6.5 TCU for deer/pig hunting.

[Ak-one-shot]

I have a 20", 6.5 TCU Contender barrel, and I'm starting to get loads together to go to the range. 

If you have experience hunting deer or pigs with this round, I would like to hear what bullet has performed best for you while hunting. I purchase a box of 120 gr. Remington Core-Loct bullets to fire form cases, and to get some range time in. 

My intention is to hunt deer and pigs in the state of Georgia where my Mother and sister live. I live in Alaska, and am old enough to enjoy the snow free hunting available in the Southern states. 

I do not get on the internet often, so a PM would really be appreciated. gkdempsey25@yahoo.com  Thank you.

Gordon
Ak-one shot

[Mikey]

Gordon:  Welcome Aboard.  The 120 gn slug in the 6.5 bore is excellent for Whitetail and should perform without problem on some of those Georgia hogs.  The 6.5 TCU is not slouch in the performace area so you should be good to go.  I doubt you will need your snowshoes or cross country skis down in Georgia but you may need some bug spray.  Have a good time; good luck and let us konw how you do. 

[xphunter]

email sent

[Ak-one-shot]

Thank you so much for the replies. I appreciate getting first hand information.

I have read a lot of information saying the 6.5 TCU is good for deer, and other people saying it is too small.
My intent is to take my Contender Carbine deer hunting, and go after the pigs in the 100# class or so. I'm far more interested in having fun, than going after a record book hog.

At what range do you find acceptable performance on deer? Do you shoot a pistol or rifle/carbine?

This is going to be my first experience in using such a small cartridge on game animals. It will be the only way I can get my ophthalmologist to allow me to keep shooting after my cataract surgery, and plastic lens implants.

Thank you again.
Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[Ak-one-shot]

I want to thank those who responded to my enquiery about using the 6.5 TCU for hunting. I have not gotten the groups where I would like them yet, but I feel pretty confident about using the little cartridge for hunting now.

Has anyone got a powder that performs best for them? So far Winchester 748, has produced the best groups, using a lead sled to steady the gun shooting off the bench.

I also ordered a 4-12X scope to help me see a bit better, and the 120 gr Noslers for hunting.

Although I'm not a small bore shooter, I'm enjoying this little cartridge a lot so far.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[shot1]

Here is a little guidance from 40 years of deer hunting and many hundred deer kills. Sight in your 6.5 TC 2.5 inches high at 100 yards. You should be getting between 2600 and 2700 fps out of your rifle barrel if my calculations are correct. This will put you dead on at 200 yards where you should still have plenty of energy to take out a deer. Here is how to take the shot out to around 225 yards: Place the cross hairs on the deers front leg and bring them up to the center of the front shoulder and squeeze the trigger. You should have a BANG FLOP reaction. With the above mentioned zero you should have a point blank hold that will not place the bullet over or below line of sight 3 inches from muzzle to 225 yards. The shot into the shoulder plate usually shocks the deer more and you get the added effect of bone fragments flying through the lungs and heart as well as the bullet. This shot usually knocks deer off their feet and 99% don't ever get up and expire quickly. DON'T WORRY ABOUT MEAT LOSE. There is not all that much real meat on the front shoulders once you get all the sinew and plastic like stuff cut away. I have never hunted hogs so someone else will have to give guidance. I would say you should stay away from the shoulder on a hog and place your bullet close up but behind the front shoulder on them.

[xphunter]

At what range do you find acceptable performance on deer? Do you shoot a pistol or rifle/carbine?
Gordon

I wouldn't take it much beyond 250.
All of my uses with it were with a 14" barrel

[Ak-one-shot]

       Thank you. My deer hunting over the years has revolved around an old .35 Whelen and a 280 gr. cast bullet or a similar weight jacketed bullet. That is the reason I have been seeking advice here.
       After I get my new Simmons 4-12X scope, I'll zero the rifle at 200 yards on the range. I'm glad you suggested an effective range of about 225 yards. Although, the shots should be under 100 yards, there is always a chance that a longer shot could present itself.
      There is not much of a chance I could chronograph bullet speed  during the winter here. Most winter days we don't get the correct sunlight to set up the chronograph, and other days it is too cloudy. I'm looking forward to doing that though, as this little 6.5 TCU round appears to be an over achiever.
      Since my deer experience is with bigger heavier bullets, I appreciate your suggestion on shot placement with the 6.5 on deer.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[Ak-one-shot]

