7mm questions

[rstanforth]

Hi all,

I have finally decided to build a heavy 7 but have questions.

I have a Tikka T3x Tac A1, that I am thinking about using. Although the T3x is short or long action, the Tac A1 stock is for SA mags only, so I am trying not to buy a custom, LA mag stock for now.

So my real question is what is the best 7mm Short Action chambering and what can I expect as for bullet weight and the short action mag box?

Please help! LOL!!!

 

[cajun]

7 rsaum. I'm not a Tikka expert I think you can make some modifications to load longer. With the proper throat the saum is a very nice round. What weight bullet are you thinking about?

 

[dmj]

Don't know if it qualifies as a heavy 7 but do agree on the 7mm rsaum. To me it's a pretty pretty impressive cartridge.

 

[rstanforth]

I am not sure which bullets yet. I have some 175gr ELD-M's that I will probably start out with.

A 7mm SAUM is definitely a heavy 7 in my book. I was leaning towards a 7 WSM, bit now I will have to do some investigating!

 

[jseandsje]

Please don't laugh, but unless you are intending to shoot past 600 yards for deer, 500 yards for elk, the 7mm-08 with modern powders and bullets will get it done. If it shoots well,, Staball 6.5 will give velocities unheard of 25,years ago.

The 139 LRX with Staball 6.5 is impressive in the 7mm-08. Will crush bone up close to 600 yards.

 

[Plinker147]

I think about 175gr is about as heavy as for can get effectively out of short action without losing all your case capacity.

 

[rstanforth]

Yep, capacity and COAL are my biggest concerns. So that is why the question. I am building this as an ELR gun to shoot at a friend's quarry. I hunt with my Ruger N o 1 in 280 Remington. I know alot about the 7mm cartridges, just worried about the shorter action.

 

[southpa]

Short action 7 for long range hunting and/or ELR.....the conversation should end with the 7saum, WSM or any one of the sherman 7s. Really don't see any other viable option.

Sure there's other options but non of them really stack up.

 

[cajun]

I am not sure which bullets yet. I have some 175gr ELD-M's that I will probably start out with.

A 7mm SAUM is definitely a heavy 7 in my book. I was leaning towards a 7 WSM, bit now I will have to do some investigating!

The wsm has a little more case capacity. Saum brass is available. Not sure on the wsm. For a while it was scarce.

 

[rstanforth]

I am gonna have to check on that ASAP. Any love for the 7PRC or has it been underwhelming?

 

[dmj]

I have the saum, wsm and the Sherman mag all in the 7mm. The Sherman mag is impressive and it doesn't hurt that the rifle is very accurate. Biggest issue with it is brass, it is fairly expensive. The wsm is the one that I have the most experience with been shooting the Berger 168 in it, has taken several elk all 1 shot kills. Going to try the 143 hammer in it. Recently purchased a suppressor and wanted a short barreled rifle to put it on and that is where the saum comes into play. Haven't had it very long so have not hunted with it yet. Looking at the load data for it and what little I have shot it looks like a very efficient cartridge. The hammer bullets for wsm and the saum are my winter projects.

 

[Krumfola]

I too wanted to stay in a short action so I went with the 7SAUM and have stayed with 162gr ELDMs at 2.92". I have about another 50-60 thousandths if needed before I run out of room in the magazine. At 2.92", I have a slight crunch with 65gr H1000 in ADG brass. Velocity is 2790fps from an 18" barrel.

 

[akmtnhnt]

I am gonna have to check on that ASAP. Any love for the 7PRC or has it been underwhelming?

7PRC is long action.

 

[Russ-T]

7 SAUM.
Although with the Tikka it's just a mag change and a bolt stop. Super easy and cheap to change out. Then you'd be looking at a 280ai. They are almost identical ballistically, but with the 280ai you'll have some factory ammo options.

My 280ai shoots:
175 ELD-Xs at 2850 (faster than factory 7mag)
160LRXs at 2930. (50fps less than 7prc)

You should be able to get the same, maybe even a little more, out of the 7SAUM if it's throated long enough.