7STW Powder Recommendation?

[MagnumManiac]

Hi all,
Having just built a switch barrel in 264WM & 7STW, I would like some powder recommendations.
I have currently tested RETUMBO with 150gr Nosler BT’s, very accurate at 100mtr, just over 1/4MoA and, 168gr ABLR with the same powder, best group in the .2’s and looking very promising beyond what I expected.
Other powders I have seem too fast being H1000 & RE25.
Can find loads for RE33 & H50BMG, but data is spotty.
What say you all?

Cheers.

 

[Gary in MD]

My 7mm STW was a Remington Sendero, the first year the STW was offered.
Nothing shot as good as RL 22, although 7828 was very close. Other than for a couple elk hunts, I mostly shot 140 ballistic tips for deer. They averaged under 1/2” for 3 shot groups @ 3410fps.
150 grain Sierra sptbt also shot as good.
Flat shooting deer loads!!
Gary

 

[MagnumManiac]

Mine is based on a new Sendero II.
Powder availability here is a problem at the moment.
There are no IMR, Vhit or Alliant powders available and, all the usuals like H1000, RETUMBO and H50BMG are very hard to find. I have all of these in stock, but I am limited to only a few lbs left.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

Cheers.

 

[swimster]

I've had good results with RL 22 and 160g Nosler patitions. Not the greatest BC bullet but very accurate in my REM 700 WITH 9 TWIST Shilen sporter barrel out to 600yd. I've shot several elk and hand full of deer with it and a antelope. Most shots were in 4 to 600 yd. range. Velocity is 3225 fps.

 

[AckleymanII]

We have been shooting the 7 STW since '89 when Lane Simpson first came out with it in Shooting Times magazine. We ordered a reamer with zero freebore planning on shooting 120g Nosler solid base and 140g solid base with a switch off to partitions when needed.

We had to fire form 8mm Rem mag brass and with the 28" Hart barrel with a 9 twist in the beginning. Fire forming the cases with 1/2" groups with the 120's at 3850 using Fed 215's, while we were killing deer. We had Hart barrels chambered up barrels for all our cousins, uncles, etc.. Another cousin worked up loads for the 140g Nosler solid base and then the partitions at 3650 with amazing accuracy.

R#22 was the powder of choice with the 120's, and later on, I worked up a load with the barnes ttsx at 3900 with a 25.5" barrel that shot groups in the high 2's and low 3's, three shot groups with a Sendero outfit and muzzle break, 12-32 Burris Black Diamond.

Later on, I ordered a Pac Nor super match with an 11 twist and used my zero freebore reamer, and it took 12 shots to work up a bug hole load with the 140g Nosler C/T bullet at 3700 fps. IN many rifles, the 140g C/T bullet never failed us. We all use IMR 7828 with the 140's.

Longest shot I ever made on a buck was 700 yards, I had my scope marked up to 600, and just made a WAG on what 700 was. I got lucky, and the buck dropped in his tracks using a Burris black diamond 12-32 scope.

We had a food plot planted on a power line and the closest stand to the food plot was 500 yards away, and we named it the STW stand. Brother and I killed many deer at 500 with the 120 Ballistic tips and 140g Nosler C/T bullets.

None of my family has ever used a bullet heavier than 140g in our 7 STW's. Probably a dozen rifles between all of us at least.

 

[slm9s]

H1000 with 154 bonded hornadys has dropped several bulls for me.

 

[DaveTooley]

7828 here

 

[Siko12]

the load ive settled one with mine uses 7828sc. It might now be slow enough to give the absolute best top end velocitys but its sure accurate.

 

[Willie]

I've had excellent results with 180 Berger hybrid and Retumbo in 26" 3B Bartlein, a SwitchLug built by Clayton @ WTO.

My first STW was a Rem 700 7mag rechambered by Charlie Robinson @ ScoreHigh about 30 years ago. That one shot lots of 140s pushed by IMR 7828.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Thanks all.
Still searching for powder locally, unfortunately, we are in Stage 4 Lockdown. No venturing more than 3 miles from your house and no hunting.

Cheers.

 

[ebb]

Mine shot best with H870. Good luck finding any of that, i think a few of us cried when it came out that H870 was no more. Mine was gone before US869 came out so maybe try that.

 

[bholcomb]

Imr7828 with 150gr nosler accubond LR. Fast, accurate and hits like a sledgehammer.

 

[RJHJR]

Try RL25 in the 160gr class of bullets. Should give you 3100ish fps. Most accurate powder I've used in the STW. 143gr Hammer Hunters and RL26 is giving me 3450 fps. Also accurate.

 

[rardoin]

Vihtavuori N170 is in the burn rate range of Retumbo. N165 works very well with heavies in the 7 Sherman Short and N170 is a little slow in that combo. I suspect it would be comparable to Retumbo in the 7 STW with 150+ gr bullets.