life or death!!!! i just cant decide!!

[brian923]

i am building a 7 mm, but i just cant decide on which cartridge to go with . i think that my top three would br:

7 mm saum, ,the one thats a little higher on the list)

.280 remington, or .280 ackley improved

7 wsm.


i just dont know!!!!!!

which one would you choose and why. thanks, brian

,cost and availibility aside.)

 

[Austin]

What is the purpose.Hunting,br,or F-class.If hunting any will work.Br a 7wsm is the best bet.F-class would be eather a 7wsm or 280 or 280AI.

 

[brian923]

so are you saying that the 7 mm saum is not as accurate as the .280, .280 ai, or the 7 wsm?

after a real hard thinking sesion, and going back and forth, i really like the 7 saum, but i cant find any info on how accurate it is. and with the barrel i have, i can rechamber it to get the 24" barrel needed. but with the other rounds, i have to cut so much of the old chamber that ill only get a 20 inch barrel. is this still okay?

i am wanting to use it for everything from target shooting to hunting. whitetalls, and if i ever get the chance to go out west, mulies, sheep, and elk. maybe even moose.

 

[NeilNE]

I have a Sendero in 7 SAUM, that I shoot in 1K comp. in Iowa, in Varmint class. I have shoot several 12" and less with it. Last year I shoot two 6" groups and I have shot a 5" group. I would go with the 7 SAUM in your 24 inch barrel.

 

[Preacher]

My factory 7mm saum will out shoot every 7mm I have ever had, and that's saying a lot for a hammer forged Remington. I have a custom built 280 Remington that don't shot as well, and a custom .284 that don't either.
It's so good I bought a Ackley reamer for the 7mm saum and plan on chambering a 1 in 9 twist, 30 inch 1.350 Bartlien with it as soon as it shows up, and with any luck it will out shoot the ratty ole factory rifle I really like......
,the way my luck runs it might not, but I can always hope)

 

[Austin]

Im sorry to say nothing for the 7saum,I just have no experience with it.I think a 7wsm has a little more case capacity than the 7saum.Its still a great cartridge tho.The way to go is a 7wsm or 7saum if you want to cut the overall weight of your rifle a little bit and still shoot fast.

 

[FrankintheLaurelMts]

With NORMA now making the SAUM brass I'll bet it'll out preform most of the others quickly..why not just go to .30 cal, better bullets all the way around..something to think about..

 

[brian923]

i think that .30 cal is over rated! now i know that that statement is going to get a lot of blood boiling, but i dont mean to be direspectful. i think that its an awsome round, but.... i also know that many .30 cal lovers are going to the higher b.c. smaller caliber bullets. i also just like to be different. everybody has a .308, or a 30-06. i will have those in my collection one day as well. i just like to have something that not a lot of others have.

 

[chrisj]

With NORMA now making the SAUM brass I'll bet it'll out preform most of the others quickly..why not just go to .30 cal, better bullets all the way around..something to think about..

There are plenty of Excellent 7mm bullets out there now. Sierra's 175 does well @ long-range as well as 180 Bergeres. 168 bergers and Hornady 162 Amax are shooting very well also. I believe JLK/Swampworks makes an excellent 7mm bullet..180 gr if I remember correctly. The 7 Saum will have a little less recoil than the 30 saum and on paper..the 175/180 7mm bullets will outperform the 30 cal. bullets. You won't get the heavy 30 cal. bullets to go fast enough from the 30 Saum to beat the 7mm version.

Chris

 

[StephenPerry]

Brian
First I think you are a nut. What flavor I don't know. But so are most of us about picking a caliber. First up 7mm is a top caliber but if you truly want an all-around caliber I think you want to go 30 cal. As old as it is getting the .308 is a top choice among factory rifles. You are are looking at .280 which is my top choice in hunting cartridges my only concern is finding decent bullets for reloading.
As far as accuracy or target work this depends on whether you can handle the man sized trigger that most big bores come with. Lighter triggers will prompt you to move up on the stock and pow there goes your nose.
Whichever way you go Brian take care of the barrel. Aggressive un-guided cleaning is worth nothing and will endanger a nice chamber job.
My feeling is you have already made your decision and are looking for compassion. Hard to make the wrong choice in what your choices are limited to.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR