7WSM or 7SAUM?

[CaNINE]

ok so I know brass availability is scarce for both of these.  The goal is to push 180 hybrids or 175 ELD-X in the 2950 - 3000 FPS range.  I'll be running a 26" 1:8 twist barrel on a long action.  If you have first hand experience with these let me know your opinions.  I've heard the SAUM is pretty easy to load for.  The WSM has more case capacity so in theory has more versatility.  Before I order a barrel I'm going to buy 200 pieces of brass to make sure I can cover the life of the barrel.

[Karl Blanchard]

SAUM will do it.  I'd think brass availability is better with the SAUM over the WSM.  The WSM never really got the backing it deserved imo

[Reidus]

The wsm will do it. If I did it again I'd think about the 7-300wsm and just neck 300wsm brass down. Either round with 180s throated correctly is a pretty tough round to beat without stepping up to the big boomers.

[hogslayer]

There is a good node with H1000 and the 7 saum at 2920-2950 range.  Throating it long is key. If you do a wsm either spec it out for 7-300wsm or 270-wsm.  Difference will be neck diameter of reamer.  7 Saum is a very accurate round.  Lots of F class shooters use it.  A 300 wsm throated long is another very good round.  I built mine on a Defiance XM action.  3.22 max length.  A Tika or long action with HS Precision flush detachable mag feeds very well. 

[CaNINE]

Good stuff guys thanks.  I've given some thought to running the 7mm-270WSM.  A lot of good info here:

http://www.6mmbr.com/7mm284.html

The benchrest and F-Class crowd dig it.

I have a 300WSM with a heavy 26" varmint taper.  I'm throwing 215 Hybrids at just over 2800 FPS using H4831SC.  Could push things more with a different powder but it does what I need it to do.  Great set up.  It's a heavy rig though weighing 13 pounds.  I've humped it around the mountains before and will continue to do so under certain conditions (especially if a horse is carrying it) 

[NWShooter]

I had a custom heavy 7mm WSM built several years back along with a freind. If we both were to do it again. We would both go with a 7mm-.270 WSM.

[b23]

ok so I know brass availability is scarce for both of these.  The goal is to push 180 hybrids or 175 ELD-X in the 2950 - 3000 FPS range.  I'll be running a 26" 1:8 twist barrel on a long action.  If you have first hand experience with these let me know your opinions.  I've heard the SAUM is pretty easy to load for.  The WSM has more case capacity so in theory has more versatility.  Before I order a barrel I'm going to buy 200 pieces of brass to make sure I can cover the life of the barrel.

Just curious, but if you're using a long action, why are you limiting yourself to only the WSM or SAUM?

[CaNINE]

ok so I know brass availability is scarce for both of these.  The goal is to push 180 hybrids or 175 ELD-X in the 2950 - 3000 FPS range.  I'll be running a 26" 1:8 twist barrel on a long action.  If you have first hand experience with these let me know your opinions.  I've heard the SAUM is pretty easy to load for.  The WSM has more case capacity so in theory has more versatility.  Before I order a barrel I'm going to buy 200 pieces of brass to make sure I can cover the life of the barrel.

Just curious, but if you're using a long action, why are you limiting yourself to only the WSM or SAUM?

280AI in an 8 twist was a consideration. However I already have a 280AI Montana and looking to work in a different chambering. This project is for a carry weight stalking rifle for mostly mule deer hunts in Wyoming and Montana with capability to longer ranges if needed.  The larger cased 7’s will be more than I need for this use.  Well at least that’s my thought process.

[hogslayer]

The saum and 280 AI are very very close in case capacity and ballistics. 

[yorketransport]

ok so I know brass availability is scarce for both of these.  The goal is to push 180 hybrids or 175 ELD-X in the 2950 - 3000 FPS range.  I'll be running a 26" 1:8 twist barrel on a long action.  If you have first hand experience with these let me know your opinions.  I've heard the SAUM is pretty easy to load for.  The WSM has more case capacity so in theory has more versatility.  Before I order a barrel I'm going to buy 200 pieces of brass to make sure I can cover the life of the barrel.

Just curious, but if you're using a long action, why are you limiting yourself to only the WSM or SAUM?

That was my first thought too. In a long action I'd probably just do a 7 Rem Mag to keep it easy. I never take the easy route though so I'd just find some obscure case to cram in there, the 7 Dakota and 7 Blaser Mag would be excellent candidates.

Honestly I think I'd go with the WSM (either the 7/300 or standard 7 WSM) in a short action and just have the gun built with a Wyatt's extended mag box. The greater capacity of the WSM case would help offset the shorter OAL of the short action and still hit your performance goals. You should be able to hit 2950 with a 180gr Bullet in a standard WSM with a 2.900" OAL with very little trouble.

[bullfisher]

I have a 300wsm and a 270wsm. The .404 based short mags definitely have the poop down range. That shoulder angle on such a fat case made reloading a little fussy for me. It just took a little extra care and good brass helps. I also started to dislike the rebated rim. Theres just a little learning curve for loading them thats all. I still shoot and reload for both, but my experiences with the short mags made me appreciate the 375 ruger based cases. Not trying to derail ya here, just sharing .. 

[b23]

That was my first thought too. In a long action I'd probably just do a 7 Rem Mag to keep it easy. I never take the easy route though so I'd just find some obscure case to cram in there, the 7 Dakota and 7 Blaser Mag would be excellent candidates.

Honestly I think I'd go with the WSM (either the 7/300 or standard 7 WSM) in a short action and just have the gun built with a Wyatt's extended mag box. The greater capacity of the WSM case would help offset the shorter OAL of the short action and still hit your performance goals. You should be able to hit 2950 with a 180gr Bullet in a standard WSM with a 2.900" OAL with very little trouble.

In a long action I'd go 7mm Blaser Mag myself, but I'm maybe a little bias. 

If weight was something I was trying to keep down or maybe just wanted to use a short action, I'd probably go with either the WSM or SAUM, depending on which one had the best brass quality, and if brass quality was equal for both, I would pick the WSM first followed closely by the SAUM.

[Karl Blanchard]

I know you said you already had a 300wsm but on a heavy platform.  Why not a carry weight 300wsm? Itll do 2950 with extreme ease with a 180 type projectile.  I'm running the 185 vld at 3110.  Played with some 200gr accubonds yesterday and at 68gr (max book) h4831sc they were spitting out at 2962.  No doubt I could push a 200 north of 3k pretty easily

[Mtnwalker]

I am considering similar options right now. Lots to choose from out there these days, the blaser does look interesting. Brass isn’t too bad

[CaNINE]

I appreciate all the thoughts and considerations folks.  Brass is so scarce right now for both WSM and SAUM that I hesitate to order the barrel until I have 200 pieces of brass in hand. 

[Reidus]

300 WSM is awesome like Karl said. The upside to a 7 is the lighter recoil with good ballistics. The 200+ gr bullets in the 300 at 2800-2900 fps are thumpers. I wouldn't want to shoot them without a brake in a carry weight rifle. A 7saum or wsm with 180s would be doable without a brake.

[Karl Blanchard]

300 WSM is awesome like Karl said. The upside to a 7 is the lighter recoil with good ballistics. The 200+ gr bullets in the 300 at 2800-2900 fps are thumpers. I wouldn't want to shoot them without a brake in a carry weight rifle. A 7saum or wsm with 180s would be doable without a brake.

that's why I dont run the big heavies and went to the 185 vld.  The difference between my rig and a .284 180 at 2950 is in a 10mph wind at 1,000 yards is .6 moa of windage less and a 1.4 minutes more drop.