7mm TCU or 30 Herrett?

[arlon]

Looking for opinions on these? I have both barrels (10" heavy barrels) but have not used them. Which ever I choose is going to be starting from the bottom. The 30 Herrett seems more difficult to make brass for but I have a ton of 30 cal molds. The 7mm is easy to make brass for and I have probably 50lbs of .223 brass but no molds.

Main interest is shooting silhouettes out to 200 yards (not competition, just fun). No hunting. Some paper punching and I do have some 500 yd steel targets at our range I could shoot at.

I really don't see any point in keeping both.

[marlinman93]

I've had both, and prefer the 7TCU for silhouettes. I also like the cheap brass, and one step ease of forming them too!

[3leggedturtle]

.30 Herret is a cakewalk to make. Especially if you have a power trimmer. I just used the fl sizing dies to set the shoulder back. It all depends on which bullets and molds you have more for deciding on which caliber. Todd/3leg

[arlon]

Another option that appeals to me is selling them and trying to find a used 30-30 barrel. I have everything for loading 30-30.. WOuldn't have to buy dies at least.

[arlon]

.30 Herret is a cakewalk to make. Especially if you have a power trimmer. I just used the fl sizing dies to set the shoulder back. It all depends on which bullets and molds you have more for deciding on which caliber. Todd/3leg

You didn't have any issues with necks being too thick? I also see I can get formed brass but I'd still have to add dies to the cost. Dies and brass will cost me more than the barrel did.

[3leggedturtle]

Never had problems with necks with the W-W or R-P brass I used. Shot mainly Lee 170 and 113gr boolits out of it. I sold mine cuz I couldn't stand cutting down 30/30 cases. Had MGM make me a 12" 30/30 barrel for Contender. I really like it, and have never looked back.

[arlon]

I like the idea of a plain 30-30 barrel better and might be cheaper in the end to sell the 30 Herrett and buy a 30-30. Maybe keep the 7mm and at least try it, just got a 3 die 7mm TCU set on auction for $25.

[725]

.30 Herrett is one of the most accurate barrels I have. Easy to make brass. Gobs of .30 boolits around. .30 Her. is more efficient than the .30-30, but who cares. The .30-30 is great from a 10".

[NSB]

I shot silhouette for years and used the 7tcu to shoot a lot of 40x40 scores. It was amazingly accurate and easy to load for. I wouldn't think twice about it, get the tcu. You can fire form the cases in your gun simply by firing 223 ammo out of it (don't expect to hit anything that way though :razz:)

[rking22]

I would go with the 7mm, and I've got a 30 Herrett and like it! For what you want the 7 is a better bet, there are at least 3 varieties of 30 Herrett chamber/barrel and only one is an easy cast project. Pick a mold for the 7mm from a custom maker, blow out some 223 brass and put those new dies to work. The case forming is not terrible for the Herrett but 7tcu is still easier and the basic case is laying arround everywhere from the bottom feeders. Trade the 30 for something 35 , never know you might wanna hunt something :)

[TCFAN]

I have both a 7TCU and a 30 Herrett in 10 inch heavy barrel. For shooting critters the 30 Herrett is my first choice but for paper punching and shooting long range steel the 7TCU would be my choice.Buying a new mold for the TCU is easy enough if you go that way.

[Preacher Jim]

I have used 30 herret since they came out. It is one barrel I will not be without. I find brass easy to form and use a jeweler saw to cut close to length then finish with trimmer. Brass life is good.
I also like 357 herret but use it less.
I just gave 7tcu away it is accurate but bullets for 6x45 and 30 herret easier to make .

[awsomepossum]

30 herret if you already have some 30 Cal laying around. Dies can be had for a reasonable price if you look at some of the classified sites. The 7mm tcu would be awesome in carbine barrel

[D Crockett]

Arlon you have a pm D Crockett

[Mr_Sheesh]

I"ll be a rebel here and say "Both", though I am finding I like 14" barrels more, the more I think on it. (I'm a big guy and that's not that long a barrel, for me.) Your choice on whether it's just a spare Contender barrel or you get a 2nd action :)

[marlinman93]

My 7TCU Contender barrel loved 140 gr. bullets! Very accurate in my Ingram barrel and probably one of my favorites of the dozen different caliber barrels I had.

