Speaking of magnums--7 STW

kell2784 said:
Do many 7 STW's utilize brakes, or do many not even bother? Does anyone know of a reamer for sale/rent, or a reputable gunsmith that has one?
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I had an STW with a brake, bad, bad mistake.:redface: I'd shoot that thing at the range and half of the guys would go home, after telling me why. It didn't hang around long. Besides they don't need one, the recoil isn't that bad at all. If you are unsure try mine out first, but it is roughly comparable to a 300 Win mag, depending on bullet weights.
Reamers around here are easy enough. Ted Gaillard has one, Craige Douglas has one, Darren at Saskatoon-guns works has one, Jim Dugan has one, I have one too. Mine's a tight neck though, you may not want to turn necks.
Dogleg
 
I have owned three 7mmstw rifles and still own two.I have taken a couple of dozen deer,a few pronghorns,a half dozen elk and a bighorn with this cartridge and am very happy with the performance.All three of my rifles are customs with aftermarket 26" barrels and all are capable of 1/2" groups at 100 yards with handloads.I use only 140gr bullets and muzzle velocities are right around 3500fps.
 
Thanks for the info on the reamers. I'm getting my P14 actions parkerized soon, and one of them is set aside for the STW project. Now if only Boyds wasn't so backed up I could have it in wood in no time. On the other hand, if I put it into a fiberglass stock, I could save some weight. With this caliber, I think I'll keep the weight on the higher side though.
 
When the 7STW was first announced, with considerable fanfare of course, I thought it was a stupid cartridge. The comparisons to the 7mm Rem Mag were classic Simpson. Load the STW to the nuts in a 26" barrel and compare it to a factory load in a 24. The truth is, loaded to the same pressures and in same length barrels, the difference isn't nearly so great.
Anyway, I thought so little of the cartridge, I refused to get a reamer for quite some time. Finally, I got tired of the requests and got the reamer. I must have made 25 or 30 of the darn things in the first year. The novelty then wore off I guess and the reamer saw little use afterwards. I still don't think much of it but at least the reamer paid for itself. I still make one now and then so some of those old Layne Simpson articles must still be getting read! Regards, Bill.
 
I just flipped through the Nosler #4 manual, to compare the 7RM (24") wiht the 7STW (26") and it appears as if wiht bullets of 140-175 gr in weight the max velocities listed differed by about 50-100fps

Presumably, Nosler used the same pressure testing gear for both cartridges.

But Layne Simpsons intro to the cartridge was well worht the read.:dancingbanana:
 
Dogleg said:
I had an STW with a brake, bad, bad mistake.:redface: I'd shoot that thing at the range and half of the guys would go home, after telling me why. It didn't hang around long. Besides they don't need one, the recoil isn't that bad at all. If you are unsure try mine out first, but it is roughly comparable to a 300 Win mag, depending on bullet weights.
Reamers around here are easy enough. Ted Gaillard has one, Craige Douglas has one, Darren at Saskatoon-guns works has one, Jim Dugan has one, I have one too. Mine's a tight neck though, you may not want to turn necks.
Dogleg
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Thanks Mike, If I'm going to burn your powder/barrel, at least let me trade you some deer sausage for the session. I'll give Craig a call on his reamer. After he put together my 338-06 last fall, I'll definetely use his services again. He is one of the nicest guys and knowledgable gunsmiths around. What loads are most people sticking with? Would you guys recommend a collet resizing die? I am guessing that case expansion is prevalent with this belted magnum? Is brass life short?
That should be enough questions for now.:p
 
Berger would be great for target but is not useable in a hunting situation. 175 gr. Sierra's work well in my rifle for longer range work. Will second a comment made earlier, close in shots made with this caliber are devastating, and there is some meat loss. I shot a nice buck in the neck with a 120 gr Ballistic tip @ 3600 fps. Hit him so hard it burried his antlers 6" in the ground.


