I've been kicking around what caliber to do on a .223 size action that my son could use for deer. Like to have the largest bullet diameter I can but am limited to Sako L461 or Mini-Mauser mag length. From what little I know of the 7 TCU it seems like it should be a capable 150yd deer cartridge. Anyone have any experience or ballistics to share?

Well, with a 20" barrel, you are looking at a 120gr NBT launched around 2600. At 150 yards, it's still traveling 2250. In practial terms this would be about identical to shooting the same deer with a 130gr Bt out of a .270 win at 300 yards. The 120bt would remain above it's minimum recomended velocity of 1800 fps out to 350 yards. That should kill a Wisconsin whitetail just fine.

I've only used it in a 10" TC Contender on silhouettes. It knocked down 30lb rams at 200 meters but not with authority.

I had a 7TCU in a Contender and loved it. Never killed a deer with it but no doubts in a rifle out to 150-200 yards it should work just fine.
It was very easy to form brass for also. Don't forget the 6.5 TCU also.

A friend built one of these and it just a dandy on deet and other similar sized game. However that being said he has told me several times he wished he had built it in 6.5 TCU instead.

quote:

Originally posted by Hasher:
A friend built one of these and it just a dandy on deet and other similar sized game. However that being said he has told me several times he wished he had built it in 6.5 TCU instead.

Did he mention why he felt the 6.5 would be superior? I know there are some excellent LR target bullets in 6.5.

I took one deer with a 300 Whisper out of a 10" Contender, got the deer but not impressed with it. No blood trail, shot from 30 yds or so, deer went about 100 yds after the shot. I used a Remington 125 gr SP bullet, maybe a different bullet would have been better.

I like the 357 Max much better.

The 7 TCU in a 22-24" barrel will give you 2550 to maybe 2600 fps with 120s and put you in the 2400 fps range with 140s. Given the proper projectiles, it makes for an excellent 200 yard deer-dropper and can be stretched beyond that a good bit given conducive conditions.

I’ve used the 7mm TCU and the ballistically-similar 7BR, 7 Bullberry and 7-30 Waters for years and have enjoyed fantastic results. Here's one from yesterday morning:



The hogs below were taken this summer, and the boar on the right represents my longest-ever shot on a hog (353 yards). The bullets are pictured below, and the material in the background of the first photo is the shredded heart muscle.







Here’s another boar with recovered bullet photo below it (note the thickness of the gristle plate behind the bullet):





Another 7-30 piggie:



Here’s a casualty of the 7mmBB and a 120 grain BT:


And here’s a buck I took using a Sierra 130 grain SSP (discontinued) at 2509 fps MV. The range was 108 yards, and the bullet entered the front of the chest and lodged in the left ham.





And these are just a couple of the dozens of hogs I have taken with the 7mm Bullberry:







So have no doubts: a moderate-velocity 7mm projectile is a deadly deer and hog killer. Good luck with your project – and please keep us posted on its progress.

If you aren't locked into the .223 case head, a 6.5 Grendel is also an option, as is the 6.8 SPC. It should be as simple as a rebarrel to build a 6.5 Grendel on a CZ 527 (7.62x39 model). The Grendel will launch a 120 gr bullet at 2700 fps.

I load 120 grain Remington corelokts to 2750 fps in my 6.5x55 and have had no trouble killing deer out to 250 yards with it.

quote:

Originally posted by gzig5:

quote:

Originally posted by Hasher:
A friend built one of these and it just a dandy on deet and other similar sized game. However that being said he has told me several times he wished he had built it in 6.5 TCU instead.

Did he mention why he felt the 6.5 would be superior? I know there are some excellent LR target bullets in 6.5.

Better bullets and slightly higher velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
The 7 TCU in a 22-24" barrel will give you 2550 to maybe 2600 fps with 120s and put you in the 2400 fps range with 140s. Given the proper projectiles, it makes for an excellent 200 yard deer-dropper and can be stretched beyond that a good bit given conducive conditions.

I’ve used the 7mm TCU and the ballistically-similar 7BR, 7 Bullberry and 7-30 Waters for years and have enjoyed fantastic results.

I'm thinking the local piggy's don't think too highly of your little 7mm's. Nice pics. Wish I had that much opportunity to get out.

quote:

Originally posted by kjjm4:
If you aren't locked into the .223 case head, a 6.5 Grendel is also an option, as is the 6.8 SPC. It should be as simple as a rebarrel to build a 6.5 Grendel on a CZ 527 (7.62x39 model). The Grendel will launch a 120 gr bullet at 2700 fps.

I load 120 grain Remington corelokts to 2750 fps in my 6.5x55 and have had no trouble killing deer out to 250 yards with it.

I shoot a 6mm PDK for Highpower competition which is on the 6.8 case, and it or a larger diameter version would probably work well. I'm building my daughter a 30 BR on a mini mauser action and I've got a really nice little Sako L461 repeater in .222 mag that I hope to shoot the barrel out of and then turn into my son's first deer rifle. I've got a couple years to go yet and the 7TCU or something similar sounds doable. I want to give them as much bullet diameter as I can with minimal recoil.