TC Custom Shop

[Myerslake2005]

I'm looking at purchasing a .444 Marlin barrel for southern Michigan Whitetail (state law requires a straight walled cartridge in southern Michigan).  I plan to have a break put on it to decrease the recoil.

TC Custom Shop has the best price for both the barrel and break.

What is the quality and accuracy of the TC Custom Shop compared to company's like OTT and Bullberry.

How does the TC's Custom Shop Muzzle Tamer compare to others for felt muzzle blast both rear and sideways and increased noise.

Mag-Na-Port has developed the Mag-Na-Break which is bored 7 degrees foreword to deflect the gases foreword and upward to decrease the felt muzzle blast both rear and sideways.

Thanks

[Catfish]

All of the T/C barrels that I have shot have good enough accuracy for deer at the max. ranges of the .444. None of them have the accuracy of my Bullberry barrels, but I have never owned a custom shop barrel. The longest shot I put on a deer with a revolver and iron sights was abt 135 yrds. with a .44 mag. SBH 3 screw. I have taken several between 80 and 100 yrds. with iron sights on a revolver. I don`t shoot as much as I used to and my eyes aren`t as good. I took my first deer this year with a scoped handgon, an Encore with a 16 in Bullberry barrel in .357 max. only 75 yrds.

[IKE]

All but one of my five 15" Encore barrels is from the TC Custom Shop (Fox Ridge) and only one of my six Contender barrels isn't "off the rack" and that one is a 14" 6.5 Bullberry from Bullberry......downrange accuracy wise I can't tell a bit of difference between any of them, they all drive tacks.

Although I'm not overly fond of muzzle brakes, unless the caliber just absolutely needs one like the SSK 338-06 15" Encore barrel I had for awhile, I have shot barrels with TC's muzzle tamer and it does work very well.......I'd go with Fox Ridge on the .444.

Ike

[tlyne]

Ike is right. He is a hell of a shot. It is my opinion that it is easyier to find a pet loads with other custom barrels. But, if you work at it like Ike does, you can make a T/C barrel work better than most people can shot. Just my 2 cents. You will get all kinds of stories. It just depends on how must time and money you want to put into the effort for a tack driver load.

[pete50]

I have a 22" 30-06 Custom Shop barrel that I haven't yet figured out. Still tinkering with loads. The muzzle brake they installed works VERY WELL in my opinon as the short barrel has a lot less weight to absorb recoil. For the $$$ I'd say it was worth it. I think I got about $ 310 in the barrel. JD Jones is right across the river from me, so I had options - I just could not afford the name on his work, lol. I've seen a good bit of his stuff -even outside T/C work, and he does a very good job and takes good care of his customers, but man you pay for it!!!! I'm just not into a lot of off calibers. The 444 is a great short range rifle - as would be the 45-70. I'd say the factory off the shelf barrels would be fine for those. The only thing I would say is that when I bought my barrel, a cheap stainless encore barrel would have been 199-209 NIB. I've been seeing them for upwards of 220-240 now NIB, and some higher, but I havent hunted a bargain on barrels for some time. Really, for the extra money above $ 240, the T/C custom shop might be a pretty good deal. If you are into a blued barrel, the costs go down some. The minimal $$$ for the brake is definately worth it. Good Luck. Pete