Thompson Center G2 barrel question

[jkmo]

I have a Thompson Center G2 Contender rifle in 22. I really like it and want to get a barrel for it for deer hunting and coyotes. They make just a few calibers suitable for deer hunting that I 'm not too crazy about. I really want a barrel in 243 for it but they don't make that one.

I wonder if it would be worth it to have a gunsmith bore out a 223 or other size barrel?

Would it be worth it? What barrel that they make for it now would be the best barrel to bore out?

Has anyone shot the G@ with a 30-30 barrel ot 30 Waters? Thanks

 

[Smith357]

boring out any Contender barrel to make a .243 is dangerous. there will not be enough steel left to contain the pressures involved. If you must have a .243 get an Encore. Look at one of the many custom barrel makers like Bullberry for a barrel in good deer calibers, they make just about anything that will work safely with the amount of steel they have to work with.

6mm TCU is a necked up .223 and it may be a little weak for deer sized game, the 6mm Bullberry will give near .243 performance in a Contender and is a necked down .30-30

 

[H Richard]

Smith 357 told you correctly, the G2 action will not be adaptable to a high pressure cartridge such as the .243. They specifically made the Encore model for this purpose, and it works well. With the G2, you might consider the 7X30 Waters for deer. 30-30 case reformed with the shoulder blown forward considerably and necked down to 7mm. I can tell you that in a 14" handgun barrel it will send a 130 gr. bullet out at over 2200 FPS, and from a much longer rifle barrel will be well above a 30-30, and could be a pretty decent woods deer cartridge. Rounds I believe are still commercially available.

 

[jkmo]

Thanks for the replys.

New question. Of the barrels available got the G2 Contender Rifle, which is the best for the deer / coyote combo?

The 6.8 Rem looks the best to me. It's pretty close to a 243 isn't it. Your thoughts?

 

[jkmo]

Mac bullet
Please tell me about your experience with the 7-30 Waters. I hunt in S Central MO. A long shot is 200. It will be used just a few days a yr during gun season.

Thanks

 

[H Richard]

The 7-30 Waters I have is on a 14" handgun and used for Silhouette's. The Ram target is about 55 lbs, and any hit will knock it down with a 120 to 130 or more bullet. The Ram is shot at 200 meters. If I can hit a target the size of a Lab, with iron sights and a handgun you won't have any problem with a scope on a rifle.