Hi XPhunter.
    I'm a little out of sequence here. Thank you for the maximum range suggestion. From past hunting with my son and sister in Georgia, shots on deer or smallish pigs will be from almost under foot out to maybe 100 yards. Where I have permission to hunt is in heavier cover, with only a few fields. An open field may present that longer shot, so being prepared is going to be a good thing.
     Although I shoot mostly at 100 yards with a 200 yard zero, I do shoot at 200 yards, and selected targets go into the binder along with the better 100 yard targets.
      Did you ever Chronograph your 14" barreled 6.5 TCU ? 
      Thank you.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[xphunter]

Hi XPhunter.
         Although I shoot mostly at 100 yards with a 200 yard zero, I do shoot at 200 yards, and selected targets go into the binder along with the better 100 yard targets.
      Did you ever Chronograph your 14" barreled 6.5 TCU ? 
      Thank you.
Ak-one-shot-Gordon

I haven't used one in a long time, so I do not have data for you.
I primarily use a XP or MOA, chambered in cartridges way beyond the Contender's capabilities.

[Ak-one-shot]

XPhunter,
    Thank you. I enjoy hunting, or often just a walk carrying a gun. Surprising enough to me, is that I'm enjoying shooting and carrying around this little T/C Contender rifle. I'm not sure at this point, that I would need a larger,
more powerful cartridge for the hunting I have in mind.
     I'm getting more confident in my choice of caliber and gun, simply from the replies I have gotten from those who have already used the 6.5 TCU on game.
     What cartridges do you use in your handguns that are too powerful for the T/C Contender? Any in 6.5 mm?

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[xphunter]

XPhunter,
    Thank you. I enjoy hunting, or often just a walk carrying a gun. Surprising enough to me, is that I'm enjoying shooting and carrying around this little T/C Contender rifle. I'm not sure at this point, that I would need a larger,
more powerful cartridge for the hunting I have in mind.
     I'm getting more confident in my choice of caliber and gun, simply from the replies I have gotten from those who have already used the 6.5 TCU on game.
     What cartridges do you use in your handguns that are too powerful for the T/C Contender? Any in 6.5 mm?

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

Gordon,
No need for you to change or fix something that isn't broken.
The ones I have in 6.5 are: 6.5x47 Lapua Improved, 6.5x55 Swede Improved, 6.5-284, 6.5 SAUM, and 6.5 WSM
All of these are chambered in specialty handguns that are bolt actions or Falling Block actions, save the FA pistol in the Swede Improved.

[Ak-one-shot]

XPhunter,
     No, I'm not currently thinking of changing calibers, I was curious about your guns and cartridges. Thank you. They all sound great, but do require the special guns. I would love to see one fired at night though! I think the flame would
be huge.
     I picked up 20 rounds of Remington .223 brass fired through a bolt action rifle, that I am going to load for the 6.5 TCU. I'll see if I have any trouble loading the used brass, and if all goes Ok, I'll shoot them on Saturday.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[spinafish]

I have formed almost all of my 6.5 TCU cases from once fired .223 brass.  folks just leave it on the ground for me!  My barrel is 14 inches.  I have never taken a head of game with it, but it is the most accurate barrel in my collection.  I have thought of having it rechambered to 6.5 JDJ..but when it comes right down to doing it...I just can't...seems too good as it is.

[Ak-one-shot]

Hi Spinafish,
       Thank you. I'm enjoying the inexpensive feeding of this little single shot, and I'm getting more confident about taking game with it too. What range do you shoot yours? As of right now, I have not shot past the 100 yard mark, except to play with some gong.
     
       This is an open question for anyone who would like to chime in. What powders work best for you with 120 gr. bullets? I have been fire forming cases with W 748 powder, and Remington Cor-Lockt bullets. My groups are mostly over 1" at 100 yards, but occasionally, I'll have five rounds almost touching.
       I'm changing to a Simmons 4-12X scope. and hope to see a bit better with more magnification, and shoot better groups because of it. I know a better scope would be clearer, but that is not in the budget right now.
       Should I neck size or full length resize my brass? I have been told to do it both ways after fire forming, but I'm just getting started, so I'm not sure what will be best. I have neck sized 20, and will fire them again this coming week.
       Thank you for the responses so far.

Ak-one-shot. Frozen in Alaska )
Gordon       

[xphunter]

I would always full length resize.
Have you tried H-335?