Andy
 
Gatehouse,
I have a Nosler #4 manual as well, and a chronograph. The chronograph tells me that I can't believe everything I read in that or any other manual. I'll give you some examples.
I have three friends that I load 7mm Rem for. They are good enough guys, just not into shooting. OK, they're 2-5 box a year deer hunters.;) In an effort to keep my life simple they are all shooting the same load of IMR 4350 and a 154 Hornady Interlock. That is 61 grains and is definitely on the warm side in all three rifles. The Nosler manual would lead one to expect between 3150 and 3000 fps. Doesn't happen! Try 2850-2900 fps. I have no trouble getting 3250 -3300 with the same bullet in the STW. You may remember that the old 30-06 has been tossing 150s at 2900 fps for a long time with 4350 and will take 165s into 28 land as well.
Another example from that manual is my current load of H4831 and a 140 grain bullet in my STW. They quit at 74.5 grains and 3319 fps. I quit at 73 grs and 3500 fps. WTF? There's others, but suffice it to say that manuals are lucky to be within 200 fps of the actual speed. I have to go coyote hunting or I'd have more examples.:dancingbanana: Happy New Year:D
 
I've had 3 STWs. Even with the small hole its still one overbore round that kicks the crap out of the standard mag. With 26" barrels I got 3450 fps out of 150s and 3300 out of 160s. Thats in all 3 guns. With a 7mm Rem. 160s is topped out at 3050-3100 max. Great flat shooting deer round. Keep in mind its a touch distuctive on close range shots.
 
kell2784 said:
How many people around here shoot this magnum cartridge? How do you find barrel life, accuracy, bullet performance, etc. etc. Ballistics look impressive coupled with the accurate 7 mm projectile.
If magnums aren't your thing, what 7mm cartridge do most prefer? The reason I'm asking, I'm either building a 280 or 7 STW for long range target shooting.
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As much as I love the 7STW as a long range hunting round there are better target shooting rounds that will give much longer barrel life and all the trajectory you need to have fun at long range. As for hunting the 7STW is a great cartridge for medium large game, but I draw the line when things can bite back. I use a 280 Rem and find it a fantastic hunting round in a lightweight hunting rifle! It would probably work well as a long range target round but I never thought of it that way!
bigbull
 
This is another cllassic example of the old apples to oranges thing. Many years past I had no trouble getting 3200 with 150s in a 7mm Rem mag. Not with 4350 powder though. 4350 is a pretty good choice for the 280 but too fast for the 7 mag.
The only real comparison of two cartridges is to load them to the same pressure in the same barrel; any other test is virtually meaningless.
I have rechambered at least a dozen 7 Remingtons to the STW. In every case, the result was disappointment. The reality is that the Remington case has sufficient capacity that 1005 loading density is not reached with most powder/bullet combinations. When this is the case, there is little point in increasing capacity. If you have a huge stock of H870 or something of the sort. you might want a little more capacity. At least you could use it up faster! Regards, Bill.
 
kell2784 said:
Is this cartridge hard on brass? ie: bulging above the belt? Do most people here use a collet resizing die, or is this even necessary?
Thanks for the replys so far guys
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kell, the bulging above the belt has nothing to do with the caliber it is case related. Actually many of the cases tend to bulge to some extend because they are made so small! Loose chambers and small brass = bulge! Of coarse proper loading tecniques are required to keep the brass from separating due to excessive resizing.
bigbull
 
bigbull said:
As much as I love the 7STW as a long range hunting round there are better target shooting rounds that will give much longer barrel life and all the trajectory you need to have fun at long range.
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Agreed. A 7mm08 should get you out to 700-800 yards handily, and 1000 shouldn't be much of a stretch. Plus you'll get much longer barrel life, less heat to deal with (more shooting, less time waiting to cool down), and less recoil
 
Dogleg said:
Gatehouse,
I have a Nosler #4 manual as well, and a chronograph. The chronograph tells me that I can't believe everything I read in that or any other manual. I'll give you some examples.
I have three friends that I load 7mm Rem for. They are good enough guys, just not into shooting. OK, they're 2-5 box a year deer hunters.;) In an effort to keep my life simple they are all shooting the same load of IMR 4350 and a 154 Hornady Interlock. That is 61 grains and is definitely on the warm side in all three rifles. The Nosler manual would lead one to expect between 3150 and 3000 fps. Doesn't happen! Try 2850-2900 fps. I have no trouble getting 3250 -3300 with the same bullet in the STW. You may remember that the old 30-06 has been tossing 150s at 2900 fps for a long time with 4350 and will take 165s into 28 land as well.
Another example from that manual is my current load of H4831 and a 140 grain bullet in my STW. They quit at 74.5 grains and 3319 fps. I quit at 73 grs and 3500 fps. WTF? There's others, but suffice it to say that manuals are lucky to be within 200 fps of the actual speed. I have to go coyote hunting or I'd have more examples.:dancingbanana: Happy New Year:D
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I agree that manuals are not necessarily 100% accurate or applicable to 100% applicable to every firearm, but by using the Nosler manual as a reference it shows that the data is form the same source, wiht the same pressure testing gear, which ensures you are comparing apples to apples.

