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View Full Version : WOW! What a morning!



Jim
02-11-2012, 04:22 PM
I got a call from the local 'Mom & Pop' gunshop this morning. Ms. Jeanette wanted to know if I had time to drive out and come see them. "Yes Ma'am, I can do that." She said she had a surprise for me. OK.

I walked in, hugged Ms. Jeanette, shook Harold's hand and he handed me a box. "This is for you." So, I sat down, pulled out my pocket knife and proceeded to skin it.

In the box was a Thompson Center Contender fitted with a ported stainless steel bull barrel in .223 Remington and a Leupold 4X pistol scope. There was a note in the box from a friend to the effect that this gun is a gift for me on the stipulation that I never dispose of it but leave it to my heirs.

Guys, I'm Irish by decent and it ain't easy to catch me at a loss for words. I sure got caught at a loss for words that time, though.

Gran'daddy used to say "It don't take long to figger out who ya' friends are."

Thank you, buddy. I 'preciate it.

Now I gotta' get some dies and brass!

ph4570
02-11-2012, 04:40 PM
Wow!!

JeffinNZ
02-11-2012, 04:43 PM
Amazing Jim. Those 'coons are toast now.

stubshaft
02-11-2012, 06:02 PM
Good for you Jim.

Jim Flinchbaugh
02-11-2012, 06:08 PM
Wow, that's like 2 this weeks isn't lit?
You must a be an alright guy!

Jim
02-11-2012, 06:34 PM
Amazing Jim. Those 'coons are toast now.

Oh, buddy, don't you know it!

And I can carry it in my purse! :bigsmyl2:

Blacksmith
02-11-2012, 06:49 PM
Jim

Now you will be infected with Contenderits and always will need just one more barrel in one more caliber then need the dies, molds, and components to support it. Here is a link to Bullberry's list of Contender calibers to get you started:
http://www.bullberry.com/TCbarrels.html

You will enjoy it, my favorite is a .45-70 with muzzel brake because it gets everyones attention.

pmeisel
02-11-2012, 07:12 PM
Wow indeed. Enjoy!

Jim
02-11-2012, 07:16 PM
Blacksmith, that's just wrong, man. I ain't even loaded the first round in it, nevermind fired it, and you're ALREADY helpin' me spend my money!

That's just wrong, man! :bigsmyl2: [smilie=s:

Hamish
02-11-2012, 07:18 PM
Pictures or it never happened?:kidding:

In everyman's life there are but a handful of moments that can be spoken of, but explain the moment about as well as saying "metal bird" trying to explain a P51 Mustang.

:drinks:

GRUMPA
02-11-2012, 07:22 PM
Jim,

If I send you my address can you send me that 4 leaf clover you seem to be carrying around with you?

Blacksmith
02-11-2012, 08:46 PM
Jim,

There is a Contender barrel on Swappin & Selling. OH OH!
OTT 7x444 contender barrel

bowfin
02-11-2012, 08:55 PM
I guess you will have to live with this day (and that Contender) for the rest of your life.:2_high5:

Here's hoping you never get over it!:wink:

stubshaft
02-11-2012, 09:09 PM
Don't ever shoot it Jim!

It is just as addicting as pouring hot metal into a mold. I can testify to that!

I started out with only one and they have multiplied to 18! and that doesn't include the Encores.

Blacksmith
02-11-2012, 09:50 PM
Stubshaft
Is that 18 Contenders or 18 barrels?

Yea I had to get an Encore also. Jim the Encore can handle some calibers the Contender can't. Here is a list of additional Encore calibers: http://www.bullberry.com/encore.html

Jim
02-11-2012, 10:16 PM
Man! You guys are rough, y'all know that?

I'll get up a photo or two when I get it home. The 4473 was held up over a silly moving violation that dates back to August of '09. It will probably come home Monday.

canyon-ghost
02-11-2012, 10:23 PM
Jim, welcome to the ranks of Contender shooters! Nothing like owning The Ultimate Hunting Handgun! You're gonna love it, especially scoped out! They are like the only gun that outshoots you and makes you love it.

The downside- when you miss, you can't blame the gun! (dang it!)

