7mm STW Bullets

Broken Scope · 07-11-2003, 12:55 PM

What would be a good long range bullet in 120 or 130 gr for the 7mm stw for deer? Ive heard of good results with the matchking in the 130. Thanks

stubblejumper · 07-11-2003, 01:46 PM

I use the 140gr ballistic tip in both my 7mmstw' s for deer,bighorn and pronghorn.With a muzzle velocity of 3500fps it shoots very flat and performs very well.The matchking is not designed as a hunting bullet and may not expand reliably.

doubleA · 07-12-2003, 08:45 PM

I also believe the 140 grain bullet is better for the longer ranges. While the 120' s look good with the faster muzzle velocities, the higher BC' s of the 140 will allow it to overcome the speed and drop of a 120/130 grain bullet at longer ranges.

The 7mmSTW will deliver plenty of speed, while the 140 grain Ballistic Tip is a great long range bullet, I have had it explode on contact with deer and feral hogs at close ranges. Now a Partition or a X bullet rest' s in the chamber for the first shot, in case I jump something up close up, for long shots I' ll usually have time to switch loads. This of course works if your rifle shoots the different bullets to roughly the same POI.

AA

stubblejumper · 07-12-2003, 09:14 PM

I have shot deer as close as 20 yards with 140gr ballistic tips out of my 7mmstw' s I have never seen a ballistic tip explode.I have taken over 30 head of big game with ballistic tips and have never had one fail yet in spite of very high velocities out of the 257wby mag,7mmstw and 300 ultramag.

Broken Scope · 07-12-2003, 10:02 PM

Which ballistic tips do you guys use? So the 140 actually shoots flatter than the 130say out at 500 yd?

stubblejumper · 07-12-2003, 10:29 PM

In the 7mm bore size ballistic tips are not made in 130gr but they are made in 120gr and 140gr.

Deleted User · 07-15-2003, 05:26 PM

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doubleA · 07-15-2003, 10:55 PM

I have been shooting a 7mm STW since 1989, since that time I have had a few 140 grain Ballistic Tips blow up on contacting the shoulder bone, failing to penetrate. The bullets did come unwound, only finding fragments,abosolutely no exit holes. I am not saying the bullet failed, though a large hog did need a follow up..., just that they do blow up occasionally, I know because I have seen it. Dont get me wrong,they are the next best thing to buttered bread....... I do use alot of B-Tips and like em.

AA

Judson · 07-16-2003, 06:27 PM

I know several guys who have had problems with 140 grain Ballistic tips with the S.T.W.. Now do not get me wrong I am a big fan of this cartridge, as a matter of fact I am planning on building one for little old me!!!! Keep in mind the 7mm X57 got it' s reputation for killing all out of perportion to it' s size with 175 grain and heaver bullets. You would be suprised at how flat the 175 grain slugs shoot even though you are only going to get around 3100 fps velosity. Most of my customers have changed over to 175s and will never go back. That is what I will run, I like exit holes and penitration. With a cartridge as good as the 7mm STW why limit your shots by using an explosive bullet?

stubblejumper · 07-16-2003, 06:46 PM

One detail that most people are not aware of is that nosler has modified the ballistic tip design several times since their release.Each time the bullets were made tougher especially in the larger calibers.As a result the newer ballistic tips behave much different than the original versions.