Hey all! I'm new to the forum and am in need of some direction.

I have a Thompson/Center TCR with one barrel in 22-250. It started not shooting from time to time so I took it to a gunsmith who told me there was a headspacing issue. I presume too much space which prevent the firing pin from hitting the primer.

They don't make these barrels much anymore (if you want one you have to get on a waiting list and pay big bucks to have one made) so I hate to just sell it. I would like rechamber it. As I understand you can't rebore a rifle barrel...maybe I've heard wrong there. Assuming that I can't rebore it, what can I go to in .22 caliber? The case is already so large so I am down in options considerably. I really don't know what way I can go without going to an exotic wildcat cartridge, but again, maybe I'm wrong there too.

If I can rebore it, where could I send the barrel to have that done? Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

Clark

If it were my barrel, I'd proably go out and buy some new .250savage brass. then neck it down to .22, but leave the sizing die scewed out a couple of turns. By moving the die down a little bit at a time, would find the right length that headspaced tightly...fire form...and FOREVER neck size those cases so the headspace would stay right.

(The idea of the above is to avoid the damage/stretch caused by the first firing in a long chamber.)

Would stay away from the absolute max. loads and live happy with that barrel just the way it is.

Clark22
It looks like you need a second opinion.

Excessive headspace problems encountered in a T/C Contender are normally the result of hot loads causing the hinge pin (crossbolt) stretching the holes in the frame. You can buy larger sized pins from www.bellmtcs.com that will help with this problem. The fireforming and necksizing only on the brass will be another alternate.

kdub:
Didn't think of the pins...glad you brought that up. they can be the sourse of headspace problems.

Hmmm... Thanks for the help, looks like I have some investigating to do. I would like to keep the 22-250 as I have dies in that caliber. I may have to try resizing and fire forming.

I'm hoping it's not stretched crossbolts...I've shot the gun very little and I don't see much evidence of previous harsh use, but I'll check it out. Thanks again.

Clark

Clark22,
If you have stretched a crossbolt or the frame, you probably have a wobbly gun. If it doesn't flap when you shake it, you probably need to see another gunsmith.

Clark,

this is one of those "been there done that" situations and here are a couple of options to consider as long as the barrel to receiver fit is still good and tight...

1 - Cut a counterbore for a rimmed cartridge and load using 307 Winchester brass...

2 - Rechamber to the 22-250 Ackley Improved - Rimmed and use 307 winchester brass...

By going to the "rimmed" case, you can set up for near "0" headspace to begin with. When I cut chambers like this, I actually use a sized case as the headspace guage as this allows to be able set up for absolute minimum headspace...

By going to the 307 case, it is trimmed back to the same length as the factory 22-250 and loading dies are the same, ei., 22-250 or 22-250 Ackley Improved, depending on which chamber you might go with...

Here are the steps used to load for the "rimmed" version of either the regular 22-250 or the Ackley Improved version there of -

1 - full length resize 307 case in 7mm-08 die...

2 - full length resize 307 case in 260 die...

3 - full length resize 307 case in 243 Win. die...

4 - full length resize 307 case in 22-250 die...

5 - trim cases to the maximum case ength of - 1.912...

6 - measure the outside neck diameter of a fired round in your chamber and turn the outside neck diameter of the fully resized 307 case to that diameter. Load with a minimum listed load for the 22-250 for fireforming and then trim all cases to a uniform length of 1.902 and square all case mouths...

The best case lebe for these resizing operations seems to be the Imperial Size Die Wax...

If on the other hand, your barrel is long throated, it can be reshambered to use the full length 307 case with the new chambering being basically a rimmed 22-243. Or another option is the 22 PREDATOR as I call the round and this is based on the full length 307 case with the chamber cut for the 22-250 Ackley Improved...

I hope that I have not confused the issue but, I just wanted to let you know that there were other options out there....

A

I like this last reply and also wonder if a guy could start low and work up a load with the bullet seated into the lands to fire form the brass. Once done a simple nk size (with the FL die backed off a lil bit if that is what ya have) and head space should not be a problem until you need to bump the shoulder and at that point it would be easy to set the die up to just give ya what ya need there???

BTW I am a TCR Luv’r and am in hot pursuit of a 257 Roberts barrel for my daughter to shoot her first deer with this year :)

Another thing that you can do if you are going to leave the chamber in it's original factory form, is to run the case part way into a 243 Win. die to expand the case neck and then run it part way back through your 22-250 die and create what is called a "secondary shoulder". This will help keep the case from being driven forward by the force of the firing pin striking the primer...

Also, load with a relatively heavy flat base bullet and a "slow" powder. Jam the bullet into the lands - which may take a couple of hard closings to get the action to fully close and lock up as the bullet is forced into both the lands and deeper into the case neck....

A

you can get barrels. Not common. Not too expensive. Ed's Contenders has a few. 7 Rem Mag for one, listed. The belt would help with headspace if your gun is set up for mags. .30/'06 is "call".

Mr. Bellm, as mentioned, bellmtcs.com is the expert on T/C anything. I know he has a bushing kit for Encore firing pin bushings but have not looked at the TCR... his web site is most enlightening.

As suggested, #1). You may not have a problem, just not reloading quite right or ammo not suited to your headspace measurement. #2). If you have a problem, you might be able to correct it with another hinge pin. I know Bellm has Contender/G2 and Encore pins. TCR... have to ask. #3). As said, your 'smith seems a bit light on how break actions work... #4). You can reload to "fill" the headspace, again Mr. Bellm HARPS on doing this for best accuracy in T/C products, pictures and all. Then you have solved the problem. #5). You can rebore to about anything with this gun. The limit would be the barrel diameter. Single shot you can feed in the old buffalo calibers (with black powder? Not for me.. thank you.) 6mm International was a very popular target cartridge at one time and it is just the .250 necked to 6mm or the .22/250 necked up... Or something with a rim. .30/30. .307 WCf rivals the .308. The belt is a variation on the rim (developed by H&H for the .300 series of funnels...) .240 Weatherby is the .30/'06 case with a belt. 6.5 Rem Mag. ?? Options? MANY! Find a very good gunsmith with single shots. Mr. Bellm does email willingly. There are many others. Mr. Brown, eabco.com pops to mind. Bullberry is still around. MGM. luck.