I spoke with a custom barrel maker regarding a 7TCU carbine barrel for my Contender today. The first thing I need to decide is which bullet or bullet range I plan to use. He wants me to submit a dummy round so he can make the throat accordingly. I plan to use this barrel on both groundhogs and deer. What bullets do you recommend? I'm leaning toward a maximum weight of 140gr and using a 1:9 twist. I will be posting this question on several forums for maximum input. Thanks!

I use either the Hornady 120 gr. SSP or the Sierra 130 gr. SSP. They work.

IMO, you can't move the 140 gr. bullets fast enough in this cartridge to be as effective as they are in the 7-30 Waters. In fact, I have both 7mm TCU and 7-3 Waters 21" factory barrels. The 7mm TCU pushes 120s and 130s at about 2500 (2450+) fps while the 7-30 pushes the 140s at that same speed or the 120s at 2700 fps. This low speed is also why I use the SSPs in the TCU. As noted above, they work.

Sounds like a fun project. Who's doing the work? How are you sighting it?

There are 3 bullets that make the 7TCU shine: the 120 grain Nosler BT, the Hornady 120 grain SSP (old lead-tipped or newer #22811/tipped) and the Sierra 130 grain SSP. At the velocity level you will be working at, these bullets will provide the proper blend of penetration and expansion to result in excellent on-game performance.

This past season, I took 3 deer with the Sierra 130 grain SSP at 2505 fps from a 20" 7mm Bullberry and another with a 120 grain Hornady SSP/tipped at just over 2400 fps from a custom 15" 7mm TCU. The ranges varied from 108 yards to app. 130/140 yards with the Sierra 130 and around 70 yards with the 120 grain Hornady. In all instances, performance was perfect.

[ 03-04-2003, 05:02: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]

Hobie and Bobby, Thanks for your insights. With the consensus going toward the lighter bullets I may opt for the 1:11 twist rate if I can get it. Mike Dubois of MBMCO is the gentleman I spoke with. Very pleasant to talk to and responsive to my queries. He has offered to make the barrel from either a Shilen or Douglas blank. Chrome-moly or stainless. As I recall the 1:11 twist rate is only available in the chrome-moly config. Mike is sending me the specs, etc. This is my first custom barrel experience so I'm pretty excited at getting into this new aspect of TCs. BTW, Hobie, I'm a "few" miles down the interstate at exit 26 on I-81. That just about makes us neighbors.

Like Bobby mentions above on the bullets. I have used the 130 Sierra and the old Hornady 120SSP. These 2 bullets both showed expansion outta my 10" barrel. That carbine barrel should be a lotta fun!!

clerkofkirk,

Yep, neighbors!

I don't know why you'd want the slower twist. The factory uses 1-9" and in both the 7mm TCU and 7-30 Waters. Both do well with the lighter bullets AND you can play with the heavier. In fact, I think this is one reason the 7mm TCU has such a good reputation with all loads.

Please don't give the 1:11 any thought. Go with the 1:9. Within reason, you can't overstablize a bullet...but you can certainly understabilize one, especially when working at modest velocities.

I would agree with Bobby on bullets and twist I have a 12" 7 TCU Bellm barrel I shoot the 120gr Nosler BT for everything and they work great

[ 03-04-2003, 13:22: Message edited by: Paul Dustin ]