rifle barrel.  I cannot find anything about anyone ever doing this.  Does anyone have any experience with a project like this, or have any experience that would be at all similar.
Also, I am wondering about anyones experience shooting 357 mag in a 357 Maximum barrel.  I bought my first Maxi, a Ruger, when they first came out, and I think it was at least a month before I could get my hands on Maxi brass or ammo for it, so I worked up some fairly hot loads in 357 magnum.  It was a long time ago, but I recall that the accuracy was not all that bad.  I got the Contender barrel later, did not shoot it much, and don't remember ever shooting 357 mag in it. 
Did not mean for this to get so long.  Any info anyone can offer will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jackpine

Offline Flash

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Re: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2012, 09:10:26 AM »
I had bought a Super 14, 44 mag off of ebay about 15 years ago that had a 2 1/2" sleeve welded to it to make it a carbine barrel. The seller assured me it was legal but upon its arrival, i began to wonder. The job was top shelf and the weld and bluing looked better than T/C does on the barrels themselves. Anyway, a call to ATF (back then you didn't have to wait for their return call) proved to me that it was infact legal since it was welded and not removable. I think your pinned and threaded attachment leaves too much gray area regarding "intent". If i were you id have it welded. The barrel i bought cost $100 shipped and after shooting it. I realized it was darn worth it. With the custom shop drying up and Ed's. supply shrinking every day, extending a Super 14 seems like the "way to go".
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline Ranger99

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Re: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2012, 09:33:20 AM »
pinning won't cut it with the feds.
weld it up and go have fun.


in fact , i left my weld unfinished as
far as grinding it down so as to cut
short any discussions with l.e. ,
just cold-blued over it. one quick
look and it can be easily seen as
a weld.
18 MINUTES.  . . . . . .

Offline jackpine

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Re: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2012, 12:55:01 PM »
Thanks guys,
I should have been clearer about what I meant by permanatly pinned.  He puts a blind pin in and then welds over that.  It is the same way they put flash hiders and such on ARs when they need their length  to make legal barrel length. 
Anyone out there have any experience as far as accuracy of Contender chambered 357 Maximum and shooting 357 Mag.
Thanks again,
Jackpine

Offline Flash

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Re: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2012, 02:23:29 PM »
Anytime you have great distance the bullet needs to travel before engaging the rifling,  the accuracy can suffer. Its going to be a cap shoot regarding how bad it suffers. Id get the proper brass for the barrel and load it for your purposes.
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline jackpine

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Re: Adding extention to 14 inch tc barrel
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2012, 03:12:30 PM »
I just realized I had posted this in the optics section, not the actual TC section.  Have relisted it there.  Sorry for my screwup, and thanks for your inputs.
Jackpine