Beginner 7 SAUM reloading tips

[MallardAddict]

My 7 saum just landed on Thursday and I shot it yesterday. I'm shooting virgin brass and a brand new barrel so I know it will speed up some after 100-150 rds so I'm not pushing it yet.

My rifle:
Defiance anti-x xm length
25" 1:8 Benchmark fluted #4 with .180 freebore
Weighs 8lb 1 oz loaded with the 4-32 nx8 on top. New brake is due to arrive today hence the cap.

Load:
180 Berger Hybrid
60.3 Reloader 26
Cci 200 primer
Coal 3.025 (.045 jump in my rifle)
2845 fps and shoots in the .3's

This load shows absolutely no pressure in my rifle due to the xm action and longer freebore. I'm guessing I will pressure out around 62 grains and velocity will be +/- 2950 ish but as well as it's shooting I may not change a thing long term.

 

[Roughrice]

I'd say that's a very good load to start until it breaks in and then possibly try the next node....heck, when it speeds up you may already be near that 2900. If so, and still shooting in the 3's... I'd call that an exceptional load and be done!
At that velocity with the 180 Hybrid... you're good for a looong way out!

 

[MallardAddict]

I'd say that's a very good load to start until it breaks in and then possibly try the next node....heck, when it speeds up you may already be near that 2900. If so, and still shooting in the 3's... I'd call that an exceptional load and be done!
At that velocity with the 180 Hybrid... you're good for a looong way out!

Indeed, if it speeds up cool, if it doesn't that's cool too as nothing will walk away from a 180 Berger at over 2800 fps.

I'm pretty happy with the speed and accuarcy for everything being new and less than 40 rounds on the barrel.
Loaded the other 60 with the same load and will see if it needs tweaked once brass has been resized to my chamber.

 

[Roughrice]

I have a 26" Benchmark #4 8.5 twist in 280 Ackley that absolutely hammers 162 eldx and 168 ABLR @ 2975 with RL23.
Benchmarks can shoot!

 

[JakeC]

My 7 saum just landed on Thursday and I shot it yesterday. I'm shooting virgin brass and a brand new barrel so I know it will speed up some after 100-150 rds so I'm not pushing it yet.

My rifle:
Defiance anti-x xm length
25" 1:8 Benchmark fluted #4 with .180 freebore
Weighs 8lb 1 oz loaded with the 4-32 nx8 on top. New brake is due to arrive today hence the cap.

Load:
180 Berger Hybrid
60.3 Reloader 26
Cci 200 primer
Coal 3.025 (.045 jump in my rifle)
2845 fps and shoots in the .3's

This load shows absolutely no pressure in my rifle due to the xm action and longer freebore. I'm guessing I will pressure out around 62 grains and velocity will be +/- 2950 ish but as well as it's shooting I may not change a thing long term.

View attachment 469187

That's really cool, really nice work. Wish my action could handle that pressure but it's still fun.

 

[couesbuck1021]

I agree with @lancetkenyon, Mine like H4831SC a lot for 160 class bullets, it's a faster powder so you might find pressure quicker, at least I did,

Update: Im finding pressure sign around 57 grains with the H4831SC. I thought i could get a little higher than that. but 56.5 is about as far i feel comfortable pushing it right now. I am using the 180 grain eldm's though.

 

[ARlife4me]

7saum is new to reload for ne also, but limited to 2.830" being an AR platform. I don't hunt, so 185rdf and 180eld-m probably going to be the heaviest without single feeding. V560 and V565 are good choices according to ql.

 

[Jasbo]

Update: Im finding pressure sign around 57 grains with the H4831SC. I thought i could get a little higher than that. but 56.5 is about as far i feel comfortable pushing it right now. I am using the 180 grain eldm's though.