[HABCAN]

7TC/U with a six-banger LEE 'Soupcan' mold from Midsouth............what's not to like??

[arlon]

I just have too many barrels. (-:} I'm trying to consolidate the accumulation down to things that I can actually use without adding even more to my reloading mix. I have moulds for everything but 7mm. If I can find a cheap but useable 7mm mold that would ice the deal. I must have at least 50lbs of once fired 223 cases so brass wound be an issue for the 7mm like it would be for the 30 Herrett. I also have a 357 Herrett that has never been used. No dies for it either but I do have a box of 357 moulds. I think I'm more inclined to sell of the 30 Herret and keep the 357. Cheaper of the two to get running in the long run. Only have 2 frames.

What's the 7mm soupcan mold? I can probably afford a LEE mold.

[hornady308]

The "soupcan" mold is sold by Midsouth: https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/000067mmsoupcan/7mm-soup-can-130-grain-six-cavity-special-order-mold

It is my standard mold for 7TCU. I also have a couple of 30 Herrett barrels and enjoy using all three. If I were wanting to simplify my life, I guess I would choose the 30 Herrett simply because of the number of .30 molds that I have and the fact that I actually enjoy forming brass. (Weird, I know).

[marlinman93]

When I got to the "too many barrels" situation I simply sold the Contender and all my barrels. I figured out I rarely shot the gun or barrels once I quit shooting pistol silhouette, and I was just acquiring barrels because they were so cheap.

[stubshaft]

I've used both in sillywett competition and have shot 40X40's and 60X60's with them. They are both fun and accurate cartridges. I used the RCBS 145gr for the 7mm and the 190gr for the Herrett. MY preference is the Herrett as it is rimmed and the extractor didn't drag and scratch cases.

[MT Gianni]

The 7 TCU is so easy to load for, I love the 30-30 in a 14" bbl. I see no reason for the Herret unless you love a 10" bbl.

[P Flados]

I have two 30 Herretts (10" & 14") and a 14" 30-30. I have shot along side plenty of 7 TCUs. All three are great and can do pretty much the same thing.

However, there are pros and cons depending on use.

Hunting with a 10": The 30 Herrett has a real edge. Better boolit choices than the 7 TCU and the rimmed case is better in the field. The few that have used the 30-30 in a 10" end up finding that it really is just not a good mix.

Hunting with a 14": 30-30 becomes very attractive. A little more velocity is available and muzzle blast is not near as bad as in a 10".

For the 30-30, the Herretts, the 7-30 and any other round made from a 30-30 case you do need to be careful with loads in a contender. People have streched contender fames pushing 30-30 based stuff too hard.

7 TCU is just great for all other forms of shooting. Works good in either 10" or 14". The ability to make cases from 5.56 is great. The slightly smaller diameter case also gives you a better "factor of safety" for contender frames.

[TCLouis]

I have both and suggest the 7mm TCU, Lee Soupcan mold, go forth let the silver stream flow, then send em down range.
Brass is a breeze to form and you are ready to go.

If you have some WC820(N) then look up Junior1942's post using it for very economical loads with some authority behind them.
If you're already stuffing for the 30-30 then send the Herrett down the road and get that 30-30 barrel.

All this said I LIKE the Herrett . . . well both flavors of Herrett and have 5 different combos of lengths and chamberings.

Did I mention that I like 10" 7 mm TCU . . . FUN with Junior1942's soupcan load.

[marshall623]

I run 160 Lymans in my 10" 7 TCU over 20.5 gr. RL7 for steel critters . It hasnt left any Rams standing if I do my part . A mold Ive been looking at is the NOE 150 Hunter .

