Lindcott Armory Rifle · SAAMI
7mm STW
The original ultra-fast 7mm magnum — a long-case belted design pushing 140-grain bullets past 3,300 fps.
- Caliber
- 0.284″ · 7.214 mm
- Introduced
- 1979
- Case
- Belted
- Parent
- 8mm Remington Magnum
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1979
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Layne Simpson
- Manufacturer
- Remington / Nosler / Hornady
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 102 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Belted
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 800 yd
- Max range
- 2000 yd
- Recoil
- 30–42 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Berger Hunting 168 gr, 3,000 fps, BC 0.337 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 2999 | 3355 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 2860 | 3051 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 2724 | 2767 | -2.8″ | -1.3 |
| 300 yd | 2591 | 2504 | -10.2″ | -3.2 |
| 400 yd | 2461 | 2259 | -22.9″ | -5.5 |
| 500 yd | 2335 | 2033 | -41.2″ | -7.9 |
| 600 yd | 2212 | 1826 | -66.0″ | -10.5 |
| 700 yd | 2093 | 1634 | -97.9″ | -13.4 |
| 800 yd | 1977 | 1458 | -137.7″ | -16.4 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open 7mm STW ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.21 | 0.284 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.00 | 0.315 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.37 | 0.487 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 25° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 13.02 | 0.513 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.51 | 0.532 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | 13.50 | 0.531 | ~ |
| Rim thickness | 1.27 | 0.050 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 7.06 | 0.278 | ≈ |
| Case length | 72.39 | 2.850 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 91.44 | 3.600 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 7mm STW is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 21 active loads across 9 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 21 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nosler | Trophy Grade AccuBond | 160 | AccuBond | 3,300 | 3,868 | 0.298 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X | 162 | ELD-X | 3,250 | 3,799 | 0.323 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter | 162 | ELD-X | 3,100 | 3,456 | 0.323 G7 |
| Berger | Hunting | 168 | VLD Hunting | 3,000 | 3,357 | 0.337 G7 |
| HSM | Trophy Gold | 168 | Berger VLD | 3,000 | 3,357 | 0.337 G7 |
| Hornady | Superformance | 139 | SST | 3,400 | 3,567 | — |
| Remington | Premier AccuTip | 140 | AccuTip BT | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Weatherby | Select | 140 | Nosler Partition | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 140 | TTSX BT | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Remington | Core-Lokt | 140 | PSP | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade | 140 | AccuBond | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Federal | Trophy Bonded | 140 | Trophy Bonded | 3,325 | 3,436 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 160 | TTSX BT | 3,300 | 3,868 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade AccuBond | 150 | AccuBond | 3,200 | 3,410 | — |
| Hornady | Custom | 154 | SST | 3,200 | 3,501 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
4 reloading powders listed for 7mm STW, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 7mm STW
2 models in the database chamber 7mm STW. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in 1979 by Layne Simpson, firearms editor at Shooting Times magazine, by necking down the 8mm Remington Magnum case to 7mm. Simpson nicknamed it the Shooting Times Westerner. It remained a wildcat for nearly two decades before Remington standardized it and began producing ammunition in 1996. At its introduction, it was the fastest production 7mm cartridge available, offering velocities that experienced hunters found genuinely useful at extreme range. Barrel life was the price — the large powder charge erodes throats quickly.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 7mm STW use?
- 7mm STW typically uses a 1:9 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 7mm STW?
- 7mm STW uses a 0.284″ (7.214 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 7mm STW still in production?
- 7mm STW is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is 7mm STW used for?
- 7mm STW is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is 7mm STW based on?
- 7mm STW is derived from the 8mm Remington Magnum case.
- What are the best powders for 7mm STW?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for 7mm STW include MRP2, N570, Reloader 25, Reloader 26.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 21 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →