• If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here

help me decide.... keep 7mm STW alive or move on to different caliber??

I purchased a 7mm STW 22 years ago +/- and since have migrated to the 300RUM, (but kept the stw in my safe) I now have a 16 year old son that is hunting and using the 7mm STW and is a very confidant shooter, handles the gun quite well, however I'm getting tired of the brass shortage for this caliber, my stw shoots best when loaded HOT and only get 3X until primer pockets are done.
I'm toying with the idea of sunsetting this caliber but what do I have my son shoot? he is smaller framed 125 lbs. I don't want him to lose his confidence from shooting a heavy recoil gun like the 300RUM, He did take an elk with my 300RUM this fall because the stw went for a tumble and made a great shot.
Do i turn this 7mmSTW turned into a different caliber that brass is more readily available or what do you 7mm STW shooters do about brass?
I was an early adopter of the 7mm STW back in the early 90s when it was still a wildcat off the Rem 8mm. We used to make cases from 300 Weatherby cases by fire forming and necking down. Those cases didn't last long because of the classic belt area over worked issue. But back in the 90s there was no shortage of components. If you have all the stuff for the 7mm STW and barrel life left have a good brake put on it like a Terminator 2 and recoil is not an issue. There are still several manufactures of STW brass. If you stay with it buy enough to shoot out the barrel and your set for a few years.

The STW, RUM, 30-378, etc. were all born in the days where lighter fast stepping bullets ruled the school. This was because most hunters were using MPBR to correct for longer range shots and it worked pretty good. Well, in the last 12ish years there has been a seed change in the hunting field with the advent of very good affordable range-finders with ballistics built in, wind meters, and all kinds of ballistic apps MPBR is passe. So super-fast stepping bullets are no longer required to reach out and touch a critter. Now super accuracy and high BC heavy for caliber bullets that hold on to velocity way out there and handle wind better are ruling the school. This has opened up that 500yard-1000yard region for hunters willing to put in the wok to develop the skill and gear to shoot consistently accurate in that region. Of course, there are this that want to shoot farther and those that say you shouldn't even be shooting over 500.

That being said there are cartridges that solve many issues we have worked around for years and provide off-the-shelf incredible accuracy performance. For example, this podcast discusses such advantages and disadvantages of certain 7mm cartridges, and of course there is a load of other info out there as well. This is good starting point for a listen.

 
I was an early adopter of the 7mm STW back in the early 90s when it was still a wildcat off the Rem 8mm. We used to make cases from 300 Weatherby cases by fire forming and necking down. Those cases didn't last long because of the classic belt area over worked issue. But back in the 90s there was no shortage of components. If you have all the stuff for the 7mm STW and barrel life left have a good brake put on it like a Terminator 2 and recoil is not an issue. There are still several manufactures of STW brass. If you stay with it buy enough to shoot out the barrel and your set for a few years.

The STW, RUM, 30-378, etc. were all born in the days where lighter fast stepping bullets ruled the school. This was because most hunters were using MPBR to correct for longer range shots and it worked pretty good. Well, in the last 12ish years there has been a seed change in the hunting field with the advent of very good affordable range-finders with ballistics built in, wind meters, and all kinds of ballistic apps MPBR is passe. So super-fast stepping bullets are no longer required to reach out and touch a critter. Now super accuracy and high BC heavy for caliber bullets that hold on to velocity way out there and handle wind better are ruling the school. This has opened up that 500yard-1000yard region for hunters willing to put in the wok to develop the skill and gear to shoot consistently accurate in that region. Of course, there are this that want to shoot farther and those that say you shouldn't even be shooting over 500.

That being said there are cartridges that solve many issues we have worked around for years and provide off-the-shelf incredible accuracy performance. For example, this podcast discusses such advantages and disadvantages of certain 7mm cartridges, and of course there is a load of other info out there as well. This is good starting point for a listen.

thanks for taking the time to put this helpful info together for me!
 
I was an early adopter of the 7mm STW back in the early 90s when it was still a wildcat off the Rem 8mm. We used to make cases from 300 Weatherby cases by fire forming and necking down. Those cases didn't last long because of the classic belt area over worked issue. But back in the 90s there was no shortage of components. If you have all the stuff for the 7mm STW and barrel life left have a good brake put on it like a Terminator 2 and recoil is not an issue. There are still several manufactures of STW brass. If you stay with it buy enough to shoot out the barrel and your set for a few years.

The STW, RUM, 30-378, etc. were all born in the days where lighter fast stepping bullets ruled the school. This was because most hunters were using MPBR to correct for longer range shots and it worked pretty good. Well, in the last 12ish years there has been a seed change in the hunting field with the advent of very good affordable range-finders with ballistics built in, wind meters, and all kinds of ballistic apps MPBR is passe. So super-fast stepping bullets are no longer required to reach out and touch a critter. Now super accuracy and high BC heavy for caliber bullets that hold on to velocity way out there and handle wind better are ruling the school. This has opened up that 500yard-1000yard region for hunters willing to put in the wok to develop the skill and gear to shoot consistently accurate in that region. Of course, there are this that want to shoot farther and those that say you shouldn't even be shooting over 500.

That being said there are cartridges that solve many issues we have worked around for years and provide off-the-shelf incredible accuracy performance. For example, this podcast discusses such advantages and disadvantages of certain 7mm cartridges, and of course there is a load of other info out there as well. This is good starting point for a listen.

30-378 was invented in 1959, Roy and the Department of the Army under top secret contract were studying the effects of shrapnel and super high velocity projectiles...
 
30-378 was invented in 1959, Roy and the Department of the Army under top secret contract were studying the effects of shrapnel and super high velocity projectiles..
True about the invention, I was using it as an example of how it was used in AZ for Coues deer before the advent of range finders. I could have also mentioned the Lazzeroni line of cartridges as an example. It was just an example of high velocity cartridges that were used like the STW was used. We shot 140gr bullets in our STWs. I think most of the people shooting the 30s were using 180grainers.
 
I just bought a custom 7stw, for brass check out:


They are expensive, but worth it. They have standard grade brass and a higher grade that will take higher chamber pressures. All you have to do is send them one fired case from your rifle. They're perfect as they are cut one at a time on CNC.

They can make any caliber brass you can think of, buy once and cry once, after that it's all good.
 
I just bought a custom 7stw, for brass check out:


They are expensive, but worth it. They have standard grade brass and a higher grade that will take higher chamber pressures. All you have to do is send them one fired case from your rifle. They're perfect as they are cut one at a time on CNC.

They can make any caliber brass you can think of, buy once and cry once, after that it's all good.
Thanks for this link!
 
8 rem is in stock at Graf and sons today... move on it if you want easy necking of brass


they also have hornady 416 rem if you want to turn necks a bit and neck twice
 
Gunbroker usually has brass available, I've gotten quite a bit off there and have a friend that has some readily available pm if interested
I have a passion for that 7mm stw so my opinion is stick with it. I love the grouping and distance you get out of those. I've done a lot of loads for a 195 EOL with them, and they go far
 

Recent Posts

Top