7mm STW

[qmurphy]

Looking for some opinions on the 7mm STW as an alternative to shooting the 7mm Rem Mag. Primary use is hunting mid range (300 - 400yd max), and also interested in pushing out my distance a bit and doing some longer range target shooting.

Thanks Guys (and Gal's).

[elkhunter11]

The 7mm STW is a waste, if you intend to limit yourself to 400 yards. As far as target shooting is concerned, the barrel heats up quickly; and barrel life is short.. That being said, I have my fifth 7mm STW being built now.

[savagewsm]

If you are not stuck on a 7mm try the good old 300 win mag. Tried and true and more than capable as a long range rifle.

[Fowl91]

7mm STW has a reputation for "shorter" barrel life, as compared to the 7mm Rem mag or 7mm Wby Mag. However its potential is greater with some fine tuned handloads imo. I know of a few guys who swear by the 7mm STW, and it seems to be one of the popular choices for custom builds as of late.

[Full Curl Earl]

I have about 5,000 rounds down my STW, of 80G R22 and 150 Gr bullets. This is over an 8 year period i guess. It shoots under a minute as it always has. Not sure what we are considering short barrel life? in my opinion 7mm STW is a fantastic cartridge, and have taken Yukon moose to antelope with it. Oh, and its a factory Remington barrel.

[rembo]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 7mm STW is a waste, if you intend to limit yourself to 400 yards. As far as target shooting is concerned, the barrel heats up quickly; and barrel life is short.. That being said, I have my fifth 7mm STW being built now.

I agree with the 400 yards.

There's not enough difference in trajectory to matter out to 400 yards unless you can hold within 2-1/2" at 400 yards from a field position.

At 300 yards the difference is less than an inch.

7mm STW 160 Accubond at 3200 MV
Range Velocity Impact
0 3200 -0.5
50 3108 1.03
100 3022 1.66
150 2938 1.34
200 2856 0
250 2775 -2.41
300 2696 -5.95
350 2618 -10.69
400 2542 -16.7

7mm Rem Mag 160 Accubond at 3000 MV
Range Velocity Impact
0 3000 -0.5
50 2912 1.23
100 2831 1.93
150 2750 1.55
200 2671 0
250 2594 -2.76
300 2518 -6.83
350 2444 -12.26
400 2371 -19.17

[Dog Handler]

Not sure if extra powder worth the Fps hard hitting no doubt but I like the 7 mm . You Can by ammo anywhere and it smacks em pretty good.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

I have about 5,000 rounds down my STW, of 80G R22 and 150 Gr bullets. This is over an 8 year period i guess. It shoots under a minute as it always has. Not sure what we are considering short barrel life? in my opinion 7mm STW is a fantastic cartridge, and have taken Yukon moose to antelope with it. Oh, and its a factory Remington barrel.

I am familiar with your rifle, as we shot our 7mmSTW rifles side by side, shortly after you got yours. Yours seemed to have a very generous chamber, as it was over 100 fps slower, with the same load.. I have replaced two 7 mm STW barrels at around 1500 rounds, because accuracy had deteriorated from sub 1/2 moa to around moa.

[newdrenalin]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

I have about 5,000 rounds down my STW, of 80G R22 and 150 Gr bullets. This is over an 8 year period i guess. It shoots under a minute as it always has. Not sure what we are considering short barrel life? in my opinion 7mm STW is a fantastic cartridge, and have taken Yukon moose to antelope with it. Oh, and its a factory Remington barrel.

Good to know. I have 100 rounds down my new 7 STW with a Krieger barrel. Loving it so far, I just started handloading and it's shooting 0.5" at 100.

[tchardy1972]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

I have about 5,000 rounds down my STW, of 80G R22 and 150 Gr bullets. This is over an 8 year period i guess. It shoots under a minute as it always has. Not sure what we are considering short barrel life? in my opinion 7mm STW is a fantastic cartridge, and have taken Yukon moose to antelope with it. Oh, and its a factory Remington barrel.

Sorry but I call B.S. I shoot enough to know that an stw barrel will NOT go 5000 rounds and not loose accuracy.

[wolf308]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 7mm STW is a waste, if you intend to limit yourself to 400 yards. As far as target shooting is concerned, the barrel heats up quickly; and barrel life is short.. That being said, I have my fifth 7mm STW being built now.

haha,wow,very honest elk. id say we have all learned your niche in your armour now.

mine is the 300 H&H .........just looks cool and has a mystique when you say it ,wrecks it when people say ouch and ouch.....jerks

so am i correct in saying the 7mm stw,8 mm rem mag and 300 H&H all came from the 375 H&H .......just 28,30 and 32 calibre s necked down???? thanx

if so the .28 cal would definatley be a barrell burner , no way id see 5000 going down it accuratley , even the 8mm rem mag???

[wolf308]

Originally Posted by tchardy1972

Sorry but I call B.S. I shoot enough to know that an stw barrel will NOT go 5000 rounds and not loose accuracy.

haha good times on AO about ballistics ....even a 308 would be hard pressed ???? no ???? maybe but have to be careful the whole time you had it right ?

better let me hold onto your rifle FC earl and ill be the ty breaker . ive never shot a 7mm stw ...or any 7mm come to think of it now............ohh time to text the neighbour .

[ACKLEY ABE]

Got one..shoots very well....like it...don't heat it up....don't use it much...goes fast..... kills deer

Might have to use it this year.......

[qmurphy]

Thanks guys, some excellent advice and insight.

