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Posted: 9/17/2009 9:25:22 PM EDT
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I did a search all the way back and either I can't operate the archive search or its never been discussed. Any of you guys reload 7mm STW? Have any pet loads you'd like to share? I'm going to start this weekend working something up for hunting season, any guidance you guys can provide would be most appreciated. |
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Quoted:
I did a search all the way back and either I can't operate the archive search or its never been discussed. Any of you guys reload 7mm STW? Have any pet loads you'd like to share? I'm going to start this weekend working something up for hunting season, any guidance you guys can provide would be most appreciated. 7mm Shooting Times Western is listed in the online Hodgdon, ~ 50,IIRC. Also, there are loads listed at ammoguide~ 50. Probably the first thing you need to do is pick an optimum hunting bullet that you can get your hands on quick. Hunting season is just around the corner. I use the 154 grain HDY SST, polymer tip. Looks like the loads listed cover 100 to 180 grain wt bullets. Go here for Layne Simpson's article on the load recipes for his invention (wildcatted the 7mmSTW in the 80's): http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/ST_7mmSTW20_200812/index.html check out the chart at the bottom of page 2. |
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With Combined Technologies 150 grain Ballistic Tips and 76.5 grains of IMR 7828 with a Federal Magnum Match primer,
my STW consistently shoots 3/4" to 1 inch groups if I let the barrel stay cool. Been hand loading the 7mm STW for years. I have a Rem 700 Sendaro with a fluted bull barrel. A buddy of mine put a 40X trigger in it adjusted to around 2 pounds. Its in a Choate Varmint stock that I filled with lead. Gun, stock and scope come in at about 22 pounds. No bush gun here. 
I pretty much only shoot it in the winter time to help keep the barrel cool. I get PLENTY of weird looks when it comes out of the case at the range. |
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79.5 grains H-1000 behind a 150-gr Nosler Partition bullet. Rem 9 1/2 Magnum primer. R-P brass. H-1000 or IMR 7828 are both good powder choices.
Not one of my calibers, but one I reload - My neighbor and hunting partner wanted a new, faster round than his old 7mm Rem Mag. This was after Layne Simpson's articles came out, around 1994 or 95, so I let him read them. That was my first mistake
Next thing I know, I'm helping him round up a new Win M70 Classic 7mm Mag and having it rechambered for the wildcat 7mm STW. We used 8mm Mag brass at the time. Because he doesn't reload, I ended up having to do the work-ups and loading for his rifle - I hate loading for anyone else, but I painted myself into a corner this time 
I did enjoy the unique experience of working with a wildcat however, and it broadened my reloading experience. Anyway, he was pleased with the whole project and it shot very well. Since that time that rifle and load has bagged way over a dozen elk easily (hunting in 2 states and cow permits included). It has also shot a handful of mule deer. It has a flawless track record on elk and he usually recovers the Partition under the hide on the far side, perfectly mushroomed. I would have gone with a 160 for this application, but he loves 150s and is totally pleased with performance of rifle, caliber, and bullet. I am just glad that my reloads have proven to be both safe, accurate, and deadly over the years. |
I began playing with the 7 STW back in '96 or so after reading the Layne Simpson article(s) on the subject. I just had to have one. 
I started out with a Rem. 700 Sendero in 7mm Rem. Mag. (the original one) re-chambered to the STW by a guy who didn't know what he was doing and had a dull reamer so, after that rather expensive experience, I shipped the rifle to Shilen and had them install one of their 26" SS match grade hand lapped bbls. on the action. I put it into a H-S Precision stock and had the action glass bedded into the aluminum block. 
I've tried nearly every slow burning powder know to man with nearly every bullet weight and construction. Like most, I had to begin with 8mm Rem. Mag. brass and form my own STW brass. Nothing new and it adds to the fun of loading. Later, when Rem. commercialized the STW I bought a couple hundred unprimed cases. The loads that I've settled on are: Nosler 140 gr. Ballistic Tip 77.0 gr. H4831 Fed. 215 primer R-P brass 3.590 COL Same bullet w/ all else the same except for the powder 75.0 gr. RL-22 The Nosler 140 gr. PAR bullet works quite well also. After reading this post a while back, I took my STW to the range just yesterday and put a few rounds thru it to check the zero. It got some attention when a couple of shooters noticed "how long" the ctg. was. Neither guy knew a thing about the STW so I gave them a brief history lesson. I don't think either was impressed but I like my STW. The RL-22 load will group three shots into well under an inch as long as the bbl. stays cool as mentioned above. 5 shots and the group opens up to an honest inch. |
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