ihmsa forums

Hello everyone, I am considering getting a 7mm supermag barrel, 10" for production category. Dies are scarce or very pricey when found. I read that you can use 7 TCU dies for this round. Does anyone here have experience with this? Is it difficult to size once fire formed?
Anything positive or negative to tell me about this, please do...before I buy. If I buy, I would first try RCBS 7-145.
Thanks, Dan

I might be wrong but I do not think 7 tcu dies will work! The supermag has a very short neck also. Might be ok for IHMSA though. I had a friend that had one but he did not shoot silhouettes with it. wheelgun7360

Ok, that's a weird one! Had to use the ole' Google-fu to get some idea of what you speak. It might be possible, but probably far from ideal to use 7mm TCU dies. Unless you have a pile of .357 Maximum brass, I think I'd pass on that barrel, and it would have to be about free even then....

Yes they will work,I bought a BF in 7SM.It was very accurate.Im thinking being a BF had a lot to do with it?

Jackie is correct, 7TCU dies will work just fine. Elgin Gates designed this as a rimmed 7mm Ugalde. If you ever use them in a BF pistol, always full length resize them as the BF pistols have a very weak extracter, much like the Merrill pistols. I always keep a 10" length of brass rod in my shooting box to drop down the barrel to knock the stuck empty out.

Thanks for all of your input. Still mulling it over, but thinking I may want to go a different direction. Dan

[quote="Dan Masson"]Thanks for all of your input. Still mulling it over, but thinking I may want to go a different direction. Dan[/quote The 7TCU is hard to beat,it’s a snap to make,and and endless supply of brass available.

Thank you. I have decided to not buy that barrel. Dan

7 TCU is hard to beat like Jackie said!! wheelgun7360

I agree on all the comments about the 7 TCU HOWEVER the Contender is much easier to operate with rimmed cases. Nothing against the rimless cartridges but you have to push them in to engage the extractor and then pull them out over the extractor after firing. I started IHMSA years ago using a 30-30 barrel. Just drop in and drop out with a rimmed case. I also shot a 7 TCU and just couldn't get used to the extra effort to insert and pull out the cartridges. Nit picking for sure but there is a noticeable difference. If you start with a 7 TCU you will never notice the difference. It is an excellent cartridge other than no rim. I think that was Elgin's reason for the 7mm SM to put a rim on a case very similar to the 7 TCU. I plan to start using a 300/221 rimmed cartridge soon. That case can be made out of 360 DW brass and save lots of trimming when you form out of 357 Supermag brass. With the overhang rules these days for rams these smaller cartridges are becoming popular. Just wanted to comment about rimmed versus rimless cases in a TC.