I'm looking to puchase an all aound gun for Elk, Mule Deer and Whitetail. I like the numbers on the 7mm STW on paper but I value personal experience over all literature.
Any and all input would be apreciated especially regarding Elk.
i've had one for 3 years, rem m700 s/s, and it is a great shooter, only thing i've done is a little trigger work (3#) i didn't really need the stw, i have 2 7mm mags but what kinda excuse is that. i'm really happy with mine and you can load it to be very versatile round. the only time i use mine now is on really long range hunts, a few bean and corn fields i hunt you could take as long a shot as you wanted.
good luck, and i think you'd like the stw
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i've never owned one and this is JMO so don't take it personal but if i burn that much powder its going to be at least a .308 bullet coming out the business end.
If you don't handload, I suggest either a 06' or a 7mmRemMag. They'll easily take the animals you mentioned, plus you will be able to buy ammo around the country. However, if you "want" a new gun, go for it!
If you want to kill deer out to 500 yards, the 7mm STW is a terrific choice. I always considered the 7 mag as a 7x57 on steroids and the STW is another step up. If I needed a 500 yard tool...the STW would be my choice. Not sure I could stand the recoil at my old age!!! Regards, Rick
If I were you, and I know you, I'd buy a 300 win mag, a 7mm STW, a 30.06, a 270, a 7mm, put them on the bench, see what one shoots best, and bring that on our hunt! Then put the rest in the gun safe for another trip somewhere!
I hunted with my 7mmRUM (basically the same as a STW) this past fall, and loved it. The whitetail buck I shot, however, didn't love it so much. It hurt his shoulders and ribs. But he didn't have long to think about it.
It's a great gun (either the RUM or STW), hits hard a long ways out. The only problem, is like the previous poist says, factory ammo is few and far between. I loaded mine pretty hot with a 139gr Interbond, and it worked awesome.
Recoil is fairly stout, but not unbearable.
Erik
Rusty Axe Camp
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Here's an excellent article that compares and contrasts the 7mm STW to Weatherby's big-boy 30 cal, the 30-378.
The .30-378, if you don't know, is a 378 Wby mag necked down to .30. Absolute cannon, check out a reloading manual for it, the ballistics and powder burn are impressive. I think the .30-378 is only available from Weatherby with the accubrake (and rightfully so), and don't know who else (in non-custom) guns chambers it.
7mmSTW
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