[Junior1942]

....I also ordered a 4-12X scope to help me see a bit better, .....Gordon

You'll get a circa 10 ft wide Field Of View with that scope on 4x and even less at 12x.  It'll take you several seconds to find a deer standing and looking at you at 100 yards.  A moving deer? Forget it.  I switched from a 4x, ~11' FOV to a 2x, 21' FOV for that reason. 

[shot1]

....I also ordered a 4-12X scope to help me see a bit better, .....Gordon

You'll get a circa 10 ft wide Field Of View with that scope on 4x and even less at 12x.  It'll take you several seconds to find a deer standing and looking at you at 100 yards.  A moving deer? Forget it.  I switched from a 4x, ~11' FOV to a 2x, 21' FOV for that reason.  

He is shooting a 20" barrel carbine not a pistol. That scope will do fine.

[Ak-one-shot]

Junior & Shot1,
        Thank you both for the comments. I posted here because the 6.5 TCU is dominantly a pistol round and I could gain information from folks who use the round. Yes, I'm shooting a 21" Contender Carbine with the old receiver and set trigger. By the time I get everything refined, I may decide I need to go back to the 1-3.5X scope I took off the gun. It still remains in its Weaver rings, and can be put back in place at any time. My 200 yard targets with that scope are 4" +/-, so I'm still thinking 100 yards is where I'll stay for now.
        Junior, do you shoot 120 grain bullets for hunting? Do you have any powder that has proved to be more accurate in your gun? 
        Thank you again for your posts.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon
       

[Hit or Miss]

Good luck on the hunt!

No one seems to have mentioned the fact that a hog's vitals are nestled very low in their chest.  Shoot them in the lower half of the chest right behind the front leg.  If you google "wild boar vitals" or some such you can get a good low down on where to shoot them!

[Ak-one-shot]

Hit or Miss,
      Thank you for that information. That is vital, no matter how big the bullet is. I am old, but inexperienced at pig hunting. Most of the hogs killed where I plan to hunt are in the 100# +/- range, with that big hog every once in a while. I'm primarily looking for meat animals. 
       When I get to the range, if the logging chain on the telephone pole is not horizontal tomorrow, I plan to shoot some of the ammo I have loaded. 28 grains of W 748 seems to shoot pretty well right now, but I'll try some other powders as time goes by.
      Thank you again for the reference to the vital zone on a pig.

Ak-one-shot Frozen in Alaska.
Gordon

     

[Junior1942]

Junior & Shot1,
                ......Junior, do you shoot 120 grain bullets for hunting? Do you have any powder that has proved to be more accurate in your gun? 
        Thank you again for your posts.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon
       

See http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/7tcu.htm  Long story short, I've never tried a bullet or suitable powder in my 7mm TCU that didn't shoot great to outstanding.  That said, I'd give a slight accuracy edge to 120 gr bullets and H322 powder.   However, I've yet to kill a deer with the pistol.  However again, I'm presently hunting exclusively with it and Hornady 175 gr RN bullets at 1600 fps. 

[Ak-one-shot]

Hi Junior,
      Thank you for the reply. Your comment about suitable bullets and powder producing good to outstanding results is good to hear. I'm working primarily with W 748 right now, as that powder has given me the best groups so far.
       My oldest son uses a 7mm Rem. Mag. for moose hunting and often uses a 175 gr round nose it it. If you get a deer, and recover the bullet, I would like to know if you get expansion at 1600 fps. Not that expansion is a requirement, but I'm curious about it.
        I have loaded some 140 gr Rem Core-Lokt bullets for my next range day. I'll see how they shoot, and maybe do some expansion testing with them in the spring.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

[Junior1942]

Hi Junior,
      Thank you for the reply. Your comment about suitable bullets and powder producing good to outstanding results is good to hear. I'm working primarily with W 748 right now, as that powder has given me the best groups so far.
       My oldest son uses a 7mm Rem. Mag. for moose hunting and often uses a 175 gr round nose it it. If you get a deer, and recover the bullet, I would like to know if you get expansion at 1600 fps. Not that expansion is a requirement, but I'm curious about it.
        I have loaded some 140 gr Rem Core-Lokt bullets for my next range day. I'll see how they shoot, and maybe do some expansion testing with them in the spring.

