I'm starting up a project to build my own custom rifle and going from the ground up, first thing I come across is picking the caliber to build around. I'm looking for long range with excellent ft lbs energy at range that will kill to overkill medium to small large game (white tail to maybe a moose or something one day). I kinda came up with the 7mm STW based on perusing through load charts, but have never had any actual experiece with it. Any body got any stories? Comments? Other suggestions?

Also, I've been planning on using a custom ceramic lined carbon fiber barrel. I know of some on EXCELLENT AR weapons in 5.56x45 that are ceramic, but never seen it in a bolt gun. Any thoughts there?

I love my STW.

It's on a Model 70 Classic Stainless and has been accurized about as far as I can go with the factory stock & barrel.

It is definitely a sub-MOA rifle. Trajectories with 140 gr. bullets are very similar to my .220 Swift's trajectories with a 50 gr. bullet. Pretty impressive. Mine has a good appetite for IMR-7828 and Relolader 22. Recoil (the gun is 9 1/2 lbs. scoped) is comparable to a .300 Wby in the same weight gun.

Went to the range yestday with a couple of rifles, took my STW along to check zero from last season. It's a rechambered Mod 70 Stainless All Terrain 24" barrel. Fired 3 shots at 100 yds. Went .46" dead centre 1 1/2" high. That's the 160 TSX at 3300 fps. in front of 7828. Don't have drop charts on the TSX but when zeroed 1.5 high at 100 I'm 1.5 low at 300. It normally shoots under 2" at 300. Whats not to like?

quote:

Originally posted by Yank_SEALs:
Also, I've been planning on using a custom, ceramic-lined, carbon fiber barrel. I know of some on EXCELLENT AR weapons in 5.56x45 that are ceramic, but never seen it in a bolt gun. Any thoughts there?

I have no experience with carbon fiber barrels but would assume one would be very light weight. The AR chambers a low-recoil caliber, and the gun itself is energy buffered. Your bolt gun has no recoil buffering, and the cartridge is very high energy. I would anticipate the need for barrel mass to control recoil if a level of accuracy is anticipated. My thoughts tendered for your consideration.
.

You can shoot 140's at about 3600 fps with a 30" barrel, what's not to like about that?! I was seriously considering one for my custom rig, but I decided I'm wanting a 338 Edge more.

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
You can shoot 140's at about 3600 fps with a 30" barrel, what's not to like about that?!

You can do it with a 26" barrel.

I really like my heavy barrel Remington Sendero in the 7mm STW.It weighs a whopping 11 lbs. scoped out and is quite pleasant to shoot.It is a real tack driver and quite capable of shooting one ragged hole groups.

Thanks for everything thus far. Sounds like it doesn't disappoint. As far as the barrel, the weight is the issue. I'm wondering if weight in the stock will be sufficient to be accurate or if it is still just going to whip up too much. I'm kinda on the fence between the ceramic/carbon fiber and a nice high end Lilja. Anybody ever had problems with a Lilja?

quote:

Originally posted by Yank_SEALs:
Anybody ever had problems with a Lilja?

No. And neither will you. Get a 7mm 3 groove, 1-9 twist if available. Look at his website and you will see he already has #3 contour 7mm barrels ready to go. Would be perfect for your build. Cost is $315 and about $8 to ship. I recently got 3 and already have two other builds with Liljas.

I do not know enough about the carbon bbls to comment. They obviously work for some hunters/shooters, but they must not be "the poo" b/c more riflesmiths would be offering them.

Yank_Seals ----- I shoot a Lilja barrel with one of my .358 STA's and it is super accurate and reliable. If and when I get any barrel as replacement or build, it will be a Lilja. Good shooting.

I put a Shilen on the 7 STW that I built, but I've used Lilja's on other rifles. You can't go wrong either way. I have settled on the 140 gr. TTSX's in mine.

Good luck! I'll look forward to seeing the finished rifle with some critters!

Bob

Mauser 98 7mm-STW
BRNO Mauser VZ-24 action
27†Shilen match grade #4 contour chrome-moly barrel
Bold Optima Trigger-2.5 lbs.
Accurate Innovations walnut stock with ebony forend
Pachmayr Magnum recoil pad
Sightron SII 4-16x42 AO scope with target knobs-matte

Don't have one but my father, and a good buddy both have them and can't brag about them enough. Very good shooters and accurate too.
Both are Remingtons.
MM

