7mmTCU Load Question

[watercam]

Thanks for all the posts on my recoil question! The 7TCU is much more user friendly than the .44 Mag.. Especially when shooting one-handed in prone. Or flop. Or what ever you are calling the Creedmoor type position (which my back loves). I am seeing numbers for the 7mmTCU loads here that are far different than what the load manuals (three that I have). The manuals are all calling for up to 29 grains of IMR4895 with 139 grain bullets. I am seeing loads in the 25 gr. range here. I am shooting a Contender with the usual 'generous' (outrageous is more like it) freebore. Before I found some 4895 I tried Reloader 10 with up to 26.5 grains and no problems. Was raining that day so the chronograph stated in the box. Any comments are welcome.
Thanks, Mike
P.S. What velocity keeps one from damaging the steel targets?

[260 Striker]

With the target setting rules we have today, a person doesn't need the killer loads necessary in the early days to take rams. You also have to remember load manuals are geared more to hunting applications and are looking for max velocity. In my 7 TCU I was using 25.0 grains of H322 with 139 grain Hornady bullets for C, P and T then used 154 Hornady bullets for rams (extra insurance). Was pleasant to shoot and very accurate. H4895 can be downloaded and still give excellent accuracy. I doubt if your 7 TCU will ever damage targets even if using FMJ bullets. Most ranges now have the harder steel targets so rifle loads probably wouldn't even harm them. Our first targets were softer steel and they really got pounded by some of the early guns.

[watercam]

Thank you very much!

[KickBass]

I've shot a lot of 7 TCU, and my honey load with a 140 grain bullet has been 27.2 grains of Varget. Used to have a 150 load for rams, but haven't rang a ram for a long time with the 140 (which of course means I'll leave one tomorrow!).