7mm STW Reloading Thread

[62ssimpala]

New to reloading the 7STW. I have a custom rifle with a 27" plus brake barrel. Right now I'm using the 162gr ELDX Hornady bullets RL19 and CCI 250 Magnum primers with Nosler brass. My C.O.A.L is 3.80. What would be a good O.A.L of my loaded round to start? Still pretty new to reloading.

 

[WildRose]

New to reloading the 7STW. I have a custom rifle with a 27" plus brake barrel. Right now I'm using the 162gr ELDX Hornady bullets RL19 and CCI 250 Magnum primers with Nosler brass. My C.O.A.L is 3.80. What would be a good O.A.L of my loaded round to start? Still pretty new to reloading.

Every chamber is different so it's going to vary.

You can get a hornady chamber measuring tool or wing it the old fashioned way by loading one long, smoke the bullet with a candle and load them progressively longer until you find your lands.

Once you do back it off a fair bit working between the lands and a factory round until you find the sweet spot.

Personally I like to start out a bit longer than factory find a powder and load that shoots well, then adjust seating depth to fine tune.

 

[Alex Taggart]

Back at the range this past weekend:

3 shot groups @100 4min timed round robin shooting consistent warm barrel all the way through sequence

75.5gr H1000 160AB 9/16"

81.0gr RL25 140AB 7/8" (book max with no signs of pressure in my gun)


Did a bunch of half gr increments and the accuracy nodes really become apparent. I'm going to bump the 140 up tiny increases then load a set to see if it tightens up more. I didn't get to book max yet on the 160s and H1000 but I bet there is another node at or just past book max.

So far I'm diggin it. Nailing the gong at 400 afterwards with some "sight in" loads I built was almost not challenging. Gotta love the STW!!


Happy 4th!!

Thanks for the info JMack. I have the same Remington 700 dbm version and appreciate the load data. What COAL did you have the best luck with?

 

[7mmstwnorge]

anybody tried the hornady 180gr eld match with n-570 powder in 7mm stw

 

[Alaska2006]

When I don't have the correct comparater tool I do as wildrose suggested. I'll run a round through the sizing die and set the die is its only neck sizing down about 1/4 of the neck length. I then use that for a dumby round no primer, no powder. I seat the bullet way long, smoke it with a candle and carefully drop it in the chamber then close the bolt. This will push the bullet into the lands. Carefully extract the round, measure COAL and Ogive. I will use a bullet puller to knock the bullet back out a few thousands, re-smoke and repeat. I like to get 3-4 good measurements to ensure the bullet didn't move during extraction.
the smoked bullet helps identify if the bullet was stuck in the lands when you extracted and pulled forward a bit, but I still like to get 2-3 good measurements. Much easier with the Hornady Comparater tool but we don't always have what we need at hand.

 

[7mmstwnorge]

I really like 195gr bergers N570 powder. If your rifle likes long and heavy you might want to give them a try.

do you have any load for this combo, i want too try 180gr eld-match from hornady with n-570

 

[Alaska2006]

do you have any load for this combo, i want too try 180gr eld-match from hornady with n-570

I could look at QUICKLOAD has to say if you want. It isn't the all knowing but can give you a starting point.

 

[7mmstwnorge]

I could look at QUICKLOAD has to say if you want. It isn't the all knowing but can give you a starting point.

please do, i have only a old version of ql, the eld-match is not there yet

 

[Alaska2006]

do you have any load for this combo, i want too try 180gr eld-match from hornady with n-570

Quickload Hornady 180 ELD part # 28503 using N570 with standard COAL OF 3.650 you should be way safe to start at 80.0 gr powder wich will give you approx 2,850 fps at muzzle. That is a conservative starting point on the lower end of pressure at 59,000 psi. I run my STW in the 63,000 psi range with few brass, primer pocket issues and good accuracy but Im not running N570. For your components used your red line limits on PSI start at 83.0 gr of N570.
so what I hve provide is lower limit (super safe) starting point of 80.0 gr according to QL up to what I would consider a point you will see pressure indicators which is 83.0gr according to QL. With that I would load 3-5 rounds at 80.0 and work up at 1/2gr increments to pressure.
All this is, is a starting point and potential high pressure point, it all depends on bullet setting depth, ambient temp, elevation of shooting station and a few other variables.
good luck and wish I could find some N570, cannot find it in my neck of the woods.

 

[Alaska2006]

please do, i have only a old version of ql, the eld-match is not there yet

forgot to add. The red line limit in QL at 83.0 gr N570 is 67,165 and MV of 2,969 with the 180 GR ELD. Again this is just a starting point and listed red line in QL. I have often found I can push beyond the red line published in QL and have zero pressure signs. Good luck and happy shooting

 

[7mmstwnorge]

thanks

 

[7mmstwnorge]

Quickload Hornady 180 ELD part # 28503 using N570 with standard COAL OF 3.650 you should be way safe to start at 80.0 gr powder wich will give you approx 2,850 fps at muzzle. That is a conservative starting point on the lower end of pressure at 59,000 psi. I run my STW in the 63,000 psi range with few brass, primer pocket issues and good accuracy but Im not running N570. For your components used your red line limits on PSI start at 83.0 gr of N570.
so what I hve provide is lower limit (super safe) starting point of 80.0 gr according to QL up to what I would consider a point you will see pressure indicators which is 83.0gr according to QL. With that I would load 3-5 rounds at 80.0 and work up at 1/2gr increments to pressure.
All this is, is a starting point and potential high pressure point, it all depends on bullet setting depth, ambient temp, elevation of shooting station and a few other variables.
good luck and wish I could find some N570, cannot find it in my neck of the woods.

i can go to my gunstore and bye a ton of it, but its expensive here, about 600-700 n.kr
thats about 85 -90$ for a can of 2lbs(1kg)

 

[WildRose]

i can go to my gunstore and bye a ton of it, but its expensive here, about 600-700 n.kr
thats about 85 -90$ for a can of 2lbs(1kg)

You might want to try RL26, RL33, or H1000. Everyone I know using RL26 is getting much higher velocities than the powders they are replacing it with and it's as stable as H1000.
All are considerably less expensive than the Norma Powders at least online or around here.

 

[7mmstwnorge]

the h-1000 is even more expensive here, about 50$ for a pound(can)