[Full Curl Earl]

Seriously TCHARDY, why would you call a fellow a liar when you have no clue who he is or what his level of knowledge is. Maybe your just a poor hand loader who takes lousy care of his firearm? I happen to know Elk11, who takes good care of his gear and his burn up quicker, but he also has very high demands of his rifles accuracy.
My word about my STW is solid, as it always is. I've been accused of many things, but lieing aint one of them. People are usually surprised at how many rounds have been through this pipe and what it will deliver for accuracy.
But heh, what do I know.

[tchardy1972]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

Seriously TCHARDY, why would you call a fellow a liar when you have no clue who he is or what his level of knowledge is. Maybe your just a poor hand loader who takes lousy care of his firearm? I happen to know Elk11, who takes good care of his gear and his burn up quicker, but he also has very high demands of his rifles accuracy.
My word about my STW is solid, as it always is. I've been accused of many things, but lieing aint one of them. People are usually surprised at how many rounds have been through this pipe and what it will deliver for accuracy.
But heh, what do I know.

Maybe I don't know what I am doing at the loading bench. Who knows? Doesn't mean I have to believe a word you type. Pics or it didn't happen.

[Full Curl Earl]

Huh? Not sure if I know how to take a pic of my word and honesty as a man?
The OP asked a question and I thought I would share my experience to help a fellow shooter. Maybe I'm naive but can't think of a reason why someone would fib about how many moly coated chunks of metal have travelled down a tube? Sounds like most Have not had the same positive results I have? First few hundred rounds were Nossler Ballistic with a barrel break in of cleaning every round for first 30, then every 5 rounds for 50. Rifle is .850 dia at muzzle and fluted and never more than 5 round strings. Has only been fed 150 Nossler Silver tips since and brushed and cleaned every session. Maybe the Moly is the culprit? Maybe the stainless barrel? Who knows. Take it for what it's worth.

[KevGuy]

I'm going to have a 7mm STW built for the spring. I've got the dies, the brass, the action, the stock and the scope already bought for it. I'm building it off a Remington 700 SS action taken from a 7mm Rem Mag. I bought 2 boxes of Nosler brass for it at $75 per 25 pieces of brass. Very expensive brass!

I still need to purchase a barrel. I'm thinking a Shilen 1:9 twist.

[qmurphy]

What do people think about rate of twist for the STW? What is the word on the street about the ideal rate of twist?

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by KevGuy

I'm going to have a 7mm STW built for the spring. I've got the dies, the brass, the action, the stock and the scope already bought for it. I'm building it off a Remington 700 SS action taken from a 7mm Rem Mag. I bought 2 boxes of Nosler brass for it at $75 per 25 pieces of brass. Very expensive brass!

I still need to purchase a barrel. I'm thinking a Shilen 1:9 twist.

There is no way that I would pay $3 per case, when I can buy Remington brass for about 1/3 of that, and still do sub 1/2 moa.

[qmurphy]

Elkhunter, 5 STW's, what is your vote for rate of twist? Sounds like you must shoot a fair bit.

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by tchardy1972

Sorry but I call B.S. I shoot enough to know that an stw barrel will NOT go 5000 rounds and not loose accuracy.

That's only two shots / day for 7 years.

[mr.pike]

l would get whatever you want, theres a reason for so many cartridges. that being said, if you already have a 7mm mag and dont reload, l would recommend start reloading for it if you shoot a lot, shoot out the barrel, or you can re-barrel it, or even have it reamed out l think?

[REMINGTON JIM]

Originally Posted by qmurphy

Elkhunter, 5 STW's, what is your vote for rate of twist? Sounds like you must shoot a fair bit.

9 twist is best all around in the big 7 with 160-175 gr-ers ! RJ

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by qmurphy

Elkhunter, 5 STW's, what is your vote for rate of twist? Sounds like you must shoot a fair bit.

I have had 1 in 9, and 1 in 10" twists, the one being built will be 1 in 9".

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I have had 1 in 9, and 1 in 10" twists, the one being built will be 1 in 9".

Another cooper?

Hows the rooster hunt going?

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Another cooper?

Hows the rooster hunt going?

Stiller action, Mcmillan stock,#5 fluted barrel.Hunt was delayed twice, I had a nail ruin a tire that cost a day, and my partner had a load of bad fuel, and had to head home. Everythingis in order now, and we are headed out this morning. At least it isn' t -22 like yesterday.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Stiller action, Mcmillan stock,#5 fluted barrel.Hunt was delayed twice, I had a nail ruin a tire that cost a day, and my partner had a load of bad fuel, and had to head home. Everythingis in order now, and we are headed out this morning. At least it isn' t -22 like yesterday.

Oh my...good luck with the wing shoot

The rifle build sounds great!

[Leeper]

When the 7mm STW first came out, I thought it was a stupid cartridge which was over-hyped by Layne Simpson. After a year of turning down requests, I decided I was being foolish and bought a reamer with which I chambered about 35 of the things in the first year. I still disliked the cartridge but it was making me quite a bit of money so I swallowed my pride and cashed the cheques. Now, twenty five years or so later, I still think it is not much of a cartridge and was over-hyped by Layne Simpson. A lot of people like it though so his sales job worked. Leeper.

[double gun]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Stiller action, Mcmillan stock,#5 fluted barrel.Hunt was delayed twice, I had a nail ruin a tire that cost a day, and my partner had a load of bad fuel, and had to head home. Everythingis in order now, and we are headed out this morning. At least it isn' t -22 like yesterday.

Nice build. What brand of barrel? And if you don't mind sharing - who is putting it together for you?