I finally took the plunge........

[IKE]

I've owned TC's since about 1983 and up till now all my Contender and Encore barrels (12) are scoped 14" to 16" pistol length barrels that range in caliber from 22 LR to 35 Whelen but lately I've been thinking about getting my first rifle length TC barrel.

After much thought I knew from the beginning that I wanted a caliber that was easy on the shoulder, known to be accurate, capable of taking up to deer sized game, not difficult to load for and not hard or expensive to find components for.......well my search has ended.

A week ago Friday I went up to Ed's Contenders after work and picked up a new 24" Fox Ridge bull (non tapered) Contender barrel in 6.5 TCU with TC's beautiful high luster blue along with a new walnut stock, a Bullberry walnut rifle forend with hanger bar and a Redfield dual dovetail base with rings.

For a scope I mounted a older mint El Passo fixed 6X Weaver that I've had for a long time....the total weight of the scoped rifle is 8.9 pounds.

I've got sixty fire forming loads loaded and as soon as I can get to the range I'll get those fired and start working on my pet load.....if this barrel shoots anything like my 14" Contender barrel in 6.5 TCU I'll be extremely happy.

Ike

[A-ALLOY]

Way to go IKE
   
       I've had contender pistols for quite a while myself but I really like my carbine, a great packing rifle, accurate, and light weight.
Ed has always been good to trade and deal with always fair and fast.

       Are you sure about that 8.9 pounds ? Should make those ground hogs glad for the six more weeks of hiding in the hole.Keep us
updated on that round and all the fun.

[Shortgun]

Ike

I put my first carbine together about 3 years ago. Wanted a lite carry rifle( after 30 plus years of handgun hunting) that would be easy on this old busted up shoulder...and with age the old eyes ain't what they once was and rifle glass is a bit easier to see out of than the handgun scopes in certain situations..I ended up with a 257tcu. It is a wonderful little rifle. I have a 21 inch tapered matte finish with a winchester 2-10x 44 scope and all up I think it weighs under 8 pounds. The 75 gr barnes X bullet pounds deer pretty good too! Mine has a pretty long throat and likes 100 gr NBT's the best and I use 204 Ruger cases to get a little extra length on the AOL and it shoots well.

shortgun

[IKE]

Good morning,

Yep A-A she weighs, on a Normark digital fish scale, 8.9 pounds, I don't consider it to feel too heavy as a matter of fact I figured it would go a little more with the untapered bull barrel, old long steel tube 6X Weaver, walnut furniture and steel base & rings.....considering the rifle weight and the caliber it should be really user friendly and a joy to shoot.

My 14" 6.5 TCU Contender barrel really likes Rem. .223 brass, Rem. 71/2 BR primers, Rem. 120gr PSP Core-Lokts with a good charge of IMR4198 and I plan on trying the same components first when I get around to pet loading the new rifle barrel.

Shortgun I've always wanted a 257 TCU to add to my 6 TCU, 6.5 TCU and 7 TCU 14" barrels but it seems like the few times I've ran across a 14" barrel I've checked on the price of dies and they were hard to find and pretty expensive so I always backed away....by the way I still have that 14" 6.5 Bullberry barrel and I even came across another set of new looking Redding dies last year so if you know of anyone that needs a set let me know.

Ike