WB
Once at the Y-O gathering, Ernie French
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 15:13

was so excited with a new caliber. Several of the industry guys used Encores in either 7mm-08 or .308 Win. This time Ernie had the new ".30 TC". I didn't want to pee in his cornflakes, but it just looked like a reshaped .308 with no capacity increase. I guess it made sense as he was not interested in NATO contracts or belt fed machine guns, mini-guns etc. This was a purpose made sporting round.

I remember it being chambered in some bolt rifles TC tried but it didn't really catch on. MUCH later it was necked to .264 caliber. The world was lit afire with the 6.5 Creedmore! Again not much different from the 6.5x55 Swede to me. But I hate to dampen enthusiasm. I guess with computer modeling and all they were able to "fix" some small ticks that might enhance accuracy and maximize performance within that limited envelope. If only by the marketing it seems to have worked. One dud dies to be reborn into a winner. 6.5's are OK but in the past if you mis-chose the bullet for the application you either shot clean though with little effect, or blew a big shallow wounding grater on the hit side. The Core Lockts were fragile and Noslers were a bit too tough. I know the 6.5 can perform. Perhaps the euro bullets, perfected over decades, were the trick dope.