7mm Ultra does not appear to have much over the 7mmSTW, especially considering the increased powder used in the ultra, costs etc. Of the two cartridges, which one will still be around and available in 5 to 10 years?

I just dont understand all I know about this 7 mag. thing.....The long action and STW will both be replaced, by the short 7 mag. and the truly great Rem. 7 mag....Thats what I think in 5 years or so, and i would purchase my 7 mag. rifles accordingly...why all the options????..the Rem 7mag. was all we needed, but the short action has its benifits...I guess....sakofan...but what do I know, I said Def Lepperd would be the next Led Zepplin after I saw them in concert in '82...what was in those brownies???

I own both the 7mmstw ans the 7mm ultra and find only about 50 to 75fps difference with handloads.I personally prefer the stw because they will work in the remington detatchable magazine which I prefer over a floorplate.The 7mm bore does not appear to be large enough to offer much advantage with the ultramag case.I do however much prefer the 300 ultramag over the 300 weatherby mag.

The velocity difference in the STW and the 7mm Ultra is within the variation of two different barrels shooting the same cartridge. In other words, a "fast" STW barrel might give you as much or more velocity than a "slow" Ultra barrel.

Given that their practical velocities are so similar, I see no advantage to the Ultra over the STW. With the STW (1) your brass will be less expensive, (2) your magazine will hold at least one more round (and you'll avoid the feeding difficulties that have been exhibited by some guns chambered for the "fat" rounds), (3) you will need a bit less powder for the same velocities. Less powder means a little longer barrel life, but either cartridge will have a relatively short barrel life (meaning that if used only for serious hunting, your great-grandchildren may be faced with rebarreling the rifle).

I suspect that they will both still be "around and available in 5 to 10 years". Should either or both be dropped in factory chamberings, it will just make a gun so chambered more valuable.

Gentlemen,

I'll keep my 7mm Rem Mag. It works every time, and I suspect it will keep doing everything I need a 7mm rifle to do for quite some time to come.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

I think the Ultra is overbore & will drop from favor before the 7STW. The STW is @ the limit of overbore as you can see by reports from the other guys, too much powder for too little vel. gain. Just buy 300rds of brass & don't worry what happens in 10 years.

My buddy shoots the STW and I shoot the Ultra. We can see no practical difference between them. I believe both to be "specialty" calibers. My Ultra is a Sendero that functions and shoots perfectly. I am getting 3400fps with 150 Sciroccos. I use a 6.5x20x40 Leupold with a custom reticle in Talley mounts. The rifle is used to shoot targets at very long ranges. I will also use it this fall to pot Mule Deer across canyons, again at very long ranges. I think the big sevens are maybe the best long range deer killers I have seen, but don't plan on using my own for any other game. Both catridges are loud, and gulp huge quantities of powder but don't let anyone tell you they aren't accurate. The short and fats can't run with either of them but almost certainly will get better barrel life if that matters. Pay your money and take your choice but if you are looking for a good general purpose hunting catridge I believe there are better choices.

Steven-

Back to your original question, what cartridge is going to be around 5 -10 years from now; the answer is the 7 mm Ultra. The 7 STW is already going the way of the 6.5 Rem. Mag. I could be wrong but I don't think there are any current manufacturers chambering for the 7 STW. Thus, brass and ammo is going to become increasingly scarce.

Good luck!