Thinking about a 7 Saum

[Tyler89k]

Any one have experience? mainly hunt black tail and bears. SW Oregon.

 

[chrisdixon1]

I have one. I thought I was going to switch to a 7prc for factory ammo support when needed. But found that the 7prc hand loads were slower than my saum while burning 6gr more powder. I don’t understand it, but decided to stick with the saum.

Actually considering a 6 or 25 saum barrel as well for a bit less recoil.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

How far away are you planning to shoot these deer or black bears?

 

[Slick8]

I have one. I thought I was going to switch to a 7prc for factory ammo support when needed. But found that the 7prc hand loads were slower than my saum while burning 6gr more powder. I don’t understand it, but decided to stick with the saum.

Actually considering a 6 or 25 saum barrel as well for a bit less recoil.

Id consider that a barrel issue, not the cartridge.

Both are great imo.

 

[Dave Thomas]

7 saum is my main hunting rifle. Mostly hunting whitetail and hogs. I love it.

 

[Slick8]

Op, I've had both running 180 hybrids from a 22 inch barrel with H1k.

I liked the saum but like the prc just a little better. With 180s I was stomping on the brass to get 2840. Im running the prc at 2920 and well off of pressure. Both with ADG brass.

I was running a .195 freebore on the summit otherwise you really loose powder capacity with heavies. This requires a long action.

Both were very easy to load for.

Bonus, Lapua will be making prc brass soon.

 

[waspocrew]

7 SAUM is a great round. Really enjoy shooting mine. Gunwerks has ammo in their outlet shop for $45/box to get you started.

7 SAUM, Hornady 180 gr ELD-M, Long Range Hunting Ammunition by Gunwerk

Gunwerks 7 SAUM Hornady 180gr ELD-M ammo delivers high BC, flat trajectory, and match-grade precision. Optimized for long-range hunting with consistent terminal performance.

www.gunwerks.com

7mm SAUM, Barnes 145 gr LRX, Long Range Hunting Ammunition by Gunwerks

Gunwerks 7mm SAUM Barnes 145gr LRX ammo combines flat-shooting trajectories, high weight retention, and deep penetration for reliable long-range hunting performance.

www.gunwerks.com

7 SAUM, Berger 180gr, Gunwerks Long Range Hunting Ammunition

www.gunwerks.com

 

[westonadkins]

What action are you thinking? Bullet? Barrel length?

I have a tikka in the long action configuration with the 180 vlds seated out. Getting 2820 in a 20". Very happy with that gun.

I think a 700 short action works ideally for 168s but you have to seat deeper than a person would like for the 180s. IIRC the 7 Sherman short was made for 180s in a short action if that's how you wanted to go.

Really like my saum, would do it again!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MuleyFever]

I really liked my 7 SAUM. I got tired of reloading and sold it for a 7 PRC because of the factory ammo option. I liked shooting the SAUM much better.

 

[Maidenfan539]

I like my 7 SAUM and it is short action with 24" barrel. Shooting the 168's at 2900. If I was going to build it again, I'd go with a medium or long action for the 180's.

 

[wind gypsy]

7 SAUM is a great round. Really enjoy shooting mine. Gunwerks has ammo in their outlet shop for $45/box to get you started.

7 SAUM, Hornady 180 gr ELD-M, Long Range Hunting Ammunition by Gunwerk

Gunwerks 7 SAUM Hornady 180gr ELD-M ammo delivers high BC, flat trajectory, and match-grade precision. Optimized for long-range hunting with consistent terminal performance.

www.gunwerks.com

7mm SAUM, Barnes 145 gr LRX, Long Range Hunting Ammunition by Gunwerks

Gunwerks 7mm SAUM Barnes 145gr LRX ammo combines flat-shooting trajectories, high weight retention, and deep penetration for reliable long-range hunting performance.

www.gunwerks.com

7 SAUM, Berger 180gr, Gunwerks Long Range Hunting Ammunition

www.gunwerks.com

View attachment 951160

Dang, that's a hot tip. Have components aplenty to kill this barrel but couldn't help but buy some to try. Any idea what the COAL is on the 180 ELDs? Their site says it may be too long for some rifles and to review the COAL listed, but it's not listed. Mine is designed around that bullet so i have no concern but just curious.

