• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

  • Site updates coming next Wednesday at 8am CT!

    The site will be down for routine maintenance on Wednesday 6/5 starting at 8am CT. If you have any questions, please PM alexj-12!

7 SAUM in short action?

Widowmaker300

Widowmaker300

Supporter
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 12, 2018
834
108
29
Jackson center Ohio
Looking at options before I just bite the bullet and build a new rifle.
Having two short actions that I can change barrels with, I want a stick to shoot a mile plus and some hunting adventures and 7mm tickles my fancy.
180 hybrids in a short action? Plausible?
Mag feeding or am I to long?
 
  • Like
Reactions: r.ellison2010
I chambered my SAUM barrel for the 190's and gave up on the idea of mag feeding, and it's been fine. I know there's plenty of dudes around that are shooting the 180's out of the mag that are getting good performance out of them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: acudaowner
your not alone . I have been watching west desert shooting on you tube and I really like his set up except he went did something I am hoping not to need to do . good luck if you do decide to do yours in 7mm saum send pics and lots of feedback . You can Do it , you know you want to ..
 
Last edited:
acudaowner said:
your not alone . I have been watching west desert shooting on you tube and I really like his set up except he went did something I am hoping not to need to do . good luck if you do decide to do yours in 7mm saum send pics and lots of feedback .
Click to expand...
He didn’t use a short action though. Made his tikka a long action and running it in that, allowing longer seating depths than a standard short action.
 
i had seen that I figured just single load no magizine problems then and maybe I could still use a short action reloading would be my biggest concern with all that as I have not enough space to set up a large set up but thought about a smaller one I might be able to swing lots of unknows still left for me at least to figure out not to mention sending an email to mile high to get an idea on cost and if that idea would even work or not . Powder and primers and bullets oh my lol . boy with all that I am glad I am still only in the first stages of looking .
 
  • Like
Reactions: 408w
Widowmaker300 said:
Is r26 fairly temp stable?
I just look at the cost of building a new rifle that’ll be for playing around and it just looks ehhh then.
Click to expand...
When I pushed it hard it was noticeable but not crazy like R17, with normal loads it’s surprisingly decent.
 
I use gunwerks brass and load 180 eldm to 2.95 and mag feed. 2900fps with 63gr of h1000 and LRP. Gets out to a mile 16.1 mils. No pressure issues and bolt cycles just fine with no heavy lift.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adam B
Widowmaker300 said:
Looking at options before I just bite the bullet and build a new rifle.
Having two short actions that I can change barrels with, I want a stick to shoot a mile plus and some hunting adventures and 7mm tickles my fancy.
180 hybrids in a short action? Plausible?
Mag feeding or am I to long?
Click to expand...
I have one in a gunwerks short action. I believe thier SA is longer than Remington style SA. I shoot 180 Berger's at 2700 fps with a 20" proof barrel. Shoots dime sized groups.
 
I went through this process for a short action build. I like the 7 saum as a cartridge. For hunting, I could run mag length. I would go steel single feed if I went with a long bullet for steel. Ultimately, it wasn't "perfect" with the compromises.

I ended up with the 7 Sherman Short mag and run 180 vld in mag length at 3020fps with 60.5 of RL 26 in a 26" tube. It's a wildcat built off the 7 saum though. Think of it as a saum ackley improved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gnochi
We have a ELR place 3 hours away and I wanted something in short action to play with my friends and also be able to hunt with. Two birds one gun.
 
hereinaz said:
I went through this process for a short action build. I like the 7 saum as a cartridge. For hunting, I could run mag length. I would go steel single feed if I went with a long bullet for steel. Ultimately, it wasn't "perfect" with the compromises.

I ended up with the 7 Sherman Short mag and run 180 vld in mag length at 3020fps with 60.5 of RL 26 in a 26" tube. It's a wildcat built off the 7 saum though. Think of it as a saum ackley improved.
Click to expand...
Those look awesome but I just don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze on that one. Wildcats are great and I played with many for years but they’re generally just not worth the extra hassle.
 
levi8599 said:
I use gunwerks brass and load 180 eldm to 2.95 and mag feed. 2900fps with 63gr of h1000 and LRP.
Click to expand...
What’s your barrel length? Twist rate? I’m looking to build a 7 SAUM with a 18 or 20” barrel for hunting with a suppressor. The recent Gunwerks podcast has me sold on a shorty 7 SAUM.
 
