Hello there folks !

I recently purchased a 10" 7mm TCU to use for IHMSA Big Bore. I've found that 24 gr. of H4895 under a Horn 139 gr. FMJ-SP gives me a good group. FPS for this load is 1650 - 1700.

HOWEVER - I never expected this caliber to be such a BOOMER ! I was (sort-of) lead to believe this wasn't a rip-roarin' round. Well, it is; at least more than I wanted to have to use for Standing Big Bore.

Anyway, has anybody developed some light loads with H4895 for the 7 TCU? I was going to start working down from 24 gr to maybe 21 or 22. Then again, if somebody has done this, why re-invent the wheel, eh?

As long as I'm not shooting "rainbows" out to 200 meters, I think a lighter load may just work.

Looking for the experience factor here -

Thanks a heap !

Dino,

I seems that we have a similar problem. I recently went to the 7 TCU after shooting a 357 Max for BB Standing events. I realized that I could get 20% more knockdown at the rams with 20% less recoil at my hands...never a bad tradeoff!! I then went out and loaded up lots of 120gr bullets with the only suitable powder (or so I thought) that I had in my possession which happened to be WW748. I dropped something like 27gr behind the 120gr and 26gr behind some ram loads that used 139gr bullets. The recoil wasn't terrible, but boy did it have some muzzle blast!! I tell you all that so that I can tell you that I've been on a similar quest.

The last match I was at I used some "light" rounds and did fairly well. I managed to knock down 21 without having any sight settings. I took my 5 sighters which got me on for the chickens and close for the pigs. Here's what I did as far as loads go...

Chicken load -
100gr Hornady HP; 18gr IMR-4227
Velocity - (est.) 1650fps

This load worked really well. I will probably back it off another grain to 17gr of IMR-4227. Not because it was too loud, but I just want a very mild load to make sure that I get all of them.

Pig & Turkey load -
120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip; 18gr IMR-4227
Velocity - (est.) 1600fps

This load is probably the lightest I will go as some pigs that were hit low near the leg/body junction fell really slowly as they twisted and did a nosedive into the dirt with their rumps still on the stand. Again, it was very mild and refreshingly pleasant to shoot standing!

Ram load -
162gr Hornady AMAX; 14.5gr IMR-4227
Velocity - (est.) 1450fps

Again the load is really pleasant and took over all the rams that I managed to hit. The really "strange" thing is that because of the bullet weight and speed (or lack thereof) I have to adjust my sights down 3 clicks from my turkey setting with my other loads. The really nice thing is that these bullets have a SUPER BC (.625) and are still solidly supersonic at the ram line so I don't have any of that trans-sonic turbulence to deal with.

Please remember that I have not chronographed any of these loads and your range may require more or less knockdown power than the ranges I shoot at. I just wanted to give you a place to start and spread some of what I've learned around. I might add that I was ready to sell my barrel in favor of a 300 Whisper, but after my experience at the last match I think I'll stick it out for a while and work up some similar loads and see just how accurate I can get it. Bret

[ 07-30-2002, 17:28: Message edited by: B_Koes ]

Dino,

Where are you shootin IHMSA at?????? I am about 90 minutes east of ya and would be interested in going to give it a try.....