I just got me a 7 tcu barrel 10" and need some successful loads from y'all. I am young and do not care if it has recoil as i shoot a full house loaded 44 mag for practice and hold concistant 2" group at 100 yds. so kick is not a problem, will use this year for deer slayin.
Thanks,
Bigchast1

[ 09-18-2003, 03:05: Message edited by: bigchast1 ]

What you using it for?

I've got a 10 and a 21 inch...

My 7tcu 10 inch deer load is a max charge of H-322 and the old Hornady 120gr ssp. Has worked very well for me. The Nosler 120gr groups well, but I have yet to shoot many deer with this bullet, but I think it will do OK. The Hornady sst 120gr also shows some good results. A few people will say to go with the sierra 130gr because it was designed for pistol, but I have not tried it myself. With a lot of powders, in the 10 inch I think the 120's are better. Here in ND, the bucks will very commonly be in the 200lbs + range. If shots are taken at less than the max range of 125yds, a very quick kill will result. With the 7tcu, I feel the power will run out long before the ability to "hit".

I don't have a 10" barrel but the best powder for me has been H335 with the benchrest primers. Bobbby Tomek had suggested this combo many times. It took me a while but found him to be right on the mark it is excellent. Start low & work up, you won't be disappointed.
Rich Jake

I've been using H4895, H335, and H322. The last was definitely disappointing in performance giving pistol performance from the rifle length barrel. That's what you're looking for in hunting. With the 7mm TCU, they've all been accurate, nothing is unusable in that regard. IME, with the 120 and 130 gr. bullets (the 130 Sierra uses the same charge and gets the same velocity as the 120 gr. Hornady IN MY BARRELS) H4895 or H335 are pretty much tied for performance. I like H335 better because it allows more room for deeper seating of the bullet.

I've even just tried the 139 gr. Hornady FPs intended for the 7-30 Waters. Very accurate, but not quick enough with H322. Although the manual shows 2100+ fps in a 14" I didn't get that with the MAX charge (and it was indeed MAX) in my 21" (!) barrel. The best average with H322 and this bullet was 2025 fps! Again, in a 21". Usually, the fastest in one length will be the fastest in another length tube and this is one case where I think it is borne out.

However, whatever you do, good luck! And please, tell us about your hunt.