7 stw

Shooter2000 · Nov 27, 2005

I need some thoughts and ideas about the 7mm stw cartridge for deer / elk / bear hunting
which manufacturer has the "best" rifle

jjmp · Nov 28, 2005

shooter2000, i think its a great round pick your bullets though, at close range normal bullets turn inside out, you''d need a premium stout bullet for sure, this case has plenty of power, ive shot sub one minute of angle groups at 1,000 yards,with noslers 160 grain Partition''s , way before the AccuBond came out, we''re the limiteing factor not the cartridge.factory rifles ..... the most accurate go with you gut, ifin i had it all to do over i''d pick a factory action i really liked get me a custom smith who agreed with my mind set, and put a custom match grade barrel of 28 inches on that action and also stock it with what ever suites your fancy. i own a couple stw''s great round but then again they all are ............ thats our Freedom of Choice ,hope i helped.....Regards....jjmp.

7mmfan · Nov 28, 2005

I have to agree, to take advantage of the STW's potential buy a cheap Remington SPS in 7mm Remington Magnum and have a good gunsmith put a top-quality barrel on it and square and lap the action. Hart, Lilja, and Shilen have some great barrels and will put you on to competent gunsmith's. Remember, even if you have the best action and barrel in the world, it's only as good as the gunsmith who is putting it together...you get what you pay for.

Brad

jdmason480 · Dec 3, 2005

I just purchased my STW (slightly used) this year. It's a Browning A-Bolt SS/composite 26" barrel w/muzzle brake. I'm not sure the year of manufacture and I don't know if they chamber A-Bolts in STW anymore. This gun has been extremely accurate with 160gr AB's and RL25. An antelope, a white tail, and a hog so far this year.

My 7mmRemMag is a Ruger M77 that I've had for 25 years. It, too, has been very accurate though I did have the barrel floated and the trigger reworked about 15 years ago. Both those things helped.

I'm impressed so far with the STW round. There seems to be several of us in the Forum who shoot them. Hope you find a good combination!

jd

Charlie-NY · Dec 3, 2005

I took this antelope in Wyoming this year with my 7STW. A single shot from 465yds and the party was over.

My rifle started as a Rem Sendero in 7mm mag. It currently wears a 26" Hart bbl with a 10" twist (in 7STW). Longer bbls will get you a bit more speed but are cumbersome to carry around. Besides, the 7STW is already pretty darn fast with maximum loads.

jdmason480 · Dec 5, 2005

That's a nice antelope. Thanks for the pic.

465 yds is beyond my comfort level. Great shooting! How did you calculate bullet drop? Do you keep balistic tables in your head? Just curious.

jd

7mmfan · Dec 5, 2005

The STW just shoots that flat...zero at 300 for a 140 BT at 3500fps. My longest shot is with a STW....an antelope at 476 yards in a strong crosswind. I just put the crosshairs on his nose and the bullet landed right behind the shoulder.

Brad

remingtonman_25_06 · Dec 5, 2005

There is a couple ways to shoot 400-500 yards relatively easy. One way is by using a Ballistic Plex type reticle. The other is to use Target knobs like the ones from Leupold or any other good manufacturer. A rangefinder is a must with this type of set up. Along with a chrongraph, ballistics program, and a range to shoot and verify a "drop chart" Once its all said and done, one can eventually range an animal, set down and get set up. Dial the scope up to the recomended setting and hold "dead on" out to extreme ranges. Wind, temperature among other things play a vital role as well. But with an accurate rifle/load, shooter, good conditions, first shot kills at 500 yards can become relatively easy.

Charlie-NY · Dec 6, 2005

465 yds is beyond my comfort level. Great shooting! How did you calculate bullet drop? Do you keep balistic tables in your head? Just curious.

It really wasn't all that difficult. I had a Leupold "Varmint Reticle" put into my 6.5X20 scope. The reticle has multiple horizontal crosshairs. Once you work out the bugs and get it adjusted properly for your load, all you have to do is use the correct crosshair. My scope had a 200yd-300yd-400-yd-500yds crosshair and the holdover for longer ranges was calculated with a drop chart. I used a laser rangfinder to determine the range.

I was shooting a 162gr A-Max bullet @ about 3,200 ft/sec. This bullet has a very high BC and resists the effects of the wind rather well. It does act like a varmint bullet for biggame. The bullet hit the buck low in the chest, broke several ribs free, and (somehow) blew its stomach wall open allowing its entrails to fall right to the ground. UGLY... but DEAD.

I also shot this coyote that didn't fair much better. One shot and he was DRT. :shock: Bullet entered between the shoulder blades and blew a huge hole out of its chest. Yote fell down a deep crevasse where the photo was taken.

Charlie-NY · Dec 6, 2005

I need some thoughts and ideas about the 7mm stw cartridge for deer / elk / bear hunting
which manufacturer has the "best" rifle

Just realized that I didn't address the original question. The 7STW is a great cartridge for deer/elk/bear, providing that you aren't talking about grizzley or brown bears. :shock: For BIG bears it is a good idea to use heavier bullets with plenty of frontal mass and significant terminal energy. Sometimes OVERKILL is a good thing.

I would suggest using premium bullets like the Accubonds in the 7STW even when shooting deer. Occasionally you get surprised by an unexpectedly CLOSE deer and you will need a tough bullet to prevent bullet disintegration at the impact velocities the the 7STW is capable of. I prefer the 140gr AccuBond for deer.

For elk and med/large bears the 160gr Partition or AccuBond would provide impressive results at the velocity that is obtainable in the 7STW. Loads of down range power. Bullets up to 180gr should shoot fine in a factory twist barrel although I haven't really seen the need for them in the hunting fields.

The "best" rifle is the one that suits your fancy. There are many fine factory rifles available in 7STW. Many shooters use the Remingtons because every gunsmith in town works on them and there are lots of bells and whistles available for them too. If you don't intend to customize than then just buy what you like.