6mm TCU

[Johnly]

My 14" S-14 6 TCU barrel topped with a Redfied 2-6X made it's first trip to the range yesteday to fireform some brass. I shoot Highpower, so I have a vast collection of Federal 223 once fired brass that I ran through a 6 TCU sizer prior to loading. I primed the brass with Rem 7 1/2 primers and set the measure to throw 28.0 gr. of WW748, and seated the 80 gr. Remington PLHP, Sierra 80 gr. SSP, and the Sierra 85 gr. HPBT bullets just short of the rifling.

All I can say is WOW!!! During the course of the fireforming the brass I shot several groups under 3/4" with the 80 gr. Sierra SSP bullet and several more around an inch with the 80 gr. Remington PLHP load.  It's really unfortunate that T/C only chambered this barrel for a few years as all the reports that I've read indicate that they are all real shooters.

[KYODE]

i'll second that WOW!!!!   my super 14 6tcu shoots 80gr fireform loads like that too. what a barrel!! wonder why they quite producing it in factory form. it was only made from 1986 to 1989. course a fox ridge barrel should be just as good.
my 80gr bullet fireform loads were with H335 powder, which done great. my next loadings are with IMR 4198 and 70gr bullets. i have them sitting on the bench begging my attention. :grin:

[TopGun]

I'll third that! The same goes for my 6.5TCU and 85 gr Seirra's. I also think TCU family is long-gone and forgotten except for a few devotees. As I recall, the 6mm isn't that far behind the 223 in velocitiy either. I wish TC would chamber a 223 barrel to handle the Hi-Power length bullets. The wt is the only real reason I shoot the TCU's over the 223. I love the Hornady 75grainers.

[SD Handgunner]

I guess mine would be a 4th. I too was out shooting my 15" Stainless VVCG 6mm T/CU this past Sunday. I was shooting 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with Hodgdon H-335. These are fireform loads, and I was consistantly able to shoot 1/2" 3 shot groups with it. There were 3 high school students at the range when I was shooting. Each one of these students asked if they could shoot that weird looking handgun. Each of the students shot a single shot into my 100 yard target. The result was another 1/2" 3 shot group with 3 different shooters. In addition to great accuracy, I am also quite pleased with the velocity of these fireform loads as well. The average of 10 shots was 3003 FPS.

You just really gotta love this cartridge, and the VVCG Barrel aint too shabby either.

Larry

[Joe Kool]

My favorite load for the 6mm TCU is: Remington case, Rem. 7 1/2 primer, 70 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. About 25.2 gr of IMR 4198, the velocity will vary a little from lot to lot of powder. I shoot the new lot of powder over the chronograph and adjust the charge a few tenths, untill the average velocity is 2850 fps. This load is super accurate, the bullet kills ground hogs ok up to 600 yds., and the recoil is lower then the 80 gr bullets, if you use a rifle scope. I used to use the 80 gr Speer bullet  and it worked very good untill they went to hot core, then they didn't kill the ground hogs good. They expanded slower and penetrated through the ground hog, but the expansion and penetration seems like it might be right for deer.  

[mrcasull]

SD handgunner you said that you are using H335 I just have one question do you still have any eyebrows left.Just kidding...  For me it's a very flashy powder, give Reloader 7 a try with that same bullet almost 3200 and not nearly the flash and 3/8" groups.

[SD Handgunner]

So far of the powders I have tried H-335 provides me with the best accuracy and velocity. I have tried H-335, W-748, H-322, IMR-41198 & H4198SC. Nope haven't tired RL 7 yet, but may have to look into that. Thanks for the tip.

Larry

[BobMachus]

Mrcasull,

How about some starting points for RL-7 with 55 gr and 70 gr bullets?  I just got my 6mm TCU today, drove through the teeth of what is shaping up to be the blizzard of the decade here in Colorado to pick it up at FedEx because they recalled their trucks.  I have been reloading for my .223 bolt action, .220 swift, and several handguns for years, but the manual I have doesn't have any loads for 6mm TCU.  Any of you 6mm TCU shooters out there who could provide some starting loads so I can work up my own would really be appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

[Curtis]

I don't shoot the 6 TCU but here is some data from my contender loading manual.

Nosler 55 gr. Starting Loads
IMR 4198  21.5 gr
RL 7  23.5 gr
AA2015BR  24.5 gr
H 322  25 gr

Nosler 70 gr. Starting Loads
IMR 4198  19.5 gr
AA2015BR  22.5 gr
H 335  24.5 gr
W 748  24.5 gr

Case:  Winchester (.223 Rem.)
Primer:  Rem. 7 1/2

Sierra lists starting load for 70 gr using RE-7 at 20.8 gr
Case:  Federal
Primer:  Federal 205M

Hope this is helpful.

Curtis

[PaulS]

Well, I chose to find the best load I could and went through ten different powders - most of which are listed in these posts. The best I could come up with - as far as accuracy / velocity is concerned is this:

PET LOAD FOR

WEAPON   Contender Carbine / 6mm TCU


CASE:
MAKE   MAL  5X56        ( 95gr +/- 1gr )
CALIBER   6mm
HEAD STAMP   223 REM
TRIM LENGTH   1.75
OVER-ALL LENGTH   2.273


BULLET:
MAKE   SIERRA
WEIGHT   60gr
TYPE   HP   (1500)
DIAMETER   .243
BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT   .195


POWDER:
MAKE   HODGDON
TYPE   H335
CHARGE WEIGHT   26.8 gr
PRIMER   CCI 400
WAD   NONE


BALLISTICS:
MUZZLE VELOCITY   2850
SIGHT-IN RANGE   100 yd
GROUP SIZE   0.65”   at 100 yd
EXTREME SPREAD   94.8
STANDARD DEVIATION   21.0

My goal was a 60gr bullet at 2800 FPS with sub MOA accuracy.  This load gave me all that I was looking for.

PaulS

[KYODE]

hey BobMachus, the new hodgdon annual reloading manual has 6tcu data for hodgdon powders. it's a good little magazine type publication they are gonna put out each year. it's only about $7  :eek:
my forming loads of 26.0 grs of h335 and 3 different 80gr bullets all shot great. i may be able to bump that charge up .5-1.0gr in my barrel for forming loads. it seemed on the mild side in my barrel.