7mm STW Reloading Thread
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
If you have a 1:9 twist in your 7mm STW, you would be better off going with a Berger 180 Hybrid. Nothing against the Hornady bullet, other than it's weight. I say that because the STW has such a large capacity that it can efficiently push the heavier higher-BC bullets better and easier than the smaller 7mm's. Therefore, in my opinion, it is a better utilization of the cartridge to push the larger heavier bullets, than the smaller 140-160 class bullets. You might as well stick with a .280 AI or a 7mm RemMag for those.
Sneaky Apasum
Well-Known Member
The ELD-X also comes in 175 grain. That's what I ordered for my STW.
WTLORD264M
Active Member
Do any of you guys use a cornmeal pistol powder charge to conserve on barrel wear for fire forming on your STW? I have done so with a few of my smaller wildcats but never in any of my magnum cartridges. I got a good deal on a hundred new Norma 375 H&H brass last year (less than $100) that I want to form. I have done a couple using bullets and starting loads with some of the faster powders listed for the STW but I really want to keep my round counts down as much as I can.
Great thread, I visit often and keep abreast of the chatter!!! I currently own (2) 7MM STW's, #1 is McWhorter 26" 1/10, McMillan Edge Rem hunter stock, Nightforce ATACR 5X25X56 SFP MOAR-T, and #2 is a Custom blueprinted 700 Rem with Douglas 27" 1/9 Sporter contour on a B&C Medalist that's been pillared and skim bedded, Zeiss Conquest HD5 5X25X50 Locking Z-plex (7# 9oz rig). Both have timney detachable rings and Jewel triggers.
Great thread, I visit often and keep abreast of the chatter!!! I currently own (2) 7MM STW's, #1 is McWhorter 26" 1/10, McMillan Edge Rem hunter stock, Nightforce ATACR 5X25X56 SFP MOAR-T, and #2 is a Custom blueprinted 700 Rem with Douglas 27" 1/9 Sporter contour on a B&C Medalist that's been pillared and skim bedded, Zeiss Conquest HD5 5X25X50 Locking Z-plex (7# 9oz rig). Both have timney detachable rings and Jewel triggers.
eshorebwhntr
Well-Known Member
I do. But I was using 300 H&H, not 375. I'm not saying it's any better, just my preference. I'd rather not deal with the extra sizing steps to go down to .284 and deal with the induced runout in the necks. But that's just me. I know a lot of guys like 375 better.
For the fireforming I use 10gr of Red Dot and Italian bread crumbs plugged with paper towel. I run 20 through it and then scrub the barrel out clean. If the brass is Norma I just shoot it. It's pretty soft and forms easily from my experience. If Remington I anneal the neck/shoulder area so that it will form easier and will be less prone to crack.
For the fireforming I use 10gr of Red Dot and Italian bread crumbs plugged with paper towel. I run 20 through it and then scrub the barrel out clean. If the brass is Norma I just shoot it. It's pretty soft and forms easily from my experience. If Remington I anneal the neck/shoulder area so that it will form easier and will be less prone to crack.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Cream of Wheat works very well with very little fouling. I know a lot of guys who have used it for many years and swear by it.
eshorebwhntr
Well-Known Member
Cream of wheat is fine. I've used it too. I don't really think there is a difference. Both will get you to the same point.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
No doubt, just pointing it out. It's cheap and if someone runs out of bread crumbs it's nice to know there's another alternative out there that works at least as well.
mariodave
Member
Been a while since Ive got on the forum, hows it going men? I was going to work up a load for 168 gr Berger VLDs using H1000 and found that the Berger and Nosler load books have quite a different range of starting and max loads. Nosler's max is 80 gr for ABLR 168 at 3.600 col. Berger is 76.5gr H1000 at 3.650 col for the VLD. Both are probably conservative. Has anyone worked with this load? I havs been loading 160 nosler AB with 78 gr RL25 with good results for hunting.
thekyrifleman
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2013
- Messages
- 143
Mariodave,
Ditto on the 160 AB and RL 25. With 77.5 gr I get consistent 1/2" groups out of my Rem 700 26" Douglas barreled STW. Haven't clocked it yet. Any idea on your velocity numbers? I have gone as high as 79 but the node explodes!!
Ditto on the 160 AB and RL 25. With 77.5 gr I get consistent 1/2" groups out of my Rem 700 26" Douglas barreled STW. Haven't clocked it yet. Any idea on your velocity numbers? I have gone as high as 79 but the node explodes!!
doverpack12
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2012
- Messages
- 214
Been working on a 175 grain Nosler Partition load in my Cooper model 52. Nosler book lists 76 to 80 grains with Retumbo. I started at 77 grains and my velocity (3090 fps) was faster than the 80 grain load listed in the manual (3026). It seemed like this was starting to get on the hotter end in my rifle due to a slight circle showing up on the brass from the bolt face. I dropped half a grain and lost over 100 fps on the load (2975) and no improvement on the group. I'm thinking I'll push it another .3-.5 grains and see if it tightens up any. If not I'll go back to 77 grains and start seating in increments 0.01" deeper. Right now I am at max magazine length.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Half grain increments till you see a change will save you time, powder, and barrel life.
Even 1 gr increments till you see a change isn't a bad way to go.
If you go down a full grain or two with no change it might be time to play with seating depth.
Be sure you have the adequate twist rate for the heavies before going any further though because if you don't it's all a waste of time.
Almost done with my load development with N570. Using 180.0gr VLDs in a remington factory 26" tube I have what looks like a good node at just under 81grains. 3119fps. It is a pretty hot load though, so I may drop it back to the lower node at 77 grains. That was giving me 3014fps.