Ak-one-shot
Gordon

The Hornady tech person said I wouldn't get much expansion with the 175 RN @ 1600 fps.  So I added a 1/8" diameter x 1/8" deep hollow point with the attachment for my Forster trimmer.  I have a can of AA2015 on order, and I think maybe I can get at least 1700 fps with it.  But @ 1600 fps with a careful shot the deer is dead, I believe.  I hope I can recover the bullet.  If I can, I want to take a front-on shot so to better the chance of recovering the bullet.

[shot1]

At 1600 or 1700 fps it does not matter how big a hole you drill in that bullet it is not going to expand much if any. I am speaking from the experience of killing hundreds of deer with everything from a 22LR through a 45-70. Unless you put that bullet in the brain or the spine you are going to loose a deer. Yes if you put that bullet in the heart or through the lungs it will kill the deer eventually but it will go a loooooooooog ways and not leave much if any blood trail. Especially with a front on chest shot a solid bullet like that bullet will act like can miss the heart and lungs and even if it does hit one of them the blood will pool on the inside and leave no blood trail. I have shot 3 deer with a Sharps 45-70 rifle with Lyman's 405 gr flat nose cast bullets at 1400 fps double lunged and if it had not been for having a dog to trail them up I would not have found them. I quit using this bullet for deer.

[Ak-one-shot]

Junior 1942 & Shot1,
      Thank you both for your input.
      I went to the range today. At -8*F, I got chilly pretty quick. I fire formed 20 more rounds of brass with 27 gr. of W748. I shot a couple on a target posted at 100 yards, then rang the gongs out to 400 yards. The 400 yard gong is a steel tank, for size reference about the size of a 100# household propane tank. It is a simple hit if you are lined up vertically.
      After firing the 20 rounds, I had some 140 gr bullets loaded in fire formed cases. I simply went back to the 200 yard gong, and I'll say the 140s pack more punch. The THWAK is audibly louder, and the 140s make the 200 yard gong swing where the 120s simply vaporized on impact. I'm going to load more of the 140s to test further.
      My unscientific bullet expansion testing is done on spruce end grain fire wood, then split to recover the bullet and measure penetration next to a known bullet. I would like to do several tests to check expansion in different medium. I sometimes line up gallon jugs of water to check expansion also.
      Junior 1942, I'm still interested in the results of the big round nose at 1600 fps. I have shot a few head of game with cast bullets that gave minimal expansion, but harvested the animals well. I do use cast bullets of wheel weights in my 9.3X62, but soften the bullet nose with a propane torch. I have a LEE 6.5 double cavity mold bit i have not used it yet.

Ak-one-shot
Frozen in Alaska 

[Junior1942]

At 1600 or 1700 fps it does not matter how big a hole you drill in that bullet it is not going to expand much if any. I am speaking from the experience of killing hundreds of deer with everything from a 22LR through a 45-70. Unless you put that bullet in the brain or the spine you are going to loose a deer. Yes if you put that bullet in the heart or through the lungs it will kill the deer eventually but it will go a loooooooooog ways and not leave much if any blood trail. Especially with a front on chest shot a solid bullet like that bullet will act like can miss the heart and lungs and even if it does hit one of them the blood will pool on the inside and leave no blood trail. I have shot 3 deer with a Sharps 45-70 rifle with Lyman's 405 gr flat nose cast bullets at 1400 fps double lunged and if it had not been for having a dog to trail them up I would not have found them. I quit using this bullet for deer.

So the only suitable hunting bullet is frangible and at high velocity?  I've killed probably 2 dozen+ feral hogs with the Lee 140 gr bullet shown below @ 1500 fps from my 357 mag M92 Winclone. Most were DRT but a few ran a few yards.  All went in my freezer.

[shot1]

A sharp shoulder SWC cutting a .357 hole will kill much better than a .284 round nose that just pushes aside tissue instead of cutting it like the SWC. The .357 is already the size that you hope to get from an expanding .284. I am just speaking from my own experience. You have to live and learn for yourself so if you loose game you have been forewarned as to what can happen.

[Junior1942]

Here's the business end of my hollow-pointed 175 gr RN Hornady .284" bullet.  Note the large amount of exposed lead on the nose of the bullet.  Note the hollow point.  Maybe tomorrow afternoon I'll tell y'all how it worked on a deer or maybe a hog.

[Ak-one-shot]

Wow. As you hold that cartridge for the photo, it reminds me of looking down into the silo of a ballistic missile.

Good luck on the hunt, and please do post a photograph of the game you take with it.

Have you done any expansion tests with that bullet into water jugs, phone books, end grain logs, etc?

Ak-one Shot