Author Topic: .257 TCU (Read 3280 times)

Rupe/PA · « **on:** January 30, 2004, 05:10:06 AM »

For the past several years I have been shooting a Contender pistol chambered in .257 TCU. This barrel may be the most accurate barrel I have. Was wondering if any of you have this caliber ? Apparently it is a rare bird and because of its' performance I don't understand why it never caught on.

bgjohn · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2004, 06:46:45 AM »

It seems to be pretty rare. I have a couple of 6.5's. I just sold a 6mm TCU. I guess the reason they weren't more popular was that there were so many different calibers and limited appeal. The 7mm is the most prevelant followed by the 6mm, then the 6.5mm. Someone told me they also made a 30 TCU and a 357 TCU, but i've never seen one. They seem to be very accurate.

Good shooting 2 U,
JM

Flash · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2004, 10:35:25 AM »

The Thompson Center Uglade, aka TCU, cartridges were all based on the 223 Remington or the 222 Remington Magnum. The case would have been impossible to resize and accept a .357 bullet due to it being smaller in diameter. The TCU cartridges were all good performers but without an age old name like Winchester or Remington stamped in the base, they had too much competition to even get off the ground as a factory round.

Gregory · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2004, 12:17:33 PM »

Quote from: Flash

The TCU cartridges were all good performers but without an age old name like Winchester or Remington stamped in the base, they had too much competition to even get off the ground as a factory round.

How come the 300 Whisper is surviving then?

bgjohn · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2004, 12:50:01 PM »

Perhaps I heard wrong. It must've been 257 and NOT 357 TCU. Yes, the 300 Whisper is around but I don't see why. I'd rather shoot my 30 Herrett.
JM

Flash · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2004, 02:41:39 PM »

There was a 30/223 used in Silhouette about 30 years ago and was designed by Elgin Gates. This never gained any fame but was head and shoulders above the Whisper. The 5mm Remington which was brought out at the same time never survived more than two years either. Now, with ten's of millions more hunters and shooters and a vast aray of information across the internet, a hyper rimfire and a pea sized .308 finally have a following. Super-Vel was another good example of that era. Lee Juras(i think i spelled it right)had some of the hottest handgun rounds with some of the premium bullets of the period but failed. Now, Magtech can't make them fast enough. Hunters of the 70's wanted the conventional weapons with the conventional calibers. We can't forget the 7mm Sharpe & Hart which did everything that the 7mm Remington did but it too failed from lack of interest.

Moe · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:50:10 PM »

Where in AZ are you located? I am in Tucson, for the last 25 years. I always wanted and just purchased a 30 Herrett from Eds TC's. Should be here next week. I love the shorter barrels. If it shoots well I think I will get a custom made 11 incher. I want to be just a little different.

Thanks Moe

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2004, 02:53:59 AM »

Moe a one load that does it all for me is , after you fire form your brass, 24.0 H4227 and 125 BT . Does 2325 out of my 10" barrel shoots arround 1" at 100. I would use remington cases because they are not as tapered inside as the WW . A good fire form load I have found and fun to shoot is 100 Hdy half jacket and 20 of H4227 . You will like the Herrett . I've had mine for 20 years and it still shoots with the best of them . Jim

Moe · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:13:58 AM »

Why does everyone go on about this cartridge when the 30 Herrett will run circles around it in a Contender?

Gregory · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:50:59 AM »

Quote from: Moe

Why does everyone go on about this cartridge when the 30 Herrett will run circles around it in a Contender?

Reason #1:
Well I'm restricted, if I want to use a bottlenecked cartrige, to a 1.4" max overall case length and 30 cal min for deer hunting in IL.
Reason #2:
I had a 30 Herrett once, it came to me in a trade and I turned it around in a sale, never even put it on a frame. The case forming chore was of no interest to me. I can buy 300 Whisper brass.

Sorry to digress from the 257 topic.

