Is the STW right for me?

[Takem406]

Dreaming of a new rifle for next year. Not sure on the caliber, considering an STW for elk up to 500'ish. I'd like something light enough for a possible back-country hunt and after many hunts with my heavy varmint 22-250 I don't want another heavy target rifle.
I love prairie dog shooting and would like to use whatever I get along with my 22-250 for this. But do the STW's burn up barrels fast?
I'm liking the STW because there is factory ammo available if need be and the thing seems to be a laser! gun)
Seems like the 300 RUM is very popular here in Montana but I'm a deer hunter first and only hunt elk because that EHD took out my deer herd. So I'd hate to shoot a deer with a RUM.
As far as rifles go who's chambering a decent priced STW? I could probably save $2500 for the whole scope rifle package. Probably spend a grandish on the rifle then $1500 on the scope.
How are Christensen rifles? Any suggestions on a good rifle in STW for around a grand? Can I buy a use 7mm Rem Mag and just have it rechambered? How much would that cost?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Dreaming of a new rifle for next year. Not sure on the caliber, considering an STW for elk up to 500'ish. I'd like something light enough for a possible back-country hunt and after many hunts with my heavy varmint 22-250 I don't want another heavy target rifle.
I love prairie dog shooting and would like to use whatever I get along with my 22-250 for this. But do the STW's burn up barrels fast?
I'm liking the STW because there is factory ammo available if need be and the thing seems to be a laser! gun)
Seems like the 300 RUM is very popular here in Montana but I'm a deer hunter first and only hunt elk because that EHD took out my deer herd. So I'd hate to shoot a deer with a RUM.
As far as rifles go who's chambering a decent priced STW? I could probably save $2500 for the whole scope rifle package. Probably spend a grandish on the rifle then $1500 on the scope.
How are Christensen rifles? Any suggestions on a good rifle in STW for around a grand? Can I buy a use 7mm Rem Mag and just have it rechambered? How much would that cost?

$1,500 for the rifle itself leaves you the custom route! I'd go buy a cheap Wally-World, Dick's, or Academy SPS in a magnum caliber for around $450.

Then buy a B&C Medalist stock in your choice of color.

I'd send it all down to Southern Precision Rifles and have them true the action and bolt, and put this Bartlein Barrel on it, chambered in 7mm STW.

Then you'll probably be up to about $1,500 for your gun. Then I'd go with an EGW HD picatinny base, Vortex 30mm Low rings, and a Vortex Viper HS LR 6-24x50 with the XLR reticle.

That setup should be right at $2,500, and should be a hell of a shooter.


You can buy a used 7mm RM and have it rechambered, or Remington also produces the 700 SPS factory chambered in 7mm STW with a 26" sporter barrel. But there's no guarantees on how well it will shoot, either.

 

[Takem406]

$1,500 for the rifle itself leaves you the custom route! I'd go buy a cheap Wally-World, Dick's, or Academy SPS in a magnum caliber for around $450.

Then buy a B&C Medalist stock in your choice of color.

I'd send it all down to Southern Precision Rifles and have them true the action and bolt, and put this Bartlein Barrel on it, chambered in 7mm STW.

Then you'll probably be up to about $1,500 for your gun. Then I'd go with an EGW HD picatinny base, Vortex 30mm Low rings, and a Vortex Viper HS LR 6-24x50 with the XLR reticle.

That setup should be right at $2,500, and should be a hell of a shooter.


You can buy a used 7mm RM and have it rechambered, or Remington also produces the 700 SPS factory chambered in 7mm STW with a 26" sporter barrel. But there's no guarantees on how well it will shoot, either.

I'm seeing the SPS rifles new online. I know my other two Remingtons are amazing. But yes I'm not sure on an SPS. Also seen a couple older Winchesters on Armslist.
I'd like to go cheaper, but a couple grand budget leaves a lot of wiggle room.
Could I just buy a Cooper?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I'm seeing the SPS rifles new online. I know my other two Remingtons are amazing. But yes I'm not sure on an SPS. Also seen a couple older Winchesters on Armslist.
I'd like to go cheaper, but a couple grand budget leaves a lot of wiggle room.
Could I just buy a Cooper?

I would shy away from Cooper, personally. Just my thoughts. Also, not a fan of Winchester rifles, unless it's an old lever action...

