I remember in the early to mid '90s guys were swarming to the 7mm STW. Everyone had one or was building one. As the short mags came on the scene, they moved into center stage.

I'm still intrigued by possibly rechambering a 7mm Rem. Mag barrel for my encore to STW. I thought w/ a 28" pro-hunter you might actually be able to burn all that powder.

Who is still shooting this? I know they are accurate, but does it offer much more in practical hunting? I know that recoil is subjective and the tables say it is almost identical to the .300 Win (more powder, but less bullet). Would you say that is true, or is it a sharper hit because of the recoil velocity? I'd appreciate comments from people that actually are shooting the STW?

I had a 7mm stw that got stolen in a break in. To be honest, I couldn't tell that it had any more kick than my 7mm rem mag, or a 30-06. The kick isn't in the same league as a 300 mag or 338, at least it wasn't with my relatively heavy rifle shooting 140 grain bullets at 3500 fps. Mine had a 27" #4 hart barrel and was extremely accurate, however the long, relatively heavy barrel made it a bit unwieldy. I think it's the ultimate beanfield cartridge, but where I hunt it doesn't offer any appreciable advantage, I don't have any stand sites where I can shoot over 200 yds. It's a great round, easily offering 250 fps over a 7mm rem mag. One day I may build another one, but right now I just don't have a need for it. Heck, I didn't have a need for it when I built mine, but it was fun anyways.

I've had 3. 160s at 3300, 150s at 3400-3450. Great flatshootin round. I think slightly less recoil than a 300 mag. Use good bullets as it has the potetial to make a mess.

I shoot a model 70 wood and blue steel. in the STW. The factory barrle is 26" and I get 3200 fps with 160 grain nosler acubonds and have shot some unbelevably tight groups , the best of witch is .17 at 100 yards.
I don't find it at all uncomfortable, its a great round , I wish I had another one cause I want a 358 STA. ...tj3006

i have built several for myself and other people. nice flat shooting round with not severe recoil. you have to decide if the extra performance is worth the extra powder.

i built one for a gentleman who liked it with the barnes 195's and the speer gs 175's.

a caution to think about. if the stw reamer is smaller in body diameter than the 7mag chamber you will end up with cases with two shoulders. the one where the original 7mag shoulder was and the stw shoulder. i had this happen with a remington and a sako that the owners didn't want to set the barrel back. i had told them it may happen so when it did they were not to upset when i set the barrel back to clean up the chamber. on the encore you don't have that option to set the barrel back.

Hello Beartrack,

I am a 7mm STW Shooter and will try to also provide insight to your questions:

1. I would say the 7mm STW is not a more practical cartridge than the 7mm Rem Mag. I feel the additional STW velocity helps me on "longer" shots which I rarely take, but when I do I appreciate the flatter trajectory.

2. The STW is not more powerful than the RM; it projects a flatter trajectory. I will generally go up in caliber if I need more bullet weight.

3. The STW will "really scream" out of a 28" tube.

4. Yes, my STW is very accurate. MOA+.

5. I use to shoot a .300 Win Mag before the 7 STW. I think the STW has less felt recoil.

Good luck. Hope this helps. Bottom line: Have fun.

I have a 26" m70 Laredo that was converted from 7mag. I get 3600 with a 120 and 3400 with a 140. Both to almost the same point of impact (.5" apart and .75moa). I have never tried the 160s because it was meant for a heavy long range blind deer rifle. Due to the weight I have no clue as to the recoil.

I did build a couple of other years ago on a normal M70. If my memory still works I'd call the recoil less than the 300.

I also shoot a STW. Mine is a converted 7mm Mag in a Remington 700. I have taken several deer and elk with it and everyone who as replied above is pretty much spot on. It is very accurate, eats lots and lots of very slow power, shoots very flat and need very good bullets. If economy is a factor then don't get one because they are expensive to shoot. If you don't reload then don't get one because there is not a very good selection of factory ammo. If you are sensitive to recoil then don't get one. The recoil does not bother me but some people who have shot mine find the recoil too much especially with heavier bullets. Speaking of that most people shoot lighter bullets (140 grain) in the STW. I have tried alot of different bullet weights and have found that shooting premium 175 grain bullet bring the killing ability of the STW to a new level, not that 140's don't work because they do it's just that 175 work better particularly when you are talking game bigger than deer.

I have a 70 Classic Stainless STW.

Thus far I have only loaded different variations of 140 gr. bullets. I am getting (by all accounts) insane velocities and right at, or a snad under, M.O.A. accuracy. The 26" Winchester buggy-whip barrel can't be helping matters at all. Like's already been said.......if you don't reload, forget it. Factory loads are anemic and expensive. Recoil-wise, I'd put the shove as equal to or slighty less than my .300 Winnies......but it's a quicker jab. Not at all uncomfortable. My empty rifle, with scope, weighs around 9 1/2 lbs.

If you are talking normal hunting ranges, there is little to offer w/ a 7STW v a 7RM except you can drive heavier bullets quite a bit faster for a bit more thump. I had a #1 converted to 7mmDakota (same thing really). I shoot 160gr bullets @ 3250fps, very accurate, hits very hard downrange but recoil isn't much more than the 7RM IMO. If you want one go for it, but it's not really giving you much unless you are shooting past 400.

Thanks guys. I have been handloading for more than 3 decades now, so that isn't an issue. I've shot the .300 and a heavy .338-300 wildcat (the latter kicked less), so I know that I can manage the recoil, even though my light .300 wasn't any fun at all from the bench. But I never even thought about the shoulder diameter on the 7Rem being greater than the body on the STW. That would make a cusom barrel essential on my encore. The economics of powder I think I could deal with, but I'm not sure I can afford to jump into a custom barrel right now. Thanks for the help.

quote:

But I never even thought about the shoulder diameter on the 7Rem being greater than the body on the STW.

"IF" everything is cut to spec the STW will clean up the shoulder. I have done 3 or 4 and never had a ridge but the difference is only about .001" if I can read my cad.

The other way to go would be 7RUM (way overbore) or a 7mmDakota. Brass is pricey for the Dakota but lasts along time w/ civil loads.