T/c 30-06 barrel

MUGWUMP · March 11, 2013, 12:21 AM

I have read on the forum that a T/C CONTENDER 30-06 barrel does not exist.

I'm hear to tell you that I have 'IN MY POSSESSION ' a NEW _ IN _ THE _ BOX
T/C 30-06 barrel. Stamped on the barrel

THOMPSON CENTER ARMS 30-06

This is in it's original box and packing and bears a shipping date of MAR 1985

[email protected]

jmohme · March 11, 2013, 12:36 AM

It is probably fits a TC Encore. The Contender can not handle the pressures of a 30-06. The Encore is a larger, heavier version of the Contender and can handle higher preassures.

hoghunting · March 11, 2013, 01:21 AM

You might have a T/C Contender 30.06 barrel, but it did not come from T/C or their former custom shop Fox Ridge. As stated earlier, the Contender won't handle the pressure of the 30.06, and T/C would not have set themselves up for that type of liability suit. There were after market companies that rechambered barrels in many different calibers that T/C refused to offer, and you may have one of those.

Pahoo · March 11, 2013, 11:44 AM

There is a very good reason why TC came out with the G2's as they now have stronger frames to handle the larger calibers. I really don't see why an after-market would make a Contender barrel in 30-06. ....

Please get back to us with more info on the barrel. ...

Don't shoot it and;
Be Safe !!!

darkgael · March 11, 2013, 02:40 PM

Hmmm. As pointed out...just because it says

Quote:

THOMPSON CENTER ARMS 30-06

does not mean that it is a Contender barrel.
I am pretty sure that all of their barrels say Thompson Center Arms etc.
If you have a Contender and you bought that barrel to use, you may have wasted your money (Or you may just have a reason to buy an Encore)
That all being said......the date on the box gives pause for thought since T/C did not begin manufacture of the Encore until about ten years later than that 1985 date.
It is also possible that the barrel is for a TCR 83 rifle.
Question: how long is the barrel?
Pete

Magnum Wheel Man · March 11, 2013, 02:47 PM

bet a dollar it's an Encore barrel... they look very close to the same... ( my fabricator buddy that just bought an Encore, built a fitment gauge to tell the difference at any auctions that might have seperate barrels listed, that he might attend ) the Encore barrels have a slightly bigger diameter pin hole, & measure a little longer from the pin hole to the breach end of the barrel... it doesn't help when people who are supposed to know ( in this case, the auctioneer ) tells everyone "the barrels will fit either the Contender, or the Encore" ... happened at the last auction my buddy asked me to come along & help him out ( he bought his Encore there )

off subject a little, I do have a "real" Contender barrel chambered in 375 Winchester... I'm wondering how rare they might be, as the 375 Winchesters maximum pressures go over what I think the Contender frame is rated at... I know it kicks & blasts more than my 45-70 barrel...

darkgael · March 11, 2013, 03:02 PM

MGWN: If the date on the box is correct to the barrel, it ain't an Encore. Too early.
About the .375 Win. Peak pressure for that cartridge is about 50kCUP....but most loads run 5k to 10k less than that.
The Contenders were designed to handle up to 48kpsi, depending on the size of the head of the case and the thrust of the case against the breech. The .375 has the same size case head as the .30-30 Win. (0.4212"), albeit a stronger case.
For comparison, the .30-06 has a case head diameter of 0. 4707"

For the OP....Does the barrel look like any of these?

Pete

Pahoo · March 11, 2013, 03:50 PM

darkgael
I see where you are going with this and a pretty good call. Can't wait to see how this rolls out ...

Be Safe !!!

Gmony.308 · March 11, 2013, 09:04 PM

I Don't know much about a 30-06 barrel for the contender, but I originally shot the contender in a .357 Herrett and the cartridge load was an issue. I was cautioned by the TC pro shop not to exceed a specific powder volume to avoid frame stretch. If that barrel does in fact fit your contender frame and you plan to shoot it I strongly encourage you to contact TC directly for pressure specs. And powder volumes (for your intended powder). DO NOT shoot a factory loaded 30-06 rifle cartridge out of your contender frame, the results could and probably will be disastrous.

jmohme · March 11, 2013, 10:53 PM

Measure the diameter of the barrel. Contender barrels are .810.
If it is larger than that, It's not a Contender.

OkieCruffler · March 11, 2013, 11:43 PM

It's not a factory barrel and if it was shipped in 1985 it's about 23 years too early for an Encore. If it's factory it has to be a TCR and if so it's worth at least twice what a Contender barrel is. But any shmuck with a Contender and a reamer can make a 30-06 barrel. I've seen 2, shot one that was owned by someone I trusted when he said he was the only one who ever loaded for it. I've seen dozens of barrels rechambered to 358, same with 308. A few gun shows ago I ran into a fella with a 45 colt barrel that had been rechambered to 454. The only one I was ever tempted by was a Texas Contender barrel in 8X57 mauser. Very nicely done and honestly with American wimp factory loads was probably safe.

darkgael · March 12, 2013, 06:57 AM

Quote:

It's not a factory barrel and if it was shipped in 1985 it's about 23 years too early for an Encore.

Not 23....maybe 13 years. Twenty-three years would put manufacture at 2008. The Encore appeared in the late 1990's; that is when I bought my first barrel.

Question.: what is a "Texas Contender"? Is it simply a Contender from that state or is it an modified version?

Quote:

8X57 mauser. Very nicely done and honestly with American wimp factory loads was probably safe.

