7mm STW Reloading Thread

My chrono could be screwed up I suppose but guys are claiming 3400 + with 175 pills
Yall must have some really really really fast barrels out there in Nevada... Just like that moron from Texas who claimed all sorts of crazy numbers.

Sorry, but I have a very hard time believing that someone is getting 3,400+ with 175's unless they are shooting 40" barrels that are about 2" in diameter all the way down, and only getting 1 firing per brass, while using a custom action that is so beefy it won't blow up.

But I doubt any of that stuff exists in the hunting world.
 
Yea that seems a little fast for a 175gr...My Nosler book lists the fastest 175gr load at 3038fps with H870 loaded at 96% load density. I only run the 120gr and at 82 grains of rl22 I'm at 91% load density and consistent 4100fps. My barrel is the factory Remington 26 inch fs Action trued, bolt hand lapped, barrel hand lapped, custom chambered, glass bedded, less than 1/2 pound trigger. I've been getting 3-4 shots out of my cases before they need trimming and it's a very small amount at that so I see no issues with this gun and load. Someone posted that I must be running crazy pressures but I can find no sign of it at all.
 
New to the forum, but not new to 7 STW. I wildcatted this round in the early 90s with a friend. I've been out of the hobby for too long...over 13 years. We spent a lot of time building loads for this wildcat and had great success. We were using it mainly for varmint hunting back then. Extremely flat with it sighted 1.5 inch over at 100 yards. 3/8" groups were common. First shoot I entered I could not hit the target at 500 years until I reduced my holdover to about 30 inches...super flat

Remington 700 rebarreled to 7 STW.
Pillar bedded
Will have to provide the twist later.
125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip
87 or 89 grains of....i'll have to this later dont remember
COL TBD
Magnum Primer
8mm Magnum cases necked down to 7mm

Had to use 7mm Magnum dies back then since no 7 STW dies existed yet.
 
Fun to see people coming with STW stories. It's a power round for sure.

I for one would like to see chrono #'s and pressure traces for some of these "fish" tales... I'd bet the wheat would separate from the chaff a bit better then... At least no one is calling them "hot Tamales"...

Guys, in a 26" bbl you can get about 3600 fps from a 120, 3400-3450 fps from a 140, 3300-3350 fps from a 150, 3200-3250 fps from a 160, 3150-3200 fps from a 168, and 3100 fps from a 175... anything more and you are over pressure. Those #'s are even optimistic in many barrels. The 7stw will not show over pressure signs until you get to a bit over 75 kpsi so you can easily run a bit high pressure wise and you will simply beat up your brass and action more.
 
To anyone calling this a"fish" tale I would say, load some up and prove it to yourself. The slowest 120gr load the book shows is 3290 so go from there. I have run them at 4100fps on four different chrono's with some of them hitting 4160 and yes I know how to set up the chrono correctly and I know exactly what too much pressure looks like. I had to trim the cases just a bit after four runs but no signs of excessive pressure and the gun is still tight as a drum;)
 
Yeah, I will be shooting the Berger 180's.
Just hoping to be close to 3k. But, whatever I get I will be happy with.
 
You will have to load a little hot to get 3000fps out of 180's but looking at the book I see no problems with it. 175gr and 69.5gr of rl22 is 2968fps at 78% load density so just a tad over should get it, 175gr and 86gr of H870 is 3038fps at 96% load density so not much room for error there. Just watch for signs of excessive pressure.
 
You will have to load a little hot to get 3000fps out of 180's but looking at the book I see no problems with it. 175gr and 69.5gr of rl22 is 2968fps at 78% load density so just a tad over should get it, 175gr and 86gr of H870 is 3038fps at 96% load density so not much room for error there. Just watch for signs of excessive pressure.

I'm not loading hot to get 3K out of my 180 Hybrids... Actually I'd say my loads were mild. I'm getting zero pressure signs with 71gr of 7828 SSC.

But I would definitely work up to it, just incase your rifle isn't like mine.

I'm actually gonna work up from 71gr to see where my pressure signs start or accuracy decreases. And when I find them, I'll back off 1/5 grain, then load up a box of 50, chrono to test my MV, then I'll be set.
 
I'm sure its up in this thread here, but anybody using Retumbo?
I have plenty on hand and think it will work...
 
I admit I know very little about the heavier bullets because my gun doesn't like them so I was just listing some info from the reload manual. I only run the 120gr because the gun really likes them and I get great velocity and accuracy. Several people on here have said there is no way I'm getting 4100fps with 120gr bullets in an STW and that I must be running crazy pressures or setting the chrono up wrong but I'm only loaded a tad hot and have no signs of trouble, this isn't my first time out;) Just work up to a load you and your gun are comfortable with and watch for trouble signs.
 
I'm using Retumbo with 180Hybrids. It works great and has help my velocities up. Accuracy is excellent and I'm only a few tenths over book max.
 
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