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2004, 06:48:45 AM »

I gather from the posts on the 30 Herrett and the Whisper, no one has a 257. Still don't understand why not ! It's a dandy !!

bgjohn · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2004, 07:40:04 AM »

It's not listed on the T/C Custom shop list of calibers. I think it was only offered by the TCA to collectors. Where did you get yours?
JM

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2004, 08:48:57 AM »

I posted the above about the 30 Herrett and like mine but I also have a
14" 30/30 ,30Carbine,330/20 and a 300/221. Each of them has a nitch if nothing more than the 3 little 30's being fun to shoot . I guess like most of us I hunt but do most of my shooting for fun and I enjoy different calibers and find reloading a relaxing past time . There are a lot of wildcats out there that I don't use but some one enjoys them or they wouldn't be arround. The 30 H. is my oldest barrel and do not plan to part with it but the 30/221 is a fun and accurate little round to shoot . So enjoy what you shoot practice with it and use it for whatever you situation or whim at the moment dictates . I normally don't go tin can plinking with full 454 loads but sometimes the buck and roar is fun . Enjoy your sport .

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2004, 09:40:38 AM »

Bugjohn - Some years I read an article in Gun World mag by Dean Grennel on the 257 TCU and a short while later an article on the 25 Wildcat, which is based on the 30-30 case. Grennel said in his article that the 257 TCU was probably the most accurate cartridge that he had ever tested. That's saying something for a gunwriter like him. At the time, Fox Ridge, TCs custom shop, listed the 257 TCU. I bought a 12 inch barrel and was thrilled with its accuracy and performance. A number of years later, I decided to get a 15 inch w/brake, in hopes of using a rifle scope. Fox Ridge no longer lists the 257 in their offerings, but they still have the reamer and will make the barrel as a special order. So, I now have my 12 inch and the 15/brake. This is undoubtedly my favorite groundhog round. I have not used it on deer since my 30 and 357 Herretts filled the bill. I don't doubt that the 257 with 100 gr BT would do the job very well. The accuracy is certainly there.

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2004, 09:45:32 AM »

BGJOHN - Sorry for messing up your handle. My fat fingers got ahead of themselves. Rupe/PA

bgjohn · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2004, 11:43:51 AM »

No Problemo.
JM

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2004, 06:00:06 AM »

I have sort of a poor man's 257 TCU . I have a 10" 25/35 that is an excellent shooter and it has taken everything from bunnys with an 85 gr cast at 1200 to a couple of deer with the 100 BT going 2100 or 2150 dont remember the chrono readings. I have also had a friend the streched his 256 Win mag to 357 Maxi length and produced a very good round . I always wanted a 257 TCU because I thought it would be a good round to reload , as you can see from the above threads that I enjoy reloading.
Have you chrono'ed you 257 TCU ? Steve Herrett made a 25 Herrett but never made it avaliable for public sale . I know I tried to get him to sell me his barrel and dies but he declined and told me the 25/35 came very close to what he was getting out of his 25 Herrett , same length and shoulder as the 30 just 25 instead. There is definitely a place in the scheme of things for the quarter bore but unfortunately not enough volume for the companies to produce more of them. Enjoyed the thread.

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2004, 07:04:29 AM »

Jim - Have a new chrony that I will break out when the snow leaves us. The data that I have on the 257 TCU lists these approximate velocitiesat the upper end :

75 gr Sierra - 2650+ fps
85 Nosler BT - 2500+ fps
100 Nos. BT - 2400= fps

Balistics are not spectacular, but not too shabby. The cartridge is very accurate and has been deadly on the groundhogs.

Moe · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2004, 01:46:28 PM »

ck, smallish deer in Tenn.The last one I killed in southern AZ was field dressed at 45 lbs. Good thing to...I had to lug it a long way.
About the 257 TCU, I e-mailed TC several years ago requesting load data and they mailed it to me.Unfortunately I have moved twice since then and can't find it. They may do the same for you.I wanted one also and decided on a 25 Bullberry instead, which I had for several years and just sold. Loved it. I also have a 256 Super Mag in an Encore carbine. Pics are at hunt101 under Moe I believe. Its super accurate and easy to load for. Forming brass is a little tricky if I don't pay attention.
Where did you get dies for the 257TCU?

buckweet · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:40:50 PM »

i have a .25TCU...
a 16.5 virgin vally barrel...in a word...awsome !!
heres what mine does..
75 grain sierra HP
27 grain H4895
2664 fps

85 grain nosler BT
27 grain H4895
2592 fps

its very accurate
.350 @ 100
never shot a deer with it,, but its deadly on varmits.
great caliber.
buckweet

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2004, 05:11:55 PM »

cknight - I keep saying that I'm going to try a rifle on my braked 257, but haven't as of yet. Probably will this summer. My eyes need all the help they can get. My 12 inch has no brake and it is koud. My 15 inch w/brake is thunderous !!