I've run mag fed short action 7 SAUM before, with 195 Berger Hybrids stuffed way down in the case and jumping a mile to the lands. Bullet base might have been sitting almost on the primer, but it still shot darn good. :)

Run a long barrel with RL26 and you'll get plenty of speed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steel head
IdahoHunter208 said:
What’s your barrel length? Twist rate? I’m looking to build a 7 SAUM with a 18 or 20” barrel for hunting with a suppressor. The recent Gunwerks podcast has me sold on a shorty 7 SAUM.
Click to expand...
I have a Gunwerks 7 SAUM, 20" Proof barrel, 180 Berger's, MV 2,700 fps. Excellent all-around gun, great for hunting anything in N. America and is a fun to shoot. Has recoil similar to my 65 creedmoor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: el-rey and levi8599
IdahoHunter208 said:
What’s your barrel length? Twist rate? I’m looking to build a 7 SAUM with a 18 or 20” barrel for hunting with a suppressor. The recent Gunwerks podcast has me sold on a shorty 7 SAUM.
Click to expand...

It’s 25” 1-8 twist. I listened to that podcast as well and you really don’t lose a whole lot with a shorter barrel. If I don’t like how my prc hunting rifle works out I’m Going to swap barrels and shoot saum hunting as well.
 
Sniperwannabee said:
WhatS everyone’s thoughts about 300wsm?
Click to expand...
Out of factory deer thug ammo 180’s I’m getting 3064fps in my 18” barrel. I think it’s a very efficient cartridge and now my hunting caliber of choice.
 

Attachments

  • 924DA234-DF5A-4A73-9A8B-D81650F5D3A0.jpeg
    924DA234-DF5A-4A73-9A8B-D81650F5D3A0.jpeg
    397 KB · Views: 105
  • Like
Reactions: Sniperwannabee
r.ellison2010 said:
I have a Gunwerks 7 SAUM, 20" Proof barrel, 180 Berger's, MV 2,700 fps. Excellent all-around gun, great for hunting anything in N. America and is a fun to shoot. Has recoil similar to my 65 creedmoor.
Click to expand...


levi8599 said:
It’s 25” 1-8 twist. I listened to that podcast as well and you really don’t lose a whole lot with a shorter barrel. If I don’t like how my prc hunting rifle works out I’m Going to swap barrels and shoot saum hunting as well.
Click to expand...

Nice! Thanks for the info. I am wanting to build mine off of a TL3 since I have a TL3 in 6 creed for PRS. That way if I wanted I could throw the 7 SAUM barreled action into my MDT ACC chassis and try my luck at an ELR match next year. Ideally I’d like to have 2 separate rifles but for now I might just get a barrel spun up and get a light weight stock to swap back and forth.
 
r.ellison2010 said:
I have a Gunwerks 7 SAUM, 20" Proof barrel, 180 Berger's, MV 2,700 fps. Excellent all-around gun, great for hunting anything in N. America and is a fun to shoot. Has recoil similar to my 65 creedmoor.
Click to expand...
What powder are you running? Did you do any ladder testing for load development?
My bad for quoting your reply twice.
 
trophyhunter said:
Out of factory deer thug ammo 180’s I’m getting 3064fps in my 18” barrel. I think it’s a very efficient cartridge and now my hunting caliber of choice.
Click to expand...


i would think with the 185 juggs or 175 sierra they would be a very good long range target cartridge, i could be wrong tho, i dont reload so i dont know anything.. Are they to long ,that you would have to single feed in a SA?? I just want to buy SA magnum match ammo:mad: 7 saum or 300WSM
 
Sniperwannabee said:
i would think with the 185 juggs or 175 sierra they would be a very good long range target cartridge, i could be wrong tho, i dont reload so i dont know anything.. Are they to long ,that you would have to single feed in a SA?? I just want to buy SA magnum match ammo:mad: 7 saum or 300WSM
Click to expand...
Hunting bullets have much shorter noses than a high BC bulllet.
I’m well into the lands with 168 Berger classic hunter at a OAL well within standard AICS mag limitations.
The 175-185 would almost certainly work, I was talking more about the 200 and bigger bullets.