 

[waspocrew]

Dang, that's a hot tip. Have components aplenty to kill this barrel but couldn't help but buy some to try. Any idea what the COAL is on the 180 ELDs? Their site says it may be too long for some rifles and to review the COAL listed, but it's not listed. Mine is designed around that bullet so i have no concern but just curious.

I’ll have to check when I get home, the 180 ELDM shot awesome though.

Here’s two consecutive 5 shot groups with the 180 ELDM, followed by 180 Hybrids:

 

[Kimber7man]

I have some of that ammo with the 180 hybrid and it’s 2.96” COAL.
Shoots great, I just wanted to try the 168 ABLR in my rifle this year.

Getting 2,810 fps out of a 22” barrel with that Gunwerks ammo.

 

[Truaxdw]

I have a 7SAUM I built an exact copy of Mark from EXO rifle. I did it partially to force myself to learn how to reload which I really enjoy. I think if I had to do it all over again or if I was gonna build another rifle, I would like to try the 6 creedmoor

 

[waspocrew]

Dang, that's a hot tip. Have components aplenty to kill this barrel but couldn't help but buy some to try. Any idea what the COAL is on the 180 ELDs? Their site says it may be too long for some rifles and to review the COAL listed, but it's not listed. Mine is designed around that bullet so i have no concern but just curious.

2.952" COAL for the 180 ELDM ammo.

For the price, definitely a great buy. I bought a case of each 180 gr offering (and 6.5 Creed haha).

 

[khuber84]

7saum is a great case. I just put a 22in 8.5tw lt palma onto one my long action bat vampires. The chamber has 0.220 freebore, so 180/175 Bergers are 3.190 touching lands, NOT short action friendly. Just got all the brass fireformed. It shot extremely well with 180s jumping 60k at 2730, one group was 5 under 3/4" at 300y. I hope to land around 2800-2820 with 175 elite hunters using rl23 or N565.

I still prefer my 65saum with 156s, less recoil and similar or better ballistics from equal barrel lengths. The 7 has a lil broader selection of usable powders, better barrel life. But shooting similar weight rifles with similar supressors, the 65 stays on target better during recoil.

Since the 7 has noticeably more recoil over the 65, I'd probably step up to a larger case with a lil more horsepower to make the big 7mm bullets perform better from a short barrel. Something that's gonna run them mid 2900s but be away from psi. I purchased brass and dies 3 years back with plans for a 7saum but never got around to it till this year. It's a great cartridge, and would be plenty for a "one gun" situation. I have a lot of rifles, so for me personally, a bigger 7 would be my preference to actually gain something over the 65 at the cost of the added recoil.

 

[rootacres]

The 7 SAUM is a unit. It makes a strong case for being the best all around cartridge for the lower 48. The caveat to that is, you basically have to reload. It has enough HP to be devastating for animals like elk and moose but mild enough recoil to spot your impacts. For me, those 2 things were key as I hunt alone sometimes.

21" PROOF
168 VLDs @ 2950 fps
SA Origin
9 lbs with a 4-16x42 ATACR

Ive killed elk, coues, columbian blacktail, muleys, and pronghorn all with the same rig. I have no intent to change. I like to tinker with other cartridges from time to time but when it comes to leaving with a rifle in the truck the 7 SAUM has been primary on every hunt.

My most recent
WY - 358 yds

 

[EcoastDG]

I have a 7 saum in a tikka short action config. I also have a 7 prc. I find myself shooting the 7 saum a lot more. I love that rifle. It’s been easy to reload for. Mostly 168 vlds and ADG brass with magpro powder.
If you only shoot factory it’s hard to beat the 7 prc with all the ammunition offerings. If you like to have a project rifle, the 7 saum is great for that.

 

[Robinhood21]

My (gunsmith) buddy built two 7SAUMs for him and his other friend before they went to Alaska for their moose hunt. Both with 18" barrels shooting suppressed. He is shooting 168s and his friend is shooting 180s. They've killed everything from Moose, elk, deer, hyenas and some other African game.

I've held his and it's a sweet little package. The next rifle I build will be the same.