I too have a 7TCU I built on a 700 back when I was still gunsmithing. It is a lot of killing in a low recoil package for sure. But I haven’t really seen any difference in killing power over a 223 with 77s. They both work great. I built mine as an experiment really, had an action lying around and an almost free K&P 7mm blank. The 120Btips work great, the 120 Sierra, the 120 Hornady HP, and the 110 Speer TNTs do too. BC sucks on all of them but I make do. Were I to live in some state with stupid caliber restrictions I’d probably pick the TCU for my knocking around rifle more often. I haven’t shot any bears with my TCU but I’ve shot enough with other stuff and enough big pigs with the TCU to know that it’ll work.
The state that I hunt the most just recently got rid of their restriction of having to use a .24 caliber or greater bullet in centerfire rifles. I will be building a fast twist .223AI as soon as I get done building my medium bore rifle. I realize I don't gain much over the regular .223, but having the bolt gun be an AI version will ensure that I don't get my brass mixed up.
