7mm saum?

[HMRamateur]

I currently hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag, but I am planning to start a build for my first custom rifle, which will be used for hunting. I'm getting an average MV of 2996 with 168 VLDs and a 24" barrel. I love the performance of the whole cartridge, so I want to stick in the same area I am currently (extra velocity is fine), and with the same bullets. I'm wondering what anyone with a 7 saum is getting for velocities with bullets of around the same weight. Also, is it worth it to get a long action to seat them out farther? I'm not sure how much shorter the 168s are than 180s or higher. Cost is definitely on the 7 rem mags side, but it doesn't look like brass is as outlandishly priced as 28 nosler (at least in Canada), so other than wanting to build with a 7 saum, is there any reason to use it if I'm going to need a long action anyway to get the most efficiency out of it?

 

[CStroud]

Check out the 7 Sherman Short if you'd like to keep everything in a short action.

 

[Digger83]

I’m running 168s at 2875 out of a 22 inch 7 SAUM. In my workup I got to 2950. It was really accurate and low sd at the 2875 so that’s where I stopped.

 

[b6graham]

Check out the 7 Sherman Short if you'd like to keep everything in a short action.

and with 180s you'll still be golden

 

[dgheriani]

Look in the reloading depot, there's a whole thread on 7SAUM loads. I've got some brass and plan on having a 26" carbon barrel done soon. Hoping to get 180s around 2800-2900.

 

[WeiserBucks]

If you're going with a short action I'd take a hard look at the 7 Sherman Short . If a long action just stick with the 7 RM , much more practical than the hot rod 7s . I hunt with a 24" 7 RM ,I use 180 hybrids at 2925 and it smashes deer and elk with authority.

Whatever you decide I highly recommend the 180 Hybrids, I've tried most of the 7mm bullets available and the 180 Hybrids have worked the best for me by a large margin.

 

[CStroud]

If you're going with a short action I'd take a hard look at the 7 Sherman Short . If a long action just stick with the 7 RM , much more practical than the hot rod 7s . I hunt with a 24" 7 RM ,I use 180 hybrids at 2925 and it smashes deer and elk with authority.

Whatever you decide I highly recommend the 180 Hybrids, I've tried most of the 7mm bullets available and the 180 Hybrids have worked the best for me by a large margin.

Do you shoot many animals under 100 yards, and if so, what’s the performance at that range?

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've taken game close and far , they work great for me. The Hybrids have a heavier jacket and I think that helps at close range. Just don't expect to take a hard quartering shot and get a ton of penetration .

In my experience under about 300 yards they don't exit and turn the vital organs into slush . At longer ranges they typically exit and do a little less damage , kinda like a typical hunting bullet would at closer range.

 

[83Scout]

I have a 6.5 saum on a short and long action, shooting 140s and 147s I don’t really see the need for a long action. It’s all preference, but with a long action and switch-lug you could swap between a short case like the 7 saum and have a barrel chambered in the 7mm mag, all on one rifle. So if you ever wanted to switch between the two for whatever reason you could.

My buddy has a 7saum on a short action and he shoots 180s and he has never had any problems or issues with it. I believe he’s getting ~2,950 with his.

 

[HMRamateur]

I have a 6.5 saum on a short and long action, shooting 140s and 147s I don’t really see the need for a long action. It’s all preference, but with a long action and switch-lug you could swap between a short case like the 7 saum and have a barrel chambered in the 7mm mag, all on one rifle. So if you ever wanted to switch between the two for whatever reason you could.

My buddy has a 7saum on a short action and he shoots 180s and he has never had any problems or issues with it. I believe he’s getting ~2,950 with his.

That's good he's seeing speeds that high with a short action, I was wondering if seating them at short action lengths was eating up too much case capacity for faster loads. From what I saw in the 7 saum thread, a lot of guys with faster loads also had their OAL over 3.000. It will be a hunting rifle so I don't want to be single loading

 

[83Scout]

I built mine, for hunting, on a long action because I thought the same thing. But with your bullet weight and barrel length I think you’ll be fine on a short action. But again, I don’t think you’ll go wrong with either. My long action feeds 6.5 saum just fine and if I want a long magnum (7 mag, 300wm) I’ve already got the bolt face for it. But if you’re after weight, and don’t want the extra bolt length then short action might be the way to go. Like I said, everyone has their own preferences and needs.

 

[EXSOCAL]

My 7RSAUM has turned into my go to hunting rifle. It’s sporting a Deviant SA and 26” Sendero contour 5r barrel in a Manners ultralight hunting stock. Total package with a Vortex AMG is 11 lbs and the rifle is dead nuts on steel to a mile. My go to target load is a Sierra 160gr TMK seated at 2.210” to the ogive which keeps me inside an AICS SA mag. 64 gr of H1000 gives me 2980 FPS and is very very mild.

I’ve shot the 175 SMK’s as well as a few Hammer bullets and CE monos, everything I’ve put through the rifle has been extremely easy to dial in and very accurate. I wouldn’t run the cartridge in a practical rifle match but for hunting and steel, it’s phenomenal.

Also, I know some folks like to run this in a long action with fast twist barrels for the 195’s and such. Personally, I think the 155-180 grain class bullets are ideal for the cartridge and you can seat those for a short action without crunching powder if your chamber is set up.