Which would you choose?

08 March 2003, 07:30

T/C nimrod

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? [Confused]

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.

08 March 2003, 08:18

Sean VHA #60013

quote:
Originally posted by T/C nimrod:
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.

Conventional wisdom would probably suggest the Wasp for your application [though it is a high pressure cartridge - one source states "breech pressures developed by popular loads in the Wasp can run as high as 55,000 to 60,000 psi"] and indeed this is a great cartridge, but I'd go against conventional wisdom and go with the 7TCU.

The 7TCU is typically very acccurate with a wide variety of good bullet and weight selection, and as I am finding out, it likes virtually any decently constructed load put through it. One must learn it's bullet drop, as this will be more significant that with the Wasp, but as well one has greater effect with the 7mm variety of bullets on larger varmints/predators such as Coyote, Bobcat, Ferel Dog, etc.

Given my limited experience with the 7TCU, I would call it a 300 and not a 400 yard cartridge on Woodchucks etc, as bullet drop becomes more difficult to calculate beyond 300 yards, but I have yet to play with the lighter bullets below 120grns.

And one may even take the option of knocking over the occasional deer without much fuss [Big Grin]

There is a lot more that could be said, but this would be enough to my thinking to recommend the 7TCU.

08 March 2003, 09:05

Rich Jake

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

08 March 2003, 18:01

V.V. Jeff

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 ]

08 March 2003, 18:09

KYODE

well if your gonna restrict me to those two and not let me say 6mm, hehehe [Big Grin]

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 [Frown]

09 March 2003, 09:27

<Paul Dustin>

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.

09 March 2003, 04:34

T/C nimrod

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!!

09 March 2003, 04:45

<T. D. Clevenger>

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.