Keep in mind that I have seen several SPS's with factory 26" sporter barrels and handloads shooting ½ MOA groups @ 100 yards. One of which belongs to my shooting buddy, who also happens to be a member on here....InvisibleSoul85. His has a .300 WinMag. The only things we've done to his rifle other than paint it, and handload for it, is we free-floated the barrel, and he pillar bedded the stock. Everything else is untouched and all factory.

Personally, If you have the money, I would go the SPS route, then send it down to SPR to have that Bartlein barrel put on, and the action all trued up, and stick all in a B&C stock. Then you spend $1,200-1,500 on a rifle that you KNOW is a shooter, and you don't spend $800 buying different brands of ammo trying to figure out what it likes... Then again, you could luck-up and get onet that shoots lights-out with your first choice in ammo... You just never know.

 

[WildRose]

The STW will handle your needs with plenty of power left over. Once you get it and get it broken in, clean the snot out of it and have it melonited. That will extend your barrel life by about 1/3.

Barrel life is not a huge consideration anyhow unless you plan to just shoot the hound out of it.

Stick to this rule. No more than 3 shots in any five minute period and no more than two shots without at least a five minute cool down period and it will last you forever.

Save the 22-250 for shooting PD's unless you want to shoot them beyond 600yds.

The most economical route is to cruise the LRH classifieds, Sniper's Hide, and Gun Broker.

There was an awfully nice model 70 Laredo that sold for just under 1000.00 last week. If I didn't have all of my disposable income already committed for the rest of the year that sucker would have sold to me for up to 500.00 more.

One of the most economical ways to go is to find a used Sendero in 7mm Rem and have it trued up and rechambered for 7mm STW. That should give you a sub MOA rifle for around 1500.00.

 

[Takem406]

Perfect!
I've actually got a great German gunsmith just down the road (within 100 miles by montana terms).

I'll just keep an eye out of a used SPS in 7mm Rem Mag and have him rechamber and barrel it.

I'd like to go under budget on the rifle because I know how important quality glass is.

How are the Browning A Bolts?

168 grainers the way to go for long range?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Perfect!
I've actually got a great German gunsmith just down the road (within 100 miles by montana terms).

I'll just keep an eye out of a used SPS in 7mm Rem Mag and have him rechamber and barrel it.

I'd like to go under budget on the rifle because I know how important quality glass is.

How are the Browning A Bolts?

168 grainers the way to go for long range?

While he's in there and got them apart, you might as well have him true the action and barrel shoulder, and install a nice stainless PTG or Holland .186" recoil lug, because the factory ones kinda suck. I'd also get a B&C Medalist stock. Then you can be in it for cheap for now, and then put on a nice aftermarket barrel, like a Bartlein, Rock Creek, Douglas, Hart, or something like that.

With a little truing you can make a stock SPS shoot mighty fine with handloads.

If you have a 1:9 twist factory barrel the 180gr Bergers will be perfect for long range.

The 168 VLD's will be nice if you have a 9.5 twist, but it still may possibly like the 180's, you'll just have to try them and find out. It's all a game of trial & error. For example, my older Sendero has a 9.25 twist, and I've found loads that it loves the 180's and some that it doesn't like them at all. And some that shoot great during cooler weather, and some that shoot great during summertime. Then, I've got some old "stand-by" loads that will shoot great year round.

 

[Takem406]

I brain farted and forgot Rem chambers the SPS in 7 STW.
I could get one for $550. Pocket changegun)
Then have it accurised and buy an expensive Vortex or Huskmaw.
I guess how far out will this thing cleanly kill as far as ballistics are concerned? I see Gunwerks shooting elk clean out to like 1200 with 7mm's. I know there is a lot involved here but on paper what's the drop of a 168 bullet and energy at say 1000?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I brain farted and forgot Rem chambers the SPS in 7 STW.
I could get one for $550. Pocket changegun)
Then have it accurised and buy an expensive Vortex or Huskmaw.
I guess how far out will this thing cleanly kill as far as ballistics are concerned? I see Gunwerks shooting elk clean out to like 1200 with 7mm's. I know there is a lot involved here but on paper what's the drop of a 168 bullet and energy at say 1000?

Every gun and load is going to be different...

My 168 load drops 266.6". Retains 1,617 fps, and 975 ft. lbs of energy.

My 180 load drops 280.7". Retains 1,668 fps, and 1,112 ft. lbs of energy.

