How does the 7MM Ultra compare to the 7MM STW?
I see the STW and hear how much friends like it but never anything about the 7MM Ultra. It seems to me they should be very similar in Ballistics and performance. Why isn't the Ultra more popular?

Hawkeye47

I'm loading for one right now.

The Nosler manual shows that they are close in performance, but states that the 7 RUM is the highest performance 7mm commercially available.

I've been trying to find a load for some time now. It's a factory barrel and I think it just doesn't shoot. Gonna have to do some more trying of components....

I've chrono'd the 160's at 3300 at max load and the 154 Interbonds at 3300 at 1 grain below max both using US-869. Velocity is incredible; accuracy is elusive at least with my barrel. I like the case fill that US-869 gives and I hope I can find a bullet that works with it....

IMO, it's way overbore. You will use a lot more powder for very little vel gain over a 7STW or 7mmDakota. I shoot a 7mmDakota in a 26"bbl Ruger #1. I easily run 160gr NPs @ 3200fps w/ 72-73gr of powder. So getting another 100fps w/ an add'l 25% more powder just seems like a bbl burner to me. The 7STW or Dakota will do anything the RUM will do w/ less powder.

I have had a 7mm UM in a remington rifle for several years now and I load 140 gn. Barnes triple shocks and 160 acccubonds primarily. I purchased it for the longest stands I hunt on for deer here in GA. My longest kill was a little more than 400 yards and it shoots pretty flat. I originally bought it to replace a 270 Win. looking for a long-range gun and it fits the bill. It is pretty accurate, certainly good for deer hunting and in general I am pleased. It does shoot funny in one respect in that it often shoots a better 300 yard group than in does at 200 yds. I have seen references to a condition where a bullet stabilizes as it goes out but am unsure as to this phenomenum. Might be just my shooting. The original gun [before porting] kicked like a mule and cut several eyebrows despite my warnings to the shooters. Now, the percussion is tremendous but it doesn't kick much at all. I also had a very light trigger installed and it is fun to shoot. Always hunt with ear protection as you could not stand to shoot it without. I load with MagPro and AA8700. If I remember correctly it uses 101 grains of 8700 for a 160 bullet but I am not at my bench right now so I am not sure about that. Do not dare try that without cross-checking with other sources. If buying over again, I think I would get the regular mag or STW because of the amount of powder it consumes. There are not a lot of factory offering for this round and I doubt the barrel will last a long time, althought I shoot it now only to verify before hunting and the hunt itself. I do not think it will ever be real popular

IMHO both are overbore, I don't really like either.

And everyone I know that shoots 'em tries to do the Varmint thang with bullets that are way too light.

quote:

IMHO both are overbore, I don't really like either.

Yup....except in my case it's not that I don't like them....it's that they do nothing for me that a standard 7mm Rem Mag won't do!

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
IMHO both are overbore, I don't really like either.

+1
If you like the extra muzzle blast and recoil over the Rem 7mm mag have at it.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

IMHO both are overbore, I don't really like either.

Yup....except in my case it's not that I don't like them....it's that they do nothing for me that a standard 7mm Rem Mag won't do!

I agree. And have seen evidence that the old 7remmag will do a number on big game way beyond 500 yards.

I built one for my father-in-law and his has around a 29.5" barrel. You really need a long barrel to get the full velocity of a big case. His shoots 168 grain Bergers into around 1" at 300 yds. His likes 92.5 grains of Reloader 25 with Fed 215M primers. OAL is 3.790. Can't remember what the chrony said but it is plenty fast. By the way his previous favorite was the 7MM STW. Him and my brother-in-law both shoot RUMs now instead of the STWs.

I personally don't plan on buying any more belted magnums because if you run them full throttle the belts grow and you have to buy the sizing die to resize the belts. Of course the primer pockets get loose about the same time but I still prefer no belt. Just simpler for me.

Anything the other 7MMs can do the 7MM RUM does it better! In my opinion.

Laurie's Papa, I never shoot rifles for accuracy at less than 300 yds any more just because of the possibility of "yaw" in the bullet path. I have several rifles that shoot better at longer distances than less. I think it occures more than most shooters realize.

God Bless, Louis

Years ago my friend and I went in on a 7 WM package. He got the rifle I got the scope. We set it up using the Hornady 162gr SPBT and a stiff load of RL-19, which turned in groups of around 1" out to 300yds. We used it mainly for feral hogs, and a couple of deer including this one I took at 289 yards,


As time rolled on we added a couple of wildcats to the mix and then a 300 RUM for him and I managed to pick up a STW in one of the older Sendero's with a laminated stock. Since I had no brass for it I purchased a couple of boxes of Federal, which used the 150gr Solid Base. These are running 3350fps from the muzzle and shoot one hole groups at 200yds.