Good Luck,
Ron

x101airborne
02-11-2012, 11:15 PM
UNCLE Jim..... You know I have always wanted one of those........

Jim
02-11-2012, 11:37 PM
The line forms on the left, Airborne.

ErikO
02-11-2012, 11:57 PM
Very nice! Now you'll need yet more dies and molds for the additional calibers that you can shoot. Contenders are fun to shoot no matter which barrel you have on them.

MBTcustom
02-12-2012, 12:02 AM
Hey Jim, If you need some brass for that gun, I have three lifetimes supply of 5.56 military brass from the 1970's. All of it is once fired. If that might work for you, send me a PM and we can work something out.:drinks:

runfiverun
02-12-2012, 01:42 AM
i hear about 7- 8 grs unique under the rcbs 55-sp does real well in one of those.

marshall623
02-12-2012, 02:01 AM
A 7-30 Waters shoots boolits very well, 30-30 is a super boolit choice as well, then you need a 22 LR that is just plain fun. thats just some ideas . Mine Graduation present from HS was a super 14 in 223 /W 4X burris on it . Trust me that 223 is deadly
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/marshall623/0611111621a_207188.jpg
That was 55 gr sierras over IMR 4198 and I put the burris on my 22 and the 223 wears a 2X6 bushy elite. I hope you enjoy That was a mighty fine gift your friend sent you Tim

gandydancer
02-12-2012, 02:09 AM
what did you step in? in the last few weeks? GD

firefly1957
02-12-2012, 11:46 AM
That is great but now you will have to look into swaging your own bullets for it from spent 22 cases!

Jim
02-12-2012, 11:56 AM
That is great but now you will have to look into swaging your own bullets for it from spent 22 cases!

I kinda' doubt I'll be doing enough shooting to justify the time and financial investment in that.

I am, however, looking for a source for a few hundred (at a time) cast boolits in about 40 grain weight. I'd rather buy or trade for them from a forum member than buy a mold and cast them myself.

Haggway
02-12-2012, 12:31 PM
My dad gave me one in 22 lr for my 18 b-day. If I had know what that bug would cause me to become, I would have never asked for it. Right now I am remission, but I still hear the call to bu another barrel, or another frame.

Enjoy

lbaize3
02-12-2012, 01:53 PM
Jim, ya just gotta try that there 7-30 Waters. I'll even send you some 30-30 brass or fire formed 7-30 to get you started. You can use a 100 to 120 grain J-word bullet and just vaporize them coons. With a cast 145 grain GC boolit you will enjoy the accuracy and range time spent with that combination.

Jim
02-12-2012, 02:03 PM
That diameter is way too big for shootin' 'coons. To start with, it would tear up the head and we wouldn't be able to sell the pelts. Furthermore, right now, I don't have the finances to invest in a second barrel.

Ideally, a light weight (40 or so) 22 boolit at subsonic velocity would not only instantly switch the lights off for Mr. Ringtail, it would be a relatively quiet round. We're not trying to avoid being discovered, we just don't like loud reports in the woods after dark. Some of the dogs are still puppies in training and loud shots are not user friendly toward that.

Please, don't misunderstand me. I'm very grateful for the offer, but I can't go that direction right now.

pmeisel
02-12-2012, 09:50 PM
Quiet is good. I've recently fallen in love with 22 CB Shorts for that reason.

firefly1957
02-12-2012, 10:12 PM
Jim are you determined to use cast boolits I have swaged 22 bullets for low velocity with a musket cap for a jacket. I load them to around 1750 (10grs SR-47590) right now I am out of spent musket caps but may be able to use 40 ga. copper if you are interested let me know. I will have to work on it a bit.

Jim
02-12-2012, 10:27 PM
1750 is about twice the velocity I want. Remember, we're shootin' 20 lb. animals at 60 feet up. A head shot between the eyes on in the ear with a .22 short is instantly terminal. My goal is to develop a load with a cast boolit at the slowest subsonic velocity possible and still maintain 'minute of 'coon head' accuracy.

A round that develops enough blast to require hearing protection would get me barred for life from these guys I hunt with. Think 'Brylcream'.

Az Rick
02-12-2012, 10:43 PM
Jim, a .357Max barrel is a must!....

