T/C Encore, 460 S&W

[BABore]

Anybody have a factory T/C Enore bbl in 460 S&W Mag? I'm wondering how they did the throat and if it has a notorious T/C freebore.

[lathesmith]

I've got one of those 460's in a 20" carbine, but to be honest I haven't done any serious measuring on it or anything. All I've really tried with it is a few 45 Colt loads, which worked great for plinking. As far as the throat though...a guy would almost need to Cerrosafe it to get the info that you're looking for, although seating a slug out of the case a bit might also be useful.
lathesmith

[BABore]

Or seating a flat based boolit backwards, til the action just shuts is a good, quick way.

[BABore]

Here's a reply I got back on another site;


Trying that with a 300 gr XTP was trickier than I thought. The throat is longer than it appears. As far as I can tell, the throat is .515" long. Total cartridge length was 2.281 inches. The throat doesn't look that long but it looks like they copied a revolver forcing cone. I got the bullet stuck in the throat a few times trying to verify. It was repeatable and consistant when I ran the case and bullet home and tapped the barrel perimeter above the chamber before pulling it out.

[lathesmith]

That's more or less what I would expect, I'll try and pull that barrel out here in the next few days and see how far out of the case a backwards-loaded slug will go in. I don't have anything jacketed, but lead should do just fine.
lathesmith

BTW, a local shop had one of those 460 SS 20" carbine barrels a while back for $200... a good deal, I thought.

[BABore]

Right now T/C has $50 consumer rebates on all barrels. $150 on their Icon bolt rifle. I can still buy barrels at dealer pricing from a couple place I used to deal with when I had an FFL. A new blued 15" pistol bbl is running $208. Minus the rebate, $158 for a bbl is a deal. Too bad that it has such a freebore. I'll have to pass on the 460 as cast will never shoot well with such a run in. At least at any meaningful velocity.

[stubshaft]

You got me curious so I pulled mine out and measured it. From the case neck to the leade it measures .247". Not too bad.

[lathesmith]

After checking mine today with a couple of slugs, I'd say it's about like their 357 max chambering; there is at least .400" between the case ends and where a slug begins to engage the rifling.
lathesmith

[bearcove]

Don't get a 460 barrel. Get a 454 or 45 colt. Rechamber to 460 without the forcing cone, just a proper throat. TC is to stupid and worried about liability to do it right.

[BABore]

Good idea, except T/C doesn't currently offer a 454 and the 45 Colt is also set up for the 410. I could go through their custom shop, but that would defeat the purpose of the current $50 rebate. I would just get a 45-70 bbl, but I wanted this one for Michigan's shotgun only hunting zones. Only straight walled pistol cases are allowed. Only good option would be going with a Bulberry, MGM, or OTT bbl at twice the price. I guess the 480 Ruger will have to work for me. It's 200 yard capable.