New cartridge for falls deer season

[robtan]

This is purely a want, not a need. My 6CM works fine for putting meat in the fridge. Especially here in California, where the socal mulies are on the smaller side and we are forced to use nontoxic ammo.

The resurgence of brass and info on 7mm SAUM has me thinking it would be a fun barrel to add to the stable. I'd shoot 139LRX's or the Hammer 140 hammer hunter. I see plenty of reports of guys running SAUMs, Ackleys and Mag/PRC but it's been not all that easy finding guys running coppers reporting their findings on the forums.

Anyone around these parts using the saum in a short action, hunting with it and using any of the coppers or even the DRT bullets? Anyone see anything wrong with using the likes of H4350 or IMR 4451 (I've got a fair bit of both) with the SAUM? I checked GRT and seems like both will work fine. I also have H4831sc on supply too.

Oh I should say I am only pursuing Antelope and Deer these days. Putting together an elk hunt with the family stuff aint easy for me.

Thanks

 

[dk17hmr]

I have a 6.5 Sherman short mag and have killed a number of animals (including elk at 500+ yards) with 122gr PVA Cayuga bullets leaving the muzzle at 3400fps.

My 25-06AI with 100gr Barnes TSX at 3550fps has been a killer also on deer and antelope.

300blk with 110gr Barnes Tac at 2250fps worked well for my son's first deer.

6.8spc with 110gr TTSX at 2675fps has accounted for one elk in my freezer.

22-250 with 62gr TTSX at 3550fps on antelope was very effective.

I recently acquired a 6.5 SAUM hunting rifle. I'm planning on testing the 122gr, 120gr Barnes and 120gr Hornady CX.

My 284 Winchester really likes the 140gr TSX at 2950fps but I haven't taken it hunting yet.

I tested the 139gr LRX in my 280 Remington at 2950fps (if I recall correctly) and a 7mm STW at 3200+ fps both were very accurate.

Also have several hundred 130gr 30 cal TTSX here waiting for my kids to start using in a 308.



If there is a potential for a high velocity impact I prefer to use copper especially in my extra speedy rounds. I'm not forced to use mono bullets but I really do like them.

 

[robtan]

I have a 6.5 Sherman short mag and have killed a number of animals (including elk at 500+ yards) with 122gr PVA Cayuga bullets leaving the muzzle at 3400fps.

My 25-06AI with 100gr Barnes TSX at 3550fps has been a killer also on deer and antelope.

300blk with 110gr Barnes Tac at 2250fps worked well for my son's first deer.

6.8spc with 110gr TTSX at 2675fps has accounted for one elk in my freezer.

22-250 with 62gr TTSX at 3550fps on antelope was very effective.

I recently acquired a 6.5 SAUM hunting rifle. I'm planning on testing the 122gr, 120gr Barnes and 120gr Hornady CX.

My 284 Winchester really likes the 140gr TSX at 2950fps but I haven't taken it hunting yet.

I tested the 139gr LRX in my 280 Remington at 2950fps (if I recall correctly) and a 7mm STW at 3200+ fps both were very accurate.

Also have several hundred 130gr 30 cal TTSX here waiting for my kids to start using in a 308.



If there is a potential for a high velocity impact I prefer to use copper especially in my extra speedy rounds. I'm not forced to use mono bullets but I really do like them.

Thanks for this info. I started with a shorter barrel 308 and that really sent me on a path of looking for velocity. While it was a good shot I had very little expansion (granted it was old e tip which desperately needed speed). Settling in on the 6s has been nice for getting suitable velocity out to 400 yards (my max).

Im definitely coming at monos from the other end, having been forced to use them.

What kind of powder are you using on the 6.5ss? I had a prc and was really chasing 2950+ with the 127lrx.

 

[dk17hmr]

I could never get the E-tip to shoot accurately at the velocity I thought was needed. The 85gr in my 6.8s would shoot really well at 2650fps but at 2900+ they would shotgun pattern.

In my 6.5SS (26" barrel) with the 122gr I use h4350, for 140gr class I used H1000, and for 156gr I'm using N565.

My plan right now is to stick with the 156s in my 6.5SS and use 120-140gr in my 6.5SAUM for hunting but still need to test it.

Would like to add a shorter 7mm SAUM barrel to my safe also but it wouldn't do much my 284 and 280 rem aren't already doing.

 

[robtan]

Great thanks for the input. I still have all my 6.5PRC brass and dies and would consider spinning up a barrel to do something like the 130 class of hammer bullets.

I had an old 284 built on a savage and I regret selling it. Grated it was a bench gun, it was just so darn easy and accurate.

 

[muleystalker]

Great thanks for the input. I still have all my 6.5PRC brass and dies and would consider spinning up a barrel to do something like the 130 class of hammer bullets.

I had an old 284 built on a savage and I regret selling it. Grated it was a bench gun, it was just so darn easy and accurate.

You may want to look at the 6.5 PRC/SI Sherman Imp., It matches the 6.5 SS and 6.5 serum velocities but use the PRC brass. I just ordered a reamer last week. They also make a .25 cal version that I may do next, it's impressive also. Im in the same boat as you with the monos living in Ca, thats what Im building this for. My original plan was to use the Badlands bullets they are great but now out of business. So I think I'm going to go with the Chacingas.

