7mm STW Dilemma

[CXbolt]

FNG here, I’ve been a long-time Rokslide lurker, but now its time to participate. I’m looking for some advice on what to do with a rifle I own, not trying to sell it here right now, just want some input.

About 10 years ago, when I was working in the oil fields and had more disposable income than responsibility, I wanted to shoot long range and I had little clue what I was doing. I impulse-bought a semi-custom 7mm STW setup for around $2,000. I only fired it once, and it’s been sitting in a safe ever since.

Here are the details:

• Remington 700 long action (stainless)
• Lilja 27" stainless barrel (I believe #6 contour)
• Total weight without scope: ~12 lbs.
• Reloading dies
• ~100 once-fired 8mm Rem Mag brass (for necking down)
• 5 boxes of loaded ammo

At the time, I was living in southern Idaho where long-range shooting was easy to access, and my dad reloaded, so we planned to load for it. Since then, life has changed, I now live in Alaska, don’t reload (and don’t plan to), and don’t have much interest in buying factory ammo for 7mm STW.
My rifle is still in Idaho, in my dads safe. I know it's a great gun and that it deserves better than a sad back of the gun safe life.
I have also recently gotten into PRS and am looking into getting something for playing the PRS game like a 6 Dasher. And for additional context, I have a Seekins PH2 in 300 win mag and a Tikka T3 in 30-06 for my hunting rifles so I don't "need" another 30 cal. And I have a Marlin 45-70 1895G. And I always have my eyes open for new guns. And I would like a really light gun for sheep hunting.

So I’m trying to figure out the best path forward:
A) Sell the rifle as a complete package with components
B) Part it out, i.e. ammo, barrel
C) Rebarrel it to something more practical for Alaska, like .338 Win Mag or something...
D) Posting my gun dilemma on the internet and seeing what other people come up with

I currently don't have a large budget (or any budget really) for this project but I would like to hear your ideas, even if they involve spending lots of money, because it's really fun to spend money on guns.
Appreciate any advice from those with more experience, especially on value and what makes the most sense given my situation.

Not the greatest pictures but that's what I have for now.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Loading for that thing will be the cheapest option....

 

[Halleywood]

The stw was my first rifle I used for longer range hunting. My dad had one and we reloaded. It's a good round for big game. After being educated on rokslide about bullets/calibers/knockdown power/etc I've come to the conclusion it's overkill for my uses and sits in the safe. I also have a semi custom rifle with reloading components and dies that don't get used.

With all that said, I'd sell it all together knowing you are going to take bath on the sale. However, it will partially fund a tikka action and custom prefit for your dasher.

 

[RME]

Sell it as a package and put the money towards a PRS setup if that’s what you’re interested in. If you aren’t going to reload, stay away from oddball cartridges, stick to readily available ammo and you’ll be fine.

 

[jjordan355]

I know you said you don’t need another 30 cal, but it’s definitely not a 30 cal and measurably better in every way. 7mm in the larger cases like 7 mag, prc, STW, and nosler and an 8 twist barrel is superior to about any 30 caliber in a bullet under 195 grains.

I vote reload for it and see what it’ll do with a 195 Berger if you’ve got a fast twist barrel.

 

[Dave Thomas]

For your prs rifle look at masterpiece arms. They sell a complete rifle for less than you could build it using the same components. I recently bought one in 6.5 creedmoor and it shoots great.

 

[Slickhill]

The shank on that barrel appears to have been left full length. Quick easy button, for me but I can do the work myself, is to chop the threads off and start over. Fit and chamber to plain old vanilla 7mm Rem Mag, there’s good brass and a good selection of factory ammo readily available. While I was at it I’d shorten that shank way up to lose some weight. Probably end up cutting the muzzle too, 20”-24” depending on if a suppressor is in the cards or not.

I load all my ammo so I’d be likely be stuffing 180eldms or 165TGKs on top of a case full of 7828 and then slaying giants. I’m sure Hornady probably loads a 175eldx load or maybe the 180eldm for the factory ammo shooter.

 

[CXbolt]

The stw was my first rifle I used for longer range hunting. My dad had one and we reloaded. It's a good round for big game. After being educated on rokslide about bullets/calibers/knockdown power/etc I've come to the conclusion it's overkill for my uses and sits in the safe. I also have a semi custom rifle with reloading components and dies that don't get used.

With all that said, I'd sell it all together knowing you are going to take bath on the sale. However, it will partially fund a tikka action and custom prefit for your dasher.

Thats not a bad idea. But yeah, I'm sure I would take a huge loss on selling. Definitely some lessons learned about impulse buying.

 

[CXbolt]

The shank on that barrel appears to have been left full length. Quick easy button, for me but I can do the work myself, is to chop the threads off and start over. Fit and chamber to plain old vanilla 7mm Rem Mag, there’s good brass and a good selection of factory ammo readily available. While I was at it I’d shorten that shank way up to lose some weight. Probably end up cutting the muzzle too, 20”-24” depending on if a suppressor is in the cards or not.

I load all my ammo so I’d be likely be stuffing 180eldms or 165TGKs on top of a case full of 7828 and then slaying giants. I’m sure Hornady probably loads a 175eldx load or maybe the 180eldm for the factory ammo shooter.

I wish that I had the tooling to do the work myself, sounds like a blast! But to make the weight on the rifle palatable for hunting, considering the barrel diameter, I'd need to cut it down to 7" and then have to deal with a fire ball coming out of the muzzel. But I was thinking about turning it into a 7mm rem mag, lots of ammo available.

 

[CXbolt]

For your prs rifle look at masterpiece arms. They sell a complete rifle for less than you could build it using the same components. I recently bought one in 6.5 creedmoor and it shoots great.

I have been looking at masterpiece arms, they appear to be making some excellent rifles for the price. What chassis did you get on it?