[pastorp]

A friend of mine has a 7-30 waters TC custom shop barrel he wants to sell so I am playing with it with the thought of buying it. It is a 22" bull with the TC brake. I sure like the way it feels, all I have had in the past were tapered barrels. The bull barrel balances just right for me.

My question is: What will I gain with the waters over the TCU in a carbine length barrel. I am set up to reload the TCU but not the waters. Also this barrel is blued and I prefer stainless, the price is right though.

My TCU is a 10", but if the difference is not that much in performance I may just order a custom shop stainless in the TCU like this blued one.

Opinions please, Thanks, Byron

 

[flatlander]

IMO, I'd definitely go 7-30 Waters. I'm getting 2400 fps from a 120 BT in a 14" hunter barrel (so really only a 12-13" barrel). In a carbine, You should be in the 2600-2700 fps easily. I really don't think the TCU can get anywhere near there. It can be a tougher call in the shorter barrels, but once you hit carbine lengths, the waters pulls away.

 

[Robert]

What Flatlander said, seems to be the consensus around here. However...the Muzzle Brake isn NOT desireable, nor is it needed for a 7-30 (in my opinion).

 

[flatlander]

I really like the brake on my barrel. Not so much for recoil reduction, but it almost completely eliminates muzzle rise when I shoot. That seems to make it much easier to shoot those tight groups with that variable minimized. The down side is that it makes things a bit noisy for the shooter. Use hearing protection. It is still my favorite barrel and I'll NEVER trade or sell it off.

 

[pastorp]

Sounds like the waters is the way to go in a carbine. If I ordered one I might not order the brake but this barrel has it on already, and I can get the like new barrel for a little over half the cost of a new one.
With the savings I can set up to reload the waters.Thanks for the advise. Byron

 

[ilv2hnt]

:-D If you decide not to buy the waters . let me know I have been looking for one for my 11 year old to shoot, and I have a 6 year old girl that is dying to go shooting with my son and I.

 

[kjg]

I have had both barrels one a 7mmtcu in bull barrel with a 14 " barrel all I have to say is wow and accurate used all bullet wieghts using hornady sst and regular interbonds from 120 grain to 154 grain the154 grains were extremly accurate, with recoil.


Mow the 7mm waters was intereting, I found it on e- bay a few years ago, with scope and got lucky enough to get it I worked with it for two years and just could not get the accuracy that I wanted I guess, I wanted to use th154 grain bullets so bad that after all that time and money spent, I should have settled on a lighter bulliet the barrel legth was 22" and was a costum shop barrel, the whole thing weighed 7lbs. with scope and full uncle mikes bullet holder on butt stock, talk about the altimate hunting rig, the best accuracy at 100 yards was 1 1/2" I thought it sould have been better, but I really believe it shines out of a 12-14" barrel. but that is only my view, the federal ammunition, is rather heavy recoilish out of my rifle, the primers also after fireing poped abput half way out of the pocket, no big dael if you reload it did not happen with reloads, I even made my own cases out of 30-30 brass after resizing the neck to 7mm, and fire forming. was fun. kjg

 

[drags]

I have a 7mm tcu carbine 21" barrel I shoot the 120 gr. nos. balistic tip the chrongraphed velocity is 2530 fps. , sure you can do better with the 7-30 waters but how much better? It is easy to form brass from the .223 rem. and factory brass is now avaiable, the 7mm tcu is usually more accurate than the waters. I've shot several deer with the 7mm tcu and I watch them go down in the scope. JMO
Drags

 

[spenceinva]

Drags -

What is your load data for the ballistic tip 7tcu load? I just picked up a 21 inch custom shop barrel and getting ready to work up a 120 BT load.

Thanks,
Spence

 

[drags]

spenceinva, I used h322 powder, new win. fireformed cases rem. 7.5 or fed. match primers. I got the data from an old sierra loading manual for a 10 inch contender, its a good load for the 7mm tcu one inch groups at 200yds. I think you will like the barrel.
Drags