Need some opinions from the STW guys

[6.5x300 WBY]

Ok I am very new in this long range world but I am excited to learn. To start since joining here from the advice of many on this board I purchased a sendero SFII in 7mm rem mag.

Being very excited I got some Norma brass and a load of bullets from different manufacturers. So I made a dummy round using a VLD 168 and when I chambered the dummy round and ejected it there were scrapes on the bullet and a few spots on the brass that was scrapping the brass the full length.

I sent my rifle to my local gunsmith who is the only one in the area I know of and after about 2 months I got the call it was good. We'll I made another dummy round and asked him to put it in the mag and load it .... well while in the shop I didn't have very good light but when I got home I was so unhappy and just don't trust them at all to clean up the chamber. It's still no good.

So I have been thinking if I just rechamber it to an STW or 7 UM or just selling it and getting another 7mm rem mag. But being as brass is almost non existent for the STW (yes I know 8mm rem mag through FL die) fixes that.

So just don't know where to go. I am not against sending it to a Gunsmith that knows what he is doing.

Well let me know what you guys would do?

Brian

 

[harleybug]

It doesnt sound like a severe issue but first of all how does it group and cycle after pulling the trigger. If it shoots great then i would leave it alone. If u do get rid of it i would definately go with a 7mag before an stw. If u want a big 7 caliber go rum or 28 nosler. The stw is a cool round but in my opinion its kinda a waste of time. You barely are going to outperform a 7mag and if u want more velocity then u might as well go all the way with rum or 28 nosler. Now if u got the gun for a good deal then sweet. The 7 stw is a decent cartridge just not one i would sink alot of time and money into a custom. I have the same rifle as u and it shoots .75 moa or better so i would just shoot it or get rid of it.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

The stw is a very good round, but do NOT try to get cheap brass for it at present; aint gonna happen.
I just built a full custom 7stw on a trued remmy action with a Shilen select match bbl (27" long 8" twist), Ptg recoil lug and firing pin assembly, Timney trigger, Boyds laminate stock.... chamber cut with a brand new Manson reamer...

First time to the range I found two different loads in the .5 to .6 moa range... I'll wait to do any further ld until the 196 berger finally hits the streets; I have 300 rounds loaded of one of the good loads (it had already been used for years in other 7stw's I have owned--- zero load development)

I will always have an STW in my rifle inventory... I have the brass and am willing to make more if necessary. It does any job I ask of it well... It will out run the 7rem 150 fps at equal pressures and stay within 100 fps of the 7rum while delivering essentially the same barrel life as the 7rem.. not sub 1,000 rounds like the 7rum...
I've shot barrels out of both 7rum and 7stw rifles so I know a bit about how fast they drop off.

The 7rum re-chamber would make you work on the feed rails of the action on a m700.... more $$ involved and the brass for that one is rare lately too....


In your case I would work a bit more with your rifle and think carefully about whether you want to shake out your wallet for a build. If you don't want to sink another grand + into it, you may as well trade it off on another rifle. Going part way by punching a stock bbl. is throwing $$ to the wind imo as it costs as much to work over a factory pipe as a custom barrel... the only real difference is the barrel cost...

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

Thanks guys. This one is as good as gone. I will in the future get another 7mm rem mag. I just never seen the kind of scrapes this one put on the brass and bullets by just chamber in a round. It's nuts and it's as good as gone.

Thanks

Brian

 

[338edge]

I would shoot it first and see how it performs. I've developed loads for several factory 7mm rem & 7mm stw senderos and I was able to get all of them to shoot .5 moa @ 100 or less. I was using 168 bergers just touching the lands. I ended up re barreling my stw sendero to a hart barrel in 7mmstw because I wanted a custom build and I wanted too shoot the 180 bergers.It's my go to rifle for everthing I do. Those senderos will shoot if you give the proper time trying different hand loads.

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

338, I have not much doubt that it would shoot but the chamber is scratching the brass and bullet up A LOT. Full length scratches. It's crazy. I will get another 7mag soon. But this one is gone


Thanks

Brian

 

[338edge]

I'm sorry to hear that. Good luck the rest of the way!!

 

[just country]

morning, what is the selling price of the rifle?gun)

 

[MudRunner2005]

It doesnt sound like a severe issue but first of all how does it group and cycle after pulling the trigger. If it shoots great then i would leave it alone. If u do get rid of it i would definately go with a 7mag before an stw. If u want a big 7 caliber go rum or 28 nosler. The stw is a cool round but in my opinion its kinda a waste of time. You barely are going to outperform a 7mag and if u want more velocity then u might as well go all the way with rum or 28 nosler. Now if u got the gun for a good deal then sweet. The 7 stw is a decent cartridge just not one i would sink alot of time and money into a custom. I have the same rifle as u and it shoots .75 moa or better so i would just shoot it or get rid of it.

 

[Jokostel]

The original load data for the STW that Simpson ran up had a 140 doing **** near 3450-3500, and a 150 doing on the heels of 3300. Hmmm, sounds like an Ultra Mag to me.

The STW will ALWAYS have a base.. My one and only beef is of readily available cheap brass. But there are a handful of cases you can form from, let alone pay the piper for proper headstamp brass. It goes back to this.... If you don't wanna pay to play, you probably shouldn't be in this game.gun)

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

morning, what is the selling price of the rifle?gun)

Bought it for 1300 and change so going to try to get 1000.00 if I can. If not I won't go below 900.00

 

[meatyrem]

Thanks guys. This one is as good as gone. I will in the future get another 7mm rem mag. I just never seen the kind of scrapes this one put on the brass and bullets by just chamber in a round. It's nuts and it's as good as gone.

Thanks

Brian

In my opinion it sounds like the feed ramp could be a little sharp on the edge or in other words a little rough. Maybe some polishing may smooth it out and be just fine. I have experienced a little of this with one of mine. Loaded rounds being extracted. I don't see it anymore though after some use.

 

[jjmp]

I agree with meaty above, just find a diff gunsmith,don't sale her at a lose, you payed top dollar , be more patient you have a Great rifle, many options open to you, my 1st stw was a stock bbl synth stock drop. Floor plate , shot it less then 100 rds ,and punched it stw , costs were cheaper then,and the STW ,was a new born wildcat, any way , many factory bbls have been so. Chambered , yes. Their not Customs bbls but oh can some shoot , my smith told me my bbl was the Straightest rem mag conture he ever spun between centers on his lathe. Do what you wish, that don't mean the STW's an Ausome round.their are great. Custom smiths that post on this forum do your homework, your Sendero's Top tier , regards jjmp

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

Jump thanks for that " food for thought" I will consider maybe another gunsmith