moe - I bought my dies from Fox Ridge when I ordered my first barrel. I'm sure RCBS and Redding can supply the dies if Fox Ridge can't.

buckwheat - Good to find another 257 TCU owner out there. We are FEW! Your velocity figures are in the ballpark with the published data that I have. Recently I have been using H4895 with good results. When I first started to load, I followed Dean Grennels recomendation and used AA2520. It is hard to get here or I would use it exclusively. AA2520 gives me great results in the 257.

buckweet · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2004, 05:48:06 AM »

rupe/pa
my dies are redding..love them !!! smooth !!!!
those two loads are the only loads i've ever shot in mine,
they shoot very well.so if it aint broke ??
lol
yes,we'er the few the proud the.....ha !
sometime im going to try the 100 grainers in mine,just to see what happens,,
buckweet

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2004, 06:32:36 AM »

buckweet - My last casual range session with the 257 and 100 grainers (Nosler 100 BT) over 25.o grains of H335 gave me a tight 1/2 inch group at 100 yds. This coming season I'm going to give it a try on whitetail. Should work OK.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2004, 12:39:15 PM »

Rupe/PA- would be very interested in that published data. Late last year picked up 10" stamped 25 TCU VVCG with dies that had been mis-chambered to a very long necked, short shouldered 25-222 improved. Sent to VV and they straightened it up. Have been carefully forming brass, but haven't had time to work up full loads. Interested in 75gr and 100gr loads so I can get going. Don't like ball powders, too bright and loud. Playing with some cast/Blue Dot loads for jackrabbits. Always find them inside a 100 yds. Other than hogs, shouldn't be much around here that it wouldn't work on. PM to follow. Thnx. BH

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2004, 01:25:06 PM »

Blackhawk44 - If you would give me your address I would be more than happy to send you a hard copy of the data and info I have. Rupe/PA

Moe · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2004, 09:01:24 AM »

VV has a 12"25TCU on there in stock list. I guess that is the same as a .257TCU.

Rupe/PA · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2004, 09:43:04 AM »

Moe - I would assume that they are the same. To be certain, I would give them a call.

hornady308 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 29, 2005, 02:57:38 PM »

There must be something to the TCU's and accuracy. I've had (and still have) a bunch of barrels, but my 6mm TCU is THE most accurate thing I have (including all my rifles). Perhaps the rather mild recoil has something to do with it.

casper_zip · « **Reply #28 on:** February 01, 2005, 08:14:07 AM »

Hello there: :grin: :grin: :grin:

First of all, want to say a big Howdy to Rupe in Pa. Don't know if you remember, but we have exchanged data on our 257 TCU's. I love mine, and like you, it's awesome in accuracy. Rupe, you sent me some "hard" data from a magazine, and also email data. I was looking at it this week, and loading more test loads for mine.

On the 30/223, Elgin Gates did not "invent" this round. The man who first done this was Tom Beall from Arizona. Elgin Gates borrowed his gun, and shot it in the first IHSMA days. It was the most accurate of all the guns. Tom Beall was killed in an auto accident, and of course, Elgin so egostical soon left out all mention of his name. This is all documented in the old records of IHSMA. But Tom Beall was the "inventor" of the 30/223 which will make the 300 Whisper look like a 22 short in comparison. Yes, it does not have much of a neck. I consistently shoot the same loads in mine as I do/can in my 14" T/C 30 Herrett. I'll be the first to tell you, if loaded to the same pressure, the 30 Herrett will leave it behind fast, too.

Glad to see folks who are interested in the 257 TCU, which came into being by John Wooters and his 25 CopperHead, which he used the 222 case instead of the 223 as TCU did with the 257 TCU. Also, the neck is left in the same angle with the 25 CopperHead, this longer neck makes it better for holding cast bullets, altho my 257 TCU shoots them better than I can hold.

For killing deer or anything else I shoot with a handgun, I don't hesitate with my 257 TCU. It will drop even big deer, and we do have some big deer here in La. now, that amazes folks.

Well, got carried away, wrote a book.

Casper_zip :grin: :grin: :grin:

casper_zip · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2005, 08:18:10 AM »

Hey Again:

Just wanted "Rupe" in Pa. that I still know him as Chuck. Thanks for getting me into the habit of logging my COL without fail now. I look at the data you sent me and admire your fine skill at keeping great data, so I have you to thank after all these years that I do try and improve my record keeping.

See you later :grin:

Casper_Zip :grin: :grin: :grin: