Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Really want one

Whats everyone's opinions on a 7mmstw for elk / mule and whitetail and antelope

Had two of them, but could never comr close to matching the published velocities so sold them both

Won't do anything my 7RM won't do. A whole lot of fuss and bother for limited gains IMO, especially for deer and antelope. Criminy, I can't remember the last time I used anything bigger than a .243 for those. Well, I've used a 45/70 but thats just for fun.

I played around with one about 13 or 14 years ago. Like Tuchodi, I never got the velocities that Layne Simpson apparently did. Essentially, I was using a lot more powder for very little significant gain.

Mine was originally a S/S Ruger No.1 with a 26" barrel, and I did load it to the gills--kicked like the proverbial mule! With some of the newer, slow-burning powders around today, your experience might be different...

I'd stick to something that is a little easier to get brass for.

If deer an antelope is more in the offering, I'd recomend a 25-06. Then load with the heaviest bullet and good construction ( Like Partition)you can buy for elk.

If elk are more the offering and you are set on a 7mm. Then go with a 7x57 or a.280. Both have enough ump for elk and then you can load lighter bullets for deer and antelope that will fly a bit flatter than a 30 cal if you are shooting longer distances.

If you have to have a magnum,then go with 7mm mag

Keep in mind that Layne was running his in 'wildcat' mode--add powder till you see pressure signs and drop a grain. Once the cartridge was SAAMI'ed and got put under the pressure gauge the mystique faded since the fabled velocities couldn't be reached within 65KPSI.

If you want one, get one!

I think I'd go with the 7mm RUM instead, though:

7mm STW vs 7mm RUM

Thumbs down as far as I'm concerned. Someone suggested a 7mm RUM instead and if I had to have a super-mag 7 that would be my choice as well.

But I don't need one as I have a 7mm RM and .280 instead. The .280 hasn't taken any elk or deer but I shot my 7mm RM for 20+ years with a load that was at or just a hair above .280 Rem levels and it killed elk just fine.

My advice would be to get a .264WM, .270, .280 or 7mm RM.

If you want an oddball, get a 6.5-06AI like I did and use necked up .25-06 brass. Then you can push 130g Scirocco II's (B.C. .571) past 3160fps with mild. Makes for a flat shooter that delivers over 2200fps/1460fpe at 600 yards.

I had a 7STW about 15 years ago. Shot fine, and great rifle, but hell on the shoulder and wallet both. it ate H1000 by the shovelful. Brass is pricey too. that said, it'll do the job if given the opportunity.

after drifting from caliber to caliber over my life, I now find myself hunting with the most boring danged caliber ever invented: 308 Win.

lots of chamberings will do the job. pick one you'll practice with a lot, and proceed.

Want and need are different. I'd go .270WCF, .280 or a 7 Rem. Mag.. I'd really look hard at the first two..................
Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.

My #1 elk rife is a semi-custom 700 in 7STW. If you can locate some brass and you reload, its a hell of a hunting round. I've taken 3 elk with mine. I honestly don't notice the recoil over a 7RM or -06, maybe my stock just fits me well. I've got a nice cache of brass, hopefully the barrel lasts til they're used up.

It'll kill them for sure I had one and loaded for it,for about a year.

Picking nits here. It delivers the velocity but IME not much if any more than 7mm magnums a notch down in capacity like the Dakota, or Mashburn,(LRM,and Weatherby too but I never loaded for those) ,and seems to swallow more powder to do the same things.Seems as you go up in capacity in 7mm above those cases, you get less efficiency and burn more powder for little, if any, gain. This is something that was known a long time before Layne Simpson necked down the 8 Rem Mag case.


The STW seems to need a 26" barrel to do its stuff and I prefer a 24" barrel in a hunting rifle.With the brass issue being what it is, I'd pick something else. Admittedly this is looney stuff. No doubt the STW is a potent BG cartridge.

I really love the 7mm family and it caught my eye recently Ithat was between that 7rm or a 7rum

Surprised no one has mentioned the 28 Nosler. Available in factory rifles, factory ammo, responds well to reloading. I have two friends with custom STW's. I had to tune each of them over the summer for an upcoming elk hunt (a couple of years ago). I was warned by the gunsmith that built them that the STW has a rep for being finiky.. He was right. It took me most of the summer to dial em in, but after that they behaved well. Accuracy was 1/2" or better consistently and velocities were right where advertised. One got a 341 bull, the other tagged a 343 bull.

It's a fine round, but now if you want that kind of performance, I'd probably lean towards a 28.

If you get a 28, be sure to get a lifetime supply of brass too.

I agree. I also agree.....buy lots of brass.

I also had an STW.. Like Bob I had it for about a year.. Have a Weatherby now on a 700 action, and a 7 Rem. on a 700.. With the 140 Accubond, the leave the .270 and .280 in the dust. If you are shooting less than 300 yards it really doesn't matter.. My pick would be a custom barrel 7 Wea. on a 700 action.. Shilen makes one with a shorter freebore I believe.. It will accept factory ammo, but it is not as long as the std. free bore.. It is a simple task to run Rem. brass through a Wea. die and have a Wea. case formed.. I really think the Wea. 7 is a highly under rated rifle.

I had one and liked it but when I built it I built it a little heavy. Never could get the velocities out of it that everyone else did but I'm not into redlining things anyways. Now built a lightweight 7mm mashburn and basically get the same velocities that I got with the STW

I have one, a Win 70 classic stainless. I bought it about 2004 or so. I'd say it kicks about like a 300 Win Mag.

I use a 160 Nosler AB at about 3200.

If I were to build today, I'd go 7mm Weatherby. Similar velocity, available brass, and burns less powder.

Seriously, try to find brass before you do anything. Might change your mind.

I had and used one for a few years effective round but it really doesn't offer much more than a properly loaded 7MM Mag.
Heavier rifle, longer barrel, more recoil and blast.

Just not worth it IMOP.

Lefty C