7mm STW Brotherhood - For those who shoot the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner

[ButterBean]

Hey 7STW and Fred Ea.......I know better than anyone that you get what you pay for in optics, with that being said I had a chance to buy an Osprey 10x40 x50 at cost from a friend of mine who owns a gun store,I knew better than to do it but i didnt have the ability.......(I can see you guys shaking your head in disaproval)....I was suprised how clear it was......its no Leupold mind you but for the money its not bad ........I put it on my 22-250(no taper Hart tube,Canjar trigger,bedded) shot tru the box at 100 yrds and it did really well,No come up lines on the elevation turrent but hey for under 200 what can you expect, anyway just thought I'd See what you had to say ButterBean

 

[7stw]

Hey 7STW and Fred Ea.......I know better than anyone that you get what you pay for in optics, with that being said I had a chance to buy an Osprey 10x40 x50 at cost from a friend of mine who owns a gun store,I knew better than to do it but i didnt have the ability.......(I can see you guys shaking your head in disaproval)....I was suprised how clear it was......its no Leupold mind you but for the money its not bad ........I put it on my 22-250(no taper Hart tube,Canjar trigger,bedded) shot tru the box at 100 yrds and it did really well,No come up lines on the elevation turrent but hey for under 200 what can you expect, anyway just thought I'd See what you had to say ButterBean

Yea, that's right, what the he'll are you thinking. , but, been there done that. I have a "similar" scope that I use for swapping around when I want to check something, but it is not my primary scope. One of the guys at my club has one on his 700 P, .308. It was a set it, and forget it situation. I looked through it when he got it, and overall, was impressed. The price will make you look, and you might even carry it home with you, but you know that someday you will upgrade. I have put " cheap" scopes on rifles, just to get something to shoot, knowing that it was temporary. We won't razz you too bad if you do that, will we Fred? Nah' not TOOOOOOO much.

 

[ButterBean]

Yea, that's right, what the he'll are you thinking. , but, been there done that. I have a "similar" scope that I use for swapping around when I want to check something, but it is not my primary scope. One of the guys at my club has one on his 700 P, .308. It was a set it, and forget it situation. I looked through it when he got it, and overall, was impressed. The price will make you look, and you might even carry it home with you, but you know that someday you will upgrade. I have put " cheap" scopes on rifles, just to get something to shoot, knowing that it was temporary. We won't razz you too bad if you do that, will we Fred? Nah' not TOOOOOOO much.

Its temporary.....got more in that rifle than anything I own.........I'll pass it on to someone that really needs it

 

[Fred Ea]

Butter bean,
What is an Osprey? I've never heard of it, it is one of those foreign jobs swarming the market now? I learned my lesson with the cheap ones years ago, could have bought a shonuff good scope with the money I spent on cheap ones years before, but if it is clear and holds on target good, it don't matter. The next thing is that you will have in the back of your mind is that they cut a corner somewhere to sell it so cheap and when is it going to let you down, hopefully not on a 150 inch 10 point.
I can't hack on you too bad though, a few years back a friend of mine got me a 3x9x50 Nikon Buckmasters brand new so cheap I couldn't let it go, I bought it and it was super clear but it wouldn't focus right. I thought it was me so I got my friends and brother to look through it and they said they same thing, it wouldn't adjust to be clear for any one. I bought it and knew better when I bought it.
There are many good scopes out there, not just Leupold's I just happen to prefer them. One of my hunting partners thinks Leupold's are junk, can't stand them, says they are not clear. He thinks the more it cost, the better the scope. It is just like anything out there, you can spend whatever you want on them, it's just what you prefer, not me. My gunsmith says the newer Leupold's are junk also, so what you to do about that.lightbulb
FE

 

[Fred Ea]

Butter bean,
Just thought of what my gunsmith told me years ago about scopes. It is like motor oil in your engine, you use premium motor oil and don't put anything in your radiator and the engine will go out quick, you buy a good rifle and put a 79.95 scope on it, doesn't make much sense, your scope is just as important as your rifle as anti/ coolant is just as important as good motor oil to a engine. It makes sense to me. Most of your novice hunters/shooters in the south do that very thing, I know because I did it also.
FE

 

[7stw]

CASE LIFE??? Hey guys, I spent A

LL day going through brass, on Sunday. I sorted, cleaned, trimmed and chamfered almost all of my brass from 22-250 through 300 ultra mag, and everything in between. Then, I found a batch of STW brass that I had shot awhile back, that I know has at least eight firings on it. Primer pockets are tight, necks still " snap" when they come out of the expander ball. That brass is Winchester brass that I bought as factory ammo at wal- mart back in 1997 ish. I have another lot of 8 mm brass that was resized that I have about five firings on now, and it still shoots well. But, I hav a box of A- Square brass, that is headstamped the same, that has about three, maybe four firings on it, and the necks are mushy, very inconsistent tension. I don't know who makes there own headstamped brass. The brass that I have that has exhibited good. To excellent life is the stuff that was made in the late ninetys. What are you guys seeing on the new brass that some of you all bought? One of the boxes of A- Square brass, is actually Remington brass. Because of the new build, i may be looking for about 60-80 pieces of brass. Let me know what you think of the quality. I should have gotten in on that group buy awhile back. Thanks Brothers!

