Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats rebarrel or sell

I have a 7 stw that is a tack driver. Shoots 140 and 160s consistently 3/4" to well under .5" sits in a MPI stock built on a stainless 700 action (engraved style) action trued etc, jewell trigger, bedded, sports a 4 contour shilen barrel that dull gun metal gray color with talleys and a 4.5x14x40 leu about 9 lbs. I do more back pack hunting then anything these days and don't need a cannon but it shoots so well. Not sure what its worth due to some wear from hunting. Thought about rebarreling to a 280AI and selling the barrel but not sure if a market for that? or maybe send to have cerakoted then sell or just sell as is. Any thoughts or advice or even whats the value..thnx I am not good at selling usually a buyer.

You'll need new bolt to match the 280 rim diameter.

If it were me I'd sell it and get a rifle that's built light to begin with. Especially if the stock is heavy.

You might have issues with the feed rails (in addition to the bolt).

Kind of what I figured stock on this thing is light but with being said probably sell and build the next one exactly like I want.

Id sell it and buy/build a light 7/08 if you like the caliber.

Just buy a cheap 7mm-08 and keep the other one .. you never know when you might need it or want it..

Recontour barrel and have the barrel channel filled. A few hundred bucks and your in.

W

It's also ok to own more than one gun.
Woofer has a great solution.

You are not going to save much overall weight by going to a new 280ai. Unless you are after an ultra lightweight build, you will likely end up with a 7lb+ rifle anyway. You would have to be very lucky on the build and a skilled shooter to get an ultralight 280ai to shoot consistently under 1/2". Add scope and rings and you are over 8 lbs. If the STW shoots, why not keep it? It will not be worth 1/3 of what it will cost to build a similar new 280ai. Obviously you can load down the STW to reduce recoil. My 280ai with a Hart #3 contour barrel and McMillan Edge filled stock weighs 7 1/2 lbs. Hart #3 is a heavy #3 and the stock has small bedding blocks added. Best case would have been a 7 lb rifle. I am all about new rifles but you are going to cost yourself a couple of grand to loose 1/2 lb by selling and rebuilding. My 2 cents.

If you're a handloader you don't have to shoot full power loads every time.

That depends on the rifle. My Kimber 280 Ackley is 6 lbs 6 oz., scoped.

Thanks guys probably just keep and save for an elk trip or sthing. For backpack deer already have a .280 forbes that scoped is under 6.5 and can shoot 3/4" sometimes .5". but like you guys mentioned light guns can be tricky..but ill take 1/2" 140 ttsx at 3150 all day. Guess just tired of seeing the stw take up space in the safe with no glass..thanks for all the advice

actually love the 7/08 bought the AI version buitl by Chad Dixon deal i couldnt pass up for my wife its about 8 lbs scoped but what a sweet shooter and great caliber.

That qualifies in my above mentioned ultralight category. I have a 260 NULA that is 6 lbs, scoped. I am not a good enough shot to do well with an ultralight. My NULA points and carries like a dream. I cannot consistently get 1" groups out of it on a bench. Others can. I have found a load for my 8 1/2 lb, scoped 280 AI that, for me, goes into 1/4" with some regularity. I would not do well with a 6 lb 6oz 280 AI.

3150 w/ 140 ttsx is smoking fast out of a regular 280. Or is that out of the STW?

Except it's not ultralightweight and it's not a "build."

Sell it. Get something you want and make someone else happy with what sounds like a fine rifle. If you have no more need or want for it, send it to a good new home.

Or just buy yourself something more "reasonable" or build yourself a lightweight 280AI. No reason you couldn't find a 7x57 and punch it out, right?


Oh, darn it, second page -- you already HAVE a 280 and your wife has the 7-08 Imp? Bases covered...so maybe sell is the way to go if it's gonna be a safe queen.