7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD New Info

[dzelenka]

I am getting ready to load for a new 7mm SAUM hunting rifle that I had built on a Remington 700 LA. I am planning to use the 180gr Berger VLD hunting bullet. THe chamber is cut long enought to keep the bullet from intruding too deeply in the case (the bearing surface will be in the neck). I plan to try RL 25 first. If it doesn't work, I think I will move to H 1000. My questions are as follows:

1) Where would you start your bullet relative to the lands for load testing? I intend to see if I can identify a good powder charge, then play with seating depth, but I need somewhere to start.

2) What primer would be your first choice for 60.0 - 62.5 grains of RL 25? I was thinking about Fed 210M since the powder charge is not much larger than some .30-06 charges and should not be that hard to ignite (or am I wrong?).

3) Any other suggestions?

I am using weight sorted and preped Remington brass - no turn neck. My contact at Nosler told me the following today so I may look at other options: "Still no word on the 7 SAUM but it does look like there are several brass cartridges ahead of it so it may be a while. Wish I had better news..."

Thank you

Dan

 

[TonyR]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I start my testing with the 180 VLDs 0.010 invhes into the lands. I used BR-2 primers with Nosler brass which I believe is made by Norma. I got good results with IMR7828SSC and H4350. With your shorter barrel and for hunting use, H4350 might be your best choice. I have used it in a couple of other cartidges and it appears to be almost insensitive to temperature changes. N560 gave me the highest MV but it appears to be more temperature sensitive than either 7828SSC or H4350.

 

[dennisinaz]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

If you are looking for velocity and it is a hunting rifle, I would try Magnum and Mag pro. My third choice would be R25. I would suggest Fed 215s with the Ball powders and Alliant powders. Should you use H4831 or H1000, you might get by just fine with regular primers.

When working with a hunting rifle like this, I strive for a high velocity and then tweak it to get the best accuracy I can. I helped a guy with s 270 WSM today that was shoot about 1/2 MOA but only 2900 fps with a 150 Berger. Why???

 

[FroggyOne2]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Dennis,

Many have tried RL25 in the 7mm SAUM and it is too slow for the case, if one was going to use Reloader powder, the better bet may RL22. But it appears that H1000 is a real go to powder for this case and bullet combo. Not everyone is getting good results with H4350 either. Though I am at the moment, I am seriously thinking of changing my load over to H1000 as soon as I can get my hands on some.

 

[gme]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I'm running H1000 in mine, standard primers are giving better chrono numbers than the mag primers.
Gary Eliseo

 

[dzelenka]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Gary,

How much H1000? Also, what is your overall length and where is your bullet seated with respect to the lands? Finally, what brass are you using?

Dan

 

[gme]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Dan,
63.5 to 64 grains of H1000, soft seat the VLD's, jumping the hybrids .030, neck turned Remington brass
Gary

 

[bartman007]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Gary,

I am currently developing loads for the 7mm SAUM, and was surprised when I was filling up the case with powder. Using Berger 180's (VLD and Hybrids).

ADI 2213sc (H4831) was going in with room to spare, at 59 grains and I was running a bit slow at 2860 fps with a 32" Krieger.

However, the powder of choice ADI 2217 which is equivalent to your H1000, was filling the case up to the neck at 64 grains, so I backed it to 63 grains and was getting 2930 fps

Is this considered normal for this case? Or is it because I'm using necked down Norma brass?

 

[gme]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I've not tried the Norma brass, with the Remington brass 64 grains will come almost to the bottom of the neck, my speed with the Berger 180 hybrids is around 2950
Gary

 

[TonyR]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I was able to get over 3000fps from a 28 inch Broughton 5C, Nosler 300SAUM brass necked down, the 180VLDs, BR-2s, and either Norma MRP or IMR7828SSC. The MRP seemed to be a little touchy but gave excellent ES when it was in tune. The 7828SSC has been a very good match powder for me in several cases.

 

[dennisinaz]

7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I am getting 3000 fps with Ramshot magnum and 2950 with R25 in a 7 WSM. I realize that it is a little more voluminous than the SAUM but very similar in general makeup. This is with a 26" barrel. I am using the yellow box 180 Bergers mostly.

I couldn't get the velocity I wanted with 4831 or R17. I think H1000 might be a great powder but i doubt is any better than what I am using now. My biggest gripe is the crappy W-W brass.

