Current carbine lineup

[FyrepowrX]

Testing a pile of loads in the MGM semi-bull .357mag carbine....most accurate .357 mag i've owned:

https://i.imgur.com/mBUdIfK.jpg

[Julesk]

Nothing like Gerald but I have a couple left. 7MM SGLC Rimmed

https://i.postimg.cc/RVTD1LrJ/7mm-2.jpg

[FyrepowrX]

Jules....chamber for that one basically a 7mm x .307win ? I kind of recall when Layne Simpson did a write up about development of that one a long time ago, and his quest quest to make the SGLC fit in a short action that had been a .224weatherby.

[FyrepowrX]

21" factory barrel in .35rem; back when TC fist announced the contender carbine i ordered barrels in .30/30 and .35rem...cant remember for sure, but it seems like that was about 30 years ago.

anyway, its been with me on a lot of hunts since then. I think back when i first got it, it had a 2x7 up top, but now wears a 1.75-6x.

https://i.imgur.com/Cmb0pe9.jpg

[FyrepowrX]

Testing a pile of hornets last week, in between deer hunts.

The top one is a standard 22 hornet, and i'm not sure why i keep working up loads for it, a very long time ago i found a combination that makes it real happy; it likes 13.0gr Lil Gun , with the old Hornady 45gr Spire Point Hornet bullet, and will do about 1/2 MOA with that load. I keep thinking i'll stumble into some new voodoo magic load with a tipped bullet of around 40 gr that will do as well, but nothing has yet grouped as consistently as my old standard load. It has a vari-x II 4-12x on it.

The middle one is an MGM .17 Ackley Hornet, topped with a Basuch & Lomb Elite 3-10x compact. Maybe my imagination but it seems quieter than the 22hornet barrel, and even after having shot it a few hundred times i'm still intrigued by the lack of movement when the trigger. get pulled...if i dont blink i can watch crows go POOF through the scope, and see black feathers drift down like a ticker-tape parade.

Bottom one is a an MGM 22 K-Hornet, which is the one i've worked with the least. Good part, i've owned a few K-hornets & had lots of loaded stuff i kept after i sold my other ones. Bad part...none of it will chamber in this barrel, seems this one has tighter chamber specs than the factory barrel i had, so i gotta pull 200+ loads, and i HATE pulling bullets. I originally stuck a small scope on there, thinking if i was carrying it around while calling 'yotes i'd never have it turned up past 6x anyway. But, i think that scope will get pulled, and a bit larger glass will go on there.

https://i.imgur.com/fsakiw1.jpg

[J A XSP]

Testing a pile of hornets last week, in between deer hunts.

The top one is a standard 22 hornet, and i'm not sure why i keep working up loads for it, a very long time ago i found a combination that makes it real happy; it likes 13.0gr Lil Gun , with the old Hornady 45gr Spire Point Hornet bullet, and will do about 1/2 MOA with that load. I keep thinking i'll stumble into some new voodoo magic load with a tipped bullet of around 40 gr that will do as well, but nothing has yet grouped as consistently as my old standard load. It has a vari-x II 4-12x on it.



https://i.imgur.com/fsakiw1.jpg
That's the same load I've come up with in a couple different barrels. It's max load and I've worked up to it a few times with lower charges. I remember that pretty much any charge of Lil Gun has been acccurate but everything tightens up when it hits max case capacity.
The 22 Hornet is about the only carbine barrel I've had serious and recurring thoughts about adding to my bunch. Every time I think about a rimfire Contender barrel, I remember that I'm completely covered for 2LR and 22 Mag with bolts and semis. I really love a 223 Contender carbine but my CZ just makes that redundant. I have the Hornet in a Bullberry 10" and it's very cool to shoot but a sleek little carbine set up would be pretty awesome. :cool:

[Julesk]

Jules....chamber for that one basically a 7mm x .307win ? I kind of recall when Layne Simpson did a write up about development of that one a long time ago, and his quest quest to make the SGLC fit in a short action that had been a .224weatherby.

Yes it is but Simpson used a 308win case and his round was too hot for a Contender. A year after his round the 7mm08 came out and that was the end of the SGLC. I now use 7mmJDJ #2 data. I had a load pushing a 140gr Nosler BST over 2550fps and it seemed fine with temps at 40-50 but not so fine at 85. Loads were way too hot. Would be a good round in an Encore for sure. Just wanted something different at the time. If I was to do it over I would have gone with a 7-30 improved.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Testing a pile of hornets last week, in between deer hunts.

