New Guy Intro and Question

[flysar]

Just found this site and thought I would introduce myself & ask some questions

I recently retired after 26 years of military service flying helicopters in the Army and Coast Guard and now have time for my hobbies; hunting, fishing, working with my hands (woodworking, autos, reloading, outside chores, etc).

I started my Contender addiction in 95' with a 10" 22 Match and 14" 30-30 barrel while living on Kodiak Island. Since then I have accumulated 3 frames and I've added to my barrel collection a 10" 221 Fireball, 14" 6.5 TCU, 30-30 is now a 309JDJ, 12" 375JDJ, 12" 45-70JDJ, 10" 45-410. Not as big as some collections but a fun mix of plinking and hunting rigs. I've killed Black Bear, Mulies, Whitetail, Blacktail, Fox, Coyote, Grouse, and Rabbits.

After buying the 12" 375JDJ I decided I prefer that length of barrel and large calibers; bigger hole less weight easier to hold off hand or rested against a tree.  I read a recent post about 10" vs 14" barrel pros/cons on bottle necked rounds regarding muzzle blast, powder burn, speed and thought a 12" 6.5TCU would be a good compromise to get rid of some of the weight and improve the balance. I plan to use it more now that I have time to predator hunt (stand/calling and spot/stalk) and maybe some blacktail deer hunting.

Am I kidding myself is 2" really going to make a noticeable difference in weight and balance?

Has anyone shot a 6.5TCU in both a 14"and a shorter barrel and what did you think of the balance, speed loss, game performance, etc?

[xphunter]

My buddy and I used a 14" 6.5 TCU on mule deer and antelope.
Worked just fine within its distance limitations

[Ladobe]

...Am I kidding myself is 2" really going to make a noticeable difference in weight and balance?

Has anyone shot a 6.5TCU in both a 14"and a shorter barrel and what did you think of the balance, speed loss, game performance, etc?

Balance and weight are both products of the components used, shooter technique and preference with Contenders.     IOW, barrel length, contour and bore diameter; open/peep sights verses scopes; even grips/forends can have an impact on both of them.   With very strong hands and decades as a handgun hunter I personally never scoped 10" barrels, but did 12", 14" and longer on my Contender pistols - also taking into account what their intended use was and to a lessor extent what cartridge they were chambered for.   That's what balanced and fit my shooting techniques the best for me offhand or supported, and what I was the most confident with.   And that's the bottom line with any firearm... what you are the most confident with.

I shot IHMSA for years... part of it with a 10" bull 6.5TCU for some classes of match shooting and part with a 14" bull for others; long range predator and varmints with 14"; and my current 6.5 TCU is a custom Sako/Barnes Al bolt pistol with a 15" tapered octagon barrel.   Lots of folks have used them successfully for deer size game who live in states that will allow them for big game hunting.   With tuned handloads for a barrel it can shoot very well no matter whether a 10", 14" or etc barrel length.   Don't foget the TCU cartridges started life in Contenders as 10" barrels for IHMSA.

HTH, YMMV

L.

[flysar]

OK, I'm going to agree that maybe my weight, balance, preference for 10" vs 14" question is an individual thing.

So lets talk muzzle velocity differences between barrel length.

For those that have worked up loads for both the 10" and 14" barrels what is the average muzzle velocity difference?

(or)

Since the 6.5TCU started out as a 10" round maybe there is no difference given the published loads and therefore performance out of a longer barrel is negligable?

I'm just trying to get some insight on this caliber from someone other than my reloading manual now that I'm planning to use it more.

[Ladobe]

Off the top of my head I can't recite what the velocity difference is between those two barrel lengths for the 6TCU with the same load.   But IMO folks put way too much importance on velocity, especially with hunting cartridges.   A shooters proficency with a particular fiream and the load being shot in it within that firearm and loads efffective range to put a solid hit in the best location(s) for a clean kill on any animal has way more importance than the loss of some velocity.   A barrel length difference such as this would slightly shorten that effective range with the shorter tube, but that could be at least partially compensated for with your handloads.
Just one opinion.
 

[flysar]

Off the top of my head I can't recite what the velocity difference is between those two barrel lengths for the 6TCU with the same load.   But IMO folks put way too much importance on velocity, especially with hunting cartridges.   A shooters proficency with a particular fiream and the load being shot in it within that firearm and loads efffective range to put a solid hit in the best location(s) for a clean kill on any animal has way more importance than the loss of some velocity.   A barrel length difference such as this would slightly shorten that effective range with the shorter tube, but that could be at least partially compensated for with your handloads.
Just one opinion.
 

I couldn't agree more regarding proficiency and proper angle for clean kills. I bow hunt, or did before shoulders got bad, so I know the importance of good shots; passed up plenty with bow, muzzleloader, & my TC.

I guess it comes down to whether or not I'll pay to have the barrel shortened and recrowned because it doesn't sound like speed will matter much.

Thanks again

[Flynmoose]

When I decided that I could not survive without an Encore pistol, the
only barrel that was readily available was a 223 in twelve inch length.
All my pistol barrels since have been that length. I guess the reason
is that I got comfortable with that length and stuck with it. Shoot
other length barrels if you can, or at least handle them and pick what
is comfortable for you.
FM