7mm TCU ?

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  • Trigger Time

    Amazed
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 23, 2013
    1,231
    I came upon a good deal on a 7mm TCU barrel for my contender and thought it might be some fun to shoot.
    If anyone is loading for this round, how are you re-forming your brass?
    Will the RCBS dies expand a 223 to 7mm or do they need to be fire formed first?

    I see Graft and Sons has some new brass in stock but at $2 a piece I think I'll try my luck at reforming first since I have a ton of 223/5.56.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I used to shoot 7 mm TCU many years ago. I used a Redding form and trim die and then fire formed the cases using five grains of bullseye with a filler of cornmeal. I sealed it by using Bordens white glue.

    People used to think I was a little weird at AGC since I didn't have a target out and was just making noise with TC Contender. :lol:
     

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    I have a Contender barrel in 7 TCU. I never formed any brass. I picked up a couple hundred formed brass and dies with the barrel. However, the guy I got it from said he was just lubing the cases and running them into the sizing die.


    As for getting the barrel? Do it!!! 7 TCU is a fun caliber to shoot.
     

    Trigger Time

    Amazed
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 23, 2013
    1,231
    I did get the barrel, it looked good as new and for a C-note I grabbed it. I have a set of RCBS dies and some high dollar bullets coming from Midway, The only ones they had left were the Barnes TSX , but they should be good to get me going. I was wondering how many cases I could fire form in my back yard before I got a visit from the AA Co. Swat Team.
     

    byf43

    SCSC Life/NRA Patron Life
    I did get the barrel, it looked good as new and for a C-note I grabbed it. I have a set of RCBS dies and some high dollar bullets coming from Midway, The only ones they had left were the Barnes TSX , but they should be good to get me going. I was wondering how many cases I could fire form in my back yard before I got a visit from the AA Co. Swat Team.

    Fireforming isn't necessary, just for prepping cases.

    I've shot 7mm TC/u for years.

    RCBS dies.
    Lube the casemouth along with the outside of the case and run the cases SLOWLY through the sizer.

    IF memory serves me, I lost THREE cases, in the first 200 necked up.

    You'll find that H-4895 works well, and so does W-748.
    H-335 works extremely well.
    The H-335 works the best in my TC.

    Sierra 140 grain and Sierra 160 gr..... both SP (Spire Point) bullets work extremely well.

    Like a fool, I traded a 10" 7mm TC/u barrel to a good friend, but, I still have the 14" TC/u barrel.
     

    Trigger Time

    Amazed
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 23, 2013
    1,231
    Fireforming isn't necessary, just for prepping cases.

    I've shot 7mm TC/u for years.

    RCBS dies.
    Lube the casemouth along with the outside of the case and run the cases SLOWLY through the sizer.

    IF memory serves me, I lost THREE cases, in the first 200 necked up.

    You'll find that H-4895 works well, and so does W-748.
    H-335 works extremely well.
    The H-335 works the best in my TC.

    Sierra 140 grain and Sierra 160 gr..... both SP (Spire Point) bullets work extremely well.

    Like a fool, I traded a 10" 7mm TC/u barrel to a good friend, but, I still have the 14" TC/u barrel.

    Thanks for the input, I have all those powders on hand so I should be able to find a good load.
    Also I see Sierra has a fair amount of load data for the TCU in their manual .
     

    Trigger Time

    Amazed
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 23, 2013
    1,231
    Dies came in this week and ran a few dozen LC cases through them with ease, only had one split when I tried to rush it.
     

    Rockzilla

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 6, 2010
    4,516
    55.751244 / 37.618423
    Fireforming isn't necessary, just for prepping cases.

    I've shot 7mm TC/u for years.

    RCBS dies.
    Lube the casemouth along with the outside of the case and run the cases SLOWLY through the sizer.

    IF memory serves me, I lost THREE cases, in the first 200 necked up.

    You'll find that H-4895 works well, and so does W-748.
    H-335 works extremely well.
    The H-335 works the best in my TC.

    Sierra 140 grain and Sierra 160 gr..... both SP (Spire Point) bullets work extremely well.

    Like a fool, I traded a 10" 7mm TC/u barrel to a good friend, but, I still have the 14" TC/u barrel.


    Nice find....

    Long ago shot this round..flashbacks.;);)
    Had Dies from Fred Huntington Die Specialty
    H335 worked the best here also, with W748 in the 10"
    Used Imperial and Corbin Swaging lube. It's been a while.
    Think I may of lost 5 or so, not paying attention, in a hurry.

    Like the Contender especially the JDJ rounds...

    -Rock
     

    730waters

    Active Member
    Apr 20, 2013
    102
    Rising Sun, Md
    I have been shooting the 7TCU for quite a few years. When you neck up the brass, take a magnifying glass and look for stress cracks in the neck. I had some once fired 223 brass that necked up and looked good that I loaded with light target loads. When I shot them a few split in the neck. When I looked at the rest of them, I found several more that had cracks that didn't open up or show a color variation at the crack. I bought a couple hundred IHMSA made brass. This is a fun round to shoot. I took a few small does with Nosler 120 BT's.
     

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