TC Pistol Chambering?

[Konrad]

I have been considering the purchase of a TC Contender or Encore pistol.

My question for the gurus is:

What is the most efficient, hard hitting, long range chambering for the 14 inch barrel?

Thanks,
K

 

[Fiftydriver]

Most efficent..... Do you mean highest velocity for a given grains of powder?

Well if thats the case, you do not want to go really small in caliber. I would look at something in a 6.5mm or larger. The 6.5mm JDJ is really hard to beat. For more power, a 309 JDJ is also a great round for the Contender. There is only so much you can do with this action, just can not take alot of chamber pressure in this small diameter barrel shank.

In the Encore, you have much more strength but you still have to be smart. I have shot Encores in chamberings up to even the Lapua class(big mistake). In my opinion, even though the Encore comes chambered in the belted magnums I prefer to stick with the 06 class case head sizes as you WILL see some case head stretching with the Belted Magnum cases if loaded anywhere near max chamber pressure in these chamberings.

Something like the 280 AI or 30-06 or 30-06 AI or even the 338-06 are great in the Encore.

Another decent one is the 284 Win but I still prefer to see the case diameter stay at 0.470 max.

 

[cavtrooper94]

Contact Mike Bellum @ Bellumtcs. I had him take a 308 Bergara rifle barrel and cut it off at 15 inches. Since it was a rifle barrel I can still use a rifle forend. I also had him tap it so I can use the pistol forend as well if I want. I mounted a leupold 4x on it, but I'm starting to think one of the new small red dot scopes would work well.

 

[Ernie]

Ditto on Kirby's post, and I would add the 7x30 Waters for the Contender.
The standard length on the Encore would be 15".

 

[Konrad]

By efficiency, I was referring to the ability to propel a nicely shaped, moderately heavy projectile (140 grain), as rapidly as possible without too much wasted powder being blown from the muzzle.

My feeble mind had been gravitating toward the 7-08 Remington (I have a model 7 carbine in the same chambering).

How do you think that compars with the 7-30 Waters?

 

[Ernie]

For the 7-08 you would need the Encore frame.
The 7-08 will outrun the Waters by 200 fps or so.
The 7-08 is a great cartridge in a 14-15 inch barrel

By efficiency, I was referring to the ability to propel a nicely shaped, moderately heavy projectile (140 grain), as rapidly as possible without too much wasted powder being blown from the muzzle.

My feeble mind had been gravitating toward the 7-08 Remington (I have a model 7 carbine in the same chambering).

How do you think that compares with the 7-30 Waters?

 

[Catfish]

First, forget the Contender. The Encore will handle rifle cartridges where the Contender will not. I live in Ohio where we can us handguns with straight walled rounds only. For that reason I picked up a .460 S&W barrel for this years deer hunting. My longest kill with my .357 max. was 175 yrds. figureing the 460 shoud get me to at least 275 yrds. That is with a good drop chart and range finder. Haven`t plaied with it yet so I`m not sure.

 

[Fiftydriver]

The 7mm-08 is a great chambering. THat was the first barrel I owned for my Encore handgun and took many head of big game with it. I always used the 140 gr Ballistic Silvertip back then. Now I would likely use the Accubond.

As mentioned, you can only use the 08 in the encore. Its a noticable upgrade over the 7-30 waters. As Ernie mentioned around 200 fps and in a handgun, thats ALOT of velocity increase.

 

[sambo3006]

Another vote for the 7mm-08. In my opinion it is an excellent cartridge and at the upper end of how much recoil I care to stand in a handgun without a muzzle brake.

 

[Hntbambi]

Personally, I would have to go with the 260 Rem. I have a few hand cannons including a Savage Super Striker in 260 Rem, XP100r in 338/284, and Encore in 243 and 30-06. I do like the 6.5 for 300-400 yard shooting. That's as far as I have stretched the barrel on my handguns.