6.5PRC, 6.8 Western, 7SAUM

[southpa]

I agree, but you can't run at all without ammo. It might be stupid for me to say that available ammo could be huge for the PRC, there's already quite a bit with high demand. Seems that 7PRC is the star at the moment. But the reason I'm not sure is that I won't be shooting anything except my own handloads, most likely, so what does ammo availability really mean? I will need components. Other than that, I guess it's good to fantasize about finding ammo when the <gasp> apocalypse hits, will it really matter? You shoot what you brung!

There is nothing wrong with 7SAUM, it will do the job. I'm not sure if I did a dumb thing by going short action, in some ways I feel kinda like I'm building yesterday star. 7PRC is the new star. Hornady is marketing PRC well, something better than Remington ever did for SAUM. Just that I think it's enough for what I need, and I have both 308 and 6.5CM as well.

I have enough parts for another short action parts, with an AICS chassis, so that may be next. That's kinda what got me where I'm at, looking for something lighter. Just the chassis is 5.5 lbs, with an empty 5 round mag. It is HEAVY DUTY though...it would make a decent 7SAUM rifle, but the standard bolt short action is something I need. I guess it would be easier to just chamber a 7mm barrel for my 6.5 PRC magnum bolt action.

I actually have 2 bolts, so could chamber one in 7mm for that, but I can't use my bolts in the new action I'm waiting for, different size. My blanks are .701", but not sure what the Weatherby will be, my guess is larger. I don't know if my bolts will be loose in it or not.

Again this is all subjective. But what isnt subjective is that there is nothing that makes any 7PRC "a star" for a large population of people. It's performs at 90% of a 7RM and maybe only 10% more than the 7saum and a lot of them match the performance of a saum. This is nothing star worthy. It's a reinvention. But I'm not sure how the 7prc is even in the conversation.

I believe if the OP is soliciting input on a full custom build with the 7saum as an option and has already acknowledged the need to handload for it, he is aware that it needs to be handloaded for. The nuances of each catridge are up for consideration, the performance isnt. The 7saum will outperform either of the cartridges the OP is considering, in a short OR long action with light or heavy bullets...pretty hard to beat the performance a SAUM. It gets my vote.

I have one at the smith now. You should too

 

[kgarrett]

I didn't realize you had Fierce firearms. I just bought a Fierce carbon stock in the classifieds. The seller but the barreled action on an MDT-HNT26 and his first trip to the range he got a .3 MOA group. I am not sure if I will get that good in mine, I think a lot has to do with the barrel and setup work that Fierce does, but I'm still hoping for a decent rifle.

The reason I decided to go with that style stock is that it's a more traditional design, but very light. I want a lightweight hunting rifle first and foremost. I can change it later if I want. The grip is not as vertical as many of the newer designs, but more traditional, aside from the carbon fiber. I like the fact they make the bedding all graphite. It's gonna be a while before I get it.

Now for my question, and I can't seem to find a good answer. Do you know how many rounds of magnum the BDL mag that Fierce sells for <ouch> $140 will hold 3 or 4 rounds? I was hoping to get 5 rounds with one in the chamber, but in reading on the Fierce site I read note from them that said some people try to put 4 round in, but over time it can damage the mag. Will I be limited to 3 + 1 in the chamber?

I don't expect to need more than 4 rounds for any game, but one never knows. Since I'm looking to keep this light, I definitely want to go with the BDL style mag, rather than replacing it with Hawkins.

Any comments on grip angle and/or the mag?

As a side note, that Mogle Ranch looks like an awesome place! *IF* I had the cash I would probably opt for a bear or elk hunt, but I love pheasant. I had a manager that used to make pheasant gumbo, that stuff was sure good. Alas, no shotgun...

My Fierce Edge holds 4 in the magazine. My uncle has one as well that is the same. Not sure if they are the same now, these are the original Fierce rifles that were released and were purchased the first year they were sold. It was about 2012-14.

Very comfortable grip angle, pretty vertical but not so much its awkward off-hand. TBH, I didn't need a new rifle as my Fierce 7 mm did everything I needed, but when has that every stopped us???

 

[kgarrett]

Never understand why guys compare different rifles like they aren't different. Build them all apples to apples and then compare. Of course your purpose built lighter rifle is going to be lighter than the other rifles that are heavier. Is this really a comparison? And no the 6.5 cannot do anything a 7rm can do better! It cannot send a 180 grain bullet 3000fps. It probly can't even send a 156 grain bullet 3000fps. Point is they are all different and the smaller cartridges CANNOT do what the larger ones do. Those limits are yours to set but why do we pretend everything is even when it's not.

A 6.5 will get outrun by a 7saum with light or heavy bullets, a 300 will outrun a 7saum with light or heavy bullets. For the OPs question the 7saum will do more than either of the two others mentioned. Simple

Yes, lighter is literally a description of a comparison in weight. This is really a comparison.

