Rechamber 7.62x39 Encore barrel to???

[Hog Farm]

This is a 21" custom shop heavy barrel. Haven't shot it much, but its not terrible for sure. It wore a red dot most of the time I have had it. Main problem is it takes two to three strikes to get cheap steel case ammo to fire.

So, what to rechamber it to? 308? 300 Savage?

[Hackleback]

Depending on bore dia., if .311-13, 303 Brit or 7.65x54

[BK7saum]

Really does depend on whether groove diameter is 0.308" or 0.312+/-.

[Hog Farm]

I like the rim on those for use in a single shot, but I suspect it has a .308" bore since its made by T/C

[crawfobj]

Would a stronger hammer spring work?

[Hog Farm]

Stronger hammer spring may help. I didn't have a problem with it firing steel case about six years ago, but I only tried about two in it that someone left at a public range. The misfires with steel case ammo began with my frame about a year ago. (Didn't try any in the previous five) Just today I tried the barrel on a friends frame. This is a new frame and the problem happens on it as well. I have a true bull barrel that usually shoots about 1/2 MOA on my frame. At this point, I would rather rechamber or sell the barrel, than mess with this frame.

The misfires only occur with steel case ammo.

[AkMike]

Why not keep it and stop shooting the cheap steel ammo.
Load your own with real primers seated in real brass shells!

[colt1960]

7.62 x 39 barrels are in demand. I would sell it and buy the cal. barrel you would like to have.

[MT Gianni]

Another vote to shoot it with cast and sell the cheap steel cased ammo.

[BK7saum]

Have you checked the head space on the steel cased ammo. My thoughts are that it may. Well below saami spec And the entire case sits too far forward in the chamber to reliable reliably fire.
my point is, this is probably not even a barrel issue, but and ammo issue.

[tunnug]

If you decide to sell, I'd be one of the interested.
Like previous mentioned, load for it or go higher quality, my mini 30 refuses to set off steel but absolutely no problem with brass.

[crawfobj]

The mini 30 I had for a while was fine with steel after I changed to a heavier spring.

[MT Gianni]

The Handi-Rifles in 7.62x39 have the same issue. It is not a hammer fall strength/spring issue but the military ammo as I understand it.

[smoked turkey]

I think it would be a shame to rechamber such an accurate barrel and in a caliber that is fairly popular now. I am with the others in saying to try some real ammo before you make the decision to rechamber. I too would like to try this caliber on my Encore if given the chance. If you decide to sell please give those of us on here an opportunity to buy at our swappin and sellin section.

[Hog Farm]

Hello everyone. I went over to the swapping and selling and read the rules. Seems like we are gonna have to be patient. I'm not to my 25 posts yet and I'm not finished with my 30 days probation here. Then at the 30 day point, the posts for some new brass I gave away in a pay it forward will go away. I need to be sure to be over the 25 posts by then.

More clarification. This barrel fired three boxes of federal factory ammo fine. I don't think there is a headspace issue. It fired about a dozen hand loads last Sunday just fine.

This is a T/C custom shop heavy barrel. The 1/2 MOA bull barrel I mentioned above was not made by T/C.

Part of the attraction of this barrel for me was the potential to use cheap ammo. At this point I don't think it has fired 20 rounds of steel case ammo.

I'm not quite ready to trade it for paper yet, but would think about other barrels or...?
Gonna be a long thirty days. I've got a 6.5 Creedmoor I'm ready to part with too. I guess if I get really impatient, there is still gun broke er.

[Hog Farm]

BK7saum, how would I "check the headspace" on the steel case ammo?

Thanks

[BK7saum]

What I meant by that is to check the case head to shoulder measurement against that of known functioning ammunition. I use the hornady comparator to obtain those measurements.

You could probably take a 38 special case, place it over the bullet/case neck and measure with calipers. If the measurement is shorter for the steel cased ammo, that will contribute to your misfire problems

[Hog Farm]

I see! I really like home made tools! It would measure some random point on the shoulder of the case, but would be quick and easy for comparing the two.

The foreign steel case ammo goes bang first time, every time in the foreign firearms it was made for. Like peas in a pod.

