Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7mm STW velocity

I'm new to the 7mm STW. I started load development and settled on one load so far, but I'm not sure what to expect velocity wise. So far, it appears a 7mm rem mag can shoot as fast as the STW. How fast is everyone else able to push 168 and 180 grain bullets?

My rifle is a Winchester Laredo with a 24" barrel. I've only worked with 168 Berger VLD's so far (0.015 jump/overall length is 3.825" or 3.125" measure base to bearing surface). Using 76 grains of H1000 gets me 2,900 fps (this load shoots lights out). 80 grains gets to 3,000-3,1000.

Am I seeing the velocity I should be?

The 7 STW seems to do better with a 26" barrel,so with a 24" tube, yes, you might not see much difference between it and a 7 RM at top end.Depends on lots of things.

I'm sure someone will come along and say they get higher velocity from the STW in a 24" barrel.

But in general and all things being "equal", the STW is capable of higher velocity.


BTW, 3100 fps with a 168 isn't chump change.

Yes,

Longer barrels is where it's at in the STW. I have a 29" barrel on mine.

I have been getting 3200 fps with 160's and 162's and H1000 for about ten years, in a Ruger #1 w/ 26 in tube.

Two inches of barrel should cost you 50 to 60 fps.

This load is fairly mild, Remington brass has been loaded six to seven times with no sign of primer pocket expansion.

My rifle performs best with powders of burn rate close to H1000, IMR7828, Magnum, and Magpro.

The ultra slow powders like 570, 870, or 869 are too slow, at least with 160's.

I noticed a clean bore gets me another 100 fps for what it's worth. I didn't see any pressure signs with 80gr of H1000 but it shoots too good with 76 to push the limits.

I'm interested to see what I can get with a 180gr.

I found 1 source for brass. Local shop has a few cases of old cor-lokt. Other than Nosler, are there any other brass sources anyone wants to share?

If desparate, one could always neck down and fireform 300 H&H.

Though I don't know if it, or 8mm Rem mag, are any easier to find than is 7 STW.

I get 3200 with a 160gr Accubond with 7828.

Win 70 with 26" barrel.

I hear good things about RL25 though. Like it's right on the sweet spot. Haven't confirmed though.

Now, I am taiking about first year's production of RL-25.

But it did some weird schitt in my 264 with 140 PT's when pushing toward the top of the pressure envelope. I still have nearly a pound in the cabinet, but I am not really inclined to try it in the STW with heavy bullets. Even though I hear modern production is vastly superior.

I do have some RL-33 that really needs a workup, and I would be very interested in what I could do with RL-26 in the STW with the 160 AB and the 264 with the 130 AB.

One of these days, perhaps I will find some '26 in the local shop?

RL25 was one of the better powders we found for use in the 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Dakota,and 7mm Mashburn Super with bullets 160 gr and heavier.Both the Mashburn and the Dakota showed 3200+ with 160's from 24" barrels.

It is also very good in the 7 Rem Mag and 150's.

It should work fine in the STW.

Used to push the 140 gr NBT's to 3600 fps in my old 7 STW's with RL-22, glad I'm not so damn destructive anymore.

Gunner those are Layne Simpson loads....

LOL, knew I got those loads from some sports magazine, you should see what those red tipped screamer 120 nbt's would do to crow at 3800 fps, I attempted a postmortem on one and found only a beek and some feet, and maybe a wing part too.

I was sure it would work fine in the 264. The burn rate should have been right in the middle of the sweet spot with 140's.

And it did work great, as long as the barrel was cold and the temp was below 50 degrees.

But a cold bore shot (140 PT) which produced 3050 fps would
break 3300 fps and blow primers by the third or fourth shot in a string.

And don't even ask about the day I tossed a box of the same load onto the seat of the truck in late July with ambient temp of 108-110 and drove ten miles out to the BLM. The first shot blew a primer and expanded the case head beyond where it would fit into the RCBS shell holder on my press.

Good brass, reloaded a couple times previously, and every charge weighed on my RCBS 10-10.

I understand that new production RL-25 is better. But forgive me if I feel a bit prejudiced about the label.

As a note, I also did a lot of work with 140 Sierra SPBT. RL25 was much better behaved with the Sierra bullet, I am sure due to its much shorter engraving surface and softer construction.

I have to admit I have never used RL25 under very extreme temps....maybe 80+ down to 20F or so.......

I wonder how 375 H&H brass would work. I'd think maybe I'd try it maybe need the neck to be turned.

I made a lot of 7 STW brass from 300 Weatherby brass, both Remington and PMC. PMC brass is tough as Nails if you can find any.

I still shoot Lane Simpson loads, 140g ttsx at 3600 and 120g ttsx at 3800, very very accurate loads out of 25" Remington Sendero barrels that have been set back and re chambered, and IMR 7828 is the ticket, 215's with 140's, and win mag with the 120's...bug holes. Winchester brass is the ticket if you can find any.

375 brass works and a bushing neck set from Paul Bike(pbmike over on accurate shooter) makes forming the brass a piece of cake, same for the Mashburn brass.

I will be getting my first 7 Mashburn very soon, reamer is ordered(thanks Bob!)

Keith very nice. As a 7 mag fan you will like the Mashburn.

Here is some loads published in Shooting Times back when the 7STW was young.

Some more on the 7STW.
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammo/ammunition_7mmstw_071207/

Cool article. Thanks for posting.

Never understood why the cartridge sort of faded off and did not stay popular.