A 6.5 PRC can send a 143 gr ELD-X at a similar velocity as a 7 RM can send a 162 gr ELD-X with much less recoil. I can carry a lighter rifle with a similar trajectory, good terminal performance, and less recoil than it would have in a 7 RM. This is better.

My 300 PRC weighs the same as my 7 RM and has better terminal performance with a 208 gr LRX than a 160gr TSX at the cost of more recoil. For killing big and tough stuff, like the eland, blue wildebeest, oryx that I killed in September in Namibia or for killing elk, this is better.

Both of these are better than my 7 RM - either being lighter with less recoil and good terminal performance in the 6.5 PRC or better terminal performance at the expense of more recoil in the 300 PRC. The 7mm SAUM and RM are great all-around hunting cartridges and a good compromise, but are not better than either.

PS. The 7 SAUM is a brilliant cartridge and should be more popular than it is. I actually wanted one, but since I don't reload I got the 6.5 PRC.

 

[southpa]

Yes, lighter is literally a description of a comparison in weight. This is really a comparison.

A 6.5 PRC can send a 143 gr ELD-X at a similar velocity as a 7 RM can send a 162 gr ELD-X with much less recoil. I can carry a lighter rifle with a similar trajectory, good terminal performance, and less recoil than it would have in a 7 RM. This is better.

My 300 PRC weighs the same as my 7 RM and has better terminal performance with a 208 gr LRX than a 160gr TSX at the cost of more recoil. For killing big and tough stuff, like the eland, blue wildebeest, oryx that I killed in September in Namibia or for killing elk, this is better.

Both of these are better than my 7 RM - either being lighter with less recoil and good terminal performance in the 6.5 PRC or better terminal performance at the expense of more recoil in the 300 PRC. The 7mm SAUM and RM are great all-around hunting cartridges and a good compromise, but are not better than either.

PS. The 7 SAUM is a brilliant cartridge and should be more popular than it is. I actually wanted one, but since I don't reload I got the 6.5 PRC.

Although I respect your opinions i think you're a little off!
6.5 has similar performance as a 7RM....not even remotely close in any weight bullet...so not "better"
But a 300prc easily outdoes a 7rm....that's correct. But the logic doesn't add up. If it was logical the 7rm should keep up with the 300prc...but it doesn't. So...

As far as performance you have it a little wrong but it's ok. In reality it goes 6.5 at the bottom of the list, then 7rm and then 300. In no world will a 6.5prc keep up with a 7rm sorry.

The only real argument you have here is the 6.5prc has less recoil...but you're comparing 67 grains of capacity to 82 grains and claiming they are similar in performance but not in recoil. If you don't like recoil no duh the 6.5 is better for YOU. But we aren't all going to pretend that the 6.5prc has similar performance and is "better" than the 7rm because you don't like the recoil.

 

[kgarrett]

Although I respect your opinions i think you're a little off!
6.5 has similar performance as a 7RM....not even remotely close in any weight bullet...so not "better"
But a 300prc easily outdoes a 7rm....that's correct. But the logic doesn't add up. If it was logical the 7rm should keep up with the 300prc...but it doesn't. So...

As far as performance you have it a little wrong but it's ok. In reality it goes 6.5 at the bottom of the list, then 7rm and then 300. In no world will a 6.5prc keep up with a 7rm sorry.

I didn't say velocity was the same, I said recoil was less and velocity was similar with the weights of bullets I commonly use. If velocity was the only 'performance' metric that matters we'd all be running 28 Nosler's or RUM's.

In terms of terminal performance, no whitetail, mule deer, coyote, pronghorn can tell the difference between a vital zone hit between a 6.5 PRC and 7 RM. Especially if they are running similar bullet weights. On big, heavy game, with big, heavy bullets a 7 RM or PRC definitely has better terminal performance than a 6.5 PRC.

 

[southpa]

I didn't say velocity was the same, I said recoil was less and velocity was similar with the weights of bullets I commonly use. If velocity was the only 'performance' metric that matters we'd all be running 28 Nosler's or RUM's.

In terms of terminal performance, no whitetail, mule deer, coyote, pronghorn can tell the difference between a vital zone hit between a 6.5 PRC and 7 RM. Especially if they are running similar bullet weights. On big, heavy game, with big, heavy bullets a 7 RM or PRC definitely has better terminal performance than a 6.5 PRC.

Gotcha. So we are in agreance that in no earthly world we live in does a 6.5prc come close to a 7rm in any way possible hahahaaha. The velocity, performance whatever we want to call it. With same size bullet or different.

 

[liber]

PS. The 7 SAUM is a brilliant cartridge and should be more popular than it is. I actually wanted one, but since I don't reload I got the 6.5 PRC.

We need to change that! I don't shoot anything I don't reload, and haven't bought any ammo in a number of years. I don't even save money, but I enjoy doing it. If you don't enjoy that kind of stuff, just keep buying the ammo. I completely agree, the PRC has the edge over SAUM in ammo.

I get a lot better ammo when I reload because of the components I use.