7mm stw long range rifle

[smoking-brass]

Has anyone ever built a 7mm stw for 1000 yard comp? I just finished a build and was wondering if H1000 was the powder of choice with a 180 berger...I loaded some rounds up with IMR 7828 with 162 a max's and it shot extremely well @ 100 yards...but I didn't know if the 180's would be better @ 1000 yards...need some advice. Thanks

 

[40X Guy]

My STW that I had built about 15 years ago was not for comp but for LR PD gunning in S. Dakota, 30 inch Lilja barrel on Remy long action shooting 180 JLK's and using Federal 215 Match primers and H1000. Yes the 180's will be better at 1000 yards. You have the boiler room to take advantage of those big very high BC bullets in the 180 class. IMHO the 7 STW is one heck of a cartridge for long range. The 180 class VLD 7MM bullets are at the top of the list for ultra hi BC's.

I screwed up and sold my STW when I quit going to SD. Wish I still had it now as i am into the long range BR game now. I also had a brake on mine. But some if not all 1000 yard shoots do not allow brakes. Keep us posted.

Frank

 

[jamesh]

Most shooters have discovered that the 180 Bergers don't like to be pushed faster than around 3000fps. The 7mmRSAIM is capable of that out of a 28" or longer barrel. The STW is capable of those velocities easily but probably won't see a gain in accuracy pushing them harder.
I shoot the 180 VLD Bergers out of my RSAUM at 3005 fps for best accuracy and the 162 Amaxes at 3120fps. I see no difference in wind drift or elevation at 1000yards between the two. That was very surprising to me. Because of the larger case you will sacrifice some barrel life which is why you won't see many STWs on the firing line.
Since you have all that powder capacity you may as well shoot the 180s though. H-1000 should work well, you may want to try Retumbo as well.

Currently all 3 1000yd Benchrest orginizations allow muzzle brakes in all 1000yd classes. Muzzle brakes are not allowed in F-Class.

James

 

[Taildrag15X]

Post some pics of the groups Vinnie......

 

[pmarauder]

How long of barrel did you end up going with on your STW? what make? I have been thinking about re-barreling mine soon. I was curious as to which components you went with on your build.
Thanks

 

[pmarauder]

I shoot the 180 VLD Bergers out of my RSAUM at 3005 fps for best accuracy James

James, what load have you found to work best for your 7saum? I have one that i just got from chris matthews on a 30" Broughton. Hope im not drifting the thread to much.

Thanks

 

[smoking-brass]

It's based on a savage long action with a 26" savage factory barrel ss and a choate ultimate varmint stock # 240602 I'm taking pics today and will try to post.

Thanks,
Vinnie

 

[smoking-brass]

Pics

 

[smoking-brass]

more pics all groups@100yards

 

[smoking-brass]

I shot 1 five shot group and three 3 shot groups...the barrel is a hv savage...forgot to post that...I traded with Taildrag15x AKA Mike for the action.

 

[jamesh]

James, what load have you found to work best for your 7saum? I have one that i just got from chris matthews on a 30" Broughton. Hope im not drifting the thread to much.

Thanks

I have found H1000 to work best but it is a very full case. 64.0 gr in a 29" Bartlein or 65.0 in a 28" Lawton for the 180 VLDs, 66.6gr H1000 for the 162 Amaxes for the Bartlein, I do not recall the load for the Lawton but it prefered H4831 for the Amaxes.

James

 

[pmarauder]

James, what load have you found to work best for your 7saum? I have one that i just got from chris matthews on a 30" Broughton. Hope im not drifting the thread to much.

Thanks

I have found H1000 to work best but it is a very full case. 64.0 gr in a 29" Bartlein or 65.0 in a 28" Lawton for the 180 VLDs, James

Is that load with standard match primer or magnum match primer?

Thanks

 

[pmarauder]

I loaded some rounds up with IMR 7828 with 162 a max's and it shot extremely well @ 100 yards

Vinnie, what loads/velocity are you using/getting with this load on the Amax's?? I found an early load with mine for the 150 CT bullets that shoots in the .3 to .4 at 200 yards very consistantly using 80.2g of V165 @ 3375 fps. Neck skimmed Nosler brass w/ .002 neck tention.
But have not been able to get any of the 168 Berger vld's to work yet.


My gun is a Sendero w/ blueprinted action and match chamber but with the stock barrel. jewell trigger

Derek

 

[jamesh]

Is that load with standard match primer or magnum match primer?

Thanks

CCI BR2, Nosler Brass

You may have a shorter throat so start lower before working up.

James

 

[pmarauder]

James... thanks for the info.... im also using br2's but loading the 180 hybrid with a .169 freebore Little less bearing surface i belive. and im jumping .015 or so... instead of jamming the VLD's

I will let you know how the load performs

thanks

 

[smoking-brass]

Derek,
Have to get back at ya on the fps. The load is 162 amax's with 77.0 grs. of imr 7828 and a cci 250 primer.

 

[dennisinaz]

I just built a 7mmX300 WBY which is quite similar to the 7STW capacity wise. I suspect that you will have good luck with the H1000 loads if you are purely looking for accuracy and good SD/ES. If you want velocity , you will have to look elsewhere. You will get more velocity from Ramshot Magnum, Retumbo and R25 than H1000. Can't tell you about accuracy as the guy I put the rifle together for hasn't shot it since he got it from me. Sure looks nice with a Nightforce NXS sitting on it though!

With a 7WSM and 26" barrel, I am getting 2975 with 180 Bergers and Ramshot Magnum. Accuracy is about .5 MOA at 500 yds, the longest I have been able to shoot this season. It has been very windy and without flags, I think the wind has accounted for some of the group size. This is a factory Savage rifle.

 

[AusFclass]

James, what load have you found to work best for your 7saum? I have one that i just got from chris matthews on a 30" Broughton. Hope im not drifting the thread to much.

Thanks

my 7 rasum loads are very similar to yours! i found 65.5gr of h1000 for 3000fps out of a 31" krieger .020"jam with br2. extramly low es/sd. ive had it up to 67gr at 3080fps with fantastic accuracy but some primers are starting to losen up after 2 loadings.

I have found H1000 to work best but it is a very full case. 64.0 gr in a 29" Bartlein or 65.0 in a 28" Lawton for the 180 VLDs, 66.6gr H1000 for the 162 Amaxes for the Bartlein, I do not recall the load for the Lawton but it prefered H4831 for the Amaxes.

James