Well the wait is over: 15 weeks and I finally received my Bullberry bull 20" x 1" 223 barrel. I have to say - they do a very nice job. If this barrel shoots as well as it looks - I think I will have a winner. I also had Bullberry make up a 12" X 2" Target forearm. I will install a V24 - 6 X 20 power scope on this little unit. Will post a picture of the TC Encore with the new forearm and barrel and a picture of the groups it gets at 100 yards. (If the dang wind - ever stops blowing - ) (Its only gusting from 35 to 40 mph today - what the heck am I complaining about )

Well - took the weapon out to the range - low wind

Do I need to say more. Just poping off some rounds at 100 yards - what a barrel. !!! Will still have to post groups picture of TC -

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Coyote. Thats a sweet lookin rig. Looks like they've done a top notch job. I like that long forearm. I've never heard anything bad about Bullberry that probably explains their backlog.

I've had pretty decent accuracy out of the factory 23" 17 HMR barrel I've been playing with. I gave it a good cleaning with JB bore paste then, JB every 10 rounds for the first 100. I've popped some big blackbirds at around 50 yards with the 17 HMR ( Hornady V MAX ) makes a big poof of feathers with not much bird left. I'll have to try some different types of ammo to see what she prefers.

Flak 2 - Thanks, I had the 26" heavy barrel but I love short barrels. With that 12" forearm - I also think it looks pretty cool. I was also thinking of purchasing a 17 HMR bullberry barrel. They just cost a lot of money. But it would be fun to have a full 1" barrel with that little 17 cal. hole in it. I really hate to change barrels from the frame so I would have to purchase a new Encore frame............geeewhizzzzzzzz........where does it end?

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Don't cry Because it's over -
SMILE because it Happened
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I've gotta new stainless Encore rifle frame with the plastic stock sitting here. All my stuff is old Contender or new G2 contender. I have'nt decided on what caliber barrel I'll pick up for it yet.

I've been busy working up some Scooby snacks for Groundhogs. Reduced loads in 223. I've had some good luck with 8. grains of Blue Dot and Hornady 52 gr. BT-HP Match bullets. I use cases fireformed to my 23" 223 Contender chamber then just neck size only with no crimp and bullets seated to the rifling. They print some nice groups in my set up. Almost makes me feel like I'm a good shot

I use reduced loads hunting at a few places close to the house to keep noise and velocity down. There kinda like light 22 Hornet loads ( probably 2200-2300 fps.) and brass life is good also.

I've been looking for a used Contender Carbine barrel in 17 Mach IV. Something about the necked down 221 Fireball to 17 I'd like to play with. I think a few Smiths will ream a factory 17 HMR barrel chamber to 17 Mach IV and add the 223 ejector.

FLak-

Have you chronographed that bluedot load? The only reason I ask is that I used to shoot a lot of bluedot loads in my 14" contender 223 and found that they were usually slower out of my 26" barrel than they were out of the 14" barrel. I used 12.5gr of bluedot and a 50gr SP for 2550fps, this is on the hot side for bluedot loads. I would be surprized if you were getting 2200fps out of an 8gr load.

I worked up a series of bluedot loads for my 18" barreled 222 and here were my results.

45gr Hornet bullet
5.ogr=1300fps
8.0gr=1700fps
11.5gr=2500fps

You really gotta love those bluedot loads, quiet, accurate, and shoot like a 22 WMR. I used to shoot a lot of those bluedot loads for animal damage work shooting coons inside barns and around livestock.