ihmsa forums

Decided to go the 7x30 waters route. Big but not too big and an oldie but goodie. Located a 14 inch barrel. Thanks.


Hey guys and gals,
So I've decided to take the recommendation of Richard Pickering to heart and go with a 7tcu. Who among you has a barrel for sale? 10", blued bull with iron sights and preferably with a split barrel lug/bolt, wooden forend and still has life in it? Thanks.



My original post:
I used to shoot the steel back in the early 80's while living in Idaho Falls. I was lucky enough to shoot at the Elgin Gates memorial internationals back then and had a blast. Unfortunately fate dealt me an unkind blow and the family and I ended up moving to Colorado and selling all my guns for needed cash.

Now at 54 I'm wanting to get back into silhouettes after a 30+ year layoff. I shot my one and only 40x40 at the Arco, Idaho range with cast bullets, 180 grain gas check from a ten inch .357 mag contender, back when my eyes were good, so I'm a bit partial to the .357.

Recently, I located an old contender frame at a pawn shop in Durango with a wooden grip and ended up walking out the door with a 149xxx serial numbered frame for $175 which seemed like a fairly good deal to me. I checked it out as thoroughly as I know how and it functioned great.

I had to sell a bow and sweet talk the wife, but now I've scraped up $200 dollars to hopefully buy a blued bull barrel with sights chambered for .357 mag or .44 mag.

I plan on shooting at the Pueblo Colorado range hopefully in March of this year.

So how about it ladies and gents? Anyone have a barrel kicking around they ain't really got a need for to help a brother out?

I'm needing a barrel, .357 or .44 mag, preferably 10 inch, with sights, blued and bulled, preferably with the 2 piece split style bolt as opposed to the one piece and an old wooden forend to fit on that contender frame (I'm missing the barrel hinge pin too but can purchase a new one on the net for ten bux).

None of these parts need be in immaculate shape, I'm just looking for something to get me started again and a barrel that's not completely shot out. Will be doing cast bullets only.

Am crossing my fingers that $200 can get this done.

Thanks.

I'm going to go against the grain a bit. I don't think you'll enjoy the recoil of a 10'' 44Mag. Secondly, as much as you may have fond memories of the 357Mag (and while it is usable), I'm going to suggest you look into a 7mm TCU barrel before you spend your cash. There are lots of 7s around and finding one should not be a problem. I can send you a hinge pin if you can get me your address. RP

Ok Richard, I will take you're advice. I'm not as young as I use to be and you're probably right, I won't like the recoil of a .44...I do still have dies for a tcu. I tried it along time ago and quit shooting it cause I couldn't keep the gas check on the cast bullet. I noticed that some of the bullets would carry the check to the target and some would not, thus it was making for some very inconsistent grouping. I was using only military brass however so perhaps commercial brass is in order. Never the less, I think I should try it again. I will edit my post. By the way thank you for the hinge pin brother. my address is 1110 7th street, Del Norte, CO 81132. The name is Lyle Tuoti.

The hinge pin will be mailed soon. I'm ''not as young as I once was'' either. I briefly had a .44 barrel. I still have a .357 barrel---which I still like. I hope your second adventure into the 7-tcu will be more productive. I do believe using commercial cases would be an advantage. I sort out the commercial 556 for 7s and hold the others for their intended use. rp

I see you found a 14'' 7-30 barrel. Now you can shoot Unlimited with open sights; Unlimited (Any sights) using a scope, You could also enter the Half -Size events.
I don't know if you can get away with Standing Unlimited using it. Most times a braked barrel is an advantage for that due to the desire to avoid being smacked in the nose if you were to hold it close using a rifle scope. You could do it with the traditional hold but the 14'' barrel might begin to show a lot of shaking after 40 shots.
The hinge pin should arrive in a few days. Maybe at some time you can help another shooter. Best Regards. Richard

Lyle Tuoti been a long time sense I have heard that name.