Consider a 7mm RUM-- awesome ballistics. This shoots flatter than a 22-250. If your concerned about "powder eating" I'd steer away from the RUMs. Why not compromise and get a 300 win, not the big case capacity and you can load 100 grain up to 230 grain bullets--variety. Just my .02.
Chainsaw, I have both calibers and I think the decision between the two is a balancing act. It depends on your priorities. People will give you an opinion based on their priorities or preferences ie their preferred hunting style, cartridge efficiency, energy, velocity,recoil,etc. The 7 STW and 300RUM are both over bore and use significant amounts of powder.I load my STW with 160gr Hornady 90gr H1OOO at 3250 fps out of 24" barrel.The ultra 165 Btips at 3500fps out of 27" with 95gr RL 25 both recoil hard but not unbearable. Both are flat shooting plains type cartridges and will do the same job on white tail at any reasonable range.As the size of animal increases or shot presentation becomes more difficult the ultra edges ahead. Bullet selection for 30 cal is some what better.Both are easily reloaded and factory ammo is available. Personally I prefer the 300 RUM, maybe because its new and I jumped on the band wagon maybe I find it more versatile all around for the hunting I do.Maybe because I have found the Stw not a big enough difference over my 7 rem mag. In the end you will have to decide where your priorities lie. Or do what I did and get both.
------------------ Growler
Posts: 95 | Location: Alberta Canada | Registered: 23 March 2001
Gentlemen, If it were me making the choice, which it obviously is not, I would scale back the discussion and be comparing the 7mm Rem Mag to the .300 Win Mag. A couple of reasons....
First, no whitetail that walks this earth will escape either of them at reasonable hunting ranges.
Second, ammunition is usually available for either rifle worldwide, Alaska to Zimbabwe.
Of course, if I was FORCED to choose between the STW and the RUM, I'd take the RUM. I have a 7mm Rem Mag, which has always been trustworthy for me on game very small to very large, and the STW doesn't gain enough for me to notice...
I like the 7mm's of all types. The 7 STW does not seem to represent a huge gain in ballistics for the amount of powder it uses, I have one and seldom use it. I would get a 270 wby mag or 7 rem mag if he was looking for a small caliber.
I think either would be great. For deer the STW is more then enough, even out past what most of you consider to be pushing the envilope for range. I shoot a 130 grain GS bullet at 3850 fps out of my 27.5 inch barreled STW. Last weekend I drove one through the top of the chest and out on the off side just to the side of the sternum of a 180 pound 4x4 mule deer at 412 yards. That is a diagnal and length wise penetration of the vitals at 412 yards (a about 30" of penetration). The deer didn't know what hit him and there was a lot of power left over. The STW will shoot flatter or at least as flat as the 300 Ultra will with more then enough power. I can shoot 140 grain partitions at over 3500 fps with good brass life if i want to shoot a conventional bullet. I can shoot 150 Scirroccos at 3450 fps. I am also about to take delivery of my 300 Ultra so don't get me wrong I like them both, but the STW is more then enough, easier on the shoulder, and is a good step up from the 7mm Rem. Mag. Vince
I've got both and have used both the 7mmSTW and 300 RUM in Africa on game up to 600 lbs. Both are outstanding calibers and if you look at some of the handloads published in various parts of this forum you will find data that will simply amaze you. Personally, I think the 300 RUM with 28 inch barrel is the better of the two. Nothing hit properly with it ever went very far. The 7mSTW seemed not to hit as hard as the 300 RUM based on my experiences. These two calibers come into their own only past about 400yrds where the superior wind bucking abilities of the 30 caliber bullets make all the difference in my mind.-Rob
Posts: 6314 | Location: Las Vegas,NV | Registered: 10 January 2001
I'd choose 300RUM for bigger expansion. .284 and .308 bullet diameter is pretty close but the bigger hole, the better. I'll order 300RUM custom rifle someday.
Thanks for your replies that I printed and had my friend read. He is electing to go with the 7mmSTW as he will save a little on reloads and recoil.------Thanks again -----Chainsaw
Growler, are you seriously loading 90 grains of H1000 into your STW? I have a 26 inched barreled Winchester and every reloading manual including hodgdon lists a maximum load of 80 grains of powder. I am currious as to how your pressures are on this load as well as how accurate it is.
90 grains of h1000 with a 160 grain bullet is alot. I've gone up to 82 grains with a molyed 150 but I got alot more velocity and it was kind of on the hot side. I think it was a typo.
Runninrebel, Good catch, I was at work when i responded and now that I review my notes. I was using H870 at 90gr with a 160 Hornady corelock. I apologize for the error. How ever my notes do show that 85gr of H1000 was the max load with 86.5gr showing slight signs of presure with the same bullet. Goes to show you can't trust everything you read.
------------------ Growler
Posts: 95 | Location: Alberta Canada | Registered: 23 March 2001
with the 180 sierra or nosler balistic tip at over 3450 i dont see how the STW can compete.or the 200 nosler partition at 3200.or the 150 gameking at 3650.between the two the RUM IS badder.
257Weatherby....Yes I had two STW's,own multiple BIG 30's(including a 30-378)and dote on a 338Ultra I had built.
BUT for smashing Deer,you gotta look long and hard,to trounce te 257Wby. Rest assured,if you manage to find something that will shoot flatter,it will kick a whole damn bunch harder.
I believe the 257Wby to be the perfect blend of energy,trajectory,accuracy and FUN.........
The .257 Weatherby is really a poor design. It's freebored which is like buying a worn out throat and it's belted which means potential headspace problems.
The advent of the WSM's and more to come is the begining of the end for the Weatherby line.
When a "RUM" case comes out in a standard length action that will be the end of them.
I have two rifles of each caliber.I use the 7mmstw's for all my deer,antelope and sheep hunting and the 300 ultra's for elk and moose.The 7mmstw is more than enough power for any deer at any distance you can hit them at.I used to use the 7mmstw for elk and moose hunting as well and it does a fine job but I just had to try the 300ultra and was very impressed by the way it drops elk and moose.
Posts: 3104 | Location: alberta,canada | Registered: 28 January 2002
StubbleJumper you could ride shotgun on my coach anytime Buckerrooo! Yep that 7mmSTW is hard to beat on those speed goats on the prairie. Need more meat hey! Just load up that 300 Ultra mag and let er rip out over those mountain benches to that big 6x6 500 yards down range.
