Swift Creek Rifles 7 SAUM AI

Papagallos

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 5, 2009
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South Texas, United States
Papagallos is back!!!!!!

How long has it been since I've posted a new build? Too long if you ask me!!!!

After deer season concluded, I started thinking that I needed a new rifle. NEED. That's the key word. I exchanged a few ideas with some of my shooting buddies and decided to build a 7 SAUM AI. Pushing a 168 Berger VLD at over 3,000fps appealed to me a lot. The search for parts began a few months ago, and I commissioned Gray Sloan of Swift Creek Rifles. I've known Gray for a few years and consider him a great friend. When I received word that he was venturing into the gunsmith world last year I knew that one day my money and trust was going to him. The rifle was delivered recently. I could not have been happier about the end result.

To say that Gray did an outstanding job is an understatement. He did not overlook anything. The rifle screams perfection, feeds great, and is a damn joy to shoot. Recoil is tamed down to a .260 by the 419 Hellfire. I still can't wipe the smile off my face. Considering that the virgin brass needs to be fire formed, the rifle is already a fire house shooter out of the gate. I printed a 3/8 MOA group at 205 yards with a very, very mild load. The gusting winds and terrible mirage challenged me, however. Out of curiosity I used the chronograph and recorded the 168s averaging 2817fps. Even at that velocity, the 168s are hard hitting. It pounded the steel targets with authority at my range. Deer head shots are going to be devastating. The goal, which isn't going to be difficult, is to develop a stupid accurate load that's over 3,000fps. I am also going to test the 162 ELD bullet. In fact, my friend custom designed the reamer for the 162s. So, I'll try them too.

If anyone cares to share load data, please do so.

Thanks for the stellar rifle Swift Creek Rifles!!!!!!!

Specs:

Surgeon 591 WSM (Melonite)
Surgen DBM
Timney
Manners Elite GAP
Krieger, 1:9, 10 flutes, Heavy Palma, 5/8-24, 26"
Area 419 Hellfire



 

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I got a magnum bolt head along with my TL2 and have been considering a similar build, can you seat the 168's to magazine length without shoving the boat tail down below the NSJ?
 
I had forgotten about this thread. Lets fast track to today. I am still fire forming brass. I have not made time to reload the fire formed brass. However, I finally had a chance to shoot past 200 yards. My friend and I ventured out to his property and set up steel out to 400 yards. The first and only 5 shot group at 400 yards was tight. I can say that it was a hair over 1/4 MOA. The 58 grains of H4831SC are pushing the Berger 168 VLDs at a very modest 2784fps, and the load was 1/4 MOA at 200, 300, and 400 yards. The 5 shot group was ruined when my friend decided to take a shot too. His shot hit slightly right.

Also, a Spike was taken down with the SCR 7 SAUM AI. You have to love it when the bullet explodes the heart wide open.

Its performance is beyond my expectations. I can’t thank Gray enough.
 

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Awesome rifle and great shooting! Keep us updated on future results. I'm curious if there will be any feeding issues with formed brass. Love 7's and Ackley's myself so this has my attention.
 
That is a beautiful rifle! Can you say a little about your improved chamber? Did you change shoulder angle/body taper? How does your capacity compare to the standard SAUM? I always assumed the standard SAUM was pretty close to an Ackley design. Are you seeing a big difference in velocity? Congrats on the awesome build.
 
That is a beautiful rifle! Can you say a little about your improved chamber? Did you change shoulder angle/body taper? How does your capacity compare to the standard SAUM? I always assumed the standard SAUM was pretty close to an Ackley design. Are you seeing a big difference in velocity? Congrats on the awesome build.

Thanks, Surgeon260.

I don't have the reamer specs. Maybe my friend can chime in when he gets the chance. He designed the reamer. However, going the Ackley route with this cartridge isn't going to give me any substantial gains. Maybe a few more fps. Ackley just sounds way cooler. True story. :D
 
Interesting to say the least. I shoot a couple of AI's in other calibers, also shoot a non AI 7 Saum. I usually figure about 7% increase for the improved variety. My prediction is you will settle on a slower powder. H1000 pushing 180's is where I'm at. Ran out of case with Retumbo but with an AI version??? hmmm.
 
