Who has owned both the 7mm stw & 28 Nosler? Feedback?

[highdrum]

Peterson and adg brass available for 28 nosler, nothing nearly as good in stw. Coal is shorter with the 28. They both barrel burners, but I'd run 28 all day. I've been hand loading my friends 28N for last 2 years, as well as my dad's stw.

 

[Trekster]

I used to own a 7STW for years. But I ran light and fast bullets in it. Before heavies were popular. It was fine pushing 140-160s. Very fast. But it was a 1:9" twist.
I have loaded for 28 or 29 different 28 Noslers now. All with either the 195 EOL, 197 SMK, or 184/180 Hyb. from 3030-3170+. They are a beast. With the quality of brass available, I would go this route if I built one. But, I personally don't know if I would. 500-700 rounds of accurate barrel life is kind of a put-off for me. I like to shoot my rifles, a lot.

I hear that often on barrel life. Curious though... is it because of the ability to run these hot? 3200 FPS or so. It seems the terminal performance of these things are incredible even running at 2900 or so. Am I missing your point or kind of on tract. Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Trekster]

Or... does 300 FPS not even make a difference on barrel life. Sorry for the late thought.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I hear that often on barrel life. Curious though... is it because of the ability to run these hot? 3200 FPS or so. It seems the terminal performance of these things are incredible even running at 2900 or so. Am I missing your point or kind of on tract. Just curious. Thanks.

Huge powder charge, huge burn, long bearing surface, high pressure, high velocity all add up to short accurate barrel life.

The terminal performance (energy on target from bullet design and velocity, along with sectional density) is huge, due to heavy bullets at high velocity. A 195 @ 3100+ (not many, if any, run at 3200...for long) is what gets you there.

If you want to run the 195 @ 2900, build a 7RM and burn 10-20 grains less powder. That is like building a pro-mod car and dropping a stock 350 in it.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Or... does 300 FPS not even make a difference on barrel life. Sorry for the late thought.

Definitely does. To gain that 300fps, you need to burn more powder (i.e. heat), and create more pressure. That kills barrels.
Why do you think a .223 lasts 20 times longer than a .22-250 shooting 50gr bullets? 3300fps vs 3800fps. Or a .308 Win vs. a .300WM? 5000 rounds vs 2000 rounds is very common. Same bullet, just way different velocities.
My 7RM has about 1400 rounds down it so far. Still shooting tiny groups with a 180 Hyb @ 2996fps (crazy accurate about 1100 rounds) or 184 @ 3055fps (about 300 rounds). I have seen 28 Noslers last anywhere from sub-500 to 1000 rounds before needing a rebarrel when running them near or at their full potential (195 @ 3040-3150+fps) depending on most accurate loads.