In the near future I would like to build a magnum for long range fun and to hunt with. Was looking at .300 PRC but 7MM SAUM caught my eye, I like the long heavy for caliber cartridge. Really love my Tikkas so thought about converting that to 7mm saum or buying a Mack Brothers action. Is the juice worth the squeeze in the 7mm saum as far as cost of ammo to performance of the round? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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7mm SAUM Build Advice
- Thread starter Steve_O
- Start date
For 1000+? Absolutely, if you reload and you can get your hands on good brass. I was going to build one, but the lack of brass availability at the time put me off. I was down to the 7 saum or maybe one of the Sherman wildcats. Never found that ADG brass in stock though so I bailed on the idea.
A 28-30 inch barrel on a long action running 180's at 3000+fps is nothing to sneeze at and barrel life is going to be a hell of a lot better than the noslers and other big 7's. Does the Mack come in a long action yet? If not, I'd go Tikka. It's a long action cartridge that'll work in a short action if it has to, IMO. It's not going to win you any major PRS matches, but for shots at a mile it'd be the cat's pajamas.
A 28-30 inch barrel on a long action running 180's at 3000+fps is nothing to sneeze at and barrel life is going to be a hell of a lot better than the noslers and other big 7's. Does the Mack come in a long action yet? If not, I'd go Tikka. It's a long action cartridge that'll work in a short action if it has to, IMO. It's not going to win you any major PRS matches, but for shots at a mile it'd be the cat's pajamas.
7 RSAUM on an XM action would be what I’d build for a 1000+ do all rifle.
Probably will.
Probably will.
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Yes this would be for 1000 yard plus and some big game hunting. Just for fun no competition with this rig. Sorry I didn’t even think about Mack not having a long action lol. I have a Tikka in 6.5 CM but would get another Tikka for this build. Only concern I have is brass availability.
ADG Brass - Unknown Munitions
ADG brass was designed not only for consistency, but for durability. One of the ways we accomplished this was adding material to the case in specific areas to strengthen it. With the additional material, our brass is heavier than most other manufacturers brass and therefore will require lower...
www.unknownmunitions.com
Looks like it's around. This thread's got me weighing my options between keeping the wife or building that saum. There's a range out to a mile about an hour and a half away from me now......
Stupid question but with the 7mm is it RSAUM or SAUM? My first time dealing with this round.
I will have to track how and what you come up with for yours and maybe borrow a few idea on mine so far all I come with is to use the mdt chassis I am already using with a 6.5 creedmoor unscrew the action barrel and the trigger and lift out and drop in a short action same make and model except chambered in 7mm saum 180 gr or if I can the 183's with a slightly longer barrel and if I have to single feed which I do with my creedmoor now no big deal . But i am more concerned with the having to reload i have never done that guess its a good enough chance to finally learn . I do wish you much success with yours have you seen other people's video's online about the caliber and what they did ? I thoroughly enjoyed west deserts 7mm saum videos lots of details on what parts he used and how he is doing his loads . and mark and sam did a few video's on 7mm saum that was neat to see I really hope one day before I die that I could find a place with that much room to shoot that distance a few times . yea your lucky my closest 1 mile range is in ohio and that's more like a 61/2 hr drive for me as far as a longer range I draw a blank around here but most of that I am thinking my creedmoor should be able to reach pretty well at least i assume it can having not yet tried it .remember sharing video's of your experiences is always welcome . 
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I could go the easy route and pick another cartridge lol, but the 7mm saum has my attention. Will be a fun project to figure out and shoot, I have a range a hour south of me that’s out to a mile so that’s where I will be shooting once finished.
Best advice? Skip the saum and go 7 Sherman short or 7 max
Tikka is perfect for this, buy a long action or if you have a short action change the bolt stop. MDT has magazines for tikka at 3.56, chassis available from MDT and XLR. Been waiting for someone to make a bottom metal to fit the MDT mags but I'll probably put a red snake BM in a traditional stock and do what I need too to fit the slightly shorter mags.
+1 on this. Great combo of precision, MV w/o insane overbore, and then down range authority. Recoil isn't too bad either unlike the bigger .30cal offerings. And the heavy Berger 7mm's are so easy to get load for and offer both hunting and target delight.
For a LR rig you can put on your shoulder, 7SAUM is a winner.
My advice: get yourself some good brass, as it makes the vertical dimension (i.e. MV variation) easier to achieve. This is huge when you are out past 1000.
If you reload, I agree with Winny. go Sherman. the 7SS was designed to be fired from a magazine in a true short action with 180gr bullets and hit around 3k fps. It's essentially an improved 7SAUM. He's out of brass right now, but website says it will be in stock in Nov. In general, it hasn't been difficult getting brass for it. And its great quality, head stamped brass from ADG. Rich is a super nice guy too. I had a question and emailed him, this was at like 6-7pm on a Friday, he called me within like 30 min and was very nice and helpful. Highly recommend his products.
Also, looking at his website, it appears that the next batch of brass he gets, which says its coming in Nov, doesn't need to be fireformed. That's very helpful.
Also, looking at his website, it appears that the next batch of brass he gets, which says its coming in Nov, doesn't need to be fireformed. That's very helpful.
In my experience, couldnt get them to fit in a mag w/o stuffing well into the powder column. Also left very little flexibility for depth. 7SS alleviates all of those issues. Theres a reason so many build a SAUM on XM or LA actions.
Yea, this is 7SAUM on the left and 7SS on the right, both with 180 hybrid. Can see that in the 7SS it takes up a lot less of the powder column to get bullet to mag length. (this picture was taken from Rich's website)
What is the OAL for both? Why not build on a tikka or medium action so you're not stuffing the bullet way past the neck?