[saleen322]

I have two 30 Herretts (along with a 357), 7 TCU, and a 30-30; all are in 10". The 30 Herretts are easy to make cases for and using a small tubing cutter speeds the process tremendous. Once made the cases seem to last forever. I used the 7 TCU for production class in silhouette and it was very accurate. I don't know if it was better than the 30 Herrett but it was more popular at the time--mid 1980s. The 30-30 works okay if you get a good load. Reloader 7 and IMR-3031 as I recall did the best for me. I started shooting silhouette with the 30-30 but my scores went up with the 7 TCU but that could also be because I was getting better. I like them all and still have them all but now I shoot the 30 Herretts the most hands down. Hope this helps.

[bobthenailer]

IMO after having both the 7-TCU and 30 Herrett and using jacketed & cast bullets in both , I would go with the 7 TCU for jacketed or lead bullets.

[arlon]

For the sake of cost, I'm going to go with the 7mm (at least first). I got a set of dies including a neck expander off the auction site for $25 delivered. The 30 Herrett dies I've seen (new only) were 3 times that. I can get a mold and sizing die for the 7mm with what I saved on the loading dies alone. That and I have about 20 pounds (pounds not rounds) of Remington .223 brass to play with. Got the dies in and forming the cases is pretty easy, split one neck making 50 of them. I also had a old bag of 7mm silhouette cast bullets on the shelf so I have something to play with for awhile. Thanks for all the replies. Might hang onto the Herrett barrel for awhile and hope to fall into a cheap set of dies for it too. Looks like the 7mm will at least be the first to make it to the shooting range.

[marshall623]

Good call , when you find a set of Herrett dies you will glad you held onto that barrel . I have a T/C custom shop barrel and its a shooter with 150 Sierras or cast . It does well with the 150 Lee FN . I shot it in one steel match and ended up with a 35 first time out , missed a pig and a turkey but I hit all 10 rams at 200 but rang 3 of them. That was the 150 Lee over 16gr. 4759.
Good luck with your TCU .

[arlon]

Ordered a soup can mold, gas checks and lee push through die (.285). Should be here this week. Now set up for 7mm...


Found some cheap dies for a 357 Herrett barrel I have too. It's another one that should be fairly easy to get running IF I can get some of the old 30-30 brass I have formed to the 357 I'll be good to go. Another barrel that should be a lot of fun for some informal shooting.

[Three44s]

I own a 10” 30 Herett, a 14” 30-30, a 14” 7mm TCU and 21” carbine in the same. They are all staying.

The reason the 30 herett was developed was because a 10” 30-30 was too short. Case modifications aside the herett clambering is the better choice in the shorter barrel. There has been a modification to the herett case and chamber worth noting. They take the chamber and ream the neck back out to 30-30 length to eliminate having to shorten the cases but use a 30 herett die so the shoulder is still herett, you end up with a very long neck but still reduced powder space to retain better firing characteristics in those short barrels.

The thing with a short barrel is balance.

The TCU cartridges were designed with longer throats for sil. shooting. They are good with bullets of sufficient length but a shorter bullet does not generally do as well. Kudos to the late 1942Junior look up his stuff. He points out the Hornady 154 spire point and how it shoots in the 7mm TCU but at slow speed it does not open well. He took the nose off the bullet and then he had expansion and accuracy.

I bought a soup can mold but have not used it yet but I do also have an older version of the RCBS 168 gr. that is the old lovern in design and it has not produced good results yet. I can not seat it forward enough to keep the base lube groove out of the “fire”.

The best place to find Contender stuff like those 30 herett dies the OP needs is over at Grey beard forum.

I find the 30 herett to be more flexible at various bullet weights and the rim is handy for hanging onto your cases. The 7mm TCU is very accurate with right mix but with a more narrow choice of bullet weights. If you want to go with 30-30 then I suggest a longer barrel at the expense of less balance and less mobility but if you get past those issues I find my 14” a real gem!

Three44s

[donald duck]

I like the 7 MM TCU
because of cheap brass and use only 120 grain cast bullets. Use 5.2 grains of UNIQUE , very accurate at 25 yds.

[buckweet]

I say keep both..
Love the .30 Herrett.
But the 7tcu is my favorite.
Especially in a Carbine barrel.