The 7mm STW is not listed in SAAMI’s rifle (Z299.4), handgun (Z299.3) or rimfire (Z299.1) standards, so there is no SAAMI reference velocity, pressure limit or test barrel to quote for it. This guide charts what the makers of the loads we stock publish for them instead, and compares the 7mm STW with the 7mm Remington Magnum, which SAAMI does standardise.
7mm STW ballistics chart: manufacturer-published loads
These are the manufacturers’ own figures for specific loads we stock, taken from each maker’s page for the item number shown. There is no SAAMI reference for this cartridge, and each maker chose its own test barrel, so the figures should not be laid directly beside another brand’s.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load | Item no. | Bullet weight | Bullet | Muzzle velocity | Muzzle energy | Ballistic coefficient | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTap Ammunition Nosler Accubond | 091037004864 | 140 gr | Nosler Accubond | 3,475 fps | 3,752 ft-lb | Not published | 26.0″ bbl. Remington 700 |
| DoubleTap Ammunition Nosler Partition | 013964487473 | 175 gr | Nosler Partition | 3,120 fps | 3,784 ft-lb | Not published | 26.0″ bbl. Remington 700 |
| HSM Ammunition Match Hunting Very Low Drag | BER-7STW168VLD | 168 gr | Match Hunting Very Low Drag | 3,205 fps | 3,833 ft-lb | 0.618 G1 | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (test barrel) | Muzzle | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd | 400 yd | 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTap Ammunition 175 gr (26.0″ bbl. Remington 700) | 3,120 fps / 3,784 ft-lb | 2,963 fps / 3,412 ft-lb | 2,812 fps / 3,072 ft-lb | 2,665 fps / 2,761 ft-lb | 2,524 fps / 2,476 ft-lb | 2,388 fps / 2,216 ft-lb |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (zero) | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd | 400 yd | 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTap Ammunition 175 gr (250 yd zero) | +2.1 in | +1.8 in | −3 in | −12.6 in | −27.7 in |
What the numbers mean for a shot
The 3 loads charted above, from DoubleTap Ammunition and HSM Ammunition, run from 140 to 175 grains, with published muzzle velocities of 3,120 to 3,475 fps and published muzzle energies of 3,752 to 3,833 ft-lb. Each maker fired its load in its own test barrel, so a difference between two brands can come from the barrel as well as the load. Downrange velocity, energy and drop appear only where a maker publishes them, and only out to the last range it publishes.
None of this is SAAMI data. Each product in our 7mm STW ammo range lists whatever its maker publishes for that item.
Chamber and pressure
This page states no SAAMI pressure limit for the 7mm STW. Fire 7mm STW ammunition only in a firearm chambered for it, and follow both the ammunition maker’s and the firearm maker’s instructions. Several unrelated cartridges share a number, so match the full designation on the box to the marking on your barrel.
7mm STW vs 7mm Rem Mag: what the data supports
A like-for-like comparison needs both cartridges measured the same way. SAAMI standardises the 7mm Remington Magnum, so its figures come from one standard test barrel. The 7mm STW has no SAAMI figures, so its numbers come from individual makers and their own barrels. The table sets them side by side with the source of each figure stated, and should be read that way.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Specification | 7mm STW | 7mm Remington Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| Listed by SAAMI | No | Yes |
| Maximum average pressure | Not published by SAAMI | 61,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Bullet weights | 140 to 175 gr (loads we stock) | 125 to 175 gr (SAAMI reference loads) |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,120–3,475 fps (manufacturer-published, each in its own barrel) | 2,700–3,290 fps (SAAMI reference, 24.000 in test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | 3,752–3,833 ft-lb (where the maker publishes it) | 2,266–3,219 ft-lb (computed from SAAMI velocity) |
What this cannot settle is which cartridge is more powerful in your rifle: the two columns come from different sources and different barrels. We stock the other side of this comparison too: 7mm Rem Mag ammo.
7mm STW ballistics questions
Does SAAMI standardise the 7mm STW?
No. SAAMI’s rifle, handgun and rimfire standards do not list the 7mm STW, so there is no SAAMI maximum pressure, reference velocity or test barrel for it. The figures on this page are the ones each maker publishes for its own loads.
What muzzle velocity do manufacturers publish for the 7mm STW?
For the 3 loads we stock from DoubleTap Ammunition and HSM Ammunition, the makers publish muzzle velocities from 3,120 to 3,475 fps, for bullet weights from 140 to 175 grains. Each maker measured its own load in its own test barrel, so these are not reference figures and are not directly comparable between brands.
Is the 7mm STW more powerful than the 7mm Remington Magnum?
The two cannot be compared like for like, because SAAMI publishes reference data for the 7mm Remington Magnum but not for the 7mm STW. The 3 loads charted here for the 7mm STW publish muzzle energies of 3,752 to 3,833 ft-lb, each in its maker’s own barrel, against SAAMI reference loads for the 7mm Remington Magnum that compute to 2,266 to 3,219 ft-lb from a 24.000 in test barrel.
What is the effective range of the 7mm STW?
Effective range is not a published specification for the cartridge; it depends on the bullet, the load and the shooter. Where a maker publishes downrange velocity and energy for a load, the tables above show it, and only out to the last range that maker publishes.
How much does the 7mm STW drop?
Where a maker publishes a trajectory, the trajectory table above gives the drop with the zero range stated. A drop figure is unusable without its zero, so use the table for the specific load.
Where to buy these loads
Hilltop Armory carries 7mm STW ammunition from DoubleTap Ammunition, Nosler, Federal and HSM Ammunition. Browse the full 7mm STW ammo range.
