7mm STW vs .280 Rem

06 December 2013, 05:45

ramrod340

I've owned both. Now I just have my 280 based wildcat.

Loaded to higher pressure the normal 26" barrel vs 22 with the 280 you get 250-300FPS more velocity from the STW with a 160gr. Out to 250-300 yds nothing you hunt will know the difference. If you like to stretch your barrel the STW will shoot flatter.

Factory 280s are loaded down around 58,000 the STW 65,000. If the 270 can be loaded to 65,000 no reason the 280 can't.

Unless you are into long range and burning a lot of powder hand load the 280 and have fun.

06 December 2013, 07:05

kjjm4

Well, the STW will burn more powder, kick harder, and wear out a barrel quicker. Unless you feel the need to take shots past 300 yards, the STW doesn't offer any measurable advantage in my opinion.

06 December 2013, 12:45

Wstrnhuntr

quote:
Originally posted by kjjm4:
Well, the STW will burn more powder, kick harder, and wear out a barrel quicker. .

It also has less data available among typical reloading manuals..

I believe that in case design there is a point of diminishing returns where the extra capacity and powder used is difficult to justify considering the minimal gains. Every STW Ive seen falls squarley into that catagory IMO. The 280 on the other hand is a very efficient cartridge.
But to each is own. I guess some folks just like making a lot of noise..

Kind of an odd comparison really, you are skipping past a couple very viable Magnum candidates right in the middle.

06 December 2013, 16:14

dogcat

Thanks. Made my decision easy.

07 December 2013, 17:24

Woodrow S

Well heck, why not just go with a 7mm-08 then? The .280 is not any better % wise than the 7STW vs the .280 - 44Special vs 44mag..........6cyl or V8 small block...........or the V8 big block, that is the question. No replacement for displacement. My take on the matter.

07 December 2013, 23:12

cobra

quote:
Originally posted by Woodrow S:
Well heck, why not just go with a 7mm-08 then? The .280 is not any better % wise than the 7STW vs the .280 - 44Special vs 44mag..........6cyl or V8 small block...........or the V8 big block, that is the question. No replacement for displacement. My take on the matter.

I'd agree with that to a point. I have five 7mm-08's and for general hunting within normal ranges, say 300 yards, they're hard to beat. For longer ranges and/or heavier weight bullets, the .280 would have to get the nod.

09 December 2013, 09:11

gzig5

quote:
Originally posted by ramrod340:
I've owned both. Now I just have my 280 based wildcat.

Loaded to higher pressure the normal 26" barrel vs 22 with the 280 you get 250-300FPS more velocity from the STW with a 160gr. Out to 250-300 yds nothing you hunt will know the difference. If you like to stretch your barrel the STW will shoot flatter.

Factory 280s are loaded down around 58,000 the STW 65,000. If the 270 can be loaded to 65,000 no reason the 280 can't.

Unless you are into long range and burning a lot of powder hand load the 280 and have fun.

Paul,
How does your wildcat stack up against a 280AI? I've got a great 22" 280 but an feeling the need for a 26' AI because I'm in a tree stand now more than humping the mountains so I can handle a longer heavier barrel. I'm going to do something int 7mn or 6.5 but would like to stay out of the belted cases. Apologies if this diverts from the OP's cause.
Greg

09 December 2013, 09:27

ramrod340

quote:
Paul,How does your wildcat stack up against a 280AI?

Greg Going from memory I believe my case is 7% larger than the AI. The AI being roughly 4 and mine is 11% larger than std. Basically my case is a touch larger than the 7mm Gibbs. I use 280Rm brass neck is set to 2.8", 40deg and .46" dia. Do a search on 280PDK there is a lot of data here on AR.

18 December 2013, 03:36

Atkinson

Hard to beat a .280 Remington, and it will do anything the big 7s will do IMO...I mean it shoots flat enough, and it will go through an elk or bear with any decent 175 gr. bullet at 2800 FPS...

I still believe if push comes to shove the old 30-06 is the best of them all, but thats just based soley on fact..

18 December 2013, 03:43

BNagel

It barks more and wags less. Sharp recoil (unless you play with fast Weatherby calibers.)

19 December 2013, 02:35

Baldhunter

Can your 280 shoot a 150gr bullet 3450fps?My 7STW can.

19 December 2013, 02:40

LJS

You can make a 7STW perform like a 280 but you can't make a 280 perform like an STW.

19 December 2013, 03:32

tom holland

quote:
Originally posted by Baldhunter:
Can your 280 shoot a 150gr bullet 3450fps?My 7STW can.

Sure you can do that but it takes about 30grs more powder.

19 December 2013, 07:13

ramrod340

quote:
Sure you can do that but it takes about 30grs more powder

Yep and a bunch of pressure and longer barrel.

Don't get me wrong I had a couple. Yep you can get velocity. But for the most hunting it is only bragging rights.

24 December 2013, 20:15

Captain Finlander

I would opt for a 280 with a 24" barrel. The only benefit to the STW is flatter trajectory for a longer range kill. There is no other real benefit becuase they both have plenty of power to kill even the largest of game.

That being said, I have seen the STW do amazing things. I saw a moose collapse instantly to one well placed shot from an STW.

24 December 2013, 20:46

ted thorn

To answer the OP

It will chrono 160's like a .280R chrono's 140's

but at a cost

25 December 2013, 02:50

JDA-CO

It's kinda like comparing a 22lr to a 223… Out to 300 either one is good… But way, WAY out there MV is always better...

25 December 2013, 19:05

ted thorn

You haven't shot much 22LR at 300 I'd bet

I shoot it at 200 often out of a 22" barrel and the hold over is extreme

25 December 2013, 19:44

jeffeosso

about 20 (actually less) yards MPBR -
i have had 7stw, 7rem, 7x64, 280, 7x57, 708, and even a 7br ..

at the ranges i hunt at (NEVER more than 200 yards at undisturbed/injured critters) from the 708 and up, there's very little difference ... bigger cases, bigger bloodshot area...

my favorite small bore rifle, of those i own, is my 7x64 ... 163 at about 2800fps -- bang flop ... very light weight rifle, 3 shots sub moa .. 4th shot is very likely to move a bit

opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com

25 December 2013, 20:03

JDA-CO

quote:
Originally posted by ted thorn:
You haven't shot much 22LR at 300 I'd bet

I shoot it at 200 often out of a 22" barrel and the hold over is extreme

Meant to say "out to 300, either the 280 or 7mm are good"…

Never shot a 22lr beyond 100...