First true custom build

[dogbuster0006]

I've finally decided I'm going to build a 7STW, I've been using and shooting my 7Rem mag for a while and just want a little more umph. My buddies are always giving crap for shooting a "womans's rifle" and I figure pushing a 180gr vld right a around 300fps should shut them up, I just need an excuse to be honest.. I'm thinking a 28" Shilen #5-1/2 contour with 1/8" twist, I've already got a laminate stock from another build that went a different route, I'm picking up another Ruger 77 tang safety in 7 rem with a Timney trigger. For whatever reason Ive fallen in love with this particular action and might as well add another to the collection.

I guess my only real questions are what other specs are working well for you guys. I know playing with my coal will have a huge factor in how well the Berger Vld's shoot.

Should I go for the 4 groove ratchet rifling, or standard I can't find too much info on it? I know the 1/8" will help to stabilize the longer heavier 180's.

I've read conflicting reports on converting to the STW over a Rem mag as far as overall length and certain action's ability to feed it, should I expect needing to modify my action more than just the internal magazine?

I've got an RCBS single stage press and with the volume of shooting I'll be doing will be fine for now, is there a particular brand of dies that work better than the rest for ya'll?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Sounds like your friends aren't real intelligent if they think a 7RM is a "woman's rifle".

1:9 will stabilize the 180's just fine.

I use regular RCBS dies, and they work fine.

 

[dogbuster0006]

It's more a ball busting than anything. Also the same guys that five me a hard time for shooting a 20ga for just about all small game even turkey. And for deer hunting with a 243 and 25-06, they've got 300wby and 325wsm. But it is funny to out shoot them and have the same deer dropping performance with my "woman's gun" while shooting cheaper ammo and not getting my shoulder smoked. It's more of friendly just something to mess with each other about than anything.
I've never heard anything bad about Rcbs stuff, I know the hornady twist lock dies were all the rage a while back.

 

[adam32]

That action will be too short to do anything but feed single shot, even then with a loaded round you might have to pull the bolt to eject a live round. I had one I wanted to make into a RUM, not a chance, so it's now getting turned into a 270 WSM and it will work much much better...

This is the WSM round in there, imagine a RUM/STW case...

 

[MudRunner2005]

It's more a ball busting than anything. Also the same guys that five me a hard time for shooting a 20ga for just about all small game even turkey. And for deer hunting with a 243 and 25-06, they've got 300wby and 325wsm. But it is funny to out shoot them and have the same deer dropping performance with my "woman's gun" while shooting cheaper ammo and not getting my shoulder smoked. It's more of friendly just something to mess with each other about than anything.
I've never heard anything bad about Rcbs stuff, I know the hornady twist lock dies were all the rage a while back.

Whitetails aren't hard to kill. But they do run like hell....Sometimes. And if you want the best combination of caliber efficiency and lesser meat damage, I'd stick with that 7mm RM for deer inside of 300 yards. And if you want to shoot them 300+, I'd step up to my heavy-barreled 7mm STW. That's what I do. 99% of my deer hunting is sporter barreled rifles because we have to walk ALOT at our hunting land to keep from spooking the deer. Lugging a 20 lbs. rifle is pointless for a 150 yard (max distance) shot. Might as well sling my 10 lbs. lightweight setup over my shoulder and get to walking, like I have nothing on my back.

I've put 'em down with my .257 Wby...No issues at all. I love that caliber, but my recent good fortunes with the Berger 168 VLD's while hunting this year, has caused me to replace my go-to deer rifle with my freshly build 7mm RM, and the .257 Wby will be seeing alot more safe time. I still love to go coyote hunting during the off-season, so the .257 Wby will still be being utilized.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Posted in wrong thread...

 

[adam32]

I've had my Remington 700 Sendero SF 7mm STW for 12 years and never have I once had to pull the bolt to eject a live round. Might have to tilt it to the side and let the back-half of the round fall out first, but never will you have to remove the bolt.

