6.5 SAUM or 7mm Rem SAUM

[LRH]

I just purchased a Winchester style action with a 300WSM bolt face for a build I'd like to complete. Was wondering if anyone had any recommended calibers? I've seen on a variety of pages that the bolt face is compatible with 300WSM, 270WSM, 7MM WSN, and a number of others to include 6.5 SAUM or 7mm Rem SAUM, of which the last two are the most interesting to me because I've read they have longer barrel lives than the standard WSM's and their ballistics are better.

Of the two, 6.5 SAUM or 7mm Rem SAUM, does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions? It seems finding brass for the 6.5 SAUM is next to impossible (but you can neck them down from 270WSM or another cartridge), but brass is readily available for the 7mm Rem SAUM.

Which has a longer barrel life? Which is the better long range hunting round (deer, elk).

Plan is to put either a Krieger, Criterion, Brux, or Rock Creek barrel on it. Any suggestions about barrels, countour, rifling, etcetera would be well received.

Thanks.

 

[Bart B.]

The more powder burned for a given caliber, the less barrel life it has.

Did a study of Sierra Bullets test barrels and those of top ranked competitors for barrel life. For best accuracy, all caliber's lives were about 3000 rounds when charge weight in grains had the same number as bore cross section area in square millimeters; bore capacity. Double the charge weight and lives were one fourth as much, 750 rounds. Increase charge weight by 1.4 times and barrel life is 1500 rounds; half as much. Example, 308 Win has bore area and capacity of about 46 and 3000 round barrel life. 300 Wby Mag burning 92 grains of powder, 750 rounds of match barrel life.

The standard for match grade barrels was 1/4 MOA average groups at short range when new, then opening up to 3/8 MOA average. Hunting barrels start at 3/4 to 1 MOA then die at 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 MOA around 6000 rounds. Service rifles twice the group sizes as that of hunting ones, 9000 round lives.

Hotter burning powders give 10% to 15% less life than cooler ones.

I'd pick the 7mm Rem SAUM as the best compromise

 

[TC260]

I have a Tikka 270 wsm that's waiting to be a project (hunting/range toy) and have been kicking the tires on the same rounds. I've more or less decided that whenever the project goes forward it'll be a 7 SAUM as well as I think it'll probably make the best compromise of hunting effectiveness, recoil, barrel life, etc.

 

[Preacher]

6.5 SAUM is just 7mm SAUM necked down, the 270 WSM don't work for that.
Norma brass is readily available in 7SAUM......
Love the 7mm SAUM, but not as much as the 6.5 SAUM.......

 

[R.Morehouse]

7mm has some new very high bc options. I think if i was going to build one i would go that route.....

 

[nakneker]

I built a 7mm Saum a couple of years ago. It was chambered to shoot 180s. I it like enough that I will be putting my 280AI up for sale and building a second rifle in 7 Saum. I based my decision on the 7mm caliber guide on this site. I like shooting less powder and being right behind the WSM. My rifle is built on a stiller, HS stock, Brux #4 fluted. The recoil is not bad with out a brake. I'm using the 180 VLDs. I just returned from Africa a couple days ago and used the rifle on everything from Impala to Eland, 18 animals, one required a follow up shot and that was my fault. Both the 6.5 and the 7mm enjoy a huge variety of bullets to choose from. The norma brass has been excellent. I don't think you can wrong with either one.

 

[LRH]

What is the longest range hunting shot that anyone has ever taken with the SAUM's or the 7mm WSM? There are some videos on yootoob that show guys taking 1100 to much longer shots on game and targets with all of those rounds.