I am still leaning toward rechambering or trading this barrel.

[Echd]

I would heavily encourage you to trade over rechambering- I think you will be time and money ahead in the long run. x39 is an excellent cast cartridge.

[Multigunner]

Perhaps a longer firing pin might help. That or a firing pin with a smaller radius at the tip.

[Pinsnscrews]

Before you make any further decisions, go to http://www.bellmtcs.com

He has a very interesting discussion on Head Space and how it has a very different effect in a TC single shot versus a bolt action. He also has recommendations on alternative chamberings, as well as doing the chamber work.

[Ken TN]

To check the headspace on a T/C product you need to read the info on the BELLM TC site. He explains headspace and how to measure using a feeler gauge. He also has heavy springs to help correct this very problem. The headspace slows the round to be pushed forward into the chamber and does not transfer all the energy to the primer. Easy fix, heavy spring and or shim the cup that the firing pin sit in.

I've used many of his products to fix Contenders and Encores that were not working properly.

Don't give up so easy, these are great guns and you just have to know how they work to make them do their job.

Ken

[WolfTrap]

30 Rocket or 30 Merrill?
XL Pistol has the reamers.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Before you make any further decisions, go to http://www.bellmtcs.com

He has a very interesting discussion on Head Space and how it has a very different effect in a TC single shot versus a bolt action. He also has recommendations on alternative chamberings, as well as doing the chamber work.

What he said! This site is a wealth of information and will show you how to set the headspace up properly. You may have to adjust the breech face to adjust the headspace to suit the ammunition.

If it is a 311 bore, a 303Epps would be a nice conversion, but as the 7.62x39 barrels are in demand, I think selling it and getting exactly what you want would be better.

One nice setup is a 308 Barrel, with a rim recess cut into to take a 444Marlin case necked down to 30cal. Same body as a 308, but offers a lot of advantages over the rimless case. With this set up, the barrel will still take 308W ammo, but you just have to eject the case using the rim of the next one you are about to load. Check out Mike Belm's site and read all about it!

[Four Fingers of Death]

Duplicate post, sorry, disobedient computer

[MT Gianni]

To check the headspace on a T/C product you need to read the info on the BELLM TC site. He explains headspace and how to measure using a feeler gauge. He also has heavy springs to help correct this very problem. The headspace slows the round to be pushed forward into the chamber and does not transfer all the energy to the primer. Easy fix, heavy spring and or shim the cup that the firing pin sit in.

I've used many of his products to fix Contenders and Encores that were not working properly.

Don't give up so easy, these are great guns and you just have to know how they work to make them do their job.

Ken
Mr Bell makes excellent points with reloading brass to ensure proper headspace. The OP has an issue with factory military ammo.

[kens]

I converted a '98 Mauser to 7.62x39 with a new barrel.
I never could get it to feed reliably, and got tired of it.
I slugged it and found it to be a .308 barrel bore.
The next size chamber up (for .308 bore) is a .30 BR (bench rest). This would clean out all of the old x39 chamber and give me a new caliber.
However, I have tried boolits in this barrel and it is promising, even if it is finaky to feed out of the magazine.

[joebrotch]

Dot sell your barrel, the problem with surplus ammo is that primers are hard but the other more problematic issue is primers are set deeper in the cartridge base and light strikes are the culprit. This is a common problem with AR15 rifles chambered in 7.62x39 and the solution is machining .010"-.015" off the firing pin stop to get .010"-.015" more firing pin protrusion.

The cartridge is extremely accurate with a good barrel and handloads, especially if .308 bore and you use the wider availability of good high BC 308 bullets.

I built a Czechoslovakian VZ24 rifle with a Krieger 26" .308 bore 1x10" twist, chambered in 7.62x39mm Lapua last year and adapted Romanian single stack mags to the trigger guard with an AK style latch, made a forward located ejector and 1.25" spacer extended bolt stop, it feeds smooth as silk and its my preferred military sporter rifle for prone silhouette shooting out to 500 meters. I'm shooting mostly 135 sierra Matchkings and 155 Lapua match bullets.


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