A 7 stw story,

The older I get, the more I seem to dis-remember so with that in mind here goes. It must have been somewhere between 1995 and 1997 when I happened into one of the pawnshops I used to frequent. They had this black rifle on the shelf that looked interesting. It was an early model Remington 700 sendero. It had been glass bedded, had a trigger job and a muzzle brake had been added. It was chambered in 7mag,(at least that what was stamped on the barrel). It was topped with an 8-32 variable power Burris signature scope. The asking price for the whole rig was $500. I almost felt like a bandit walking out with it.
I was new to reloading then. In fact this may have been one of the first times I had reloaded any rounds. First time I took it to the range, fired it and ejected the brass, the neck of the case was blown out and split to hell. I couldn’t imagine what I had done wrong as I had purchased several books on reloading and followed directions to the letter. I fired a couple more rounds with the same results. Needless to say, this was a total bummer. My brand new bargain rifle and scope seemed not to be such a hot deal after all. Turns out that whoever had done the work on the gun had also punched it out to 7stw. Once I figured it out, I’ve enjoyed the rifle ever since. I’ve heard how finniky 7stw’s can be but this one is not. I’ve shot from 140 to 175 grain bullets from different manufacturers with excellent results

What is the mossy oak slogan, “its not a passion, its an obsession� I can relate. Starting about February of each year I start mentioning to my friends and family, “Its only 8 months till bow season. Each year I decide beforehand which calibers and rifles that I am going to use that season and develop a different load for each particular rifle that is different from previous years. I had been shooting 175 gr sierras in my 7 stw. Last year I decided to try some 140 grain accubonds.
Here are some different examples. Each of the four groups were shot at Pearland shooting club off a bench and rest on Dec.23. It was sunny, +/ 10 mph breeze, and 45 degrees F. Distance-100 yds.
I had some ballistic tips loaded in 150 grains so I shot one group. I wanted to try accubonds on game so three of the four groups were accubonds. I've settled on 75 grains of Rl-22, federal 215m primers, 140 gr accubonds, oal@ 3.650" as my go to load for the present. Next I am going to try some 168 grain berger VLD's. I have one place I can make a 600 yd shot and another an 800 yd shot. I'm gonnna set up for hogs. At that distance if they aren't DRT it doesn't matter as the land owner wants every hog we see shot.
GWB

Remington Sendero in 7stw


77 gr. IMR 7828, 140 gr accubonds 3353,3347 fps


72 gr r-19, 150 gr nosler ballistic tip, 3.680 0al, 3095,3122fps


74.5 gr h4831 sc, 140 gr accubond, wlrm primer, 3236,3272 fps


75 gr rl-22, 140 gr accubond, 215m primer, 3.645 oal, 3281,3306 fps



Sika deer shot at 120 yds with remington sendero in 7mmstw, 140 gr. accubonds, 75 gr. rl 22

Savage 112 FVSS 7MM STW
Millet 6X25X56MM Varmint Scope

140 grn nosler Accubond (This is a deadly round)
82 grn H-1000
CCI Magnum large rifle primers
Remington Brass

150 grn SMK
77.5 grn IMR 7828
same as above

168 grn SMK
75 grn H-4831SC
same as above

All three of these loads hit with in MOA of POA at two hundred yards. I think this has been one of the easiest rifles I have every loaded for. I can shoot all day long with this gun and not get hurt or start flinching. This gun with factory everything (except new paint job) got nicknamed "Deliverer of Death" by the guys I hunt with because everything I shoot dies right there.

I have a 7stw Ackley (blown out-40 degree shoulder). Go figure. It is on a Rem Sendero that used to be 7mm Rem Mag. I got it in a trade many years ago. I received some loaded rounds also. They are very loud and kick. I do not know what grain bullets they are, but they are moly coated. I don't understand the need to "Ackley" a 7stw.

My buddy is talking me into the .338 Snipe-Tac cartridge now. Any thoughts there? Reason being is that the STW is belted...

I have no experience with the 338 Snipe-Tech. Sounds like a custom die.

I don't have any problem loading or shooting belted cartridges, 7mm Mag, 300 win Mag, 7mm STW just to name a few. All of these belted cartridges shoot great and I have had no problems because they are belted. Does your friend have an actual bad experience or is this just something he has heard or read somewhere about belted cartridges?

Nothing wrong with belted rounds. There seems to be some unjustified prejudice around about them.

I have two 7mm Rems, a Browning A Bolt Medallion and a Dakota 76. Also a Model 70 .375 H&H. All shoot to MOA or less.

He's a ballistics/loading guru and I think he's going simply off of case capacity and doesnt see the point of the STW when the 7mm RUM is almost exactly the same size but with a few more grains of capacity and no belt. I lookied into the .338 Snipe-Tac and it sounds neat, but i's going to be custom action, custom dies, and all that, so I'm back to the STW. Any thoughts on STW vs RUM?