Again this was purchased for the feral hog population and it has done very well at it's job. I managed to pick up 12 boxes f the Federal ammo in a close out from Midway for around $15 a box so until I finish it up, or toast the barrel that is my main load. Since it shoot so well I see no need to waste the barrel looking elsewhere. I split the shoulders on this boar at 365yds while he was feeding towards us. At that range there ain't much room for error, so I can't complain,

if you want a superhot 7mm .. this is it.

practically, i prefer my 7x64 or 708

The STW is actually a very efficient round.lol I get very close to 3300 fps with 160 TSXs with 78 grs. of powder and a 24" barrel. Just slightly harder on barrels than a 7-08

Hi MTM,

What powder are you using in your STW? I am assuming 7828.

Ian

Morning Ian. yup good guess. i'm on my third STW and I've tried all kinds of powder. The first year mr. simpson unvieled this round my gunsmith/hunting buddy built one. This is the load he settled on. I've used it in all my guns with equal success. TSXs shoot under 2" at 300 meters. never been real happy with the super slow stuff that's supposed to work.

I just wanted to give an update on the 7mm RUM.

The rifle is new to me and I've completed load development. I first tried to use US-869 with the 160 Accubond which didn't work out. Had a ton of vertical dispersion. I then tried the 154 gr Interbond...same story. I really wanted to use that powder; I've got about 12 pounds.

I broke down and tried the Accubond with some Retumbo after checking the velocities listed on the Hodgdon site. I found a load that grouped .7" for 3 shots and was tickled.


After the last trip to the range shooting groups, I had some that wouldn't group so I stopped shooting the ones at the various charge weights that sucked.

I had only 3 left. They were already loaded with bullets that had been pulled twice. I pulled them again and without resizing the cases, loaded them at the weight (93.5 gr. of Retumbo) that grouped .7"

I took the chrono this time to get an idea of the velocity. I wasn't expecting a great group because of the condition of the cases and the abused bullets.

The first shot was 3355 fps
#2 was 3389 Fps
#3 was 3335 fps

#1 and #3 went into the same hole while #2 was right about an inch. No vertical whatsoever. No ugly pressure signs.

The Nosler manual showed a max at 92 grains while the Hodgdon website showed 94 gr. Both sites cited the max velocity at 3212 fps.

The 160 Accubond has a BC of .531 and with a 300 yard -0- shoots flatter than my .22-250 shooting a 55 grain BT by a lot!

I'm impressed with this cartridge to say the least....

Just wait until you shoot a critter with it; then you'll really be impressed.

Congratulations on the load development!

God Bless, Louis

I think it will do to deer what my 22-250 does to prarie dogs!

rcamuglea, you know you won't be able to eat right up to the bullet hole, don't you? Ha.

Have a good day,

Joe A.

I believe in killing and tenderizing with one shot!

Amen.

Joe A.

Well, ah, the 7mm Rem Mag was kinda over-bore, what is the RUM?

Perfection

I have owned a 7mmRUM,Three 7mmSTWs,four 7mmRem Mags,and three 280AIs.My favorite cartridge of the four is the 7mmSTW,followed by the 280AI.The 7mmSTW only gives up about 75fps to the 7mmRUM,and burns less powder,with a slightly longer barrel life,and slightly less recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamuglia:
The first shot was 3355 fps
#2 was 3389 Fps
#3 was 3335 fps

#1 and #3 went into the same hole while #2 was right about an inch. No vertical whatsoever. No ugly pressure signs.

The 160 Accubond has a BC of .531 and with a 300 yard -0- shoots flatter than my .22-250 shooting a 55 grain BT by a lot!

Yes indeed, that is impressive! Should be a fine Bambi Blaster.

quote:

Originally posted by stubblejumper:
I have owned a 7mmRUM,Three 7mmSTWs,four 7mmRem Mags,and three 280AIs.My favorite cartridge of the four is the 7mmSTW,followed by the 280AI.The 7mmSTW only gives up about 75fps to the 7mmRUM,and burns less powder,with a slightly longer barrel life,and slightly less recoil.

Exactly, but he's already gone & done it. We'll see how long the bbl lasts.

I've read barrel life is around 1000 rounds.

If you can develop an accurate load within the first 250 rounds, that leaves a rifle with more than a lifetime of hunting left in it!...

I would have a 7-RUM had I not already bought and accurized a 70 Stainless 7-STW.

I can see where the penny-pincher might argue the bit more powder to do little better than the STW. But, when "practicallity" starts influencing my gun buys, I will have bought my last.

The STW is just awesome, in a word. The RUM should be awesome plus some.

I had a 7 rum that shoot 9 in groups at 100 yards out of the box with factory loads. With hand loads it would shoot 5 in groups. My smith told me to sell it, but I couldn't bring my self to sell the problem to some other hunter. So I turned it into a 358 STA

Congrats on your handloading!

You shrunk the group size in 1/2!