So is .22Hornet and a .22lr Match, you might want to look into...........

Best,

Norbrat
02-13-2012, 12:48 AM
1750 is about twice the velocity I want. Remember, we're shootin' 20 lb. animals at 60 feet up. A head shot between the eyes on in the ear with a .22 short is instantly terminal. My goal is to develop a load with a cast boolit at the slowest subsonic velocity possible and still maintain 'minute of 'coon head' accuracy.

A round that develops enough blast to require hearing protection would get me barred for life from these guys I hunt with. Think 'Brylcream'.

Another option might be a .223/22LR adaptor. I have one for my 222 Rem and it works fine.

292
02-13-2012, 07:07 AM
Just goes to show, good things happen to good people.

41 mag fan
02-13-2012, 08:32 AM
Just goes to show, good things happen to good people.


I must not be a good person.....I've never had that kind of luck.

Jim
02-13-2012, 09:15 AM
I like days that start off good. I logged in this morning to find a PM in my box.

What address should I send one of my spare sets of dies to??

I've gotten my panties in a wad a few times over the years here, but I always come back. That PM is an example of one of the many reasons why. Kinda' like brothers, we fight amongst each other from time to time, but we stick together.

Thank you, my friend. I will most certainly think of you when I drop the hammer on the first round out of those dies.

firefly1957
02-13-2012, 10:25 AM
Jim I am glad you came back you are a positive influence on this group .

My load @ 1750 was not a suggestion it is just what I use as a reduced noise load It has a second problem while that jacket peels off doing major damage and not exiting a coon shot though the ribs side to side the core is hard alloy and penetrates like you would not believe. it would not be a good choice for shooting coons from a tree but I may be working with 40 ga copper and a soft core soon might even make a different point forming die this summer. I do not have all my book marks on this computer there is a group that has .223 loads to very low velocity I will try to post it when I am home tonight.

Jim
02-13-2012, 12:06 PM
Now we're gettin' on the same page.

The object, regardless of how it's achieved, it to hit the 'coon in the head with a projectile that will cause as little external damage as possible. We want a good, marketable pelt. An entrance and exit wound is not an issue. A big exit wound is. You ship a pelt with a hole in it bigger than a pencil and they won't pay you. They don't even send it back. You get a post card that says "Product unusable. Rejected."

A second, but not quite as important, objective is to do it with as little report as possible. Like I said earlier, we're not trying to be sneaky. We just don't want to be makin' noise that sounds like somebody lightin' off a .270.

Complicate that with trying to do it with a 12 inch barrel .223 firearm and it gets tricky. Not impossible, certainly, but tricky.

marshall623
02-13-2012, 01:16 PM
If the barrel is ported will , cast clog up the ports and hurt accuracy . I not sure myself but have heard dicussion about the subject both pros and cons

smoked turkey
02-13-2012, 03:41 PM
Jim: Congratulations on your new game getter. More important than that is the fact that you are the kind of fella that got it in this way. Most of the time we have to pay for what we get. You did on this too. You just use a different form of currency. Good job.

firefly1957
02-13-2012, 03:56 PM
Okay I am home Jim this is a link with low velosity loads for 223 in a rifle I am sure cast bullets would have about the same speeds but not sure what will happen out of your 14" barrel MY GUESS is you will be about the same speed as that pistol powder burns quick! Another thing to note if it matters to you is with low pressure loads you can substitute small pistol primers for small rifle primers.
http://www.accuratereloading.com/223rem.html

Norbrat
02-13-2012, 05:34 PM
For a low velocity load, try starting with about 5gns of Trail Boss, and tweak it from there.

exile
02-13-2012, 05:46 PM
Now that is a good day. Wonderful friends, nice too to have a gunshop where you feel at home.

dragonrider
02-13-2012, 08:42 PM
I gotta find better friends, I had to buy my own [smilie=l: Mine is a 10" and it was the first barrel I got, I have since aquired others, but you are going to love that one.

Jim
02-13-2012, 09:06 PM
I just started a thread (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1589027#post1589027) in 'Pistols, wheelguns & handcannons' on some loads I'm thinking of. Y'all wanna follow me over there and let's do a little cussin' an' discussin'?