And you can buy a Wyatt's extended mag box and follower and have your smith install it, and you can shoot bullets up to 4.000" in length, as a repeater, instead of single-shot.

And that's a Rem 700 not a Ruger m77, my picture is of my tang safety M77 which is a 7mm mag originally. I couldn't fit VLDs in the mag box with it, and a RUM casing barely even fits in the mag, with a bullet (any bullet) would be impossible.

 

[MudRunner2005]

And that's a Rem 700 not a Ruger m77, my picture is of my tang safety M77 which is a 7mm mag originally. I couldn't fit VLDs in the mag box with it, and a RUM casing barely even fits in the mag, with a bullet (any bullet) would be impossible.

Yeah, I realized that after I went through and re-read the post. I'm busy at work and half-read it... Yes, I agree, the Ruger action would be a horrible choice for the STW/RUM calibers.

 

[eshorebwhntr]

I've finally decided I'm going to build a 7STW, I've been using and shooting my 7Rem mag for a while and just want a little more umph. My buddies are always giving crap for shooting a "womans's rifle" and I figure pushing a 180gr vld right a around 300fps should shut them up, I just need an excuse to be honest.. I'm thinking a 28" Shilen #5-1/2 contour with 1/8" twist, I've already got a laminate stock from another build that went a different route, I'm picking up another Ruger 77 tang safety in 7 rem with a Timney trigger. For whatever reason Ive fallen in love with this particular action and might as well add another to the collection.

I guess my only real questions are what other specs are working well for you guys. I know playing with my coal will have a huge factor in how well the Berger Vld's shoot.

Should I go for the 4 groove ratchet rifling, or standard I can't find too much info on it? I know the 1/8" will help to stabilize the longer heavier 180's.

I've read conflicting reports on converting to the STW over a Rem mag as far as overall length and certain action's ability to feed it, should I expect needing to modify my action more than just the internal magazine?

I've got an RCBS single stage press and with the volume of shooting I'll be doing will be fine for now, is there a particular brand of dies that work better than the rest for ya'll?

Thanks in advance guys.

1. If you only plan to go as heavy as the 180 then 1-9 will stabilize that and yield more velocity compared to a 1-8. I've got a 28" 1-9 Krieger and with mild loads can easily get 3150. If you prefer I would add a Holland muzzle break and cap protector so that you have the option to use both and switch easily between braked/unbraked (if that's even English). The Holland brakes are my favorite all around right now.

2. I'm not familiar with the Ruger action you're talking about but I can speak on a Rem700 LA. They will fit and cycle through that magazine at anything <3.650 COAL.

3. I prefer Redding S series dies with the bushings. These are nice but not necessary. I would definitely go the FL as opposed to neck sizing only route. I also prefer a seater with the mic. They cost more $$$ but I like them.

My advice, figure out what brass you're going to shoot and get your dies. Load a dummy round (no primer, no powder...just sized brass and bullet) to 3.625 COAL. If you trim your necks for concentricity do that too. Measure the neck. Should fall between .309-.314 depending on what brass you use.

Send the dummy cartridge to your smith with the parts and tell him that you want .002-.003 neck clearance and .010-.015 free bore based on the dummy round you provide. This will get you a round that will fit the magazine (on a rem700 anyway) and be set up to shoot the VLD accurately. Its pretty widely accepted that most rifles shoot the VLD the best between .010 jump and .005 jam. A rifle set up this way will be able to shoot the VLD well AND fit the magazine. Also, setting up to 3.625 COAL will give you approx. .025 of throat erosion to work with over the life of your rifle and still fit the standard mag box. You'll have a lot more usable life than that (in terms of COAL), but I'm referring to max potential of the gun using the mag.

By the way, all this applies equally no matter the caliber. If I'm building a rilfe and plan to run the VLD as my bullet, I would do the exact same process. With bullet designs that are not as sensitive to seating depth its probably not as crucial.

Good luck.