Now you see where the 180's dominate is the longer ranges because the heavier bullets retain more energy.

 

[Takem406]

Plenty of enough energy for big game! How do the Barnes work?

 

[MudRunner2005]

The only Barnes bullets I've ever shot was some XLC coated 160 TSX's out of my old 7RM Browning A-Bolt II. Federal used to load them in factory ammo, and my rifle ate them up! They did great on whitetails, but I have no idea how they perform in an STW. I would assume good, like they did in the 7RM.

 

[RobertB]

I have a custom 7STW and love it.

I shoot 3 loads from it.

A handload we developed for it.
160grn Accubond factory nosler ammo
140 corlok factory


The remmy ammo is just always around and decent priced and we shoot it out to 400 with great results.

The handload is amazing accurate.

But I always stick with the nosler custom 160 accubond and I shoot it out to 1000 yds with great results.

I have yet to take a LR deer with it as I trusted myself with my 300WM more when I was able to really do some LR hunting. Now I have no problem taking the STW.

My rifle is light and recoil is nothing to me.

My rifle is called the Delta Special built by David Christman: he advertises in most all rifle magazines. He is from Delhi Louisiana

Components are: Bedded H-S Precision hunting stock, Shilen BBL (I think 28"), Old Style Remmy trigger, VIAS brake, Trued R700 action, DNZ one piece base with a bushnell elite 6-24 mil-dot scope.

My friend had it built and got in trouble and sold it to me for $700 and its a shooter, I had $400 in the scope so I got a great deal. I wont burn the bbl out as its my hunting rifle and I practice with it but my data books show much promise in the rig as do the LR targets. We have a 1MOA flapper on steel out to 1000 yds and 21 MOA gets me there at 0'DA with over 1000 FT-LBS left in it. I have not missed that flapper many times.


NOTE: this gun has shown me how to really be honest with myself and my data collection. Since the round is more expensive in ammo and bbl (and the light bbl gets hot quicker) I take more time really making sure all shots are GTG before sending bunch of bullets down range. After only 15 shots down the tube,(including zeroing new scope) I was getting 1st round hits past 600 on 1MOA flappers. The wind drift is amazing. Couldn't be more happier with mine.

I think you would feel the same.

Good LUck!

 

[WildRose]

While he's in there and got them apart, you might as well have him true the action and barrel shoulder, and install a nice stainless PTG or Holland .186" recoil lug, because the factory ones kinda suck. I'd also get a B&C Medalist stock. Then you can be in it for cheap for now, and then put on a nice aftermarket barrel, like a Bartlein, Rock Creek, Douglas, Hart, or something like that.

With a little truing you can make a stock SPS shoot mighty fine with handloads.

If you have a 1:9 twist factory barrel the 180gr Bergers will be perfect for long range.

The 168 VLD's will be nice if you have a 9.5 twist, but it still may possibly like the 180's, you'll just have to try them and find out. It's all a game of trial & error. For example, my older Sendero has a 9.25 twist, and I've found loads that it loves the 180's and some that it doesn't like them at all. And some that shoot great during cooler weather, and some that shoot great during summertime. Then, I've got some old "stand-by" loads that will shoot great year round.

Ditto. Something to keep in mind is to watch the classified section here at LRH because lots of nice used stocks sell there at very reasonable prices including lots of Sendero stocks.

 

[WildRose]

I brain farted and forgot Rem chambers the SPS in 7 STW.
I could get one for $550. Pocket changegun)
Then have it accurised and buy an expensive Vortex or Huskmaw.
I guess how far out will this thing cleanly kill as far as ballistics are concerned? I see Gunwerks shooting elk clean out to like 1200 with 7mm's. I know there is a lot involved here but on paper what's the drop of a 168 bullet and energy at say 1000?

If you are serious about killing Elk sized critters at 1000yds and beyond the STW will get the job done, but you are really better off moving up to the .30's or 338's.

They carry much more energy at extreme LR vs the 7's.

Inside of 1,000yds however there's nothing on the N. American continent the 7mm STW cannot handle with ease.

You can look up drops and velocities for lots of factory ammo online to give you an idea of how a given load is going to work and those will be pretty close.

Once you have your own rig together and have worked up a load for it though you can get accurate data for your specific rifle and load by using any of the ballistic calculators that are available.