7 SAUM load help

[matchbook454]

I’m shooting a 7 SAUM - 25” Brux #5, Defiance XM length action. I’m loading ADG brass with Reloder 26, Fed 210’s, and 180 Berger Hybrids. 62.6 grains gives me a node at 3000 FPS. Getting 1/2 moa with these. Just wondering if anyone can steer me closer to the next lowest node? Looking to see if I can possibly get some better groups even if I have to give up a little speed.

 

[rhovee]

Try Fed 215 primers. But next node is about 2900.

 

[matchbook454]

Try Fed 215 primers. But next node is about 2900.

Thanks. Was getting pretty good ES with the 210’s and virgin brass. All virgin brass is now FF so we will see what I get now but think I’ll be good. Prefer to stick with 210’s.

 

[Longrange57]

I’m shooting a 7 SAUM - 25” Brux #5, Defiance XM length action. I’m loading ADG brass with Reloder 26, Fed 210’s, and 180 Berger Hybrids. 62.6 grains gives me a node at 3000 FPS. Getting 1/2 moa with these. Just wondering if anyone can steer me closer to the next lowest node? Looking to see if I can possibly get some better groups even if I have to give up a little speed.

59.9 H1000, S/B primer, 180 vld jam .005 gets 2925 fps from 30 inch 8.5 tw Krieger.
2.0 inch groups 600 yards....it has shot smaller but average of 48 groups is 2.031 inches.
Currently the best shooting caliber I own. Speed is far over rated.

 

[matchbook454]

59.9 H1000, S/B primer, 180 vld jam .005 gets 2925 fps from 30 inch 8.5 tw Krieger.
2.0 inch groups 600 yards....it has shot smaller but average of 48 groups is 2.031 inches.
Currently the best shooting caliber I own. Speed is far over rated.

I agree with speed being over rated. I’d take small groups like that any day for 100 FPS or so!

 

[Deleted calshipbuilder]

210s work fine in the 7saum. 2920ish is usually a node for me. I wouldn't go any slower. You may want to try H1000 and 4831SC.

 

[taylorw]

I’m shooting a 7 SAUM - 25” Brux #5, Defiance XM length action. I’m loading ADG brass with Reloder 26, Fed 210’s, and 180 Berger Hybrids. 62.6 grains gives me a node at 3000 FPS. Getting 1/2 moa with these. Just wondering if anyone can steer me closer to the next lowest node? Looking to see if I can possibly get some better groups even if I have to give up a little speed.

Is this a hunting rifle? If so, I’d stay at the 3K node and try different primers. If your using it for target purposes, I’d drop down to the ~2900 node and try a faster powder, if available, like RL23 (you will possibly see better day to day consistency at the lower node, with faster burn rate powders). You’ll know if a powder burn rate is too slow, when the rifle does well one day and then throws wide flat groups the next time out. Don’t be too concerned with ES.. More times than not, my best tunes usually run between 11-15 ES at 1K yds.

With RL26 & 180’s, your velocities are in the right spot for a 25” barrel. I ended up at 3015fps with my 2nd 26” barrel using RL26 & 180VLD’s and ~2920 at the low node.
As far as primers go.. There’s no universal primer. Let your receiver/barrel tell you what to use. You’ll pull your hair out trying to force feed it.. I always try as many as I can, early on in testing, and one will alway stand out over the rest, both in group size/consistency and node width.

Out of the popular 4, both of my Saum barrels preferred BR2’s. Group sizes varied between 2” down to 1/2” at 200 yds, when testing the 4 brands, so it makes a huge difference.

 

[matchbook454]

Is this a hunting rifle? If so, I’d stay at the 3K node and try different primers. If your using it for target purposes, I’d drop down to the ~2900 node and try a faster powder, if available, like RL23 (you will possibly see better day to day consistency at the lower node, with faster burn rate powders). You’ll know if a powder burn rate is too slow, when the rifle does well one day and then throws wide flat groups the next time out. Don’t be too concerned with ES.. More times than not, my best tunes usually run between 11-15 ES at 1K yds.

With RL26 & 180’s, your velocities are in the right spot for a 25” barrel. I ended up at 3015fps with my 2nd 26” barrel using RL26 & 180VLD’s and ~2920 at the low node.
As far as primers go.. There’s no universal primer. Let your receiver/barrel tell you what to use. You’ll pull your hair out trying to force feed it.. I always try as many as I can, early on in testing, and one will alway stand out over the rest, both in group size/consistency and node width.

Out of the popular 4, both of my Saum barrels preferred BR2’s. Group sizes varied between 2” down to 1/2” at 200 yds, when testing the 4 brands, so it makes a huge difference.

I’ll see if I can try some other primers. I’ve got a good supply of 210m’s and 210’s. We all know how hard primers are to get right now though. I’m not too dissatisfied with my groups now. But during break in with a reduced charge - 61.5 grains I think of RL 26 I had .2 and .3” groups. This was with virgin brass as well. All my brass is now fire formed so I’m hoping the 1/2” comes down to .4-.3????? I’d be happy and leave it alone if so. Going to shoot tomorrow. Giving HBN one more chance as well. Hope to come back without pulling my hair out!

 

[RDavies]

I also agree with going for a faster powder, especially with the 25" barrel. Even with 31!-32"barrels, my F class SAUMs go better (more accurate and more consistent, with less fouling) with faster powders, even with heavier 183gn bullets.

 

[matchbook454]

I also agree with going for a faster powder, especially with the 25" barrel. Even with 31!-32"barrels, my F class SAUMs go better (more accurate and more consistent, with less fouling) with faster powders, even with heavier 183gn bullets.

What powder would you suggest?

 

[RDavies]

What powder would you suggest?

With 180gn hybrids I had best results with H4350 powder.

 

[Longrange57]

All good recommendations. I also shot incredible groups with 162 eldm, H4831sc, CCI200 primer. Fed 210, 9.5, S/B, CCI200, BR2 were all tested. They will all do well. 7 saum is fairly easy to tune. I will have to say that I got 1000-1100 rds trying to shoot high node with 4831. I still have a barrel shot with H1000 that has just over 1600 rds. and still shoots. Not many folks do that with a saum. With components hard to get, try what these guys have offered up with what is available and see what the barrel likes. I shoot 5 shot groups only. When shooting 20 shot groups on hot days, beware of hot loads. H1000 shoots clean and has been my friend!
A faster powder may very well be the trick with a 25 inch barrel. Try it!

 

[matchbook454]

With 180gn hybrids I had best results with H4350 powder.

I was afraid you’d say that. One of the if not the absolute hardest powder to find right now!