Load for TC contender Encore

sdhunter8 · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:52 pm Post subject: Load for TC contender Encore

I just bought a TC Encore in 7MM-08, 10 inch barrel. I am having a hard time finding reloading information. Can anyone help me out.

Vince · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

sdhunter8 wrote:

I just bought a TC Encore in 7MM-08, 10 inch barrel. I am having a hard time finding reloading information. Can anyone help me out.

Gidday sdhunter8. Have a look at this link for loads for your Encore.

7MM-08 Pistol loads

The powders are Australian powders but they are sold in the US by Hogdon. It is difficult to search out what they are called over there. Have a look at the Powder Equivalent page in the ADI website:

Powder Equivalents

you will be able to work out the Hogdon designation for the various powders. For instance AR2208 is called Varget over there.

Good luck,

Vince

Flint54 · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:44 am Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

Welcome sdhunter8, I am a Contender fan and have used them for quite a number of years. I would suggest that you use the faster powders as you only have the 10" barrel, it is going to be a very inefficient barrel legnth for the 7mm08. In addition you may be well off using bullets in the 120 - 130 gr weight. I shoot the 7mmTCU and the 7-30 in the Contender and the 120gr Nosler BT is my favorite, it does very well on whitetail out to 200 yards when pushed out the muzzle at 2200 - 2400 fps. This should be attainable in your 10" but your muzzle flash may require you to wear a flash hood as the British Navy wears durning GQ!!! Razz

Vince · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:02 am Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

Flint54 wrote:

This should be attainable in your 10" but your muzzle flash may require you to wear a flash hood as the British Navy wears durning GQ!!! Razz

Reminds me of my 10 BBL Contender in 30.30. I put together some pretty solid loads for the IHMSA match. During testing and zeroing of these loads I was shooting prone and noticed a semi circle of pressure waves building in the dirt in front of me. When I had finished the waves were about a yard in diameter, about 1/8th of an inch high, separated by about an inch and they spread out for about a yard in front of me! Shocked

It was only when I fired these loads after dark I figured that maybe the loads were a little hot.......
I was almost blinded by the fireball that came out the front of the barrel, it was AWESOME wtf

......and these loads were within safety margins and comfortable to shoot.....just used a powder that was a little slow. Went to a faster powder, dropped the load to 23 grains from 31 grains and it was great.

Very spectacular though. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

sdhunter8 · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

In other words I should trade off 10 inch barrel and get a 15 inch barrel. Looks like most of the loading data is for the 15" barrel anyway. I use to have a 7MM TCU and it was a blast to shoot. Thanks for the info guys.

Vince · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:13 am Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

sdhunter8 wrote:

In other words I should trade off 10 inch barrel and get a 15 inch barrel. Looks like most of the loading data is for the 15" barrel anyway. I use to have a 7MM TCU and it was a blast to shoot. Thanks for the info guys.

Not familiar with the 7mm-08 in the Contender, however I found that the 30.30 in a 10" barrel was ok assuming you loaded using the appropriate powders. I used AR2207, which is the equivalent to Hogdons H4198, and it was nice and comfortable to shoot, but still strong enough to flatten the rams at 200 yds.

Unless you feel particularly inclined to go to the longer barrel I wouldn't, but then again nothing wrong with having one of each Very Happy

...more versatility.....and fun.

Cheers, Vince

Flint54 · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

I'm not saying that you need a new barrel, just don't expect the velocities listed to be attainable in your 10". Also you will have a bit more muzzle blast. The 10" will work but as with all rifle cartridges there is an optimum legnth for efficiency, this is normally around 22 - 26" for most. Even a 15" looses efficiency and requires the use of faster burning powders to work at its best. I have a 10", 14" & 21" barrel in 7MM TCU for my Contender, the 14" is the most accurate and the 21" shows very little gain in velocity over the 14" with some loads I can only gain @ 75-100 fps so I believe that the cartridge was intended for the shorter barrels. Cool

jameslee · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

My 7mm08 is a 15" barrel and the load that works for it is: Varget 42.5grs Sierra 130gr ssp bullet, Federal 210 primers, and Win brass. From the bench if I do my part it will shoot half inch groups at 100yds, good shooting , JIM Pistol Shooting

jameslee · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Load for TC contender Encore

My 7mm08 is a 15" barrel and the load that works for it is: Varget 42.5grs Sierra 130gr ssp bullet, Federal 210 primers, and Win brass. From the bench if I do my part it will shoot half inch groups at 100yds, good shooting , JIM Pistol Shooting