7mm SAW, who has one? How do you like it?

[Brandon_SPC]

Currently most of my hunting is done with a 6mm ARC (Deer pigs, antelope etc) and I would like to compliment my 16" 6mm ARC bolt rifle with a "bigger" cartridge for elk. Granted I know a 6mm can kill elk, and I plan to take one with my 6mm ARC but I don't want that to be my go to. I was leaning with an 18" 25 creedmoor but then I came across this cartridge and started running numbers. Especially recoil numbers for the ability to spot shots. From what I can tell, there isn't a who different in recoil between the two if I added a little more weight to the rifle. I personally do not want to step into magnums. This would be a 0-500 (maybe 600 if I felt comfortable enough) yard hunting rifle. Which I practice ALOT with my 6mm ARC.

-The 25CM I was going to build it at 8.5lbs or so. Out of an 8.5lb rifle (Scope, suppressor, etc). With ta 134 ELDM going 2650, I am looking at 12.18 ftlbs of recoil and 9.6 fps in velocity
- The 7mm SAW I was probably going to build it out around the 9 to 9.5lb range. With a 162 ELDM going 2650 fps, with a 9.5lb rifle I am looking at 13.43 ftlbs of recoil and 9.54 fps

So not a real difference in the two if I add another lb to the rifle which isn't a huge deal to me considering the full rifle set up is under 10lbs. With that said, I have very limited experience with spotting impacts with bigger cartridges. The only cartridges I have truly worked on doing this is with my 6.5 Grendel and my 6mm ARC. Which is fairly easy. Under normal under conditions (tripod shooting etc) would you consider that 7mm SAW hard to spot impacts? The optic, I would probably use is the same thing I have on my 6mm ARC, Leupold Mark 4 HD 2.5-10. Also for the 7mm SAW users, do you regret buying into this cartridge?

 

[HandgunHTR]

I will preface this by saying that I don't have a 7 SAW, but I do have a 7-08AI, which is a ballistic twin to the SAW, for all intents and purposes.
I run mine a bit hot and am pushing a 162 grain bullet at 2740 out of a 20" barrel (Lapua brass), and am experimenting using 277 Fury brass to get even more out of it. I am about 50% at spotting shots past 300 and that is shooting the gun suppressed (Dead Air Sandman Ti) with a Nightforce SHV 4-14X50 scope (total weight of the rifle is about 9.5#, BTW)
Just some real world experience.

I know that the numbers are close, but I would believe that the SAW will be harder to spot than the 25 Creed.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

I will preface this by saying that I don't have a 7 SAW, but I do have a 7-08AI, which is a ballistic twin to the SAW, for all intents and purposes.
I run mine a bit hot and am pushing a 162 grain bullet at 2740 out of a 20" barrel (Lapua brass), and am experimenting using 277 Fury brass to get even more out of it. I am about 50% at spotting shots past 300 and that is shooting the gun suppressed (Dead Air Sandman Ti) with a Nightforce SHV 4-14X50 scope (total weight of the rifle is about 9.5#, BTW)
Just some real world experience.

I know that the numbers are close, but I would believe that the SAW will be harder to spot than the 25 Creed.

10-4. I appreciate it. I might just fot the SAW route vs the 25 CM. The recoil doesnt seem to be all that much more and if I can get 2600 fps from a 162 ELDM out of an 18" barrel. I'll be more than happy. It sounds like the recoil from your rifle isn't that unmanageable.

 

[HandgunHTR]

10-4. I appreciate it. I might just fot the SAW route vs the 25 CM. The recoil doesnt seem to be all that much more and if I can get 2600 fps from a 162 ELDM out of an 18" barrel. I'll be more than happy. It sounds like the recoil from your rifle isn't that unmanageable.

It's not and honestly, if I were to put it in a stock more suited to recoil management (like a Rokstock, or McMillan LR) I could probably get that 50% up to 75%+. It has a McMillan Game Hunter on it now.

 

[FrankieP1988]

I had a 25 and 7 saw spun up this year by WTO. My original plan was to shoot 162 eldm out of the 7 Saw but for whatever reason I could not get great groups or numbers for es/sd using Varget or 4350. Ended up bumping up to 175 elite hunters. This was all using br4 primers. I may revisit the 162's this off season using different primers to see if anything changes.

I think the 7 saw is a cool cartridge but the recoil is not the same as a 6.5 creed or 25. Even with the 162 eldm, to me it is noticeably more recoil. This was kind of surprising to me since some people shoot 7 saw for prs. I ended up killing a cow with the 175 load this season. I really like the WTO guys, but I kind of think the 7 saw is over hyped and the numbers listed on their site for performance are more top end of what you'll see and may be compressed loads. I'll probably end up messing with it more and maybe it will grow on me.

As for the 25 saw, I have been playing with it for the past month and a half. It is pretty awesome with the n160 powder and 135 Bergers. I'll be shooting it this season for NRL Hunter, so I'll have a better idea of if it is a keeper after a few shoots.

 

[jk_minn]

I have both the 25 CM and 7 SAW - both fun and accurate cartridges. My 25 CM is pushing a 133 EH around 2875 (24” barrel) and my 7 SAW is pushing a 168 VLD around 2700 (22” barrel).

Spotting shots with both is very achievable. Recoil isn’t much different - with the SAW being more of a push and the CM being a little more punchy. My charge weight for each is about the same.

You’re getting a little more effective range with the 25 CM, and a little more HP from the SAW.

Can get Alpha brass for both which is nice. Can’t go wrong with either.