7mm STW vs 7MM Ultra Mag
- Thread starter skhunter
- Start date
- Location
- Calgary, AB
My choice is the 7mm STW. Brass is easy to get and more than enough speed over the 7mm RM to be worth the switch.
I don't know how much speed over the 7 Mag the STW will get you. I recently sold a stainless fluted Sendero in 7 Rem Mag to a friend,..he's got 140's going 3340 fps pushed with H4350...I have the same rifle in 7 STW and will be chronying loads soon. I better get 3500 with a 140 or the STW aint worth it.....
I also have a 24" STW..we'll see what the velocity difference is between the 24" and the 26" Sendero...and we'll see how they stack up against a 24" 7mm Weatherby......I gotta get to the range with the chrony soon......
I also have a 24" STW..we'll see what the velocity difference is between the 24" and the 26" Sendero...and we'll see how they stack up against a 24" 7mm Weatherby......I gotta get to the range with the chrony soon......
- Location
- calgary alberta
Both are`barrel burners, but if 1 had to choose I wuld go with the STW simply because there are far more options in brass. To me accuracy is everything and the crap that Remington peddles for brass is why I would go STW.
Years ago we had to reform brass to make casings for the STW, I would still do this using Nosler or Norma brass.
Having had a couple STWs I still chose to rebarrel them both to 300Win Mag.
Years ago we had to reform brass to make casings for the STW, I would still do this using Nosler or Norma brass.
Having had a couple STWs I still chose to rebarrel them both to 300Win Mag.
In my books the Rum best the STW by maybe 150 fps but really is the animal going to feel it? Now I have a 7mm RUM I find brass very easy to come by. Recoil is rather mild for the powder charge but the barrel fouls very very quickly. They both power the heavier 7mm bullets(high BC) at a very decent speed. You will be able to find more STW's than RUMS and it has alot more class. I'm just rambling.... My 2 cents.
Not much difference in real world performance. Not much real world difference between the 7RM for that matter, either.
... about 200 fps difference between the 7RM and the STW with 140's (3300ish vs. 3500ish). At those speeds & both sighted 3" high at 100 yards they drop about 16 vs 21 inches at 500 yards (my experience with 140 nosler bt's & my 26 inch STW). I guess whether 5" at 500 yards is significant enough to justify the extra powder and shorter barrel life is a personal decision. Personally, after burning out mine in just over 1000 shots I went back to the 7RM velocities (actually a 7WSM but it's pretty much the same thing). Don't get me wrong I loved the cartridge and made some amazing shots with it but in the end the extra couple hundred fps just didn't justify me getting another one.
To your original question on the STW vs the 7RUM, if this is the route you still decide to go I would go with the STW because you will burn significantly more powder for a very slight increase in velocity with the 7RUM. Either way make sure you get at least a 26 inch barrel so you can take advantage of all that powder capacity.
hope that helps you ..........
That's how I feel about most of the "larger" magnums. At 500 yards you aren't just dealing with a little "holdover" to hit your deer.
So while a person might just enjoy shooting a super magnum, they are certainly at the point of diminishing returns, and in the real world probably dont' make a difference between a hit or a miss.
I went the other way and bought a couple of 7mm Rums, been a challenge to find loads and powder to find accuracy at these speeds I found its a fine line on what works. But I did, been very happy with both of them. I agree brass is not the best but found that by sorting them you will be ok.
The Rum can be loaded to some increadible velocity, (but not needed) as mentioned but other than the lazzys you will be hard to match it unles you get a longer barreled STW.
I loaded one with 160 gr TSX and Retumbo powder at 3300 Fps and holds MOA. The second I went with 140 gr accubond, and retumbo, that sits at 3600 fps with gread sdt dev.
I find case life, not so bad, 3-5 times with no issues, but barrel life sux on all them.
Recoil can develop bad habbits with these as both the are snappy.
I just wanted to add you will not tell the difference in a hunting situation, on what 7mm you throw at the animal, weather it be a 7mm Rem Mag, RUM, or STW, they all run hot and hit hard with 140s and 160s.
If you are looking at either, y experience, I would say the 7 stw, maybe, a bit easier to get the accuracy over the RUM. Seriously these rums at times tried my patients
The Rum can be loaded to some increadible velocity, (but not needed) as mentioned but other than the lazzys you will be hard to match it unles you get a longer barreled STW.
I loaded one with 160 gr TSX and Retumbo powder at 3300 Fps and holds MOA. The second I went with 140 gr accubond, and retumbo, that sits at 3600 fps with gread sdt dev.
I find case life, not so bad, 3-5 times with no issues, but barrel life sux on all them.
Recoil can develop bad habbits with these as both the are snappy.
I just wanted to add you will not tell the difference in a hunting situation, on what 7mm you throw at the animal, weather it be a 7mm Rem Mag, RUM, or STW, they all run hot and hit hard with 140s and 160s.
If you are looking at either, y experience, I would say the 7 stw, maybe, a bit easier to get the accuracy over the RUM. Seriously these rums at times tried my patients
I load 93gr of Retumbo with the 160gr Accubonds in my 7mm RUM. It shoots a raged hole at 100, 200 and a clover leaf at 300.
Definately shoots better than I do.
When I first got the rifle it really tried my patience as well but I stuck with it for a while and eventually found a load that works really good.
I bought the gun used but the previous owner was a tiny guy and only put part of a box of ammo through it. He traded it in right away for a 308 instead.
I've fluted the bolt on mine and have done the trigger but I still really hate the factory tupperware stock. That'll have to get replaced ASAP.
In a 24-26 inch barrel the 7mm Rem is a far better choice.
The super 7's are best with 28-30 inch barrels and the super heavy weight Bergers or whatever slippery bullet you prefer.
Even then I believe you are better off with a 300mag.
I had to run mine a bit hotter, and am into 98.5 gr of retumbo with 140s..
Yes when the barrel is cold and allowed to settle in the 140 accubond wil shoot as good as needed 2, and will cut a 3 shot clover leaf... But get em hot, and use other powders and your info Minute of baseball results.
Retumbo saved the day for me , plus a couple of bedding jobs and free floating the sticks but it was not easy, hard on barrel life getting there lol! But they are huntin guns, what can you say, they only need a hundred or so shots left in them.
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As to barrel length, I'm on my third one since it came out. Shoot the same load in each one. This gun was a factory 7 MAG 24". I could get 3050 fps with 160s. It now goes 3250-3300. Deffinately worthwhile in my book. I'm useing nickle cases this time and case life is only 5 fireings. No worries they make brass every day. Don't like 26" and wouldn't even consider longer.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
No problems getting 3500 fps and above with my 26" STW with hornady 139's and RL-22(or factory 140's for that matter) There's no point shooting these any faster as they break apart before hitting the target. (mind you I havent tested that many bullets) I cant see myself wanting to upgrade to a RUM .
