Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 280AI versus 7mm STW

I think they're both one and the same 28 caliber...

Go STW and a 28" 1/8.5 twist and shoot 180 Berger VLD's at 3,000 for you stated intended purpose.

Yep the caliber/cartridge nomenclature issue has bothered me for a long time.

I'd recommend the Barnes TTSX rather than the Berger though.

IMO, given you have 2 7mm mags already, it kinda negates the 280AI.

Though I am intrigued by the 28" STW. I think that would be an absolute lazer...

But, you have the longer ranges already covered. Why not build a custom in 7x57 or 7mm-08 if you are looking to stay in .284.

CLB

It drives me nuts.

People don't know the difference between a caliber and cartridge.

If it is going to kick as much as a 300 Win Mag I would just as soon it be a 300.

I would go with the 280 AI and my hunch is the odds are in favor of it being the most accurate of the two.

I have a 28 inch 300 win mag barrel for it. I can handle the recoil from it. I was thinking that the STW would be worse but I dont know as I have never shot one.
I know I dont need either caliber. I have all the 7's except the AI, the Dakota and the STW. Its more of I have the extra cash and want another barrel. I was also thinking the STW may be a bit much for the Encore but MGM does chamber it.
I believe AI in a 28 would come really close exceed the 7mm Rem Mag in a 24in

Now that Nosler is selling the new 280 AI brass, it makes it more fun skipping the fire forming step.

I dont want to even think about fire forming.

Have you examined how new belted mag brass typically fits the chamber?

I had one Custom 280 AI, I have had perhaps a dozen 7 Mags, and currintly have two custom 7 STW's.

I shoot the 140g at 3650 with amazing accuracy and the 160's at 3300, with the 120g Tripple shocks at 3850 shooting very tiny holes.

I have the Pac Nor three groove super match barrels, 26" long, #5 taper, fluted with vias brakes.

Brother has two of the exact same 7 STW's, friend has 4, all with Pac Nor barrels with the barrel work done by Pac Nor, with zero freebore.

It took us all less than 30 rounds to work up a load that was shooting the the .325 range or smaller(three shot groups).

A custom 7 Mag done the same way we did the 7 STW's by Pac Nor is nothing to sneeze at.

Good luck!

With equal pressure the 280AI, 7RM, and STW are closer than you think. Point blank range difference between all three will be somewhere around 50-75 yards difference at most. The 280 seems to do the the most with more efficiency and in a 28" barrel would get about all the range possible from a 7mm. Same for the 7WSM and SAUM.

In fact to get any more range usable or not the 200-210 VLD 30 caliber bullets or 300 gr 338 caliber bullets would be needed.

Don't think that 280 Ackley can hang with the STW at extented range.

I know where there is a New Haven M70 in 7STW; I was thinking of getting a .270 WSM this year, but that big case keeps calling me...

Answer it.You won't go wrong..

What is the recoil of the STW comparable to? Do you think its to much for the Encore?

No you should be ok.Recoil is very close to shooting a 300 Winchester Magnum.A sharp fast kick.

Childs play then.. Is brass hard to find?

As it sits Remington and Nosler produce brass.Myself I stocked up on W/W Brass before it became discontinued.Remington has proper headstamp 7 STW brass still.Or one pass through the die with Remington 8mm Rem Magnum brass will get ya there too.

7stw i haven't had problem finding ammo or brass yet

It'll come..
I know of 3 factory loads left.When I first started to shoot the STW a fella could run the gammut of Factory loads.Failsafes Power Points TBBC ect.

My advice to STW shooters is if you can find Winchester brass buy it all up.