What do you have on order or in the mail? Part 2

98Z5V · Saturday at 02:47 PM

Looks DAMN GOOD, brother! :thumbup:

Magwa · 2026-10-25T12:14:50Z

On 10/23/2026 at 9:30 PM, shooterrex said:

Finally felt like working on the Gladiator. Installed the new bumper.

Looks great.....

BrianK · 2026-10-25T17:06:43Z

Seems I can't post w/o writing a book. Oh well! Don't want to read all of it just skip to the last paragraph.

Working on taking advantage of the ATF Guidance letter. Combine that with going through the safe last week, changing batteries and such... I came upon my T/C items. They always have been relatively simple to SBR, but now there are no "rules" to encumber the law abiding.

For decades (since an industrial accident) I haven't gotten along with the drop at the heel decades old T/C stock, but I get along with straight line recoil just dandy. So I had a Pic' rail adapter grip on order and it's now in place on the Contender frame. It accepts a Pic' rail buffer tube adapter and that's on order. I have the other parts in "parts", or they were in parts. I liberated them yesterday. So it's just a matter of time to get that built (waiting on parts to be shipped). I have one Pic' rail sight base installed and another to be delivered. And the packaging of the base informed me that it's "tactical" so my single shot is tactically ready should I ever want to press it into service for anything tactical. Next I need tactical cats ears and tactical undies. But I'll wait on ordering those.

At the same time I have another Pic' rail folder and buffer tube assembly on order for Encore with no projected date for shipment. I'll need to order another grip to adapt it and a few Pic' rail sight bases to replace the Weaver bases now on the barrels.

OK, why? I like SBRs. Not an apology, just what I like. Now I can so I will, make SBRs that is. Deer and small game where I hunt is triple canopy Maine forest where a really long shot is 50 yards. Most long shots aren't more than 30ish yards. It doesn't take much to do the deed at that distance. In years past I used a .308 Win carbine. I always thought that was too much cartridge, with too much meat wasted, hence the Contender. One of the barrels is a .32/20 that I bought in a purchase of everything T/C that a friend was selling. I bought it all and almost sold the .32/20, knowing that it was long obsolete. Good thing I didn't sell it but researched it first. 140 years ago it was considered good medicine for mid size game with the loads of the day that pushed a lead 100grain bullet to subsonic velocities. Their loads were constrained by the mettalurgy of the day. Our steels of today are much better. I currently push a 125 to 2k fps, so the Contender can take it. But my intention for the SBRed .32/20 is to put a suppressor on the barrel and go back to the loads of 140 years ago. Elmer Keith used to write about sedate loads out of a .375 H&H, "You can eat all the way to the hole." That always struck me as obscene. OK, mind out of the gutter, he meant the bullet hole. I hunt not for a trophy but for meat. Hence the subsonic load. I'll carry the light and tiny SBR alot and get one shot. I used to employ it as a handgun. As a slung SBR everything about it will be even easier and more precise. Same tactics, either still hunting to find them bedded down, or sit and wait. Either way, a close shot. Unleashing hell with a 125 at 2k fps 10" in front of my face? Not happening. Definitely not happening with the can attached, it can't handle that pressure, and definitely not that close to my head sans suppressor. Hunting with ear pro' attached? That's not happening either except at the range.

My .375/06 JDJ Encore barrel? Back to the sedate .375 that Elmer Keith mentioned. It has a longer barrel than the Contenders but no suppressor. I think it'll work fine if I want a bigger caliber, and still keep it subsonic. It should do a moose if I want to get a tag. A moose is a big undertaking. I don't know if I want to do it.

The .32/20 also has the option of small game, squirrels and hares. I know it's overkill, but dead from a head shot is still dead, right? Plus I also have a rimfire barrel should I want to use it; I definitely will. Same frame for it, just change the sight base on the barrel (on order) and put a scope I already have in place.

So what's in the mail? Stuff for all my new SBR builds. Sights, sight bases, grips, buttstock items. I'll have plenty to keep me busy and wanting spring to arrive so that I can test loads and finalize the builds to make them "right". I'm picky and things are either right or they are changed until they are right.