Lets' talk Contender for a while. If given the choice between a 7mmTCU and a 219 Wasp, both in 14" form, to be used as a groundhog/varmit gun, which would you choose and why? Range needed would be ......lets' say in the neighborhood of......400 yards max.

I know there are other options, I'd like to decide between these two.

I'd take a look at the lighter bullets in the 7 TCU like a couple of these. I also think it is probably easier to form the brass as well.

http://www.sierrabullets.com/bullets/bc.cfm?Stock_Num=1895

Speer 7mm
MHP Hollow Point
.284 110 0.355 1615 100 --

7mm
"TNT" Hollow Point
.284 110 0.338 1616 100 --

7mm
Hollow Point
.284 115 0.257 1617 100 --

At least that's where I'd check into if I were considering the cartridge for what you stated

Rich Jake

I'm a fan of the wasp. It's probably the best varmint caliber there is for the contender (my opinion of course).

Edit - I just went back and read your post again. I didn't realize it was 14". That being the case, go with the TCU.

[ 03-08-2003, 09:02: Message edited by: V.V. Jeff ]

well if your gonna restrict me to those two and not let me say 6mm, hehehe i'll take the 7tcu in a 14". havn't had one but my 6tcu is easy to form cases for and is very accurate with fireform loads. i would assume the 7mmtcu is just as easy to work with. lots of 7mm bullets to work with from varmints to deer. a 6mm would be great too but a little lighter in horsepower for deer. for .22 caliber work i'd have to stay with the good ol .223. hmmm? reckon i'd want a 7mm tcu for myself? wouldn't it be pretty close to the 7-30 waters with the right load? dang your hide nimrod, quite puttin ideas in my head. i'm broke right now

I would go with a 6mm TCU you can shoot the lighter bullets in it. I have a 16 1/4 BBL 6mm TCU and I can push a 55gr or 58gr bullet around 3200fps I think this would do good at 400yds. My 7mm TCU would do good out to maybe 300yds I can push a 100gr bullet around 2400fps, or maybe a 223 I can push a 50gr out of my 14" BBL aroud 3100fps it might do good out to 400yds.

Thanks for the input so far. Appears I'm looking at another 7mm to add to the family (actually already have, just needed to clarify my plans for it!)As far as the mentioned 400 yards max. - that is beyond my abilities right now. Yeah I've got a 453 yarder under my belt, but I've got to be realistic w/ myself when it comes to an animals' life. The hunting area that's available to me will give that yardage shots, so I want to make sure I have a gun that will be there for me when my abilities improve.

KYODE - I know exactly how you feel - you put a 6mm on my list a long time ago, so when the time is right I WILL HAVE ONE!!

The 219 Wasp is a very classy cartridge, IMO. I have two. One is a 14" BF pistol, the other a VV rechamber of a T/C 222 carbine. They're both great. The only thing that hampers the fun is that the VV has a much tighter neck than the BF, so the loads are not interchangable (have to turn necks for the VV barrel). Minor detail.
Don't be afraid of the 219DW in a 14" barrel. It'll do better for velocity than a 223 in the same barrel, and likely at better accuracy.
T.D.