7 SAUM build questions

[JonnyIndy]

Ok, I've spent a bunch of time reading through recent 7mm threads in preparation for an upcoming 7 SAUM build, and I'd like to get your opinions on my remaining questions

Parameters
-this gun will primarily be for matches out to 1000 and steel out to 600, potentially longer...
- I want to run the 180 Berger or the 162 A-max

Questions
1. Long action or short (planning on using a surgeon action)
2. Barrel length
3. Twist rate
4. Magazine choice (AICS or Alpha or....)


Thanks

 

[JCH]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

If you want to run the Bergers, I'd go Long Action....I had a 591 WSM surgeon, I wished I had gone Long Action.

 

[B.Bates]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

What type of matches are these?


i would run an 8.5twist, that way you can try or use the 195g bergers when they come out. more reason for a long action with that bullet as its longer than the 180g

barrel length i would do 27 or 28, get that velocity, again what type of shooting are you doing?

if you go long run 338 aics, if short go alpha mags

Is there long strings of fire, is having a 10 round magazine important?

if so then maybe a short action is best

there are merits to each for me and each have pro's and con's

for general match shooting and all around gun i feel a s/a 7saum is a great choice, the smk's and 162's would probably be a better bullet choice over the 180's, and be great for 1000yd and in shooting. there are better choices out there for shooting steel out to 600yds than a magnum though.

for a match like ASC i would build a long action, but with the long you only have 5 rounds, longer bolt stroke but can seat the bullet out longer, and proably going to be the best choice if you want to shoot the 195g bergers

hard to say until they come out, they might work in a s/a but you are going to crowd the case im sure.


sorry im not much help

 

[JonnyIndy]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shootone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What type of matches are these?


i would run an 8.5twist, that way you can try or use the 195g bergers when they come out. more reason for a long action with that bullet as its longer than the 180g

barrel length i would do 27 or 28, get that velocity, again what type of shooting are you doing?

if you go long run 338 aics, if short go alpha mags

Is there long strings of fire, is having a 10 round magazine important?

if so then maybe a short action is best

there are merits to each for me and each have pro's and con's

for general match shooting and all around gun i feel a s/a 7saum is a great choice, the smk's and 162's would probably be a better bullet choice over the 180's, and be great for 1000yd and in shooting. there are better choices out there for shooting steel out to 600yds than a magnum though.

for a match like ASC i would build a long action, but with the long you only have 5 rounds, longer bolt stroke but can seat the bullet out longer, and proably going to be the best choice if you want to shoot the 195g bergers

hard to say until they come out, they might work in a s/a but you are going to crowd the case im sure.


sorry im not much help </div></div>

Thanks for the input

Mainly NorCal Precision monthly club matches, and yes 10 rounders would be helpful for sure(not strictly necessary, but helpful).

Sounds like you'd recommend the 162's and a S/A. What twist and barrel length in that case?

And to clarify, this build will be a compliment to my 6.5CM

 

[turbo54]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

If you already have a 6.5CM, I would think you'd want the badass 7mm to be "optimized", to really set it apart from the 6.5CM...

Of course, a short action 7RSAUM launching 162amax's is going to "outperform" the 6.5CM, but the 6.5CM is darn good to begin with, so an additional rifle, in my opinion, should <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">really</span></span> be great.

That said, I'd do the long action, with the 180s and the (alleged) 195s in mind. Or perhaps even consider an even higher capacity 7mm such as 7WSM or 7Rmag instead...?

 

[B.Bates]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

i have never shot NorCal but if its like alot of other matches then i feel the mag capacity and speed of a sa is more ideal, and the long action more of a niche or speciality.

I am persoanlly going to run a s/a 7SAUM not sure which bullet yet going to get the brass and play with some and then get a reamer ground accordingly. mainly due to mag capacity, but i am going to run 2 barrel and bolts and not shoot the saum as much, to me the s/a gave me more options.

hard to recomend a bullet the pointed 180g hybrids are ballistically superior but the 162 is alot of bullet for the $$,


ive got a long action stock and some parts and have considered going the long action wsm or saum but will most likely do a 7-300win mag or something else and set that gun up for just the 195's and really be different and better like the other poster said

 

[JonnyIndy]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

all very good points, thanks guys

I definitely have got some thinking to do

as you say, it's important to make this new build distinct from the 6.5CM

 

[Barney88PDC]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

1. Long Action for sure Surgeon 1086
2. No shorter than 26"
3. No slower than 1:9 (168/180) and if you want to try the 195's 1:8.5

 

[JonnyIndy]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

So, I've made a few decisions...

Going with a short action. 591R
26" obermeyer AMU

Thinking alpha type 4 mags. OAL 2.985 for the 180 VLD
Anyone running a type 4 in their 7 SAUM?


Finally, I'm desperately searching for a KMW stock

Sent an order email to Terry Cross, but hoping to find one sooner......

 

[turbo54]

Re: 7 SAUM build questions

I have Alpha type 3's and 4's for my 284. While COAL of 2.985" is advertised, a more realistic limit is going to be somewhere in the 2.955-2.975 zone, depending on your chosen bullets. For example, amax bullets are very consistent in length from ogive to tip, whereas OTM/hpbt bullets from Sierra vary a lot more. I've not messed with Bergers much, so I can't speak to how consistent the meplats are on them.

Don't forget that AMU barrel is a truck-axle. For a range/target gun, it'll be great. If you want to take it to competitions though, particularly those where you've gotta hump your gear around, you may want to consider something more akin to a palma-type contour to shave some lbs off.

Overall, I think you'll be very pleased with your high-velocity 7mm rifle, and it sounds like you've got a sweet setup in the works.