Finnaly my 7mm SAUM is alive.

[trucraft]

This rifle has been a long time in the making.
I started putting cash in an envelope at the back of my ammo safe about 5 years ago to fund a new rifle.
A lot has happened over those years that took it's toll on the on that envelope!
I put a ring on my fiance, had a baby and bought a family car

It got to the point that I had to take the first step towards this project or risk it never happening.

I wanted something with a little more punch than my .243 and was capable of dropping larger deer at any sensible range here in the UK and abroad if I was lucky enough to head overseas in the future.

I spent many evening reading and researching calibers and in the end the RSAUM seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately over here it not a common caliber and so no factory rifles or ammo. Even finding a smith 12 months ago with a reamer was hard work.
I decided to source and assemble the parts myself once I found a good gunsmith to chamber a barrel.

I found Mic at Dolphin Rifle who had an amazing rep and a ton of Kreiger barrels on the shelf with a saum reamer ready to roll.

After playing with a few custom actions that a mate had to hand I ordered a Borden Alpine Magnum bolt face from Precision Rifle Services the uk importer of Jims actions.

So to cut a long story short this has been a long 14 months to put my first custom together but I think it has been worth it. But I will only know for sure once I see how she shoots.

Sorry photos are so big. Not sure how to shrink!





Borden Alpine SA
Krieger 25" 1 in 9 twist, #6 contour .750 at muzzle. Chambered 7mm saum.
Mcmillan A3-5 Duracoat, 4 colour Flecktarn style with matt lacquer.( Not sure if I like the paint so may re do it myself)
CG Trigger - and Jewel (will try both and see which I prefer)
Rings,34mm Third Eye Tactical
20 MOA base - Third Eye Tactical
Surgeon bottom metal
AI .308 mag modified with the front plate removed and feed lips opened out. Done after photo.
Kahles 6x24- 56 Scope

Total weight as photoed below is 13.5LBS.





No time to get to the range yet but my plan is to find a load for the 168grn Bergers and 160grn Accubonds.
I have access to plenty of Norma 300 saum brass, H1000 and a tub of RL25.
Any feedback on loads etc appreciated.

 

[Derek M.]

Very nice! Good for you finally obtaining your finished rifle. Not sure how powder availability is over there but can you get some Re22? Any VV N165 or N560? I'd try those powders as well. Good luck on the loads.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Wow...gorgeous rifle. With a krieger barrel in 1:9 in, I don't think youll have too many problems finding a 168 grain load. Keep us posted on any developments.

 

[trucraft]

Very nice! Good for you finally obtaining your finished rifle. Not sure how powder availability is over there but can you get some Re22? Any VV N165 or N560? I'd try those powders as well. Good luck on the loads.

We have good supplies of Vit over here and I do have a tub of N560 but have been warned it's a barrel burner.

Is there any reason that RL22 might have the edge over RL25?

 

[Derek M.]

We have good supplies of Vit over here and I do have a tub of N560 but have been warned it's a barrel burner.

Is there any reason that RL22 might have the edge over RL25?

Fear not about burning a barrel. From the shooters I know who have the caliber, there's just not enough case capacity to worry about burning the throat. And that is the same reason Re22 might be your ticket, case capacity with a mid-range wt bullet. I have used 22 and 25 for over 10 years and in the short mag cases, Re22 has almost always produced better velocity and accuracy, especially in the 7SAUM and WSM cases.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Fear not about burning a barrel. From the shooters I know who have the caliber, there's just not enough case capacity to worry about burning the throat. And that is the same reason Re22 might be your ticket, case capacity with a mid-range wt bullet. I have used 22 and 25 for over 10 years and in the short mag cases, Re22 has almost always produced better velocity and accuracy, especially in the 7SAUM and WSM cases.

+1...there was a really good article on 6mmbr.com about throat erosion and it is based more on how fast you shoot and number of rounds you shoot in a certain time period. The author was able to burn out a barrel with a .243 win in one session!! With the wsm/saum there's clearly not a large concentration of powder like the RUMs.

 

[ramrod79]

Very nice rig , I also went with a SAUM but yours looks way nicer than mine turned out, I hope it shoots well for you, great caliber!!

 

[Edd]

Did Krieger flute that barrel?

 

[trucraft]

Did Krieger flute that barrel?

No barrel was fluted by Mic -http://www.dolphinguncompany.co.uk/index.php/services/barrel-fluting.


Thanks for the powder recommendations guys.
As this is a 90% hunting rig I'm not going to get too wrapped up in saving barrel life.
I don't want to get too court up in chasing that ultimate load and trying 10 different powders/bullets. Though I enjoy load testing i'm keen to sort out a load and then get out and get my dope and enjoy the rifle.
I'll pick 2-3 powders and try to find the best balance of availability, velocity, accuracy and low ES.

Christmas being so close i'm not sure I will get to the range any time soon. Maybe boxing day

 

[kiwi3006]

Nice rifle. In my 7 SAUM I am using the 162 a-max and 65gr H1000, federal 215 primer, Nosler custom brass. I'm only getting 2816fps but it is a factory 22" tube.
Mine is the Rem Model 7 version, recently took a red hind at 450yds with it.

 

[Truc]

Good looking rifle and caliber choice of course. I have a 7 SAUM Stiller Custom and its go to load is 60gr H-4831 for the 168 Berger and 58gr for the 180 Berger. My wife took a deer last night with the 180, DRT with a neck shot at 120 yds.

 

[trebark]

Beautiful rifle. Like you, I will be building a 7saum soon. (it's actually in the works now). Rather than the 168grain bullets, consider the 180grain Berger hybrid and Retumbo.

Also, you should definitely worry about burning out the throat. The 7 saum is an overbore cartridge and if you put continuous rounds down the barrel without letting it cool some between rounds, you will burn it out.

 

[trucraft]

Beautiful rifle. Like you, I will be building a 7saum soon. (it's actually in the works now). Rather than the 168grain bullets, consider the 180grain Berger hybrid and Retumbo.

Also, you should definitely worry about burning out the throat. The 7 saum is an overbore cartridge and if you put continuous rounds down the barrel without letting it cool some between rounds, you will burn it out.

Your right if shot hard or hot I'm not likely to get to 1000 round without considerable loss of accuracy.
I don't plan on firing long sting so the barrel heats too much.
I did consider the 180's but at the ranges I will be using it most, 168's will loose little to their bigger bothers.
I had the throat set with the 160's and 168's in mind so I can still feed from my modified Mags.
That said it's not a major job for a smith to cut the throat a little longer if I change my mind.

 

[trebark]

Your right if shot hard or hot I'm not likely to get to 1000 round without considerable loss of accuracy.
I don't plan on firing long sting so the barrel heats too much.
I did consider the 180's but at the ranges I will be using it most, 168's will loose little to their bigger bothers.
I had the throat set with the 160's and 168's in mind so I can still feed from my modified Mags.
That said it's not a major job for a smith to cut the throat a little longer if I change my mind.

You're right, if you're shots are limited in distance then the 160class bullets are a good choice as their speed overcomes what they give up in BC to the 180. But when the range gets loooong the BC of the 180 will take-over.