7MM TCU

[trotterlg]

Just so you know I haven't been sitting around too much, this is one of the latest projects.  A 7mm TCU made with a 7mm Rem Mag barrel.  It finished off at 21 1/2 inches, I have no experience with these, but it looks like a perfect Handi cal, could be a perfect youth deer rifle I think.  Anyone with any experience with this just jump right in and tell us about it.  I still have the ultimate Handi project working, when I have some things sorted out I will post lots of pictures of it.  I still have to attach the forearm lug, sand blast it and parkerize it, but it is looking good I think.  Larry

[Dinny]

Per the Sierra Manual.......

The 7mm TCU, like the rest of the TCU family, is based on a necked up and fireformed .223 Remington case. By far the most popular of Wes Ugalde's wildcats, the 7mm TCU has dominated the "production" category of both NRA and IHMSA silhouette competition. This should come as no surprise, since the 7mm TCU has virtually everything going for it. It is superbly accurate, and not at all finicky to load for. Its parent cases are readily (and cheaply) available, and case forming is a snap. It delivers reliable knockdown on the 200 meter rams without undue recoil. In short, it is exactly what is required for the silhouette game. The 7mm TCU is the most widely used (and still the winningest) cartridge in the "production" class today. Cases for the TCUs are formed by opening up the case necks on .223 Remington cases with a tapered expander. This is best accomplished with new, unfired brass. Frequently, .223 cases that have been reloaded a few times before forming will split at the neck during the expanding process. This can be minimized by using new cases, or by annealing older cases before attempting to expand the case mouths. The initial firing will blow the shoulders and body out to its final TCU dimensions. Once cases are formed, we strongly recommend neck sizing only, unless chambering becomes difficult. Contenders perform best when headspace is held to an absolute minimum, so great care must be taken to avoid setting the shoulder back during resizing. This simple step will extend case life, increase accuracy, and ensure reliable ignition. Silhouette shooters will find that the 140 grain Spitzer or Spitzer Boat Tail are outstanding performers for everything out to the rams. The heavier 160 grain Hollow Point or Spitzer Boat Tail will provide greater momentum for reliable knockdown on the heavier, tougher rams. Sierra produces a .284" diameter 130 grain Single Shot Pistol bullet specifically for cartridges like the 7mm TCU. Even with these lightweight, thinly jacketed bullets, the TCU is at its best on deer sized game when used in barrels not shorter than 14 inches. Although the 10 inch barrels can be just as accurate as the longer barrels, they sacrifice enough velocity to make reliable expansion somewhat questionable. Within these limitations, the 7mm TCU can be a reliable performer on deer, as long as shots are placed precisely.

http://shop.reedsammo.com/category.sc?categoryId=28

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/7tcu.htm

OAL 2.475 to 2.600" and velocities from 1600 to 2300 fps, depending on bullet used.

With that being said, it sounds like one great Handi caliber!

Larry, keep up the great work and be prepared to start taking orders.

Thanks, Dinny

[jeepmann1948]

I used the 7mm TCU quite a bit back in the last century, it preformed very well in a 14" bull barrel T/C. Its primary use was for steel but I also shot a couple of deer with it. The deer didn't move anywhere but down but  they were shot in the head. It is an easy wildcat to load and shoot. Dinny's post is full of good info. In a Handi I think it would be a good caliber with plenty of uses not limited to just a youth gun and very much at home in a rack in the pickup

[Graybeard]

I've owned and used all but one of the TCU rounds. The 7 mm TCU was the first I had but I also have used the 6 mm TCU and the 6.5 MM TCU. I don't recall ever shooting anything but targets with the 6.5 but used the 6 mm on targets and varmints. I love it as a varmint/small animal round and will do fine on predators up to coyote size.

The 7 TCU I used for deer hunting and took several deer with it. It didn't have quite the power of the 7-30 Waters but still seemed to kill about as well with properly placed shots. Mine was a 10" TC barrel so your longer barrel can likely produce velocity equal to the 7-30 in a 14" TC barrel which is what mine were. The 7-30 from a 14" barrel is a very effective deer round and I've used it on deer, exotics and hogs with excellent results.

I have a Remington Model Seven Predator rifle in .223 Remington that I might let Wayne York turn into one of the TCU rounds for. I will just have to decide which of them I want it to be if I decide to go that route. I've never owned a .257 TCU but it strikes me as an excellent compromise between a varmint/predator chambering and one for use on deer.

[PawPaw]

Junior Doughty is a big fan of the 7mm TCU and he wrote an article over at Castbullet.    He claims it's a great 150 yard deer cartridge.

[vabowhntr]

I am jealous!  I really want a 7TCU in a bolt gun.  Just gotta get the money together...

[NFG]

Very nice, Larry, I'm looking forward to your pictures.

I had an XP100 7mmBR once...for a while it was heck on the squirrel population, then I got magnumitise and it turned into a 284 for a while, now it is a 7mm-08 which is still a bit hairy for a handgun...without a muzzle brake it will rare-up, sunfish and roll over on you...with the brake it just lifts one leg.  It does very well with the Horn 120 Vmax and Horn 154 SP...so far I haven't tried  many of the other brands because these two cover the range for me.

I shot the 7TCU back in the day, not mine but several friends...always the experimenter/tester/goferguy.

Luck

[geezer56]

I must confess now.  I am the proud recipient of this fine example of Larry Trotter Engineering's handiwork.  I am more than pleased.  I've wanted one of these in a Handi for years, Larry made it happen.  I once had a TC Contender in this caliber, and loved the way the round performs.  I just never could warm up to the contender.  The barrel fitted up nicely to a blonde stocked ultra receiver that I had layijng around.  I have brass to form, bullets to load, and powder of several types.  Can't wait to get this rifle sorted out and ready for the upcoming deer season.  Thanks Larry.  You are an inspiration to all of us handi-holics here.

[bikerbeans]

Geezer & Larry,

I love you guys that can dream of and build these exotic (too me anyway) caliber Handis.  It takes all I got just to stop a Handi 270 from popping open with med-hot rounds.  Hope to see pics of the complete rifle and subMOA targets shortly.

BB