 

[30378]

I'm a BIG proponent of the KISS method and highly recommend it for you search for a new caliber. Reading your needs and considerations don't overlook the old school reliable 270 Winchester. It will meet or exceed performance levels of any of the ctgs you mention along with having the capability to take all but the largest bears.

 

[robtan]

I'm a BIG proponent of the KISS method and highly recommend it for you search for a new caliber. Reading your needs and considerations don't overlook the old school reliable 270 Winchester. It will meet or exceed performance levels of any of the ctgs you mention along with having the capability to take all but the largest bears.

Believe me, the 270 and the plain 7rm are high on the list, especially if I use this as the excuse to buy a new rifle rather than a barrel for my existing rig. A 129lrx going 3100fps and having the ability to buy a box in a pinch feels real right with me.

 

[SD guy]

Personally I think that I like your current rifle. I would consider keeping your current rifle & invest in optics or other gear w the funds you were considering for the rifle.

 

[robtan]

Personally I think that I like your current rifle. I would consider keeping your current rifle & invest in optics or other gear w the funds you were considering for the rifle.

Admittedly a bit of this was brought on when I took a bore scope to the barrel. Starting to see some fire cracking. Nothing that’s going to affect hunting accuracy for a while but I clearly was hot ridding my 6cm (I know barrels are consumables but it still hurts). And while the 7saum is no daisy when it comes to barrel burning it felt like a slightly better choice if I were to spin up a new barrel.

But I will say I do very much enjoy the 6cm both for the weight and the results. It really makes sense for a lot of California hunters

 

[K22]

I'm a BIG proponent of the KISS method and highly recommend it for you search for a new caliber. Reading your needs and considerations don't overlook the old school reliable 270 Winchester. It will meet or exceed performance levels of any of the ctgs you mention along with having the capability to take all but the largest bears.

This is very sound advice.

All one has to do is read the exploits of Jack O'Connor to learn that the 270 Win is one of the all-time great cartridges.

In my experience when it comes to hunting, any suitable big game center-fire rifle cartridge will do the job for most North American big game. Although not a popular view, in my experience, the limiting factor is one's ability to shoot accurately under field conditions.

 

[Bill K]

You can never go wrong with either a good 30-06 or 270. They have taken just about every game animal, a good hunter is after, with a good well placed bullet.

 

[krumfola]

The Sherman Short cartridges are intriguing but so pricey to get into. I’ve been really leaning towards 7SAUM but at this point I’m thinking I’m just going to go 6.5prc instead.

 

[Lefty2506]

FWIW, I hunt white tail in Indiana with a 24" upper chambered in 6.5 Grendel. I load the 105gr MKZ made by Cavity Back bullets. I load it over a stout charge of N530 and get over 2800fps out of it. On a good day it has groups around 1/2 moa or a little better. I've had very good terminal results with it out to 300 yds, and that shot was on a decent 8 pt that was quartering away hard. The shot went in right behind the rear rib, went through a lung and the heart, and exited just in front of the off shoulder. I didn't measure the penetration, but it was over 30". Over most of that distance, the organ damage was significant. Towards the end, it was doing more slicing than tearing (one of my favorite aspects of monolithic projectiles). Still, I was very impressed to get a pass through from such a light bullet at that distance. I've taken several deer with that load and have never had a bullet fail to exit. CBB also makes a heavier .264 118gr bullet. Out of a Grendel, it is supposed to have the same load data as a 123gr SST. If you're going to go with a 6.5 PRC, I'd take a long hard look at that 118gr MKZ. If I recall correctly, someone did some testing on both the 105 and 118gr MKZ at 400 yds with a Grendel and found that the 118 actually had better expansion despite the lower impact velocity.

I also use a 30 cal 125gr MKZ in a 300 BO upper, but haven't had a chance to use that one on fur yet. I've been doing well during our early archery season and haven't take as many during firearms season these past few years. The 125 MKZ It shoots accurately out of both a 10.5" and 16" barrel, so I'm sure I'll poke a few with them over the next few years. Unfortunately, CBB doesn't offer any 7mm projectiles. They focus on cartridges that are lacking in the powder capacity department (6 ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8SPC, 300 Blackout), but the bullets should shoot out of bigger cases just the same.

Maker bullets also makes monolithic projectiles, but I haven't used any of theirs on fur. I know a few guys who use their bullets in cartridges like the 458 SOCOM and 450 Bushmaster and absolutely love them. For hunting, I don't like fragmentation because I want a straight wound path, not one that can veer off course. Maker has .264 projectiles in 110gr, 120gr, 130gr, and 140gr. Their 7mm offerings go from 120gr up to 175gr.

Both of these manufacturers use a softer copper alloy that is intended to expand rather than fragment. Having said that, at the speeds you'll get from a 6.5 PRC, loosing a pedal is not out of the question. Out of curiosity, I have asked CBB if they were going to make a heavier 264 projectile that was better suited for larger cartridges on bigger game. They said they were working on one, but that was over a year ago and I don't yet see anything available on their website.