Author Topic: 6.5 TCU, what should I rechamber it to? (Read 931 times)

mkee · « **on:** September 22, 2005, 01:58:42 AM »

As the topic says, I'm thinking about a rechamber on a 6.5 TCU Contender barrel. Any suggestions? Only thing I'm sure can be cut into it is a 6.5 JDJ. What else is there? I'm mostly concerned with accuracy. If the cartridge has enough power for whitetail it would be great, but I've already got a few barrels that are more than adequate for that. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

palgeno · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2005, 03:39:15 AM »

Geez! I nearly did what you are contemplating. The 6.5 TCU is a great shooter or at least mine is. I enjoy loading for it and shooting it. I decided not to do it and just bought a 6.5 JDJ. (actually have two now :wink: ). Even if a TC 6.5 TCU barrel was rechambered, the Shilen blank and chambering bySSK would no doubt make a superior 6.5 JDJ barrel. I'd miss the 6.5 TCU for it's soft recoil and uniqueness. It is fun to see how many people ask, "What the h@@@ is that?" :grin: pg

mkee · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:52:31 AM »

Right now I just want to see what's out there. I've been shooting someone else's handloads with very poor results. Don't know if it's the handloads or the barrel. Thought it might be me, but I shot my 358 JDJ right after this one, and it was shooting groups 1" - 1 1/2". The tcu was hard to keep inside 6". I plan to load some of my own and shoot them this weekend. After that I'll decide. Just wanted some opinions to get me started.

xphunter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2005, 09:22:37 AM »

Doesn't sound like it is you on hte 6.5TCU. They are very accurate usually. TC can make a number of mistakes from off-centered chambers, bad crowns, etc.
What length barrel?

mkee · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2005, 09:48:18 AM »

barrel is a super 14. Crown is almost non existent. looks like it was cut off, but it measures 14" just like it says. may just need to be recrowned, but if i send it in that's probably not all that i'll have done.

xphunter · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2005, 10:07:17 AM »

If or when you decide to do something there are a number of good smith's who can help you.

palgeno · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2005, 11:07:13 AM »

Recrowning is not a very expensive alteration and can usually be done by someone locally. Or even do it yourself---Brownells has a set up for it--I've used it myself on a couple of 1911 barrels and on a Marlin 336---easy to use and done by hand, too. If recrowning does not help, I wouldn't waste the money to go further---probably something drastically wrong. 6.5 TCU's mostly are VERY accurate.

pg

Steve P · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2005, 04:02:38 PM »

My 6.5 TCUs are very accurate also. Use my own 120 grain jacketed bullet with VVN133 and it will shoot minute of angle if I do my part. (open sights)

If I were going to change the barrel, I would send to Mike Bellm and have him lengthen and center the chamber for 6.5 Bellm. This is a 5.56x50R brass opened up to 6.5 mm. It is basically a longer, rimmed, 6.5 tcu. You can use the TCU dies to reload it. They are proven to be extremely accurate.

Steve

wheelgun · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2005, 04:21:21 AM »

I have a 6.5 tcu 10" that is very accurate but it likes the 120 gr nosler the best.The 100 grains are okay the 140 grain are too long I guess the groups open up pretty bad.

karbo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2005, 06:35:37 AM »

Another option would be to contact TC. I've heard of a number of cases where they'll replace the barrel or let you get what you want from the custom shop if the barrel doesn't shoot well. I've got a 30 Herrett which is in the same boat, 6" at 100 yards. I'm going to try a few more things to see if I can get it to shoot well, but if it doesn't, I'm calling TC. I think the problem with my barrel is that the throat is cut way too long. I can drop a 150gr bullet in the chamber, and then follow it with an empty case and still close the action. So there's no way to seat a 125/130 gr bullet even close to the rifling.

mkee · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2005, 04:25:28 PM »

karbo, I believe the long throat is the problem here as well. I loaded a 140 gr Sierra HPBT out as far as possible and it never touch the rifling. Went ahead and loaded some and tried them and some 100 grn Nosler BT's, but the best group was still 3 1/2 - 4" with the 100's, which isn't even close to acceptable for what I have been shoting with my 7-30 Waters. Even my 358 JDJ can do 1 1/2" with a 250 gr round nose. The 140's won't work anyway. They never stabilized and made some almost sidways holes in my target. The 100s at least cut the paper right. Thinking about cutting out to the be**m or maybe a 6.5 BB.

Steve P · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2005, 03:52:17 PM »

TCs 6.5 barrels are rifled too slow for the heavier bullets. I have been able to keep my own 140 bt bullets to stabilize, but speer, sierra, nosler, etc wont and my cast bullets wont. Even though my own jacketed bullets were stabilizing, I dropped back to a 120 for the accuracy and punch. Try some VVN133 (start about 22 - 22.5 grains and work up in 1/2 grain increments), WSR primers, and a Nosler 120 ballistic Tip. I think you will be suprized at the accuracy.

Steve