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Why not 7 SAUM F-Class

bks22345

Brian K. Smith
Gold $$ Contributor
I’ve got a new action coming this year with 2 bolts. Thinking of jumping on the magnum band wagon. I’ve been all over the map trying to decide a caliber: 7 PRCW, 7 FCP, 7 BSM, 7 Sherman Short. Three of the above were developed to match a 7 SAUM. There’s at least 4 or 5 online retailers with ADG SAUM brass in stock, so why not just go with a 7 SAUM? Realistically if you’re trying to push the hybrids (180s but maybe 184s) into the 2900-3000 range, I don’t think barrel life will be that much different between them.

This will be for F-open in case the title didn’t give it away

Bks
 
Based on what I saw and heard from friends who tried the SAUM a few years ago, it had more vertical compared to the 284 Win they had been shooting in long strings of fire. Its definitely a great cartridge but if you want to win, you need to have consistency and a cartridge that can hold the X-ring for vertical (0.5 moa) for 20 shots.
 
I went through this about a year ago and chose the TRUE 7PRCW. There are many versions of the 7PRCW that are not 7PRCW because its been altered some by someone who thinks they can tweak it better than Alex. I bought the Alex Wheeler reamer from JGS that is maximized for the 180 berger hybrid and it is really accurate. It is easy to tune. Downside is Alex says you will be disappointed if you go with a different bullet. It has to do with throat diameter and lead angle.

My friend went with 7SS and it is a tack driver and very well supported as far as information etc. Good luck.

OH, check out powder brands that are used for whatever you choose, both cost and availability. Im using vv555 and its available and reasonable so far….
 
FeMan said:
Based on what I saw and heard from friends who tried the SAUM a few years ago, it had more vertical compared to the 284 Win they had been shooting in long strings of fire. Its definitely a great cartridge but if you want to win, you need to have consistency and a cartridge that can hold the X-ring for vertical (0.5 moa) for 20 shots.
Click to expand...
I'm good at generating my own vertical......
 
bks22345 said:
I'm good at generating my own vertical......
Click to expand...
Too funny! When I first started in F-Class, I had vertical issues that were gun handling. About 10% of the shots would pop into the dreaded 9-ring. I spent a year shooting F-Class club level matches just concentrating on vertical and correlating gun handling with on-target results. I shot over 1,000 rounds doing this trying a bunch of different things and recording results. I learned a LOT about what I need to do to keep the shooter-induced vertical in check.
 
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Give Zack Donovant a call (Old Dominion Custom Rifles), I think he said he’s built several 7 SAUM for F class. I’m building a 300 SAUM Improved for F class, it does well for benchrest. Bullets in the 200-210 gn range.
 
I say time to chamber another before you need it. Like everything keep a spare and
have one on standby...and even then you still seem to deplete em before you restock.
Its a vicious cycle.....but hay that's what you get in this sport.....and I still cant find anything better to do with my time.
 
You can save money on barrels by shooting a 308 in FTR. I don’t get to many matches each year, so a 7 saum barrel will last a full season for me.
 
N165 and H1000 are supposed cooler burning powders, which could possibly extend barrel life. But, there are other factors also. How many sighters that you take per string, and how quickly that you shoot your string can have effect. I put roughly 1800 on a 284, and have never pushed one beyond that. I’m gathering equipment to try a 7 saum right now, just waiting on my reamer. You might find a good accurate node that’s not as hot. This can help also.
 
Rainbow1 said:
Is anyone reporting actual better barrel life using say N-165 as compared to say 555?
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I’m using it one 284 Win rifle. I’ve got the little stick on temperature strips on my barrels and it definitely shows it runs cooler than the one I use 4350 and 4831 in. I’ve only got 3 or 400 rounds on it so I cannot say if it will last longer. I bore scoped it last week and the fire cracking is very minimal.
 
bks22345 said:
I’ve got a new action coming this year with 2 bolts. Thinking of jumping on the magnum band wagon. I’ve been all over the map trying to decide a caliber: 7 PRCW, 7 FCP, 7 BSM, 7 Sherman Short. Three of the above were developed to match a 7 SAUM. There’s at least 4 or 5 online retailers with ADG SAUM brass in stock, so why not just go with a 7 SAUM? Realistically if you’re trying to push the hybrids (180s but maybe 184s) into the 2900-3000 range, I don’t think barrel life will be that much different between them.

This will be for F-open in case the title didn’t give it away

Bks
Click to expand...

Bill Kolodziej makes a damn good living in Fclass shooting a 7 SAUM. He gets really good round counts also.
 
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