Author Topic: What's your most FUN barrel you have...? (Read 1927 times)

PJ · « **on:** June 17, 2003, 07:53:48 PM »

I'll go first.....I will have to say my 6mmBR, .22 Jet and my 22LR.

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:19:37 PM »

10" Encore in 45/70! Hang on tight!! KN

crawfish · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:28:03 PM »

BullBerry 12 inch .17HMR. There is just something about those iddy bitty bottle necked rounds that makes me spend the outrageous price to keep shooting them. Love the Savage 93 in .17HMR too :-D

Javelina · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:28:38 PM »

Of course it would be my 41 GNR #2 by Gary Reeder! Big, fat and fast 41 caliber bullets with five-shot groups generally under .75" at 100 yards! Scary on rabbits - makes 'em disappear! :-D

Javelina

KN · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2003, 09:52:50 PM »

Hey Crawfish, Aint that the truth! It's almost an addiction. KN

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2003, 12:40:33 AM »

YEP, I got to agree, s-14 in .17HMR. Just plain FUN!!!!!!. I also agree with the addiction too. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2003, 01:09:57 AM »

I would venture to say it is a toss up between the 16" .22 Hornet or the 14" .22 WRM. The 22 mag is nice in that I don't have to reload for it. It seems to get the job done on PD's and other vermin. The .22 Hornet is nice also in that the report isn't as deafening as the .223. I enjoy shooting it a lot more.

KYODE · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2003, 02:46:03 AM »

uhhh, i have the same fun with all of them :wink: but the 6tcu has just seemed to get most of my attention. now the 30-30 improved is getting the attention. i think those are probably because of fireforming duties though, which has actually turned out to be quite fun.

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2003, 04:16:15 AM »

That is a tough call. First of all there is the Custom 15" 6mm T/CU. I have two loads for this one and both are quite accurate. First is a 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip at 3000 FPS which vaporizes every single varmint it has touched so far. Second is the 80gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip at 2716 FPS. This one is yet untested (except on paper), but I hope to try it out on a Whitetail this season.

Next up would have to be the Super 14 .30-30 Ackley Improved. This one has come to be everything I had hoped for and more. 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2683 FPS which produce sub 3/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. This one will also see duty on Whitetails this coming season.

Another contender for the most favorite barrel would have to be my Super 14 .223. This one shooting 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with Alliant Blue Dot Powder still offers great performance, quite good accuracy with almost non-existant recoil and very low muzzle blast. With this one I can shoot, and shoot, and keep right on shooting in a Prairie Dog Town without undue barrel heat. This barrel with this load is just plain fun to shoot.

However my most favorite barrel of all would have to be my Super 14 Match Grade .22 LR. This one is topped with a 3x12x32mm Burris LER Handgun Scope that I had Burris modify for me. They changed the AO settings for me so now the numbers on the AO are actually for FEET instead of Yards. (t0 get it parallax free at 50 yards I set it at 150, to get it parallax free at 100 yards I set it at 300, etc.) This was done mainly for Rimfire Bench Rest Shooting at our Indoor Shooting Range. This is the most fun barrel, and watching those little tiny groups develope is amazing. This one has an old style frame attached to it with the Herrett Finger Groove Style - Thumb Rest Grip with matching Forend. I have Free Floated the Forend and made pillars out of alluminum washers for it to sit on. The frame has been sent in to Fox Ridge Outfitters for the Easy Open Conversion. I have tuned the Trigger so it breaks super crisp at 1 1/2 pounds. This has to be the most favorite Contender and Barrel. I also shoot this one the most the way it seems.

If forced to keep only one that would be one of the toughest decisions I was ever forced to make. I really like them all, and each has it's special place / purpose. But then that is the beauty of Contenders, the next cartridge / favorite barrel is just that, the next barrel.

Larry

bobg · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2003, 05:15:01 AM »

So far it has been my VV 221 Fireball. I have three other barrels that i haven't shot yet. If i ever get around to shooting these my favorite could change.

bobg :?

Crayfish · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2003, 05:18:33 AM »

I would have to say my most fun barrel, meaning the one that puts a smile on my face most often, is my plain-jane S-14 30-30. This thing will outshoot most of my rifles and is dead nuts on every time out, regardless of whether it's been off the frame or not. I know I can take this one out with my 150gr Ballistic Tip handloads and shoot a 0.6 to 0.8" group 1.5" high at 100yds every time. I smile every time, too!

Last range session with this barrel I was testing some 130gr Hornady SSPB's over AA2520. One load in the middle of the powder range printed a .521" group at 100yds (approx 2150fps). DEFININTELY going to have to play with that one some more. I can see more grins in my future!!

... Crayfish

Graycg · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2003, 05:44:07 AM »

Addiction, yes...have 19 barrels and wife calls it "That damned gun".....
My most fun barrel...15 inch Stainless Bullberry .223 isn't because it is way too easy to get good accuracy with, Fred makes one hell of a barrel. Factory 10 inch 32-20 is most challenging to play with as it either shoots a load great or not at all, little rhyme or reason to it. I have to say my most fun barrel is the 10 inch stainless VVCG I have in 357 maximum, it is just plain fun to shoot, very accurate, hits very hard and doesn't kick bad at all.

Gotta love the contenders,
regards,
Graycg

spinafish · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2003, 10:25:36 AM »

P.J.,You asked about our most fun BARREL and you listed three.

That's my problem they are all fun..but I had to narrow it to one it would be my .45/.410. The shotshell side of the thing is really fun..as well as the big 300 grainers at almost 1300 fps from the 45 LC side.

