Forming 7mm TCU

[DonT]

I know this has been hashed over before but I could not find the post so I will ask again.

I just got a 14 Contender and set of Redding dies.  Is it OK to just resize, decap & reform the 223 brass to expand the neck and shoot it.

I realize to maximize the accuracy it needs to be fire formed to get the shoulders correct but will non-fireformed brass give decent accuracy?  

The reason I ask is the ranges here are closed till spring but I wanted to get a jump on reloading over the winter and figured this would be a great time to work up loads.  Unfortunately I don't have anywhere to fireform the case so I gotta work with what I got.

Also, anyone got a pet load using AA1680 in these barrels they would like to share to reduce the learning curve.

thanks much.. DonT    :grin:

[Old Syko]

DonT, I assume since you mention decapping you are intending to use previously fired brass such as range brass.  First of all, do yourself a favor and invest in some virgin brass.  Most military brass has a lesser capacity than virgin brass.  Virgin will also last longer.  

When sizing for the first time screw down your sizing die a little at a time while checking for action closure.  Don't set the shoulder back any farther than absolutely necessary.  Size just enough to get the action to close properly.  I keep my fireforming loads to about 90% of max.  At that you can expect accuracy that is at least impressive.  On my proven loads I get less than moa even with fireforming loads, believe it or not.

Sorry, I have no loads for AA powders as all my proven loads deal with Hodgdon powders, with H322 topping the list.

At the top of this forums list you'll find a Contender page and I'm sure a lot of folks that know more about the 7tcu than I, but we're all here to learn together thanks to GB.

[Nobade]

Do be careful using 1680 in the 7 TC-U. It might work for the lightest bullets, but you'd be much happier and safer using something in the range of 2230, especially with bullets you'd want to be using on silhouettes. Other than that, you're getting good advice here. As for accuracy with fireforming loads, I haven't been able to tell much difference using iron sights between fireforming and already formed brass - it's not hard to shoot 40's either way.