7 SAUM vs 7 Rem Mag

[N2TRKYS]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. i'm looking at building a hunting rifle in 7 mm. I'm trying to decide between a 7 SAUM in a R700 LA with a 24" barrel or a 7 Rem Mag. I'm wanting to shoot 168 or 180 Berger bullets. I would be using this rifle for whitetails in Alabama and hopefully elk/mule deer out West. Which one would y'all choose and why? Thanks for any info.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I would go with the 7mm RemMag. Mine hammers whitetails with Berger 168 VLD's. I'm pushing them over 3,100 fps out of a 26" barrel, and it hits them like a lightning strike.

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[trebark]

given the choice between 7rem mag and 7saum...doesn't matter. They will both shoot 168 and 180grain bullets just fine.

Personally, I like http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-7saum-hawk-hill-custom-135561/

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Not a lot of difference between the two BUT in the future I'll take my chances on 7 RM brass be available without question long after you can't find SAUM brass, or buy a 1000 saum casings and have em' on the shelf....both are outstanding big game cartridges and long range bangers, load either with those long slender missiles and your set out to a thousand !!

 

[fmajor]

I've no experience with the 7mmSAUM so take my opinion despite it's limitations.

Of the two, I'd choose the 7mm Rem Mag all day, every day and twice on Sunday.

They are similar enough ballistically with the edge going to the 7mm Rem Mag. If I'm wrong here please correct me!

However, the 7mm SAUM can use a shorter receiver making for a shorter, lighter nicer handling rifle all else being equal.

I just read a similar thread here in comparing the 7mm Rem and the 7mm Weatherby Mags. What was interesting was the discussion revolved not so much about the slightly greater velocity potential of the Weatherby over the Rem Mag.

The discussion became mostly about ammo and/or reloading components. In this regard, the 7mm Rem Mag has a clear advantage in availability.

However, a good point was made that since the 7mm Weatherby is not as popular there may be a greater potential to source ammo/components for it as it is "looked over", a less popular chambering.

Otherwise, the 7mm Rem Mag brass is available in vastly greater quantity and quality as well as at better prices. Powders, primers and bullets are all similar, but brass availability is tantamount and the 7mm SAUM isn't nearly as popular as the 7mm Rem Mag.

 

[coyotezapper]

I own both. Contrary to what the gun hacks tell you loaded to the same pressure with the same bullet the 7RM is faster. They are both excellent. The SAUM in a LA is what mine is built on and OAL with heavy bullets is not an issue.

 

[Upstatepe]

I would go with the 7mm RemMag. Mine hammers whitetails with Berger 168 VLD's. I'm pushing them over 3,100 fps out of a 26" barrel, and it hits them like a lightning strike.

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What recipe do you use? I am looking for a load using the same bullet. I am not sure what powder to use. All help very much appreciated.

 

[jjmp]

MR205 , isn't around as of 9/8/21, but I'm sure he used the best powders available back in 2015,H1000, Retumbo, Imr 7828,older loading manuals cover only cover so many yrs , but if kept in Oder can reveal lots of info. Fortunately now we still have great powders , although their harder to come bye, happy reloading , cheers .

 

[Phil Rizzo]

What recipe do you use? I am looking for a load using the same bullet. I am not sure what powder to use. All help very much appreciated.

I'd try H4831/H1000
R23/26
N565
More than one of these will work.

No experience with others, in my 7SS.
These are all temp stable but R26 can get wild over 80-85 deg.

 

[Scythe]

I owned a 7 SAUM and brass was hard to get and then it wasn't.
That thing loved R26 and Hornady 175gr ELDX, it was also very accurate with H1000 under a Berger 168gr VLD Hunter.

That said, I would probably go with the 7RM becuase of brass, as has been said. The 7 SAUM is practically a Wild Cat cartridge anymore not that there is anything wrong with those either, I own a 338SS

 

[Rick Richard]

I'll stick with my 7SAUM running in a 22" barrel with H1000 and Berger EH 175.

 

[Jakeweb09]

Nothing wrong with either but I would go Saum without a doubt. Less powder, less recoil, and it'll do all you ask it to do. It's also a very forgiving cartridge and will hold a tune longer, with less throat erosion overtime. For mostly white tails both are probably overkill but Saum less so, and it's 1000% capable on elk at distances longer then most should be shooting. Brass is not an issue here either, while 7rm might be more common it's not been difficult to get Saum brass for a few years now. Also as Rick said above it thrives in a shorter barrel so if you wanna run suppressed it's perfect.

 

[jseandsje]

Just a thought, not trying to talk you out of anything………
East of the Mississippi deer

7mm-08 - it is probably the best of the -08 cartridges.

W760, 168 VLD. 2700 fps

You got all the velocity and energy you need to 750 yds.

And it won't blow'em apart at 100 yards.

I loaded 168 vld's at 3020 for a late friends 7 mag, and the first doe he harvested, at 90 yards, quartering away, lost its offside shoulder, completely

Loaded for his son's 7mm-08 - perfect - same drop now reaction, but not the grenade that the 7 mag gave. ………

But if I had to pick between your 7 mag and 7SAUM, if I was shooting 1000 yards, the SAUM may be a little more accurate. But if that's not you game, the 7 mag all the way. It is built to hunt.

 

[Kimber7man]

I'm guessing that since the OP posted this in 2015, he's probably already decided and done….