6.5PRC, 6.8 Western, 7SAUM

Doing a custom build soon. I'm trying to choose between the above calibers of 6.5PRC, 6.8 western, and 7 SAUM.
I'm going to use this rifle for deer and antelope 80% of the time, elk 20% and would like the confidence to go goat and moose hunting in the future when kids are older. I do want to stay short action and go with a lighter setup to take up the mountains. I don't handload at the moment (only shotshell reloading currently) but not opposed to doing it. I don't plan on hunting critters over 500 but would like to be able to target shoot a long ways just for ***** and giggles. I don't shoot competitions at this point.

Here's my thoughts on each option

6.5PRC- pros- flat trajectory and accurate. Lots of experience from others to garner wisdom. Great factory ammo selection and plentiful reloading info and supplies
Cons- lighter bullet weights so may not be ideal for the 20% of my time I spend elk hunting (and eventually moose). Everyone and their dog has a version of a 6.5 now so low "cool" factor lol

6.8 western- pros- heavier bullet weights that would cover all my hunting scenarios. Ballistically similar to 6.5PRC but not identical (drops a bit more but not by much) but retains more energy downrange. More rare so has a medium "cool" factor
Cons- isn't getting the attention I think it deserves thanks to Hornady and Federal colluding to mutually avoid making factory loads as it competes with Hornady's 7PRC Some decent factory loads but not many. Reloading components can be spotty (Winchester and ADG brass only).

7SAUM- pros- very accurate (pry on par with 6.5PRC). Highest "cool" factor
Cons- practically have to handload and some sources indicate to use the long, high BC bullets you need a medium or long action for proper bullet seating.

I am sure there are other pros and cons I haven't listed here, especially since I don't have hand loading experience.
Fwiw, I purposely did not mention any build components as I've kinda already made those decisions, but I really need to nail down a caliber.
I appreciate the feedback!

If you were going to hand load 7SAUM. My $.02

I shoot lots 6MM,25 cal,6.5mm,hunting North america........starts with a seven

My vote is 6.5 prc with handloaded 147 Eldm or 125 copper rose(I live in California) lol
Its going to have the most factory ammo as well.

If your not hand loading then 6.5 prc is the easy button. It's plenty enough for elk hunting, for that matter I wouldn't even think twice about moose hunting with it.

277/6.8

6.5 PRC seems like the easy button. The other two could work as well, as long as you can find good brass and the SAUM reamer fits the bullets you want to shoot.

I don't know about the cool factor but my light weight LPR IN 6.5 PRC did its job on a bull Elk @ 737 yards two years ago. 140gr Berger VLDH. I don't hand load and so far it shoots everything iv tried moa or under. So ammo factor is definitely a plus. The only thing I wouldn't use it on is a Grizzly. If your going custom and don't have a Gunsmith picked I'd give Dallas Lane a call.

JMHO. Good luck and hope it all turns out just the way you want

6.8 Western. Not as many factory loads as 6.5 prc but what is there is great. Only downside has been brass options but now have ADG. Also, there are a slew of lighter "higher BC" - 145 eldx, 140 berger, etc.. options for the 1-10 270 that can run significanly higher velocity in the 6.8W than 6.5 prc if don't want the higher recoil of the 165-175gr bullets for deer hunting

Lou

6.5prc

You're building a deer rifle that occasionally hunts elk. It's perfect, and has the least recoil and the easiest component availability.

It's not even close imo but I admit I struggle to register with cool factor as a metric.

I've shot plenty elk with the 6.5 PRC and 7 SAUM to know either works well. It's always funny to hear the 6.5 PRC isn't "enough" while loads of elk have fallen to a .264 Win Mag...

The 162-180 Hornadys do just fine out of a SA 7 SAUM in binderless mags.

It's legal to hunt elk with a handgun over 550ft lbs and people fuss over energy numbers 4x that in rifle cartridges

Anyone who tells you that you "have" to get a longer action to make the saum effective probably cries in the shower so their family doesn't hear. Of course a long action is better for a long bullet, but that doesn't mean it's a letdown in a short action. It's just that in long actions people can frequently exceed 7prc values, but in short you're more likely to get hot 280AI. Mild loads for me look like 7-08AI +P, but that's not typical. Look around on here in some of the threads at what people get for MV with the "handicapped" long bullets.

If you're into the 180 ELDM/berger thing, the Saami-ish saum can get them adequately fast to crush way out there. (Try to get to 2.9"). That said you will probably get the best external ballistics from the 168 leads and 140-155 coppers in a short action. But the 180 family is far from bad. If you want to pass 190 or use the 175 eldx, yeah you might want to consider single feed. But my hunting loads are 168 ABLR at 2900 and a 140 hammer at 3250, and that's out of a weak action. The bullets that make the PRC really shine aren't bullets I want to shoot elk with personally. It obviously can be effective, I just don't feel the need. There's nothing wrong with the 6.8 or 6.5 but the versatility of projectiles in 7mm just makes me feel good. You can load it like a light 6.5 prc or a midweight 30-06 and still get some change back.

If you have to do factory, that's a problem of course. But I have yet to talk to anyone who regrets investing in handloading. It's incredibly rewarding. And I don't know anything about PRC accuracy, but most folks experience a creepy level of precision with the saum. It survived Remingtons greasy failures for a reason. It's just hard to mess up.

That's my opinionated opinion. Good luck on your choice of project!

7SAUM because I have one, but something in the 6.5 is more than adequate for that 80% of the time stuff. I really like 6.5 X 47 for its accuracy and has no problem with that 80% stuff either….have to handload though.