P/ S, this Sako has taken a liking to 140 TSX bullets over 79.5- RL22, 215 fed. @ 3.704 OAL. I tried it with 80 grains, and got 3411 ave. No pressure signs. I backed it off .5 grain just as a safety buffer for temp changes. The TSX bullet is one bullet that I did not try when I first got this gun. I may stick with this load as my standard load. It groups better at 200 than it does at 100 yds. That is a good sign. And I am sure that the speed is STILL, 3350 or better. Remember, Speed is Cool, but Accuracy is Absolute!.....

 

[varmintseeker]

Guy's, anyone have any good load data for the 160 grain flat based TSX Barnes bullets, or want to share their experience with shooting them in their STWs. I have been trying the 162 A-Maxs. Best groups so far have been 77.6 grains of H-1000. Someone told me that shooting 140s would be a lot harder on your barrel life than the heavier bullets. Anything to that? Thanks

 

[ButterBean]

Butter bean,
Just thought of what my gunsmith told me years ago about scopes. It is like motor oil in your engine, you use premium motor oil and don't put anything in your radiator and the engine will go out quick, you buy a good rifle and put a 79.95 scope on it, doesn't make much sense, your scope is just as important as your rifle as anti/ coolant is just as important as good motor oil to a engine. It makes sense to me. Most of your novice hunters/shooters in the south do that very thing, I know because I did it also.
FE

Fred .......Im a Leupold man and I really want to try a Burris.......I dont know what I was thinking,he let me have it at cost so im not out much.....Like I said I was suprised but I would never trust it Down Range.....I've already put my Leupold back on so you boys can rest easy.....All apologies for my inconsistency

 

[7stw]

Guy's, anyone have any good load data for the 160 grain flat based TSX Barnes bullets, or want to share their experience with shooting them in their STWs. I have been trying the 162 A-Maxs. Best groups so far have been 77.6 grains of H-1000. Someone told me that shooting 140s would be a lot harder on your barrel life than the heavier bullets. Anything to that? Thanks

I have had good to excellent luck with RL 22' and all bullet weights. I do have experience with the h 1000, but with rl22' my ES, and SD were lower.I am shooting 162 a maxes with 75.5 to 76.0 and a 215 primer. Velocity about 3150 ish. As far as the 140 bullets and barrel life, it really depends on how much and how HOT you shoot it, speed, and load density wise. My 140 load is 79.5 rl22-140 TSX @ about 3350 ish. I was shooting 80.0 rl22' @ 3411 ave. Accurate to. I backed it off.5 grain as a safety net. I have considered using the 160 TSX, or the 175 just to see what would they do. I am switching bullet mentalities, due to q FEW bad experiences I had this past fall. The H1000' or RL 22 will get you what you need, might even want to think about rl25. I have 2pounds coming this week. Enjoy, take care.

 

[ButterBean]

CASE LIFE??? Hey guys, I spent ALL day going through brass, on Sunday. I sorted, cleaned, trimmed and chamfered almost all of my brass from 22-250 through 300 ultra mag, and everything in between. Then, I found a batch of STW brass that I had shot awhile back, that I know has at least eight firings on it. Primer pockets are tight, necks still " snap" when they come out of the expander ball. That brass is Winchester brass that I bought as factory ammo at wal- mart back in 1997 ish. I have another lot of 8 mm brass that was resized that I have about five firings on now, and it still shoots well. But, I hav a box of A- Square brass, that is headstamped the same, that has about three, maybe four firings on it, and the necks are mushy, very inconsistent tension. I don't know who makes there own headstamped brass. The brass that I have that has exhibited good. To excellent life is the stuff that was made in the late ninetys. What are you guys seeing on the new brass that some of you all bought? One of the boxes of A- Square brass, is actually Remington brass. Because of the new build, i may be looking for about 60-80 pieces of brass. Let me know what you think of the quality. I should have gotten in on that group buy awhile back. Thanks Brothers!

P/ S, this Sako has taken a liking to 140 TSX bullets over 79.5- RL22, 215 fed. @ 3.704 OAL. I tried it with 80 grains, and got 3411 ave. No pressure signs. I backed it off .5 grain just as a safety buffer for temp changes. The TSX bullet is one bullet that I did not try when I first got this gun. I may stick with this load as my standard load. It groups better at 200 than it does at 100 yds. That is a good sign. And I am sure that the speed is STILL, 3350 or better. Remember, Speed is Cool, but Accuracy is Absolute!.....