Good to hear you're enjoying your 7SAUM. I'm loading 143gn Hammer Hunters in ADG brass with 66.7gn H4831SC ahead of WLR primers at 3212fps in Gunwerks ClymR 8.5 twist 22" barrel. Have 440 rounds down range. Best 10 shot 300yd group is .62 MOA (I can't do much better with 10 power scope!) I setup for Elk, but will settle for North Central MO deer 11 Nov. J

 

[JakeC]

Good to hear you're enjoying your 7SAUM. I'm loading 143gn Hammer Hunters in ADG brass with 66.7gn H4831SC ahead of WLR primers at 3212fps in Gunwerks ClymR 8.5 twist 22" barrel. Have 440 rounds down range. Best 10 shot 300yd group is .62 MOA (I can't do much better with 10 power scope!) I setup for Elk, but will settle for North Central MO deer 11 Nov. J

66.7? That's a beast of an action. I didn't think I could fit that with no bullet in there, wow. I hit pressure around 54g h4831sc with the 180 eldm, ha. More than ten grains off the mid-long copper. Soft savage action, oh well I still love it. I think I fit 63 of rl16 with a 140 absolute seated pretty far out, didn't quite break 3300, that's the most I've ever actually put in there. But it shoots around a quarter moa at 62g/3230 and seated very securely. Unbelievable bullets. My buddy was just spotting my shots at 600 and he's still talking about it 15 months later. He used to compete and it was freaking him out.

I picked up some h4350 to try in my new gun but I might try a it in the saum now just to see. The RL 16 shoots so good though. I HATED rl17 when I tried it in another gun so I was skeptical.

 

[JakeC]

7saum is new to reload for ne also, but limited to 2.830" being an AR platform. I don't hunt, so 185rdf and 180eld-m probably going to be the heaviest without single feeding. V560 and V565 are good choices according to ql.

I shoot 180 eldm off H4831 sc at about 2.9", I can recommend that. With about .010 jump I get around 2665 fps, some guys get much faster with that combo in that length. I just found a nasty accurate node and stopped. 160-168 will actually give peak overall ballistics in every category though, if that's your thing or you want to make up for the OAL. You can easily get past 2800fps with a 168 and still mag load. I got 2850 with a warm load, not hot. Nosler ABLR. But I really enjoy shooting the 180 even if it's a little less bang for the buck, the 180 is fun to work with. Smooth recoil like a heavy old 06.

Let us know what you wind up with.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Good to hear you're enjoying your 7SAUM. I'm loading 143gn Hammer Hunters in ADG brass with 66.7gn H4831SC ahead of WLR primers at 3212fps in Gunwerks ClymR 8.5 twist 22" barrel. Have 440 rounds down range. Best 10 shot 300yd group is .62 MOA (I can't do much better with 10 power scope!) I setup for Elk, but will settle for North Central MO deer 11 Nov. J

I agree that seems awfully high. I have a 20" Magnus Gunwerks and it hits pressure at 61grains of h4831sc with a 143 hammer…..that is amazing if you can do it safely. I also shoot the 143 HH's with 58.5 of h4350 at a soft 3033. I didn't hit any pressure until 60.5 but it was a nice node and is easy on the brass.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Update: Im finding pressure sign around 57 grains with the H4831SC. I thought i could get a little higher than that. but 56.5 is about as far i feel comfortable pushing it right now. I am using the 180 grain eldm's though.

Have you tried h1000 or rl26? I'm running 61.4 grains of h1000.

Update: Im finding pressure sign around 57 grains with the H4831SC. I thought i could get a little higher than that. but 56.5 is about as far i feel comfortable pushing it right now. I am using the 180 grain eldm's though.

h1000 is a better option. I run 61.4 grains at 2725 out of a 20" barrel.

 

[couesbuck1021]

Have you tried h1000 or rl26? I'm running 61.4 grains of h1000.

h1000 is a better option. I run 61.4 grains at 2725 out of a 20" barrel.

That's what I keep hearing. I mean, the gun has less than 40 rounds through it, so I'm assuming it's going to have a break in period. Not to mention I don't have a chrono. I've just been group testing different charges. 56.5 gr of h4831sc was stacking shots at 200 yds. But I'm assuming it's low velocity for what this gun is capable of. You can see where it really fell apart at 57 grains.