 

[dzelenka]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

I was able to get over 3000fps from a 28 inch Broughton 5C, Nosler 300SAUM brass necked down, the 180VLDs, BR-2s, and either Norma MRP or IMR7828SSC. The MRP seemed to be a little touchy but gave excellent ES when it was in tune. The 7828SSC has been a very good match powder for me in several cases.

Tony,

How much of the 7828SSC are you using?

Dan

 

[dennisinaz]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Any news??

 

[dzelenka]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Any news??

I loaded 63.0 - 65.0 H1000 in Nosler cases with WLRM primers under a 180 Berger VLD; however, the weather is not to my liking for testing at 300 yards. I stayed home and made a smoked duck and andouille gumbo for Xmas day. Between that and the cookies, the house smells pretty good.

I will let you guys know how these loads work out. I expect to see pressure before reaching 65.0, but the range is 1.5 hrs away so I figured I would have some just in case.

Dan

 

[dzelenka]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Any news??

I loaded 63.0 - 65.0 H1000 in Nosler cases with WLRM primers under a 180 Berger VLD; however, the weather is not to my liking for testing at 300 yards. I stayed home and made a smoked duck and andouille gumbo for Xmas day. Between that and the cookies, the house smells pretty good.

I will let you guys know how these loads work out. I expect to see pressure before reaching 65.0, but the range is 1.5 hrs away so I figured I would have some just in case.

Dan

I got to the range today. 40 ish degrees, absolutely no wind. I can say that my rifle does not like the H1000 loads I put together. I was able to get all of the way to 65.0 without any marks on the case head; however, the bolt lift was a little stiff. I don't think I would go any higher. All loads shot like crap. most were over 1 MOA.

I think I will try Retumbo next, although I am open to suggestions.

Dan

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

If several powders/charges haven't produced what your looking for change the primer to a WLR or CCIBR2

Around 62 grains of RL-25 has worked good for some with H1000 being very close. I never could get Retumbo to shoot in my 7-300 but H4831 and RL25 have produced the best results so far. I realize your running a 7SAUM but they're close.

I also run my VLD's +.010 to +.020" in

 

[dzelenka]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Mea culpa. I got the calipers out and actually measured the H1000 groups. With the exception of 65.0gr, all of the groups were between .65 and .75 MOA.

When I reached home after work, I loaded 3 rounds each of 64.5, 65.0 and 65.5 Retumbo with a 210M in Nosler brass. I fired them at 100 yards. The groups were .26", .46" and .58". the bigger groups were two touching with one out. This bears further experimentation.

Roscoe, I ordered a Jewell this morning. I am tired of fighting that factory trigger. I am sure some of the size of the groups was due to my having difficulty getting the trigger to break.

I didn't have a chronograph (mine is on the fritz) so I don't know the speed. I will let you know when I find out.

I think this thing is going to be a hammer. I know I can get the accuracy, I would like to get the velocity too.

 

[dzelenka]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

If several powders/charges haven't produced what your looking for change the primer to a WLR or CCIBR2

Around 62 grains of RL-25 has worked good for some with H1000 being very close. I never could get Retumbo to shoot in my 7-300 but H4831 and RL25 have produced the best results so far. I realize your running a 7SAUM but they're close.

I also run my VLD's +.010 to +.020" in

These were +.015" in. Changing the WLRM to 210Ms in the H1000 loads may be a a good thing to try.

At 300 yards, 61.0 RL25 shot pretty well at .3 MOA, but was slow at 2725 fps. From 60.5 to 62.0 were all under .5 MOA.

Dan

 

[flatlander]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Has anyone tried Viht N165 in this application? I'm thinking seriously about getting a Desert Tactical rifle in 7 WSM, and N165 was one of the powders I want to try. I've gotten good accuracy with it & Berger 180 VLDs out of one of my 284s, though I can get more velocity with either H4831 or RL17.

 

[PGS]

Re: 7mm SAUM, 180 gr VLD

Hi Dennis I have used n165 in my 7mm300wsm norma brass I found it to be a good powder for this caliber with 180 hybrids. My load is 65grains give's me 3050fps out of a 31in barrel. please work up your load as this is getting near max in my rifle also using fed 215 primer. Hope this helps