@NewsShooter
In that picture the OAL is 2.920" for both. You could absolutely do that. But it isn't need for the 7ss, it can get damn near max potential from the cartridge in a short action, no need for a long or medium action. In that picture, the 180 hybrid is loaded to what most people try to achieve, the boat tail junction right at the neck/shoulder junction of the brass, and it still fits in a standard magazine fed short action. Most short action AICS mags have the option (no binder plate) be loaded to 2.950" OAL.
In that picture the OAL is 2.920" for both. You could absolutely do that. But it isn't need for the 7ss, it can get damn near max potential from the cartridge in a short action, no need for a long or medium action. In that picture, the 180 hybrid is loaded to what most people try to achieve, the boat tail junction right at the neck/shoulder junction of the brass, and it still fits in a standard magazine fed short action. Most short action AICS mags have the option (no binder plate) be loaded to 2.950" OAL.
in my case, i only want (to pay for) 1 action, 1 trigger, 1 stock, 1 scope, but i want a 7mm mag barrel, and a 6br barrel. thats where 7SS excels - 175gr, 2990 fps, bullet stays in the neck, fits in the mag and plenty of room for depth adjusting to dial it in.
I am building a Tikka T3 action for 7 SAUM. If you want long action, all you have to change is the bolt stop.
build the SAUM....I was at Colemans Creek last weekend...it's awesome! I was smacking the 1 mile with Berger 140 hybrids from my 6.5 GAP 4S (aka 6.5 SAUM). Fortunately there was very little wind!ADG Brass - Unknown Munitions
ADG brass was designed not only for consistency, but for durability. One of the ways we accomplished this was adding material to the case in specific areas to strengthen it. With the additional material, our brass is heavier than most other manufacturers brass and therefore will require lower...
Looks like it's around. This thread's got me weighing my options between keeping the wife or building that saum. There's a range out to a mile about an hour and a half away from me now......
The 1 mile targets are a 4'x4' plate with an Ivan and a 12" plate to the left.I think a lot of it also depends on what powder you want to use. I understand a lot of people end up running RL26 to make up speed/while reducing pressure signs in short action 7 SAUM.
I am hoping to stay in hodgdon territory with mine tor temperature stability between winter and summer shooting. If I could find a temperature stable powder that performed like RL26 in regards to speed/pressure but was temperature stable like Hodgdon, I would be much more willing to go short mag length, but until I can find that pixie dust I am planning on medium or long action.
Are there any other powders that perform like RL26 but are temp stable like H4350?
@Steelhead Do you see the same in your experience with your powder selection running your SAUM? Also are you running in to problems with throat erosion and not being able to seat out your bullets close enough to the lands to maintain your desired bullet jump when you get close to end of barrel life?
I am hoping to stay in hodgdon territory with mine tor temperature stability between winter and summer shooting. If I could find a temperature stable powder that performed like RL26 in regards to speed/pressure but was temperature stable like Hodgdon, I would be much more willing to go short mag length, but until I can find that pixie dust I am planning on medium or long action.
Are there any other powders that perform like RL26 but are temp stable like H4350?
@Steelhead Do you see the same in your experience with your powder selection running your SAUM? Also are you running in to problems with throat erosion and not being able to seat out your bullets close enough to the lands to maintain your desired bullet jump when you get close to end of barrel life?
I dont know what the cheapest is but I got my 7rm tikka from grabagun for what .seemed like a competitive price at the time. I didnt want to wait for a used one. If your more patient than I was you might save some money
Is RL 26 faster or slower than these 3 hodgdon powders? Or is it better at not causing pressure signs because it is a double based propellant?
RL 26 put me at 3020+ in my 7ss with no pressure node.
H1000 put me at 2970 in a high node with pressure just above 3000 fps.
Don't know what it will do for a 7 saum, but RL 26 was like magic for my 7SS.
I learned long ago getting and staying close to the lands isn’t needed with modern bullets.
My first 7 saum barrel shot awesome with the same oal all its life, I just had to add powder to keep speed up towards the end.
I can get the same speeds as above and agree R26 is magic for 7 saum as well.
It also seems if you aren’t crazy on pressure R26 has surprisingly good temp stability.
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I'll have to get some when I can find it and try it myself when my rifle is finished. Im looking forward to load development as it will be my first foray in to the realm of reloading. I bought 10 pounds of H4350 after finding some online since hearing everyones pet loads. I haven't seen RL 26 anywhere. How wide of a temperature swing are you seeing in your neck of the woods during shooting sessions? Has anyone tried RL 23 in a 7 saum?
Throughout the year I see 20 to 90 degrees here.
R23 and N165\N170 are also good options.
Tikka fits that well, change the barrel and bolt stop, though you'd need a second bolt as you can't change bolt heads. I figure its a good excuse for another rifle. 7saum would be a LR/hunting rig for me, 6mm would be a PRS type, not the same at all for me.
build the SAUM....I was at Colemans Creek last weekend...it's awesome! I was smacking the 1 mile with Berger 140 hybrids from my 6.5 GAP 4S (aka 6.5 SAUM). Fortunately there was very little wind!
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That's the range I mentioned in my post. Small world. I have a 6.5 PRC that should do the job on the 4x4 plate.
Any love for 8133? I bought a pound this morning while shopping around for primers. No luck there, of course.
I'm going to use it in 6.5 PRC. Fingers crossed. H1000, Retumbo and RL26 are about as rare as small rifle primers in my neck of the woods.
