7mm STW

M

misterE

New member
Hey guys, got a few questions about a 7mm stw a friend of mine is trying to sell me. It is a Remington 700 sendero with the heavy fluted stainless barrel.
Have any of y'all owned a sendero and if so, how accurate are they? I've got a sps in 300 win and it shoots right at one inch at 100 yards with factory ammo. Are the senderos much more accurate? Does anyone know of a rifle manufacturer that is currently chambering a rifle in 7mm stw? Remington seems to have dropped it and consequently quit making ammo which looks like is already rare and pricey. Do any of y'all hand load for this caliber? If I do buy this rifle, I believe it will finally be the push I need to get into reloading. Basically any knowledge or experience y'all have about this caliber or the Remington sendero would be greatly appreciated. I don't post a whole lot on this forum, but I read it a lot and you guys really have a wealth of knowledge. Thanks.
 
I've heard nothing but good things about the Sendero and accuracy. It should be since it's a higher priced Remington.

The 7mm STW is one of the all time great cartridges that just never caught on. For long range shooting it can't be beat. Just hard to find the ammo if you don't handload.

Hornady and Nosler both still make it.
 
I've had the STW since 1992 when it was still a wildcat. Had one built on a Rem 700 action, Douglas airguaged 26" stainless barrel, McMillan stock. Now have a Zeiss 2.5X10 Diavari Z scope on it. Accuracy easily 3/4" @ 100 yds.....that's about all I can do now..:( Have reloaded since I got it, starting by resizing 8 Mag cases. When It was commericalized and cases became available, started using them. It has been very straightforward, no problems with case life, 5-6 reloadings..and then I toss them..not that they looked bad just being conservative. have stayed with some of Layne Simpson's origiinally published loads which are hotter than the SAAMI loads, but they show no signs of pressure in my rifle. It's a great cartridge, IMO, accurate enough to shoot probably farther than any of us should, and with a 160 Nosler Partition or Swift A frame capable af taking anything except maybe the Coastal Browns.....but in a "must do" situation, I wouldn't hesitate!!!!
 
The 7mm STW is based on a necked-down 8mm Remington Magnum, which is based on a blown-out full-length 375 H&H necked down to 8mm. You will never run out of brass for the 7mm STW once you start reloading because you can make it from 375 H&H by necking it down and fireforming if needed.

Remington commercialized the 7mm STW in 1997, introduced rifles for it in 1998, then introduced the 7mm Ultra Mag in 2002, competing pretty much head-to-head with the 7mm STW. Since the RUM cartridges are proprietary, the 7mm STW was dropped.

The 7mm STW and the 7mm RUM are pretty specialized long-range cartridges, and require a great deal of skill to shoot well due to the effects of recoil and muzzle blast on the shooter. Both are pretty hard on barrels with high-volume shooting, but their erosive potential can be lessened by loading heavy bullets and monitoring barrel temp when firing.
 
I’ve got a Custom Remington 700 Alaskan Wilderness Rifle in 7mmSTW. It has a muzzle brake which makes it extremely loud, even to the shooter. Ear plugs and muffs are a must. It always seems to gather attention at the range the first time I squeeze off a round. More then once, I’ve had someone make a comment comparing the noise to a Howitzer. With a recoil pad on my shoulder, it’s pleasant to shoot. Without the shoulder pad, best I can do is about 20 rounds. But I have a messed up right shoulder from a motorcycle accident, so normally it would be fine for anyone else.

Reloading is a must, unless you have a good paying job! I saw a dusty box of 7mmSTW in a local gun shop the other day, box of 20 and the price tag was $85. I’m sure you could find loaded ammo cheaper, but how much cheaper I don’t know.

I have a few loads worked up for mine, using Hodgdon H4831SC powder and 120 grain Nosler ballistic tip bullets for hunting. Also 162 grain Hornady A-Max for long range target shooting. Both of these loads give me just over half inch groups at 100 yards, as long as I do my part. One inch groups on a bad day. I won’t post the load charges, because it’s frowned upon by some forum moderators, not sure about here, but I’m not going to press my luck. Get a good reloading manual, and you see loads for this powder. I’ve heard H1000 works well in the 7mmSTW but have never tried it.
 
i personally have the ver same gun and i wouldnt sell mine for any thing fast accurate and hardly no kick not to mention the damage it does to a deer under 300yrds buy it no doubt
 
One thing to make sure of is to check the barrel out really well. 7 STW's are known for being a barrel burner. I've got a buddy that has one, but his won't hold a decent group any longer. He estimates he has 1200 rounds through it, and the throat is severely worn. This is just something to check to make sure you aren't getting one that's worn out.
 
Sendero's make great factory bean field rifles, however they are heavy and I wouldn't want to carry one much farther than a tree stand or blind. The .300 Win Mag you own makes a better all around hunting rifle, the 7 STW is more specialized. I have a friend that hunts with one in 7mm Remington Mag, but complains when hunting elk country about having to carry it.

I for one would pass on the rifle and I already hand load. The .300 Win mag uses around 70 +/- grains of powder on average and the 7mm STW can use up to 90 grains of powder per load. Most of my load data shows the 7mm STW around 2900 fps max for the 175 grain Nosler PT, and I have a 200 grain Nosler PT bullet going 2850 or better out of a .300 Win Mag. Not much gain IMO for all that powder being burnt. Your .300 is a good enough reason IMO to start reloading.
 
Bought that very rifle model in 1998. Killed alot of critters with it. Sold it this fall when someone offered more than I could refuse. I'm stupid. Looking for another now.
 
If I do buy this rifle, I believe it will finally be the push I need to get into reloading.
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If you shoot much, and this got you into reloading, you'd be money ahead even if you bought it and never used it.

I was impressed with it on paper, but when I saw the level of recoil produced in real life, I lost interest...... that and the economics of feeding the thing did not appeal to me.....

Most of my load data shows the 7mm STW around 2900 fps max for the 175 grain Nosler PT,
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My nosler 5th ed. manual shows 3 powders (IMR 7828, H870 and AA8700) giving in excess of 3,030 f/sec for that bullet ...... all with less than 90 grains of powder ..... folks generally find what they want to find.

My thoughts on the pros/cons of buying that rifle used are these: Though overbore guns tend to be barrel burners, guns with that level of recoil tend to not get shot very much, so that gun should have plenty of shooting left in it. If it gets you to buy a handloading set-up, do it. You'll be galad you did, in the long run.
 
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