7mm STW Brotherhood - For those who shoot the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner
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browtinehunter
Active Member
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- Feb 25, 2012
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gun)
No they are Bartlein barrels
Good stuff all around.
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
A whole lot of dead critters all the way out if you get good groups
Black Sheep
Well-Known Member
Alright Brotherhood, I need help!
Factory Sendero, doing load development for Barnes 168gr LRX. No reliable load information for this bullet, so I started at 78gr of Retumbo, and worked up. Best accuracy and consistency was at 83.5gr. Approx 5/16" group at 100yds, with all three touchinggun) Avg velocity was 3290fps, with an ES of 9.5. BUT, bolt lift was fine, but extraction was tough, and there is very slight primer cratering and a very faint ejector mark. I think I can safely assume this is max load of Retumbo in this rifle!!! Is this safe enough to keep shooting, or should I try working with one of the lower charges that had a fair group?!?!
Factory Sendero, doing load development for Barnes 168gr LRX. No reliable load information for this bullet, so I started at 78gr of Retumbo, and worked up. Best accuracy and consistency was at 83.5gr. Approx 5/16" group at 100yds, with all three touching
gun) Avg velocity was 3290fps, with an ES of 9.5. BUT, bolt lift was fine, but extraction was tough, and there is very slight primer cratering and a very faint ejector mark. I think I can safely assume this is max load of Retumbo in this rifle!!! Is this safe enough to keep shooting, or should I try working with one of the lower charges that had a fair group?!?!
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
I'd go down a couple of grains and take a bit off the pressure peak.Alright Brotherhood, I need help!
Factory Sendero, doing load development for Barnes 168gr LRX. No reliable load information for this bullet, so I started at 78gr of Retumbo, and worked up. Best accuracy and consistency was at 83.5gr. Approx 5/16" group at 100yds, with all three touching
You are probably at 75 Kpsi for it to be tough to pull back.
A couple of questions though. Are you fl sizing your brass? Has that brass been beaten up with a hot load before?
Marks on the brass head are never good and are usually consistant with at least slight over-pressure. Before you give in to sub standard accuracy play with seating depth on the highest charge that doesn't give ejector marks.
Have a good one...
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
Guys, I chased another deamon from my 7stw. It's even 85 degrees out there and she still shot.
The new trigger guard screws pull the groups down to .7" at 100 in a gusty wind with rl25 and the 140 ab. The other day she wouldn't hold 2 moa after the screws backed up to snug. Went with hex-head screws as others on the forum have done. **** near throught the whole rifle already, why did I go with some other fool's idea of custom and not my own??? Lesson learned.
The new trigger guard screws pull the groups down to .7" at 100 in a gusty wind with rl25 and the 140 ab. The other day she wouldn't hold 2 moa after the screws backed up to snug. Went with hex-head screws as others on the forum have done. **** near throught the whole rifle already, why did I go with some other fool's idea of custom and not my own??? Lesson learned.
Black Sheep
Well-Known Member
Yes, full length resizing. Bumping the shoulder .002-.003. This has been the same 20 brass I started with brand new. Pockets uniformed, flash hole deburred, etc. I started at 78 grains, and ran the ladder. Bullets are seated at 3.650 overall to be magazine length, which unfortunately puts a lot of the long LRX bullet into the case!
The next best load was 82.5 grains. no extraction issues. 3shot group was about 1/2". Avg. velocity was 3268.0 with an ES of 16
Isn't it sad that I'm not wanting to "settle" for 1/2 moa at 100yds!!!
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
Go for that load then bud. I'm happy with 1/2" at 100 from my pipes and it's never let me down on critters. You could have a problem with the heavier charge in high temp. or fouled bore conditions. Best to have the headroom. The accuracy would probably average out over the long term between the loads anyway.Yes, full length resizing. Bumping the shoulder .002-.003. This has been the same 20 brass I started with brand new. Pockets uniformed, flash hole deburred, etc. I started at 78 grains, and ran the ladder. Bullets are seated at 3.650 overall to be magazine length, which unfortunately puts a lot of the long LRX bullet into the case!
The next best load was 82.5 grains. no extraction issues. 3shot group was about 1/2". Avg. velocity was 3268.0 with an ES of 16
Isn't it sad that I'm not wanting to "settle" for 1/2 moa at 100yds!!!
Black Sheep
Well-Known Member
Sweet!!! That's kind of what I figured on the pressure. I'm only losing 22fps, and the ES going up into the middle teens! Tough concessions aren't they!
Now that I have my load, it's time to start ringing the gong, and using this rifle for what I bought it for! gun)
There's a Utah buck, and cow elk waiting to feel the STW, and most importantly a Nevada BULL ELK waiting!!!!
To plagiarize from Ron White--It's gonna be a good huntin' season, Tater!
You guys are awesome!
Now that I have my load, it's time to start ringing the gong, and using this rifle for what I bought it for! gun)
There's a Utah buck, and cow elk waiting to feel the STW, and most importantly a Nevada BULL ELK waiting!!!!
To plagiarize from Ron White--It's gonna be a good huntin' season, Tater!
You guys are awesome!
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
You told yourself mentioning the 22 fps gain for a grain. It should be more like 40. When your velocity starts to plateau as you go up on charge, you have usually found your rifle's max charge and top pressure.
7stw
Well-Known Member
Alright Brotherhood, I need help!
Factory Sendero, doing load development for Barnes 168gr LRX. No reliable load information for this bullet, so I started at 78gr of Retumbo, and worked up. Best accuracy and consistency was at 83.5gr. Approx 5/16" group at 100yds, with all three touching
Black Sheep, better to be way safe, then a little sorry, I'd back her of just a tad. The one thing that you can't rely on is the weather. I don't know what your conditions were when that load was developed, and you dont know what the weather will be like when hunting season arrives. I know that Retumbo is a " extreme " powder, but you are better to err to the good side just in case. Your velocity is awesome, and ES too!!
If you were to back up a little, I don't feel you will hurt either one enough that the deer will notice. We have to remember these are hunting rifles. The difficult extraction could get ugly in the heat of the moment when you need a follow up shot.
Other than that, you are on the right track! You have found a powder, bullet, primer combo that your gun likes, just don't feel like you need to over feed her!!!! That thing is gonna hit like a freight train with that bullet. ( Guaranteed a pick up ride)
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Black Sheep
Well-Known Member
Well, I just loaded up 20 at 82.5 grains, so I'm ready to ring the gong at long range tomorrow! I wasn't too tied up on the velocity, I was just loving that group! Like I said earlier, you gotta love having to settle for 1/2 moa! Thanks again guys for your help!
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It is a 26" bbl
