[Enforcer]

7x30 Waters ,7MM STE

First Sunday Creek,I have not found the availablity of bullets a problem.i own both the Marlin M336A in 7MM STE(24in rebarreled from 30/30) and a Win M94XTR-AE in 7x30 Waters with 24in barrel.First remember you can use any rounded .284 caliber bullet.It doesn't have to be for the 7MM STE or 7x30 Waters and it doesn't have to be flat.

Second the ballistics of the 7x30 Waters at 2700fps for 120gr and 2400fps for 140gr.Are off by a bit.As I have handloaded for both for many years.

7x30 Waters (24in barrel)
120gr Nosler with 42.0grs of H414 will get you 2760fps-2030fps
140gr Hornady with 34.0grs of H-335 will get you 2600fps-2102fps
The 7MM STE quoted ballistics are pretty close.

For the record most of the 7x30 Waters are 20in from factory,not 24in.I could of had 20 of the 20in 7x30 and did have 2 before i sold them when i finally found a 24in in 7x30.

As far as the 250 Savage,its a fine round.I have one in a M99EG with 24in barrel.It will send a 120gr bullet at almost 2700fps.But that is the largest bullet it has and really shines with the 87gr and 100gr.So its a little light for the big boys,just like the 243Win.

As far as the 284Win.Thats a whole different world.It is the king of the 7MMs (except the magnums).The 7MM/08,260Rem,7MM Mauser,270Win,264Win Mag can't beat it,and it is dead even with the 280Rem and 7x64 Brenneke,but in a lever action.

284 Winchester(24in barrel)
139gr Hornady 3125fps-3013fpe,Conley
160gr Sierra 2885fps-2955fpe,Hodgdon
175gr Speer 2700fps-2832fpe,Conley

In my Win M88 and Savage M99DL and M99C all with 22in barrels.I'm usally just 40fps short.In my Browning BLR-81 I lose almost a 100fps due to stubby 20in barrel.Still beats the rest.

I also have a 270 Ackley Improved Savage,of course in Savage M99.It will send a 130gr at almost 2800fps and a 150gr at almost 2600fps.

Just some thoughts

Must edit.Sunday Creek no way in this world should the whole set-up for the 7MM STE cost you anywhere near a $1000.00.It cost me $250.00 for the 30/30 and $175.00 to covert to 7MM STE.You do the math.If that was even close.I would sell you my 24in 7MM STE(like new),plus everything you need for handloading and shooting the 7MM STE ie.dies,powders,cases,books,bullets for $800.00 right now.You see how crazy that sounds.The whole set-up is probably worth $500.00.

 

[Enforcer]

7MM STE

Yes it was about 5yrs ago i had it done.But if you already have the rifle as i did and as many do.Its not very costly as even today the Marlin or Win M94 rifles are dirt cheap.

On Marlin Talk their are a ton of guys having 30/30s converted to 307Win and 35Rems converted to 356Win for a $150.00 all day long.Go look.

Guys have been getting barrels for 7x30 Waters and 7MM STE for $60.00 -$75.00,and having barrel threaded,chambered and checked for headspace for $40.00.Bluing and sites your opition,still very cheap.Someone said they saw a Win M88 in 284win for $1200.00,thats cheap compared to some I've seen.

Come on,you know I said $800.00.If it would cost $1000.00+ as you said thats a deal.I said it was worth around $500.00,not i would sell it for $500.00.

 

[Enforcer]

7x30Waters- 7MM STE

IDshooter,well first let me say I don't know what it costs to do do a rebarrel to wildcat caliber. for anybody else.All i know is what i paid,and that it should be no where near a $1000.00.I have a Marlin M336A in 7MM STE,a Savage M99R in 416-284 McPherson,and a Savage M99EG in 270 Ackley Improved Savage.I'm having a 510KE done in a Win M1886 right now.I have never paid $500.00 to do any of them.

As far as dies for the 7MM STE over $100.00 is accurate.

As far as phone numbers for people that do the conversion for what i said.There are many,you'll have to look them up yourself.But the one I quoted was Master Sergeant from Marlin Talk(search 7x30 Waters).He stated he got barrel from Gun Parts Catalog for $60.00,and gunsmith charged him $40.00 to screw barrel,chamber and check headspace.His words not mine.

As far as mine it was done 5yrs ago.I had the gun,he had the barrel.He charged me $75.00 for barrel,and $100.00 for everything else needed to be done to shoot the 7MM STE out of what was once a 30/30,minus sights and reblue.Thats it.He was a friend of are families.He has now passed away.But he did not do two of them and prices were fairly close.Shop around.

As far as the $1000.00 cost.I can't believe anyone would put that kind of money into a $250.00 30/30.Thats what i started with anyway.It doesn't make sence to me as you can never recoup that much money out of it.Like i said i have one like new with 24in barrel and everything you need to handload and shoot for $800.00 plus $50.00 shipping for all the other stuff that comes with it.And I'll still make good money off the deal. Pictures if interested.Good Day!!!

 

[Enforcer]

7x30

IDshooter,just for the record.A while back there was a couple posts on close out of 7x30 barrels for $50.00,with light surface rust on Marlin Talk M336 Site.The guy said there was about a hundred of them and he got to choose his.My last post was aimed at the 7MM STE not the 7x30.I would never do a rebarrel for a 7x30,when the Win m94s are going for $400.00-$500.00.I sold two last year on Guns America with 20in barrels and scopes for $450.00 each with a full box of factory ammo.I bought a 24in in 7x30 Waters for $475.00 with 2 boxes of factory ammo, a scope,and a sling .Not bad?

 

[Enforcer]

Not to add fuel to the fire here; but as far as the $60.00 to $70.00 barrels go, I ordered a Winchester factory 7-30 Waters 20 inch barrel (made for a M-94AE) last summer from Numerich's Gun Parts Corp. Cost was $66.00 shipped to me. Right now I am just waiting for the right deal on a '94AE .30-30 to have the 7-30 Waters barrel installed on.

I don't know what the final bill will be for switching the barrels will be so I can't comment on that cost.

Thank God,someone that knows whats going on.Enforcer

 

[Enforcer]

OK

IDshooter and MikeG,point taken.Thanks Enforcer

 

[Enforcer]

7x30 Waters

Dutch4122,please let use know how much the total package costs,when everything is said and done.So that everyone has an idea of the cost of this project.You already seem to be doing real well with the cost of new barrel and rifle to be bought totaling $216.00.You should beable to get out of there ready to shoot your 7x30 Waters for $500.00.Let use know though.Thanks Again Enforcer

 

[Enforcer]

7MM STE

I have started the project myself of converting a 336 to 7MM STE.Heres where I'm at:

Marlin M336SC in 35Rem $250.00
Conversion and gunsmith charges $225.00
Barrel $125.00
Bluing $175.00

I'm already at $775.00,without any of the hidden charges yet.Dies and sights would be extra,if I didn't already have them.But it still will be closer to the $1000.00 mark,than the $500.00 I got it done for 5yrs ago.

 

[Enforcer]

Conversions

Just for the record,Bearbait2 had WWG do a conversion from Win M71 in 348win to 50 Alaskan a few years back.Price was $400.00 for everything.Now Buckeye says its a 8-10 month wait,and $1000.00 or more for conversion from Win M71 or Win M1886 to 50 Alaskan.See how the times change,and prices too..