A while back, I picked up a 21" TC Custom Shop barrel in 6mm TCU (bull configuration with a 1:10 twist) from David Sadler. I finally got to do some serious shooting with it, and I am impressed. THe barrel was in mint condition. Admittedly, the crown as it came from the factory was a little rough, but I took care of that even before any fireforming.

After FF a bunch of brass, I loaded up test rounds with the Sierra 70 grain BlitzKing, 80 grain Blitz and 80 grain Single SHot Pistol bullets; the Hornady 75 grain V-Max; and 70 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. From the outset, it was obvious that this barrel preferred the 70 grain BlitzKing. With both H335 and BenchMark, I recorded several groups in the 3/8th to 0.45" range (3-shots @ 100 yards). The worst group was logged with the 75 grain V-Max, and it went around 1.205".

After the preliminiary go-round, I worked a bit more and came up with 3 keeper loads for now. Velocities on those 3 loads are as follows: 2917 fps with the BlitzKing, 2932 fps with the 75 grain V-Max and 2844 fps with the Sierra 80 grain SSP.

I'll refine and tune these a bit more, esp. the BK load which seems to be quite mild and could probably coaxed to at least another 100 fps. But 2917 fps for a 200 yard coyote load is not bad at all -- and if the accuracy falls off as velocity goes up, I'll definitely stick with the "slower" load. More than likely, though, I'll go with an all-purpose load using the 80 grain SSP, which will suffice on everything from vermin to our smaller central Texas deer.

Good News Bobby, you must have the golden touch when it comes to picking up good barrles...or is it that you only post about the good ones
How do you like that bull tube for carry and balance? I prefer a muzzle heavy piece myself! What do you have on it for glass and what does the total package weigh?
sorry bout all the ?s
Thanks

Dave-I love the bull barrels and like the muzzle- heavy feel. It really helps me under field position shooting.

Right now, I have a Nikon Monarch 4-12x AO on it in Millett rings. But once load dev. is done, a 3-9x40 Monarch will replace it to give the carbine better lines. I don't know how much the combo weighs but will put it on a scale later this week.

As to getting good barrels, I have been lucky. But I have had a few losers as well. One of the worst was an Encore barrel in 25-06 that had the chamber so mis-aligned it didn't take much looking to see the problem. The crown was horrible, too. Accuracy? It was 2 1/2 to 3" on a good day. I sold it to a local fellow despite him being aware of its accuracy. He checked it out at my house, and he fired it once -- at a gallon jug filled with water (200 yards). This fellow doesn't shoot much, and when he hit it with the first shot, he was elated. He wanted the barrel then and there. All his hunting is from a blind and at ranges of not more than 80 yards. So I guess it will serve him well...

As they say, one man's junk is another man's treasure.

Dang Bobby You not only have good luck picking up barrles but getting shed of them too!!

Yes, but I hate to admit how much I lost on that barrel. Because of the way it shot, I sold it at a reduced price. Otherwise, my conscience would have bothered me...

Bobby what powder are you using. I use IMR4198 24.9gr and I'm geting 2902fps from a 16 1/4 BBL with a Remington 80gr PSP bullet.I would think you should get around 3000fps from a 21" BBL

[ 03-21-2003, 17:36: Message edited by: Paul Dustin ]

Paul-
I am primarily using H335, arguable THE best powder for any of the .223-based wildcats. I've used it in many thousands of rounds in such cartridges as the .223, 6mm-.223 (6x45), the 6.5 and 7mm TCU and the 7mm Ingram among others. Across the board, nothing else has come close in terms of the best blend of velocity and accuracy. Yes, certain individual loads may rise to the top, but on the whole, H335 is the hands-down winner.

But back to your question: My current loads are quite mild, and I see no need to push the envelope.

Like I noted in the earlier post, the 70 grain load could easily go up another 100-125 fps. That would put it slightly over 3000 fps. I will play more with the loads later on, but accuracy is my primary concern here as there is already sufficient velocity for the barrel's intended purpose and also sufficient velocity for optimum bullet performance. This is especially true with the 80 grain Sierra SSP, a bullet I have used in a number of firearms over the years. For varmints and smaller big game, a MV of 2700-2850 is about perfect and will ensure proper performance out to at least 200 yards.

As to 4198: I seldom even consider it for the 6mm TCU because I prefer a higher load density. Also, at top-end velocities, you are apt to get pressure spikes. And, to achieve top-end velocities, you are working the brass more simply due to higher pressures required. In a given barrel and at a given velocity with 70 grain bullets, a load of 4198 would operate at higher pressures than the same load with H335.

Bobby dont rule out H's Benchmark. A signif. gain in mv can be realized over H335 with out much if any accuracy loss...at least in the unaltered parent case. Seems it would be worth a try in the larger cal offspring.

Dave-
Thanks for mentioning BenchMark.

I haven't overlooked it. In fact, in my original post I had noted that both it and H335 were working extremely well. It seems to be showing terrific potential in the smaller wildcats, and I even used it when I had the 6.5x50R-Bellm.

But I have only used if for a little over a year and won't speak volumes about it until it has proven itself time and again -- as H335 has done for me. But you are absolutely right in that it can achieve some exceptional velocities at modest pressures...