Thompson-Center TCR-87 Rifle Barrels

[IOWA DON]

I bought a bunch of TCR-87 barrels when Thompson-Center was "getting rid of them". Some were to shoot and some were mostly for the monoblock. That is, I would remove the factory barrel from the monoblock and replace it with a custom barrel in another caliber. I still have some barrels to convert and some that are I would probably never really use. I am thinking of selling the ones not "needed". A few months ago TCR-87 barrels were being sold on Ebay, at fairly high prices. I've heard that firearm barrels can no longer be sold on Ebay. If that is so, what is the best place to sell them?

[Graybeard]

Since there are likely more TC users here at GBO than any other one site the TC Classifieds here should be a good place to sell them. Classifieds forums at other sites which cater to TC owners would also work I'd think. There are some auction sites as well that cater to firearms/barrel sales. If you use those however my rules will not allow the posting of them here also as you are locked in on the auctions and can't really sell independantly until the auction ends.

[dougk]

Graybeard,
I believe those auction sites charge a fee.
Doug

[IOWA DON]

Although the TCR-87's are different than the Encores or Contenders, it seems there should be some Thompson-Center enthusiasts looking there. I usually look at the rifle forums and a couple other and never looked at the Classifieds here until now. I will try posting an add for a month or so and see how it works. Thanks. - DON

[Tennessee.Traveler]

Gunbroker.com has been running them for the past month.  Someone has a case of them,  they were from $225.00 to $350.00  If nothing is there now.  I may have an email address!   

[IOWA DON]

Thanks, TennesseeTraveler. I found a couple TCR barrels on the Gunbroker website with a Google search. There was a .222 barrel where no one met the minimum bid and a successful sale on a 7MM-08 barrel for $475. A few months ago the .222 barrel should have brought a $400 plus price. Maybe the market has turned. I pull the old barrels from the monoblocks and replace them with with new barrels. Given a new Shilen barrel, the gunsmithing cost, plus a new Leupold scope the cost is around $900 plus the old monoblock is used. I thought by selling a few barrels which I would probably never use, I could raise some $$$ to cover the cost of making up a couple barrels that I would use. My timing is usually wrong and I end up buying high and selling low, so if it don't work out that I can get good prices I guess I will just hang on to my old barrels and someday the grandkids will inherit them.

[haus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 87 is a different animal than the 83?  If you happen to have some that will fit the 83, drop me a line.  I already have the .223 and 30.06.  I would really love a .22lr or .22mag.  I cannot remember off the top of my head if these calibers were even available for the 83 though.

Thanks

[woodchukhntr]

I saw some at the Syracuse gun show that were selling in the $400 range.  And I thought that Encore barrels were overpriced when you can get a complete Handi Rifle for the same price or less!

[Rangr44]

[selling in the $400 range.  And I thought that Encore barrels were overpriced when you can get a complete Handi Rifle for the same price or less!]

No disrespect, woodchukhntr - but Handi's are nowhere near as well-made or valuable as any T/C barrel - never mind an elegant TCR barrel.

One of the reasons they are more expensive, is that the engineering's in there - like Ragu.

Which means you don't have to send a T/C back to the factory to be fitted for the extra barrels, and the T/C factory sells them across the counter - unlike H&R (who's as good as gone, what with Remington closing their plant & laying off the employees, BTW).

[woodchukhntr]

You're right on all counts, Rangr44.  Being involved in manufacturing, I am aware of the fit and finish differences, and am critical of H&R because the frames have to be returned for new barrels unless you want to take on a barrel fit yourself.  But the fact remains that they are great guns for the money.

[IOWA DON]

I just got a shotgun barrel assembly (with the larger monoblock) converted to a rifle caliber. The new barrel is press fitted and pinned into the monoblock. It is a 5-groove Bartlien barrel with a 1-in-7.5 twist, chambered in 6MM-06. I have not got to the range with it yet but will try to work up some loads for it with 105-grain Berger VLD's. According to Hornaday it's possible to get 3,400 fps with them at acceptable pressures. With the 4-12X50MM Leupold scope it weighs about 11.5 pounds per my bathroom scale.

[Sourdough]

Ha guys the only difference in the 83 and the 87 is the triggers.  The 83, and the later Aristocrat have the double set triggers.  The 87 only has a standard single trigger.  Barrels are totally interchangeable amongst them all.  I take that back, I believe the Magnum barrels were just different enough not to fit on the unmodified frames.  And I do believe the last few years they made the frames with the Mag conversion.  I had my frame converted in 1992 when they came out with the .338 Win Mag barrels.  So if you have a Mag Barrel made after 1992 and a frame built before 92, that has not been converted, they might not fit.  Before 92 they did make 7MM Mag barrels for the TCR, those older barrels will fit all TCRs.  I bought my TCR-83 with a 7MM barrel from the factory in 1985.  They also made a stock without the Monte Carlo rise, it was put on guns sold with shotgun barrels from the factory.  But again the other barrels were interchangeable.

[IOWA DON]

glwenzl - I don't have a .22 Hornet barrel. What does the "FS" stand for? The smallest I have is a .223 Rem. There was a guy several years ago who had a .22 K-Hornet and I think it was a custom shop "bull-barrel", which is not really that heavy, but requires a different forearm. - DON

[glwenzl]

Iowa Don, thanks for the help but I couldn't locate him

Like grey Beard i am also looking for a 257 Roberts. I have the brass made up in a rimmed version and just need to find the barrel and have a rim groove cut into it...

Grey Beard, there is a complete TCR on saubier.com with a factory 08 barrel and a virgin valley 257 Roberst but he wants to sell it all together or trade....