Big Game hunting with 7mm STW

28 Nosler....is the ballistic twin to the STW....


"..Lack of a belt is a improvement in case capacity when comparing the same size bolt face. That is why the nosler is able to get the same capacity as the stw in a shorter case length and that also improves being able to seat heavy for caliber bullets optimally where they are not taking up case capacity.
To me the 35 degree shoulder of the nosler is a better design compared to the stw's 25 degree shoulder. It should not strech as much as the stw and theoretically should keep the flame point inside the neck for improved barrel life."
 
I had a 7mm RUM, but brass was difficult to find. So I rebarreled it. Looked long and hard at the STW. But ended up with the 28 Nosler for the reasons above.
 
I got a little bored with my 7RM and built a couple 28 Noslers. One throated for 168 LRX and one SAAMI chamber that I'm shooting 150 TTSX out of. Had the 150 going 3400 fps, but backed off to 3350 for the tighter groups I got there. So far I've only shot a whitetail with it. About 190 yards and it shed a petal in the entrance. So maybe the impact velocity was a little on the high side for the bullet, I don't know, it performed beautifully so I'll keep doing it. But I've never had a problem with my 7 Rem mag with a very tame 150 TTSX load either. Shot a bull moose recently with that 7RM load, probably a mid to high 2600fps impact velocity and that bullet was a complete pass through and made the lungs completely disappear. He dropped on the spot before I could chamber a second round. When I opened him up there were just some bronchi left like bare tree branches and a chest cavity full of tomato soup.
 
I had one STW and a 7mm Yukon (7x 300 win improved) they were basically the same as far as speed goes. They both utilized accubond loads 160 grain and speeds were both 3250. I did manage a few animals with each. I wish I had explored more bullet options, as I think with mono metals they would be the bees knees. I wasn’t super impressed with the accubond performance at closer range, they tended to leave very little blood trail. Although if ranges were extended out past 400 I think they would have done quite well.
 
BigBraz15 said:
I had one STW and a 7mm Yukon (7x 300 win improved) they were basically the same as far as speed goes. They both utilized accubond loads 160 grain and speeds were both 3250. I did manage a few animals with each. I wish I had explored more bullet options, as I think with mono metals they would be the bees knees. I wasn’t super impressed with the accubond performance at closer range, they tended to leave very little blood trail. Although if ranges were extended out past 400 I think they would have done quite well.
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I have found this with a few different calibers and the accubond. Too close the bullet is going too fast and doesn't perform as it should. It will almost pencil in and out... But at a little more range, they perform wonderfully!
 
gobigorgohome said:
I have found this with a few different calibers and the accubond. Too close the bullet is going too fast and doesn't perform as it should. It will almost pencil in and out... But at a little more range, they perform wonderfully!
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The higher the velocity, the more rhe bullet expands, they may fragment and not penetrate adequately, but they don't pencil through without expanding, because the velocity is too high.
 
BigBraz15 said:
I had one STW and a 7mm Yukon (7x 300 win improved) they were basically the same as far as speed goes. They both utilized accubond loads 160 grain and speeds were both 3250. I did manage a few animals with each. I wish I had explored more bullet options, as I think with mono metals they would be the bees knees. I wasn’t super impressed with the accubond performance at closer range, they tended to leave very little blood trail. Although if ranges were extended out past 400 I think they would have done quite well.
Click to expand...

To the contrary when utilizing the Accubond bullets. I've killed game from 50 to 400 yards with 100% suburb expansion. Excellent wound channel which devastated soft and hard tissue. Best bullet that I ever used for range and field, for accuracy, penetration and expansion.
 
Thanks Track, I’m curious what caliber and speeds you have used them at?

I have had a handful of them in different calibers, and while they have proven to be accurate, I’m not sold on the on game performance.
 
BigBraz15 said:
Thanks Track, I’m curious what caliber and speeds you have used them at?

I have had a handful of them in different calibers, and while they have proven to be accurate, I’m not sold on the on game performance.
Click to expand...

Then use Nosler partitions, if not convinced on game performance. Game performance can be found on page one of this thread from a few animals we killed, from many, with the accubond bullet.
 
Most decently high velocity cartridge/bullet combinations put on a decent showing at closer ranges, then progressively drop off as velocity drops off. Lets start with:

1) Nearly explosive wound channels and a high incidence bang-flops.
2) A good wide wound channel, about the size of your wrist. It's still a fast kill, but bang flops are rare and runners aren't.
3) A wound channel that isn't a heck of a lot bigger than the expanded bullet. This is where the "But but but the bullet expanded" guys just don't get it. "The bullet expanded" should be prefaced with "At least" and followed with "And I guess that's better than nothing". Speaking of following; get ready to do some.
4) The bullet doesn't, or almost doesn't expand. The show was nearly over in #3 but its damned good and over now.

If higher initial velocity and retaining more of that velocity (by BC) will push each category out another 100-200 yards or so, why wouldn't you want to do that?
 
I have the big brother of the same case in 30 cal.
First I was using the 8mm Rem Mag case but figured it's easier to use the 300 H&H
Here is why, no neck sizing and no need to trim the case after 3-4 reloading.
I make a mild load to fireform the case and it makes it a little short (hence no trim required), but no problem seating the bullet.
Mostly load a 180gr slug, but used 200gr as well.
For the 180 I used 83-85gr RL22 however I backed down to about 83.5 as it was getting too hot.
I got 3200fps muzzle velocity out of a 28" barrell.
Haven't really used it any long range, but got mule deer and elk with it.
 
I originally owned a Remington 700 LSS in 7mm Rem Mag and harvested a number of deer, moose and elk with it, and a 10 1/2" mtn goat @ 15 yards, using the Federal Premium 165 gr SGK ammunition. That rifle would shoot that ammo into less than 3/4" groups when I was doing my part. Was totally happy with the performance on game out to 220 yards. Would have shot animals further away, just never had to. The LGS where I bought the rifle wanted to rechamber it to the STW as it was the hot new ticket, but I declined.
Sold the rife to get the left handed version when it was introduced. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find the LH in 7Rm and ended up with a 270 Win.

A couple of years later I found a custom LH Sako AV in 7MM STW with a MacLellan 24" ss barrel for a price I couldn't pass up. The bare rifle weighs 7 lbs even and is light and handy, even in the thick brush. The rifle shot the Federal Premium 160gr gr SGK ammunition consistently into 3/4" groups at 3220 fps. It would also produce 3" groups at 400 yards consistently. When they discontinued that load, and came out with the 160 gr AccuBond ammunition, I tried it and found that it would shoot 1/2" groups at the same velocity. I have even produced 1" groups at 300 yards with it. I have tried the Nosler 160 gr AB ammo, and it shoots well, but does not seem to be as fast (based on fet recoil as I have not chronied it yet). It has accounted for a lot more game over the years, but mostly because I have owned it longer and hunted with it more. It has taken whitetails at 10 yards and elk at 475 yards, and a host of game of various species at all ranges in between. I have never found the on-game performance wanting. While I may not be getting the velocities that some others report, I do not feel that I have been underpowered in any way, with the 24" barrel. And I know that I can stretch it out if I need to, with confidence.

Did I need the STW - probably not. But I have been happy with its performance and I am totally confident in its abilities, and how I shoot it.

If you want it; try it. Only you will be able to determine if it works for you as you want it to.
 
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