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This site is the result of 31 years of custom barrel work focused on the Thompson Center interchangeable barrel systems AND the individual shooters like you using them, starting with the Contender and following on through in greater detail with the Encore, Pro Hunter, and Endeavor firearms and now expanding into the new CVA Apex rifle.

Due to normal manufacturing tolerances of each component part, it is highly unrealistic to think that one of millions of barrels, one of thousands of frames, and millions of rounds of ammunition both factory and handloaded can all be combined at random and be expected to work to your satisfaction every time, or even work at all.

It is a testament to the system as a whole that it works as often as it does. But if you think it will work every time, you are living in a dream world.

Much of this site is about enabling you to understand and fix these 5 main weak links in the chain:

Loose fit at the hinge,
Headspace, either too much or too little,
Marginal strength of the factory hammer spring,
Heavy and/or rough trigger,
Forends that bind the barrel as it heats up.

Thompson Center and many of the aftermarket custom shops do not appear to understand these systems themselves, but with a little thinking on your part you certainly can and must if you expect the guns to work for YOU!

It does YOU no good at all if you send a barrel back to the maker, and the maker says it is "in spec" , offers the lame statement "meets our standards", or shoots a certain size group for them, but then does not enable YOU to do the same or even have the gun function for YOU!

This is where my 31 years of custom work represented on this site comes into play and ALSO explains the role of the chamber throat and custom barrel work options performed by me, Mike Bellm.

Take some time studying and thinking about some of the very simple concepts presented, and you like thousands of others will get fantastic performance from these wonderful interchangeable barrel systems.

All the best,

Mike Bellm
(541) 956-6938 (only)
Disregard my old cell number.

All custom products on this site were developed by me, Mike Bellm, over the last 31 years serving TC shooters. All information and procedures presented here were developed by me. I claim copyright to all materials presented herein and as the originator of all the intellectual property on this site, I further claim all intellectual property rights. Any unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.

Contender, G2, and Encore, Pro Hunter, and Endeavor are registered trademarks of the K.W. Thompson Tool Company doing business as Thompson/Center Arms Co.

Bellm TCs