7mmSTW vs 7mm remington ultra mag

Well, actually having built (chambered with custom recievers) and shot the STW, RUM, and Mag. I feel I have some working knowledge, the STW and RUM are barrel burners for sure, especially when ran at high pressures, you can get a little more velocity but for what price, not sure its worth it. (Imho) That being said they are classic cartridges and like any cartridge has its pluses and minuses. I love the 7mm Rem Mag, it is the best all around cartridge out there, I know there are plenty of people that will most certainly disagree, dont beat me up over it. All 3 are great performers, just find what you like and.... what you can get components for. If you would like specifics about any certain cartridge, please feel free to PM me.
I have loved the 7 mag too. Back in the day many thought it was a cannon! Kind of average by todays standards.
I have read a few places where with the right BC bullet and good loads it will outperform 300RUM at 1000
with a whole lot less powder and recoil. If I had plenty of dough I would try out a STW and RUM.:D
 
Thanks im building a 7mmRUM right now but i was curious about the stw just because ive heard it mentioned quite a bit. The rum im building we are just working up some load data on it and tried it with 168gr bergers just for their reputed accuracy. We've chronographed the load at 3240 to 3260 with the 1/9.5 twist 26" barrel the two cold bore shots i took with it went through the exact same hole no widening of the hole or anything. My reloading guy says we should try a few tenths of a grain up and down from that load .im not sure you can get better than perfect but hes adamant about it. But as you were saying im surprised at how deep were having to seat these bergers. We are also using h1000 and 87 grains of it
In my experience the 7mm RUM is a barrel burner, I wouldn't expect more than 1500 rounds down the tube with standard barrels. Start with a 25" and reream when the groups start to open up. Happy shooting.
 
I shot a 7 stw for years. When stw brass got hard to find I rebarreled to 7-300 weatherby. Shot nearly identical to the stw. Considered the rum, but felt like it was too much more powder for the amount of velocity gain. Plus 300 weatherby brass is plentiful. 7-300 Winchester would be similar.
 
I've only shot the 7RUM just curious if anyone has an unbiased assessment of both calibers
I've been shooting the 7STW since Hill Country Rifles built mine on a Mod 70 reciever with a Lilja bbl, back in 1998.

Still a 1/2 minute rifle with only about 120 rounds fired and has killed everything I've ever pointed it at with one shot, pronghorn, whitetail, muley, oryx, axis, elk, black bear, aoudad, red sheep, Coues & Carmen Mt deer. I don't handload so I shoot Nosler custom ammo, 140 and 160 Accubonds mostly through the same hole. I really don't have to worry about much except breathing and squeezing...just the way I like it!
 
I shot a 7 stw for years. When stw brass got hard to find I rebarreled to 7-300 weatherby. Shot nearly identical to the stw. Considered the rum, but felt like it was too much more powder for the amount of velocity gain. Plus 300 weatherby brass is plentiful. 7-300 Winchester would be similar.
The 7x300 Wby. is the cartridge that ended the life of the 6.5x300 Wby for long range hunting in Pa in the early 70s.
Reason being that Hornady had introduced the 162 gr bthp match bullet.
Later the STW came along which was created by using the 8mm mag case.
The 2 cartridges are pretty much twins as for performance.
Used only for hunting they will last a lifetime.
The 7mm ultra on paper at least will have a slight velocity advantage over both.
Im still using the same 30" Hart 9 twist barrel Howard Wolfe chambered for me in 1973.
Back then there were very few suitable powders, and many of us used H870.
89 gr with the 162 gr bullet would produce about 3200 in my gun except on very cold days.
About 15 years ago i switched to 7828 powder and picked up alot more velocity.
Using the same bullet 3350/3400 isnt a problem.
Go slowly because the door slams fast and hard with that powder.
As for bullet weight with any of those cartridges, we find that the 162 gr shoots flatter at 1200 yards than the 180 Berger does.
In other words it takes less clicks on the dial.
If you havent actually done an actuall comparison i suggest you do before just assuming the heavier bullets will outperform the lighter ones.
At some point of coarse they will, but fact is that it will be beyond 1200 yards.
Which brings up the question of how far is too far for those cartridges?
My longest kill to date was 1200 yards with the 7x300 Wby.
That distance is also considerably further than most long range kills are made.
But i personally wouldnt be using that cartridge for another shot at that distance.
So my question is why the need for the heavy bullets for a 7mm?
In my opinion its because BC sells bullets.
But without the velocity, its just BS.
If you have one of those cartridges i suggest you go try what ive said before commenting.
 
Well, to me, huge powder charge and high pressure = throat erosion. I'm running 103+ grains with 131 Hammers at nearly 3700 fps. It's deadly. Brass lasts 3-4 firings. Throat has moved, but haven't measured it lately. Don't care.
I am waiting on my build. G.A. Precision is building me a 7 STW on a model 70 stainless classic action. 28" Bartlein 5r with 8.7 twist and a manners hunting stock.. I mentioned 8 twist, but they strongly recommended their 8.7. Mine will be an antelope through muledeer rig. Your numbers made my eyes pop! I was already planning on trying Hammer bullets. Problem is, the only appropriate powder I have is Magnum by Ramshot.
 
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