Loading the 7mm TCU

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SomebodyTookMyName

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Well folks, I was fortunate enough to strike a deal on a beautiful T/C Contender 10" pistol chambered in 7mm TCU this week, and if all goes well, I should be cooking up some loads for it in no time. I got 120 pieces of formed brass, and a set of good 'ol Bonanza match dies along with it, so all I need are bullets and powder, and I'll be off to the races!

Initial research suggests 4198 or 8208 should be in the right burn rate ballpark for launching 120-140gr bullets. I think it'd be a real riot to stretch out the Contender and try to ding some steel at 300-500 yards, and the 7 TCU should have just enough jam to do it.

Anyone here have loading experience with the TCU? Let's hear some recipes :)
 
An older friend of mine died a few years ago, and while helping sort through his collection I found most of a first-gen T/C Contender, in pieces in a ziplock bag. I got the bag and a couple of barrels at a good price, it needed new stocks and a couple of small pins and springs, but I still did okay given what they sell for nowadays.

The barrels were a .41 Mag and a 7mm TCU, both Super 14s. Frankly I would have preferred 10" for them both, especially the .41, but obviously it was a take-what-you-get situation.

I was already set up for loading .41 mag, so it has seen the more use of the two barrels. I think I've only had the 7mm out twice, once to fireform some brass with IMR 4198, and again to fireform some more with 3031. I used a Speer 145gr BTSP both times, as it was the cheapest 7mm bullet I could find. I haven't scoped the barrel so I wasn't doing anything for accuracy, just trying to build up a little supply of cases.
 
Ooh lovely! 4198 is oddly enough in decent supply here, so I'll pick up another pound. Finding 7mm bullets may prove harder to find actually.

I'd have preferred the Super 14, but beggars can't be choosers and I've wanted a Contender ever since I was a boy, so I'll make it work.
 
This pistol is meant for silhouette handgun, right? Saskatoon has a range for that game, owned by Saskatoon Wildlife Federation. There's a guy there sometimes that shoots the game. I imagine if you could get in touch with him, he'd have load data.
 
adamg said:
This pistol is meant for silhouette handgun, right? Saskatoon has a range for that game, owned by Saskatoon Wildlife Federation. There's a guy there sometimes that shoots the game. I imagine if you could get in touch with him, he'd have load data.
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That or medium game hunting, yes. I'd love to get a chance to try silhouette shooting, though I don't think they run many matches these days.
 
SomebodyTookMyName said:
That or medium game hunting, yes. I'd love to get a chance to try silhouette shooting, though I don't think they run many matches these days.
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Lot of places still have the targets, but there isn't much interest anymore. Last match I went to at Sherwood park fish and game three of us showed. Your 7 TCU is a great cartridge though, I've had a couple of them, in both 10 and 14 inch. Very accurate combo. - dan
 
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Lots of data available for cast and jacketed bullets the the Lyman manuals. IMR 4198 is the only powder I use for cast or jacketed. I have used 120 gr to 160 gr bullets. I found the 7 TCU works best with loads at or near maximum. I have a 10 inch barrel which is scoped.
 
SomebodyTookMyName said:
That or medium game hunting, yes. I'd love to get a chance to try silhouette shooting, though I don't think they run many matches these days.
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There was a club around Lloydminster or Wainwright that offered to buy the target sets from Sherwood Park F&G several years ago, they were apparently still shooting silhouette at least somewhat regularly then.
 
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