PJ · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2003, 10:42:46 AM »

Ya, I know I couldn't pick just one.

flyfisher · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2003, 11:27:28 AM »

A 14" .222 Win bull barrel...extreeeeemly accurate and quite a pleasure to shoot. With 40 gr Hornady V-Max, it turns the insides of ground hogs into mush!

TopGun · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:21:26 PM »

10" .444 and 14" unbraked 358JDJ. and tehn teh 4570-, 375JDJ, 308 winchester, 30'06's and now the 338-06....ouch, is that just one favorite?

Whodaheck99 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2003, 04:06:01 PM »

11 in. 17HRM Bullberry- a 14 in. 6.5x444 Bower, - 445 Super Mag, a 10 in. 444 all in a Contender barrel- ouch- HA, HA

Hawkeye · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2003, 02:50:48 AM »

#1 would be my 14" .223. Too many targets and PDogs and not enough ammo. Next would be my 14" 309JDJ that shoots less than 1 MOA all of the time with 150grn Ballistic Tips. Next would be the 14" 7-30 Waters.
I usually take all three of these each time I go to the range.

Mike

Robert · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2003, 07:25:49 AM »

Havent had enough time with the 7-30 yet, but today will probably be the day since I screwed up my ankle at work, looks like a little mini-vacation. I sure do like how the 7-30's just drop in so sweet and easy. Gonna try to get to the store and find some W-748 today too. I want to try G.B.'s favore load with the 130 Sierra.

Dalton · « **Reply #19 on:** June 19, 2003, 08:08:29 AM »

I have a 16" 6mm TCU that Dave Van Horn made for me. Right now it is my favorite barrel. Recoil is mild, it doesn't use a lot of powder and it isn't picky about bullets. Accuracy is outstanding with most of the loads I have tried. :grin:

Ladobe · « **Reply #20 on:** June 19, 2003, 02:27:42 PM »

Guess I'll have some "FUN" with this thread.

Having shot Contenders and Encores for well over 3 decades now, I've had in the area of 90 tubes. I dumped all the factory made barrels right after the 2000 SHOT Show, only keeping and adding to the "custom only" collection - and those mostly wildcats. So, I've had a fair share of chamberings over the years on TC's.

So, as to which one was the most FUN? Depends on the ramifications of what your definition of FUN is I guess, but I'll take a poke at it.

IF FUN is scaring the bejesus out of the staunch BR crowd at the BR range, then the SSK 375JDJ is lotsa FUN!

IF FUN is intimidating the long range bunch at the 1000 yard fun matches at the club with their fancy-smancy custom million dollar rifles, then my 15" Bullberry 6.5 Super Bower is a whole lot of FUN!

IF FUN is putting lots of good, lean game meat in the freezer, then either the SSK 257 or 309 JDJ could be considered FUN!

IF FUN is lots of cheap, very precise shooting where ranges will be held to under 350 yards :wink: , then the Bullberry 17 HMR's can be said to be real FUN!

IF FUN is having an ideal predator calling rig that can double on small varmints to big game in a pinch, then the Brown Precision 6X47 Stealth is definantly FUN!

IF... I could go on and on and even list a bunch of great factory offerings over the years (most now long gone), but in reality, the number one, all time most fun barrels I've ever owned for my TC's (especially on the Contender's), are my Bullberry 17 Ackley Hornets. Now THEY are THE definition of FUN (and in any weapon). So much fun in fact, that I will almost say that if I can't shoot it with one of my Bullberry 17AH's or the Cooper, it just doesn't need shot!!!

Del · « **Reply #21 on:** June 20, 2003, 09:46:31 AM »

My most FUN barrel has got to be my 12" Hunter .223 barrel w/a 2X6 Bushnell Trophy scope snugged into a set of Leupold rings & base. :grin:

I love to take it hiking through the mountains looking for ground squirrels & marmots!! :wink: It's cheap to feed, very little recoil, can easily carry lots of ammo, & does the job quite well if I put the 50 grn Nosler Ballistic Tip where it belongs!!

But, I recently started working with a .256 WM barrel, and that little round w/a 75 grn V-Max looks pretty cool! I'll have to see how that pans out, hope it's a shooter!

Del

krateboy17 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 20, 2003, 07:51:47 PM »

My favorite barrel is a factory 10 in. 17BB, with a TC 3 power rail mount scope.

jeff b. HHI 7241 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2003, 02:37:35 AM »

Touching off a couple rounds of my 280 JDJ and feeling the "concussion"!!!

Moe · « **Reply #24 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:05:01 AM »

I don't have it anymore, but the favorite/most fun that I have ever had was a factory 12" .357 Max with brake, topped with a Leupold 2x in Leupold mounts with Pachmyer gripper grips and forend. Took it with me all the time, easy to load for and fairly accurate. Wish I still had it!!

tommyn · « **Reply #25 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:41:16 AM »

My most fun barrel is a 12 inch Bullberry 7tcu. I can hunt anything I want to with it and set down and shoot small groups. Not much recoil and just fun to shoot.

AlteJaeger · « **Reply #26 on:** June 21, 2003, 11:16:57 AM »

My fun barrels are the TCA Assoc., 9mm, 357 Sig & 10mm, 6"
barrels. Can have alot of fun in a PD town doing drive by's. Hit or miss
is still alot of fun and tweaks your shooting abilities. Glad I bought them
when they were offered.

JJFly · « **Reply #27 on:** June 21, 2003, 05:41:25 PM »

16" 458Win Mag pistol... clears the area of shooters at the range and anything you hit in the field. :shock:

22" 17 Squirrel. So tiny it is silly. Yet the 20gr bullet zips out at 3400fps. Haven't game tested yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Then there is the 405Win Contender Pistol, or the 270JDJ 25" tube which hasn't posted a group over 1" to date. Smallest with 130gr Hornady SST, 10 shots .473" center to center.