Were you loading to the same pressures with the 7RM's and 7STW?

When I chrono my 7RM, I generally have little trouble getting within 100fps of most Nosler data, although usually all th emanuals I own have some different numbers. 2900 fps from a 150gr bullet form a 7RM would indicate to me the need to try a different powder.:runaway:
 
My son and I both have 7 STW's,just came from the range with his,Using Hodgdon Data and shooting a max load of Retumbo 88 grains and a 140 grain bullet he was getting 3470.That,s from a Stevens 200 with a 24" barrel that was rechambered by Mr. Leeper.The best part 5 shots under a inch:dancingbanana: My STW is also a 24" tube and it gets about 200fps faster then most 7mm rem mags.:D
 
Gatehouse,
Two things; I was giving velocities for 154 gr bullets, and 4350 is the fastest listed powder for 150s and close for 160s in that manual. (Nosler #4) It is an accurate load and there is a limit to how much trouble I'm going to go through for someones else's rifle. Three 7 Rem mag rifles isn't a huge sample, but most decisions are made from a sample of one. I have had 3 STWs, one on it's second barrel. I still have two, since my first one has found its way back home. Kinda like Lassie!:D If it wasn't worth the bother, I would have quit after the first one. I was shooting the STW as a wildcat since the beginning.
If you can usually get within 100 fps of the manual for the Rem Mag, and I can meet or exceed the same manual for the STW the gap starts to open up considerably. I don't lean on any cartridge too hard when loading, but I treat them all the same. Chronographs don't lie, even if we don't always like what they say.
Is the barrel shot out on your donor rifle? Why don't you see for yourself?:dancingbanana:
 
River Rat said:
My son and I both have 7 STW's,just came from the range with his,Using Hodgdon Data and shooting a max load of Retumbo 88 grains and a 140 grain bullet he was getting 3470.That,s from a Stevens 200 with a 24" barrel that was rechambered by Mr. Leeper.The best part 5 shots under a inch:dancingbanana: My STW is also a 24" tube and it gets about 200fps faster then most 7mm rem mags.:D
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Well, there you go; plainly, not everyone is disappointed! This is an example of a situation where the increased capacity can pay off. With the very slow burning Retumbo, the Rem Mag case will likely not hold enough to generate decent velocity with the 140 grain bullet because it won't develop enough pressure. The use of a slightly faster powder will get the pressure up; along with the velocity. Because of the shorter pressure curve the velocity will not be equal and I doubt one could get much over 3300 with a 140 from a 7 Remington at reasonable pressures. I have seen guys exceed 3400 with 140s from a 7mm Weatherby but I don't think the pressure was really reasonable! Regards, Bill.
 
Dogleg said:
Gatehouse,
Two things; I was giving velocities for 154 gr bullets, and 4350 is the fastest listed powder for 150s and close for 160s in that manual. (Nosler #4) It is an accurate load and there is a limit to how much trouble I'm going to go through for someones else's rifle. Three 7 Rem mag rifles isn't a huge sample, but most decisions are made from a sample of one.
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Yeah, i relaize that 4350 is the highest velocity listed in that manual, for that bullet however, if you are getting pressure sign without even coming close, then I'd try another powder, that's all I am saying.

Other manuals list 4350's as being more int he middle of the velocity ranges, and while I've used H and IMR 4350 with pretty good results in the 7RM, other powders always have given me igher velocities.

If you can usually get within 100 fps of the manual for the Rem Mag, and I can meet or exceed the same manual for the STW the gap starts to open up considerably. I don't lean on any cartridge too hard when loading, but I treat them all the same. Chronographs don't lie, even if we don't always like what they say.
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I can at least get wihtin 100fps , or even exceed the numbers, depending on powder/bullet etc. What i am saying is that I dont' have any trouble getting within 100fps of thier data, unlike your experiences, which is why i find it odd...:confused:

If you find the STW to be of advantage, that is great. I'ts never appealed to me, and I've never loaded for one, so no first hand expereince and I really jumped intot his discussion just to quote a manuals data, since most of the manuals use pretty up to date pressure testign gear these days, ad presumably thier chronos work okay, too.:)

Is the barrel shot out on your donor rifle? Why don't you see for yourself
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Nope, it's pretty much brand new.

Send me a stock for a Mdl 70 and I'll slap it on and chrony it. :p
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