The top one is a standard 22 hornet, and i'm not sure why i keep working up loads for it, a very long time ago i found a combination that makes it real happy; it likes 13.0gr Lil Gun , with the old Hornady 45gr Spire Point Hornet bullet, and will do about 1/2 MOA with that load. I keep thinking i'll stumble into some new voodoo magic load with a tipped bullet of around 40 gr that will do as well, but nothing has yet grouped as consistently as my old standard load. It has a vari-x II 4-12x on it.


Have you tried the 40 gr Hornady Vmax? My witchdoctor load is 12.5 grs Lil-Gun and a Remington 6 1/2 primer. Mine is a factory bbl, which is throated long. When I matched my seating depth to the throat, my group shrank in half. When I switched to the Remington 6 1/2 primers, it shrank the group in half again. The primers are non-existent now, but I have a small supply left over that I only use for my Hornet loads.

[FyrepowrX]

Slim...i do have some #6-1/2 primers, and will give those a shot next...i've tried regular small rifle, small rifle magnum, and small pistol magnums, and so far in this one, it didnt seem to matter much. I've used the 6-1/2's in 25/20win & 32/20, so i tried to stash back a few.

On the bullet lineup i did try 40 v-maxs, and 40gr ballistic tips...have not yet tried 40gr Blitzkings though. The 40gr Nolser Varmageddon tipped bullets did OK, going to keep fiddling with this one just because i like the process.

[FyrepowrX]

G, I would be interested in any of that 32-20 data you care to share? I may have bought one of the handloader mags with data, I need to check.

you gots mail heading your way. :thumb:

[Iowa Fox]

Gerald you sure come up with some interesting stuff.

I'm just wondering if you ever had a stainless 221 Custom Shop Encore barrel that you sold. I got one shipped in a Browning shotgun box from someone. Was that you?

[FyrepowrX]

Dont think that one was mine; although i have had & sold a few Encores, the vast majority of my TC addiction is & has been Contenders. I've tried to get used to the feel of Encores and have owned a few, but they just feel a touch too big for me. Dont even have any G2's, i guess after 40 years or so of regular contenders, even the G2's dont feel quite like what i became used to.

[J.Baker]

Don't have any single-shots or anything that I would technically define as a "carbine" - but looking at Webster's definitions and the reference to "use by cavalry" I'd say my Miroku made 1873 Winchester loosely qualifies. For a pistol round she doesn't shoot half bad at 100 yards if I take my time and do my part. Definitely minute of deer in this neck of the woods.

9010

[Kylongrifle]

I lack in the carbine game. Probably because the only butt stock and forearm I have is the black composite set. One day I will get a wood set to try. Pictured is a 20 inch 17 HMR that was rechambered to 17 Ackley Bee. The other is a 18 inch 17Mach2.9062

[HHI6818]

I have a few carbines that my son has claimed his :p and he’s putting them to good use.
Also have 21 inch factory 22 match chamber and a 21 inch 6 TCU that I couldn’t find pictures of


MGM 21 inch 357 Mag

https://i.postimg.cc/yYQ0dW2G/IMG-2938.jpg (https://postimg.cc/SJ9n1QSL)

Encore MGM 24 inch 445 SM

https://i.postimg.cc/MpJ0Nsr7/B7931DFC-EC17-4720-B039-3A361387F6DE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/N5brrxtF)


Encore SSK 17 in 257 JDJ

https://i.postimg.cc/1R2ttXv3/3BF826C5-645B-4BEB-939E-24E60A1790C2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PNbhVXGg)


Contender SSK 16 1/4 375 JDJ

https://i.postimg.cc/Qx7cV4qR/70F7D939-3741-4BE4-B1EE-E41DF036CA56.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ykVDbTtP)

[FyrepowrX]

16" OTT carbine, .30reece (.30x357mag)

https://i.imgur.com/E97eD3O.jpg

[FyrepowrX]

21" tapered 5.7x28 carbine, by MGM, wearing a 3-9xAO-EFR

https://i.imgur.com/qDoG6Lp.jpg

[FyrepowrX]

tapered .32mag in tupperware , back when it was wearing Williams peep sights...4#, 4oz.

https://i.imgur.com/Ure7bPT.jpg

[FyrepowrX]

20" bull in .358JDJ...didnt have time to do load development on this one before deer season, formed some cases & will start on that this week.
Glass is a 1.75-6x.

https://i.imgur.com/clQNOlQ.jpg

[BT]

16" OTT carbine, .30reece (.30x357mag)

https://i.imgur.com/E97eD3O.jpg

What is the velocity of the .30 Reece and which bullets do you prefer?