What to do with my STW?

[Birddog75]

I have a 700 KS Mountain Rifle chambered in 7mm STW. I bought the gun from a neighbor that won it. He didn't need it and sold it to me new for under a grand. I've always shot factory ammo out of it with marginal results. Several of my friends shoot STW's in custom guns with heavier Hart barrels. I have decided with their help to develop a load for it using 168 VLD's. My question is if I don't get the results after load development, do I rebarrel and turn it into a custom gun, or sell and start fresh? Thanks.

 

[pyroducksx3]

Probably your best option is to sell it to me for 100 $ because its worthless

 

[pyroducksx3]

But honestly the 700 is a great action to build off of. If it doesnt work define what you really want in a rifle and then see if that gun can give you what you want. Examples would be how far you want to shoot, what recoil you really enjoy shooting, how much accurcy are you really expecting. With that mag bolt face you have many option as far as heavy hitting great long range performers. I have a link Ill post later that list them. So do some load development and use different manufactures, hornady and nosler have good offerings as well. Hopefully it shoots well and it wont be an issue. If it doesn't decide what you want and dont let your rifle make the decision for you.

 

[Tulie]

Probably your best option is to sell it to me for 100 $ because its worthless

Come on get serious! I'll give him 125 sight unseen!

Honestly, Pyroducks is right, decide what you want and move forward. You have a mag action to work with if you decide to change things around. However, I would get somebody to really look hard at the current barrel, maybe it's bad and maybe it just needs to be super scrubbed and find a load that will work in it. Mine hasn't been picky so far but I've not had it all that long and tried all that much out of it yet. Handloading these things is the only option to me to get the real performance they are capable of. Don't give up on it until you really know it's time.

Mine has liked just about anything from 139 BTSP Hornady's to 180 Bergers so it may be as simple as finding what yours likes and at the speed it likes to digest them.

On the other hand........you have at least 2 buyers if you want to dump that worn out thing!!!

 

[Birddog75]

Thanks, for your help. I was a little off by saying I have only shot factory ammo. The last batches of ammo I've been shooting was loaded by a company called Superior Ammunition. I've tried different bullets from Barnes TSX to Accubonds, but without working up a load this has been no better than shooting factory. What got me concerned with this gun's accuracy was other post saying that these guns usually were manufactured with no more precision than your average 700 off the shelf. Maybe the handloads will get me under the one inch mark.

 

[pyroducksx3]

Also think about having the barrel recrowned, I have no expierence with this but from I hear its cheap and some have claimed dramatic improvements with this simple step. Also my bid is 130$

 

[pyroducksx3]

Here's that link to show you some of the examples of what else will work with that bolt face and since you have a long action you can use the wsms as well.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/bolt-face-diameters-36661/

 

[Birddog75]

Thanks Pyroducks. I really like the caliber, because of the range that it gives me over the Rem Mag. Even if I just use it for a light hunting rifle around home, I don't think I'll get rid of it. I guess I just need to build a heavy long range hitter on another 700 action.

 

[Tulie]

Also think about having the barrel recrowned, I have no expierence with this but from I hear its cheap and some have claimed dramatic improvements with this simple step. Also my bid is 130$

I've done this on a few with mixed results but one thing for sure, it's never hurt any of them. There are ways to do it yourself, kits are available from Brownells and other places that are fairly inexpensive.

 

[Buano]

The gun is worthless. Out of pitty I will raise the bid to $135. I hate to see you stuck with such an annoying gun.

 

[KS2506]

Try some lighter weight bullets. 140's to 160's. All the factory STW's I have had shot the best with that range weight of bullets. I used them for deer, antelope and coyotes out to 8-900 yards.

 

[The Oregonian]

11 yr old zombie

 

[Buckleman]

Try Sierra flat base bullets. If it doesn't shoot them, you could have a problem. Powders 7828. H4831. R22.

 

[Orange Dust]

I have a 700 KS Mountain Rifle chambered in 7mm STW. I bought the gun from a neighbor that won it. He didn't need it and sold it to me new for under a grand. I've always shot factory ammo out of it with marginal results. Several of my friends shoot STW's in custom guns with heavier Hart barrels. I have decided with their help to develop a load for it using 168 VLD's. My question is if I don't get the results after load development, do I rebarrel and turn it into a custom gun, or sell and start fresh? Thanks.

If it won't shoot them, try a lighter bullet... 150, 160, 162 in that range. VLD's don't always shoot best in factory guns either. Don't get hung up on BC. You have a fine rifle that will shoot most any pointed bullet a long ways. mine liked 160's and 7828 or H1000