7mmTCU

[Random 8]

New to the caliber. Anybody have any tricks, tips, pet loads?

Use will be IHMSA silhouette to 200m. Tried out first loads yesterday. 27-W748-139PRVI BTSP. Recoil was a bit sharp, but accuracy was acceptable. First group at 100 yards was under 2" with a 2X scope from a 10" Contender!

I have IMR 4064, W748, BL-C2, H110, IMR 4227, Power Pistol, Unique, the latter 3 should be suitable for lighter loads if I find data and the bullets will hit pointy end first at those speeds. I'm open to trying different bullets after my randoms are used up.

Lyman also lists 2400 for a few loads on the lighter end...interesting.

 

[greyling22]

I've got an uncle with one, but it doesn't get shot much. He uses a cast lead bullet.

 

[Captcurt]

I played with a 14" Contender for year or two. First thing that I learned was the headspace has to be perfect. I found that it was easiest to accomplish by shooting 223 and then partially resize just enough to size the neck and not touch the shoulder. Second thing was to use the softest primer. I got several FTF using CCI and went to Federal or Winchester primers. No hiccups after that. My loads were for hunting. A 120 gr. Ballistic Tip pushed by 28 gr of IMR-4895 ran about 2000 fps and was good out to about 150 yards on crows. Took 2 deer with it and it performed fine. If I was considering another Contender though I would opt for a 7-30 Waters just to do away with the headspacing problem.

 

[frankmako]

i use the 7 tcu in a 10 inch contender for silhouette in the 80's. i will look up my match loads and send them to you. pm me if i don't get them to you in a day or two. will have to pull out the old load data books to find load.

 

[cfullgraf]

I shot IHMSA silhouette in the early eighties. One of our club members shot 7 TCU with good success. I cannot comment on the powders that he used but he used some pulled military FMJ bullets. I think they were 139 grains.

I used the same bullets in my 7mm International Rimmed Super 14 Contender barrel with good success. I used IMR4895 but that may not translate as a good powder for 7TCU.

Point being, the cartridges are pretty forgiving with bullet choice from my experience.

 

[bluetopper]

I load for both the 6mm TCU and 7mm TCU in 14'' Contender barrels and have settled on BLC2 powder but the two calibers are not picky about powders or bullets and shoot great with just about anything. I wish someone would make me a bolt-action rifle in 7 TCU. I've always thought it would be a great youth or ladies hunting cartridge in a lightweight rifle.

 

[Random 8]

I load for both the 6mm TCU and 7mm TCU in 14'' Contender barrels and have settled on BLC2 powder but the two calibers are not picky about powders or bullets and shoot great with just about anything. I wish someone would make me a bolt-action rifle in 7 TCU. I've always thought it would be a great youth or ladies hunting cartridge in a lightweight rifle.

Have you ever experimented with low vel loadings using a med-slow pistol powder such as Unique, PP or Blue Dot? Also, I'm pretty sure Match Grade Machine will make a Savage barrel in this caliber.

 

[bluetopper]

Have you ever experimented with low vel loadings using a med-slow pistol powder such as Unique, PP or Blue Dot? Also, I'm pretty sure Match Grade Machine will make a Savage barrel in this caliber.

No I have not at all. I have always tried to get the most performance and accuracy at 100 yards out of the cartridge but I see no reson why those powders wouldn't work for mid power loadings. Load data would be the problem, you could overpressure in a hurry with such powders.