Good chance that is so. SAAMI specs for the 8mm Mauser are 35kpsi, well under the max for the Contender (about 48kpsi for a case head the size of a .30-30. FYI - .454 Casull is at 65kpsi, .308win is at 62k, .30-06 at 60k, .358Win is 52kcup.)
Pete

OkieCruffler · March 12, 2013, 08:49 PM

You caught me, that's what I get for doing math in my head.
Texas Contenders were customs made back in the 70;s but Mr. Frank Kendrick, kind of a pioneer in the field. He made his own barrels and then paired them with TC frames and Fajen stocks to make carbines before TC really got behind the idea. He's been retired for probably 20 years and may have passed on. If you ever find a Texas Contender barre you can rest assured it's a shooter.

March 11, 2013, 12:21 AM	#1
MUGWUMP Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2013 Posts: 1	T/c 30-06 barrel I have read on the forum that a T/C CONTENDER 30-06 barrel does not exist. I'm hear to tell you that I have 'IN MY POSSESSION ' a NEW _ IN _ THE _ BOX T/C 30-06 barrel. Stamped on the barrel THOMPSON CENTER ARMS 30-06 This is in it's original box and packing and bears a shipping date of MAR 1985 [email protected]

March 11, 2013, 11:44 AM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	hoghunting + 1 There is a very good reason why TC came out with the G2's as they now have stronger frames to handle the larger calibers. I really don't see why an after-market would make a Contender barrel in 30-06. .... Please get back to us with more info on the barrel. ... Don't shoot it and; Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

March 11, 2013, 02:47 PM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	bet a dollar it's an Encore barrel... they look very close to the same... ( my fabricator buddy that just bought an Encore, built a fitment gauge to tell the difference at any auctions that might have seperate barrels listed, that he might attend ) the Encore barrels have a slightly bigger diameter pin hole, & measure a little longer from the pin hole to the breach end of the barrel... it doesn't help when people who are supposed to know ( in this case, the auctioneer ) tells everyone "the barrels will fit either the Contender, or the Encore" ... happened at the last auction my buddy asked me to come along & help him out ( he bought his Encore there ) off subject a little, I do have a "real" Contender barrel chambered in 375 Winchester... I'm wondering how rare they might be, as the 375 Winchesters maximum pressures go over what I think the Contender frame is rated at... I know it kicks & blasts more than my 45-70 barrel... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; March 11, 2013 at 03:21 PM.

March 11, 2013, 03:02 PM	#7
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Pressure MGWN: If the date on the box is correct to the barrel, it ain't an Encore. Too early. About the .375 Win. Peak pressure for that cartridge is about 50kCUP....but most loads run 5k to 10k less than that. The Contenders were designed to handle up to 48kpsi, depending on the size of the head of the case and the thrust of the case against the breech. The .375 has the same size case head as the .30-30 Win. (0.4212"), albeit a stronger case. For comparison, the .30-06 has a case head diameter of 0. 4707" For the OP....Does the barrel look like any of these? Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member Last edited by darkgael; March 11, 2013 at 07:14 PM.

March 11, 2013, 03:50 PM	#8
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Good one !! darkgael I see where you are going with this and a pretty good call. Can't wait to see how this rolls out ... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

March 11, 2013, 12:36 AM	#2
jmohme Member Join Date: January 14, 2012 Location: Bastrop Texas Posts: 77	It is probably fits a TC Encore. The Contender can not handle the pressures of a 30-06. The Encore is a larger, heavier version of the Contender and can handle higher preassures.

March 11, 2013, 01:21 AM	#3
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2006 Posts: 1,559	You might have a T/C Contender 30.06 barrel, but it did not come from T/C or their former custom shop Fox Ridge. As stated earlier, the Contender won't handle the pressure of the 30.06, and T/C would not have set themselves up for that type of liability suit. There were after market companies that rechambered barrels in many different calibers that T/C refused to offer, and you may have one of those.

March 11, 2013, 09:04 PM	#9
Gmony.308 Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 47	I Don't know much about a 30-06 barrel for the contender, but I originally shot the contender in a .357 Herrett and the cartridge load was an issue. I was cautioned by the TC pro shop not to exceed a specific powder volume to avoid frame stretch. If that barrel does in fact fit your contender frame and you plan to shoot it I strongly encourage you to contact TC directly for pressure specs. And powder volumes (for your intended powder). DO NOT shoot a factory loaded 30-06 rifle cartridge out of your contender frame, the results could and probably will be disastrous.

March 11, 2013, 10:53 PM	#10
jmohme Member Join Date: January 14, 2012 Location: Bastrop Texas Posts: 77	Measure the diameter of the barrel. Contender barrels are .810. If it is larger than that, It's not a Contender.

March 11, 2013, 11:43 PM	#11
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	It's not a factory barrel and if it was shipped in 1985 it's about 23 years too early for an Encore. If it's factory it has to be a TCR and if so it's worth at least twice what a Contender barrel is. But any shmuck with a Contender and a reamer can make a 30-06 barrel. I've seen 2, shot one that was owned by someone I trusted when he said he was the only one who ever loaded for it. I've seen dozens of barrels rechambered to 358, same with 308. A few gun shows ago I ran into a fella with a 45 colt barrel that had been rechambered to 454. The only one I was ever tempted by was a Texas Contender barrel in 8X57 mauser. Very nicely done and honestly with American wimp factory loads was probably safe.

March 12, 2013, 08:49 PM	#13
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	You caught me, that's what I get for doing math in my head. Texas Contenders were customs made back in the 70;s but Mr. Frank Kendrick, kind of a pioneer in the field. He made his own barrels and then paired them with TC frames and Fajen stocks to make carbines before TC really got behind the idea. He's been retired for probably 20 years and may have passed on. If you ever find a Texas Contender barre you can rest assured it's a shooter.