R700 SA build... 7SAUM?

[catamountsierra]

That's the spirit!

Again, elkaholic is the one who came up with it. Rich Sherman is his name, hence sherman shortmag. It's really a super round, but you can't go wrong with the SS, SAUM, or 7mm-08. Just depends on what you want. The saum and SS wI'll cost about the same with performance advantage given to the SS. The 7mm-08 will be way cheaper with more facity ammo available, but performance compared to the mags is nothing

The rifle is currently a 7-08. I had been considering going 7-08AI or 284Win, but then got to looking at the SAUM. Now I am looking at the SS, which seems like about as good as it gets for a short action 7mm. The idea of being able to launch a 175gr bullet at speeds comparable to what I am currently launching a 140gr bullet at seems like a huge jump in performance, and I am guessing that the recoil won't be too much more than the lightweight 30-06 I used to shoot, and I may even put a break on it so it could be lighter.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Forget the SAUM... Go with the 7mm SS.

 

[toddc]

Just shot my new Savage 7 SAUM build over chrono.
Headspaced very short, built on a LA platform seated to 3.10 COAL with a 27" Mcgowen tube.
Firing virgin Norma brass with the 175 ELD-X and .5 under max of H-1000 it made 3042. Ramped up over 5 gr from 2890.
VERY VERY HAPPY. Was ready to be happy at 2900. No pressure signs at all under a 50x microscope. IDK what to do now. I'm .5 under max but compressing H-1000. Afraid I am close to done just because of space. Brass grew 2 thousandth from virgin so headspace is very tight.
Probably will leave headspace where it is and see if I can find accuracy around 3100.
Very impressed with this critter on a LA platform.

Also tried Superperformance powder and saw some promise but with the H-1000 results will probably not waste barrel life pursuing. 7828 ran about with book but was miles away from H-1000. There is no book on the Superperformance.

I have always ran extremely overbore stuff just cuz. Now I am going, Hmmmmm 50% less powder and within a very short distance of RUM speeds with a small headspace. I could probably bump headspace up 3 or 4 thousand and get REALLY close to RUM with a barrel that will last a lot longer, kick a lot less and just be more efficient.

This build was a spur of the moment kinda deal. I found the barrel in classifieds here and couldn't pass it up. If I had it to do again I would build the SS like Mudrunner said on a SA and hopefully achieve the same thing.

 

[bigngreen]

Try R26, the long throated SAUM's like it!

 

[toddc]

Try R26, the long throated SAUM's like it!

Thanks. It was my next one to try. Been hard to find local. I'm not an Alliant guy anymore but the 17/19/23/26 look like I need to dip in and try them.
Not sure I wanna do much more than tune up the H-1000. I always prepare myself to run slower than book even with a longer barrel. Running over book speed with 5 gr under is a new one for me I think the chrono was fine as my Creed and Edge were right in line with my usual results and the brass looks as good as I have ever seen. Kinda afraid I will be disappointed with anything else.
Of course in the time it took to type that I decided that 3200 would be reaaaaaally nice.

 

[catamountsierra]

I'm stepping up from the 7-08, so I don't really feel a need to push the limits. I am not familiar with any powders other than IMR and Hodgdon, both of which I seem to be able find fairly reliably. I think I would rather run a hair slower with a less temperature sensitive powder than not. My first load development for the 7-08 was with 4007SSC, which gave me some real nice shooting rounds in the winter, but was definitely stiff in the summer heat.

 

[toddc]

Try R26, the long throated SAUM's like it!

Anyone play with the 195s in a LA SAUM build? I had resigned myself to the 175-180 area due to a 9 twist and what I consider a small case and yet with the results I just saw I am really wondering. Not a lot of data floating on the SAUM and even less loaded long.

 

[catamountsierra]

At one point I had been toying with building a long action 7mm wsm so I could load it real long. I think the SS will work out better, especially since I already have the short action. I think you guys have convinced me on that one. Now I have to figure out other things, like barrel contour, etc. I have always found a bit of weight helps steady a rifle, but I also need to be able to carry it in rough country. I had been thinking about a fluted #6, but I have little idea where that puts the weight. I want something heavier than the standard Remington sporter, but lighter than the Sendero. Maybe closer to the Sendero than the sporter...

 

[toddc]

At one point I had been toying with building a long action 7mm wsm so I could load it real long. I think the SS will work out better, especially since I already have the short action. I think you guys have convinced me on that one. Now I have to figure out other things, like barrel contour, etc. I have always found a bit of weight helps steady a rifle, but I also need to be able to carry it in rough country. I had been thinking about a fluted #6, but I have little idea where that puts the weight. I want something heavier than the standard Remington sporter, but lighter than the Sendero. Maybe closer to the Sendero than the sporter...

Most barrel makers have a barrel weight calculator on their websites. Add in stock, action, lug, ammo, bases and rings and you can spec a build pretty close.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I love my Model Seven 7 SAUM with the factory 22" barrel. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm shooting 160 grain Accubonds at 2930 fps at half a grain below Magpro's listed max. COAL is 2.80".

 

[elkaholic]

I was already leaning heavily towards the 8-twist barrel. I know my brother loves the 230 OTM Bergers in his 300 WM, and I have no doubt that the Bergers are a good bullet, but I tend to lead toward bullets that stay together. I have been really pleased with the 140 AB in the 7mm-08, but the SAUM should be able to push the 175gr bullets as fast as I am currently shooting that 140. I will probably try the Bergers, probably the 180s or the new 175s, but I like the idea of the ABLR. A bonded bullet that opens even at long distances may be just the ticket, but I have seen some pretty mixed reviews. Honestly though, I've seen mixed reviews with just about any bullet...

Here is what a 150 LRAB does to a deer at 125 yards when fired from a 270SS at 3142' The deer ran 200 yards with a center shoulder shot and the bullet BARELY got into the vitals. I think they would work well at long range, but I think I am done with them.

 

[toddc]

Here is what a 150 LRAB does to a deer at 125 yards when fired from a 270SS at 3142' The deer ran 200 yards with a center shoulder shot and the bullet BARELY got into the vitals. I think they would work well at long range, but I think I am done with them.
View attachment 68299

Deer looks pretty dead.

 

[toddc]

Here is what a 150 LRAB does to a deer at 125 yards when fired from a 270SS at 3142' The deer ran 200 yards with a center shoulder shot and the bullet BARELY got into the vitals. I think they would work well at long range, but I think I am done with them.
View attachment 68299

Actually that is pretty scary. A 150gr 270 has a pretty good SD. I rely heavily on SD when figuring prospective performance and would figure most 150gr 270 would shoot thru a deer no matter the construction. Just goes to show that when flinging lead and copper at high speeds a lot of different results can occur.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Here is what a 150 LRAB does to a deer at 125 yards when fired from a 270SS at 3142' The deer ran 200 yards with a center shoulder shot and the bullet BARELY got into the vitals. I think they would work well at long range, but I think I am done with them.
View attachment 68299

Glad you recovered the deer, Rich. I'm also glad to see I'm not the only person to have an Accubond fail. I had a regular 110 Accubond fail from my .257 Wby. at around 100-125 yards. Mine was not overly explosive, but the opposite, it did not expand. The doe ran nearly 75 yards, and we're lucky we found her right at dark.