I played with my new Forster Co-Ax press the other day. Since my SCR 7 SAUM AI was chambered for the 162 ELD-M, I decided to try three different fire forming loads this morning. Yes, that's a long range precision rifle in a rest. The bench is way too slippery that it makes it impossible to load the bipod. All three groups are 5 shots. I have 55 pieces of virgin brass left to fire form. As soon I am done with those, I'll start loading the 162s with the formed brass to truly find out what it is capable of. Cheers and Happy New Year!!!!!

7 SAUM AI Rest.jpg162 ELD-M  3 Loads.jpg162 ELD-M 2915fps.jpg162 ELD-M, 5 shots.jpg
 

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I just sold a 7 Saum on here that shoots amazing. 63 grains of h1000 woth a 180 hornady eld at 2970 fps. 28 inch barrel. 3 to 4 inch groups at 1200 yards was cakewalk. Love the 7's
 
Damn you Papagallos! I saw 3 cases of Norma 7 SAUM brass at a local store today and all that I could think about was this thread. I think the 300WM barrel on my long action may be doomed for the scrap bin.
 
Yesterday was a fun day at the ranch. I setup up a 66% IPSC Double Flapper at 900 yards to test the fire forming load. A high quality range finder is a must. Maybe I need to learn to use the Sig Kilo, but it initially read 938 yards. The fist 3 shots that I sent down range slightly missed over the target. I re-ranged the target and it returned with a 900 yard reading. The appropriate adjustments were made, which was 6 mils elevation and I held .4 mils for wind. The first round impacted the center flapper. Golden shot. I followed up with 4 more rounds. Each round found their place on the target; 5/5 shots. Not too shabby considering that it's still a fire forming load; 60.5 grains of 4831SC, 162 ELD-M, Norma 7SAUM brass, Federal 210 primers. The chronograph indicated that the bullet was traveling 2,900fps. Cheers!!!!!!!


900 yards 5 shots.jpg
 

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Papa, you're really doing well at convincing me to have a SAUM barrel spun for my bighorn. I have like 15 lbs of 4831sc and trying to figure out what to do with it all. This seems to be the ticket. You're running from a short action, correct?
 
Papa, you're really doing well at convincing me to have a SAUM barrel spun for my bighorn. I have like 15 lbs of 4831sc and trying to figure out what to do with it all. This seems to be the ticket. You're running from a short action, correct?

Building a straight 7 SAUM instead of an AI is likely going to make you very, very happy. I truly believe that minimal is gained building an AI with this cartridge. Considering that I am a sucker for coolness, the AI hasn't disappointed at all. There is no doubt that Gray chambered a stupid accurate rifle. Yes, a Surgeon 591 was used. The 162 ELD-M is seated at a jump of .02" for a COAL of 2.92" The reamer was designed to allow for a 162 ELD-M COAL of 2.94".

Cheers!!!!!
 
Building a straight 7 SAUM instead of an AI is likely going to make you very, very happy. I truly believe that minimal is gained building an AI with this cartridge. Considering that I am a sucker for coolness, the AI hasn't disappointed at all. There is no doubt that Gray chambered a stupid accurate rifle. Yes, a Surgeon 591 was used. The 162 ELD-M is seated at a jump of .02" for a COAL of 2.92" The reamer was designed to allow for a 162 ELD-M COAL of 2.94".

Cheers!!!!!

Well, sounds like a plan then. Guess I better order some of the Norma brass OTM has and start looking into dies and get the order in with PVA.
 
Today was an eye opening day. The fire formed brass was loaded with three different 4831SC charges; 62.5, 63.0 63.5. Hornady's 162 ELD-M was nicely seated at a .020" jump. It is clear that the next step is to test the 63.0 load at distances of 300 yards and beyond. If I can squeeze out 3/8MOA at 300 yards or 400 yards, I am going to stick to it until it starts printing over 1/2MOA.

Cheers!!!!!

Formed Brass Loads.jpg
 
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