I just did some measurements and it seems even the 230 Berger has enough bearing area and short enough nose to actually get loaded and fit in a 2.96 magazine.

Just start reloading.
you’d be surprised how cheaply you can get set up to make good ammo.
You don’t need all the fancy doo dads and a $400 press.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sniperwannabee
Steel head said:
Hunting bullets have much shorter noses than a high BC bulllet.
I’m well into the lands with 168 Berger classic hunter at a OAL well within standard AICS mag limitations.
The 175-185 would almost certainly work, I was talking more about the 200 and bigger bullets.

I just did some measurements and it seems even the 230 Berger has enough bearing area and short enough nose to actually get loaded and fit in a 2.96 magazine.

Just start reloading.
you’d be surprised how cheaply you can get set up to make good ammo.
You don’t need all the fancy doo dads and a $400 press.
Click to expand...
Your the only reason I’m going down this road... let’s go shoot...I got some targets set up 1100 to 1800+yards no big deal😆
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Steel head
Sniperwannabee said:
i would think with the 185 juggs or 175 sierra they would be a very good long range target cartridge, i could be wrong tho, i dont reload so i dont know anything.. Are they to long ,that you would have to single feed in a SA?? I just want to buy SA magnum match ammo:mad: 7 saum or 300WSM
Click to expand...
I run out of a mag 185juggs, sure I could run them super long but I’d have to single feed. At the speeds I’m getting being short I saw no reason to deal with that hassle.
 
trophyhunter said:
I run out of a mag 185juggs, sure I could run them super long but I’d have to single feed. At the speeds I’m getting being short I saw no reason to deal with that hassle.
Click to expand...
Speeds?
2900-3000 should be easy with a longish barrel I’d imagine.
 
Any issue with running short 7saums out of a tikka action mag fed, and having a long loaded round for long range?
 
7 saum, 180’s, SA, yes it works. First off, realize it will never be a wsm, Sherman, or rem mag. That said, if mag fed 180’s in the 2950 range are your goal, totally doable. I tried a couple rl23/rl26 ladders with 180 eldm’s, rl23 was more accurate, and met my speed goals with 2 grains less. Rl26 gets more speed, but didn’t shoot as good in my barrel. Now if the eldm’s would quit blowing up in flight, that would be nice. Have Berger 184’s to try next.
My current load: ADG, 180 eldm, RL23 60.2, gm215m, 2990 fps. Barrel is a 26” proof steel 8 twist, saami chamber.


edit: barrel length
 
Last edited:
BJames said:
7 saum, 180’s, SA, yes it works. First off, realize it will never be a wsm, Sherman, or rem mag. That said, if mag fed 180’s in the 2950 range are your goal, totally doable. I tried a couple rl23/rl26 ladders with 180 eldm’s, rl23 was more accurate, and met my speed goals with 2 grains less. Rl26 gets more speed, but didn’t shoot as good in my barrel. Now if the eldm’s would quit blowing up in flight, that would be nice. Have Berger 184’s to try next.
My current load: ADG, 180 eldm, RL23 60.2, gm215m, 2990 fps. Barrel is a 26” proof steel 8 twist, saami chamber.


edit: barrel length
Click to expand...
You really should look into the 190 Berger
Down range performance is awesome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BJames
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

secondofangle2
Hunting Rifle: 7mm Rem Mag or 7mm SAUM?
Replies
97
Views
2K
lash
lash
T
Should I build a new rifle?
Replies
13
Views
502
tton
T
C
SOLD Custom 7 SAUM
Replies
1
Views
299
Cmiller5
C
A
.223 using Long Action AICS Magazines?
Replies
6
Views
228
jetmd
J
B
7 PRCW with 168’s??
Replies
0
Views
133
Bergerblaster
B
Top Bottom
Back