My Virgin Valley Custom Guns 15" Stainless-Steel 6mm T/CU Barrel that is. Man if this thing shoots as good as it looks, it should be a tack driver.

This is my first Contender Barrel from V V C G, and I am impressed with it so far.

Now on to trying to find a decent load and get a batch of brass fireformed.

Question, I have read with cartridges of this type it is a good idea to use a bullet that will engage the Rifling for fireforming ? Is this a good practice ? Would maximum loads for the 6mm-223 work for fireforming loads for the 6mm T/CU ? I used to have a 6mm-223 and still have a few loaded rounds laying around here. Any comments would be appreciated, as I have never loaded for anything I have had to fireform yet.

Thanks

Larry

Larry, they should work. But hey, you spent the extra on the barrel start with new stuff, unless these are from virgin brass. Unless you have enough to do some load development with I would start from scratch, eliminates a bunch of problems that could arrise from once fired, or more brass. Keep us up to speed on how it shoots, as I have an itch that I have not scratched yet. Want a 7 or 6 TCU by next spring.
Jeff

Fireforming for the TCU series of cartridges isn't really that big of a deal. As for using a load that will contact the rifling, I think that is a good idea as it helps to build pressure quickly. Mike Bellm has an interesting technique for fire-forming cases. Basically it involves engaging the rifling with the seated bullet and *in addition* using enough of a very slow powder (for the particular case you're working with) to cause a compressed load. The thought is that the firing pin can drive the case forward a bit creating a shoulder that is too short for your chamber. I've tried this method and frankly I could not find a measurable difference between those cases and the ones that I loaded up for my regular silhouette rounds.

Congratulations on the new barrel. I bought my 15" stainless steel 6mmTCU from VVC in July. It is a tack driver. I get sub 1/2" groups consistently from a sandbag rest at 100 yards.

As far as fireforming, I can hardly tell the difference between groups when using new or fireformed loads. I do have my bullets touching the rifling, but do not use "reduced loads" to fireform. I shoot loads that are accurate when fireforming and there doesn't seem to be much change once the brass is fireformed. I do use bullets that I do not think are that accurate for my fireforming though. I save my Berger 68gr moly's for the serious work. It really is a piece of cake to fireform the TCU's.

So far, 27.6gr of H335 has produced the best, most consistent loads. I have no chrony, so I cannot tell you the fps, but they do bark nicely and do not flatten primers. I have also used H4198 with good accuracy, and tried H322 but did not think that it gave as much accuracy as the others. I will try IMR3031 soon as I liked it a lot in the 6.5 Ingram that I used to have.

In fact, I was so impressed with my 15" TCU, that I sent my .222 40X Remington to VVC to rebarrel to 6TCU in a 25" barrel with 1-13" twist. Should be a good "poor man's" bench gun. It is on it's way back now and I am ready to try it out. Just need the weather here to cooperate a little.

Good luck and good shooting...

Thanks for the info guys. I was kind of thinking that the max loads I have sitting here that I used in a 6mm-223 O had would be OK to use for fireforming loads, but wasn't sure. I'll give it a try.

Larry

Larry,

Be careful about approaching max loads....

I also have a 12.75" VVCG 6mm TCU barrel and have found that I get a good bit better than published velocities in loading manuals but also seem to get higher pressures if my brass isn't lying to me.

Must be due to tight chamber, throat and bore.

Mine shoots all bullets into tiny groups and is by far and away my favorite Contender barrel.

It does seem to prefer H322 powder for some reason or another....

I got slightly erratic results with H4227 and absolutely stay from Data 2200 powder.... Their published data is way off the charts pressurewise and I split a case and blew a primer completely out of the case at a minimum load and a friend did the same with his TC factory barrel!!!!

Even with my 1:8" twist I can shoot the 58gr V-Max into tiny holes and it does well with the 87gr V-Max and 80gr Single Shot Pistol Bullets from Hornady.

VVCG and Shilen are absolutely a class act and if I could afford it all my barrels would be VVCG/Shilen since Mike quit rechambering. Besides... They're great guys to deal with and I feel like my business is appreciated and they remember me when I call....

I'll probably be trying out some H4198 the next trip to the range but the H322 is really perfect except I'd like a faster burning powder to reduce muzzle flash which isn't really that bad.

Let us know how it goes....

$bob$