7STW......Hey brother are you anealling your brass at any time.....it has been my personal experiance that when they really start snapping they are getting hard....I know you already are but I will say it anyway ........check for splits in your case mouths,I use a good magnifiying glass Myself

 

[7stw]

7STW......Hey brother are you anealling your brass at any time.....it has been my personal experiance that when they really start snapping they are getting hard....I know you already are but I will say it anyway ........check for splits in your case mouths,I use a good magnifiying glass Myself

When I said snap, I did not mean a hard one. I know what you are talking about however. I have some 300 win mag brass that has TOOOOOOO much snap. That STW brass is perfect. Nice UNIFORM neck tension, and not hard to get bullet started. I have had 300 SAUM brass work harden to the point that the expander ball felt like it was going to rip the neck off of some of the cases. I think that the chamber in that rifle was over generous, and was causing so much motion in the neck area, that it pre maturely work hardened the necks. I do not have any of that doing on here now. I have some A Square brass, in STW, that fells like mush when it comes out of the expander ball. Lousy neck tension, very inconsistent. ( 3-4 firings) the older Winchester brass is by far the banner winner for brass longevity. I have 6 boxes of federal brass that I have not fired yet. This is late ninties brass as well. We will see!

 

[ButterBean]

When I said snap, I did not mean a hard one. I know what you are talking about however. I have some 300 win mag brass that has TOOOOOOO much snap. That STW brass is perfect. Nice UNIFORM neck tension, and not hard to get bullet started. I have had 300 SAUM brass work harden to the point that the expander ball felt like it was going to rip the neck off of some of the cases. I think that the chamber in that rifle was over generous, and was causing so much motion in the neck area, that it pre maturely work hardened the necks. I do not have any of that doing on here now. I have some A Square brass, in STW, that fells like mush when it comes out of the expander ball. Lousy neck tension, very inconsistent. ( 3-4 firings) the older Winchester brass is by far the banner winner for brass longevity. I have 6 boxes of federal brass that I have not fired yet. This is late ninties brass as well. We will see!

I know they dont make it or should I say I have never seen any but Im a big hornady brass fan

 

[ButterBean]

Butter bean,
What is an Osprey? I've never heard of it, it is one of those foreign jobs swarming the market now? I learned my lesson with the cheap ones years ago, could have bought a shonuff good scope with the money I spent on cheap ones years before, but if it is clear and holds on target good, it don't matter. The next thing is that you will have in the back of your mind is that they cut a corner somewhere to sell it so cheap and when is it going to let you down, hopefully not on a 150 inch 10 point.
I can't hack on you too bad though, a few years back a friend of mine got me a 3x9x50 Nikon Buckmasters brand new so cheap I couldn't let it go, I bought it and it was super clear but it wouldn't focus right. I thought it was me so I got my friends and brother to look through it and they said they same thing, it wouldn't adjust to be clear for any one. I bought it and knew better when I bought it.
There are many good scopes out there, not just Leupold's I just happen to prefer them. One of my hunting partners thinks Leupold's are junk, can't stand them, says they are not clear. He thinks the more it cost, the better the scope. It is just like anything out there, you can spend whatever you want on them, it's just what you prefer, not me. My gunsmith says the newer Leupold's are junk also, so what you to do about that.lightbulb
FE

Osprey is a company out of Georgia.....They say these scopes have Hoya lenses and American parts assembled in japan......like i said its not bad but i wouldnt trust it in the soup

 

[goatboy]

Bought my Winchester Classic Sporting Sharpshooter back in 94 or 95, I love the thing and seldom take anything else with me anymore. 95% of the time you pull the trigger and the critters "deer,antelope and elk" head has to catch up with its *** , almost as if hit by lightning with the high shoulder shot.
I've shot Winchester 140 grain ballistic silvertips through it since day one and they've always been drop dead lethal. As far as accuracy its never been the best gun I have on paper but its plenty good out to 500 yards. The gun was built by HS precision for Winchester and has their stock and barrel on it. Came with a target in the paperwork from HS showing the group it shot at their custom shop 'kinda cool". I've had the same Burris 4-14x44 signature scope on it since day one and its always done fine with Leupold rings and bases.
Anyways its been fun reading all these great posts! I ran into a deal last year from Nosler and bought 4 boxes of their custom 140 grain accubond ammo rated at 3300 fps. Haven't even tried shooting them yet thou since I still have allot of silvertips left.

Couple pics for ya.



The little guy and I doing some long range plains hunting.


Grandma likes to tag along also with her pre 64 06 from time to time!


a whitetail from 465


Hit this goat so hard it flipped over on its back with its feet sticking stiff as a board straight up in the air, the little guy thought that was very cool thru the spotter lol!


Here she is up in Alberta