The local emporium has a couple left over Model Sevens in .300 SAUM, blued metal in the brown laminate stock, 22" barrel with open sights. They're marked at $399. They sure do look and feel good....., I know factory ammo can be hard to find and is relatively pricey ($35/box at the same store), I do reload. I don't need one of these (that never figures much into any of my equations!) - what's y'alls opinions on these rifles? Anyone have one? How's the recoil as compared to say a standard weight 30-06? Should I grab one up or walk away???

Gees...

Do they have any 7mm SAUM's at that price?

Nope....., only a couple of the 300's.

My hunting buddy bought one for his uncle that I have shot. Of course recoil is stout, not unbearable but about what you'd expect when you launch a faster bullet from a lighter gun.

IIRC he said his example did not feed well. Accuracy was good to very good. I'd make up a dummy round somehow and see if they'll let you check the feeding before buying. Otherwise it's a nice handling hunting package.

$399 is less than wholesale, so I'd consider buying 1 (maybe more than 1) and consider building a 25 SAUM.

Jeff

I like the last idea, 257, 264 could be very interesting and at $399 is a cheap way to start

If you're a reloader, I'd snag it in a heartbeat. Can still get brass for it - buy enough to be set for a long time and go kill stuff with it. No flies on the 300 SAUM. Recoil can be quite subjective when comparing stock design etc., but all things being equal, the 300SAUM will have a little more snap but nothing you'll need to rush out and have a turd installed on the end of the tube...:)

Case length is 2.035", just like the .308 case. You really aren't handicapped with a factory 2.82" mag box unlike the chamberings based off the 7x57 and 284 designs.

With Remington, Nosler, and Norma all making 300 SAUM brass, you're more than covered in that arena.

Best be gettin' while the gettin's good.

Al

My first thought exactly! I love my Seven 7mm SAUM.
No first hand experience with the 300 but the 7mm is great.

How many of these left overs do they have?

I have one I dropped in a McMillan. Recoil of course is subjective and many factors contribute to felt recoil... but the example I have feels similar to my 30-06.

At $399, I'd get one if I were you. Should you loose interest, you could always resale later on down the road for what you have in it.

I bought one for that price and it is perhaps my new favorite rifle. I have loaded 110 thru 180 grain bullets and achieved fantastic accuracy with all of those bullets weights on load work up (I did have to go back with 150's a second time). The platform is not necessarily light but certainly handy. I bought a 7SAUM after buying this to make a 257 SAUM and shot the 7mm first, needless to say I still have a 7 SAUM.

I do not find the recoil objectionable and the laminate stock may make that more pleasant vs the synthetic. It would make a nice 350 rem with the sights on it also.

Only one way to fix that.......<grin>

Oh what the heck....., I'm grabbing me up one of them things. Reckon if it turns out not being right for me, I could just sell it or maybe find someone to trade for a standard M7 caliber.

I'd grab one and get it rechambered in a WSM.

i have a 300 SAUM and I am keeping it a 300 SAUM. I love it.

Or rebarrel it to some fun wildcat like the 6.5 saum, or 35 saum..

I think it depends on where you hunt,for what,what guns you have that are similar, & how much of a gun afficinado(sp?) you are. You've already got the reloading covered, without that I'd say no. I look at it sorta like a beefed up 30-06. It will be in a handy platform in the Mod 7. They have been marked down & the chambering is on the way out. I have a 300WSM in a fairly light gun & the recoil is in the 30-06+ range. Of course a reloader can operate in the range he wants.

I could be happy with one but since I am covered all around it I doubt if I'd buy one for much less than $400 unless I wanted a project rifle/action. I'm on a black rifle kick at the moment.

>My hunting buddy bought one for his uncle that I have shot.<

You have shot his uncle? Bet that made him mad.

Any other thoughts or opinions on this 300 SAUM? I guess I'm still a little leary of ending up with a nice rifle that I can't get factory ammo for or that's hard to find brass for? Common sense says walk away from it......but I keep going back!

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=114148

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=867989

The benefit of the platform is that it is a chamber reamer away from a 300 WSM. If you are a dedicated handloader then no problems. Mine has never seen factory ammo. I happen to have a spare set of SAUM dies if you buy it. Brass will be available, look at the 45-70, that was dead 75 years ago.

Well, I ended up with one of those $399 Model 7 300 SAUMs...., now it's time to gather up a few reloading supplies.

I sent you a PM supercrewd.

RL15 is good for 125-168gr pills.

H414 has proven the best performer for me in all bullet weights. I don't remember if I have used RL15, although I am a fan.

I have some 300 SAUM RCBS dies I'll let go. My SAUM turned into a 350 mag. $25.00 shipped

Also have a Stoney Point COL case, now called a Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gage Modified Case for $5.00

Before it's rebirth mine liked Varget and 168 TSX's or 165 PT's and 4350.

Try the 4350's for 180's. I tried all three - H, IMR, AA. It liked all three but AA the best.

One nice thing about a 300 Shorts is the starting loads in the manuals are very useful as they make a great deer load.

I used a starting load of IMR 4350 and some 165 speers (both of which I have lots of laying around) and got a nice comfy load that shoots real well. Its strange how taking just 200fps off takes all the sharpness out of the recoil. Its a load I could shoot all day both from the perspective of recoil and cost.

I bump up the charge to max and use a 165 TSX and I am set for next years foray to Utah.

Mine loves 150 grain Accubonds using 59 grains Hodgdon Varget powder at 3133 Feet Per Second.

I am taking it with me deer hunting in the Texas Panhandle this year and we will see how she does there.

Thanks for all the feedback and load advice guys! I picked up a couple boxes of factory ammo, I'll get me some dies, and I'll be set. I'll keep my eyes open for any extra brass too. It's a nice rifle, looks good and feels great in my hands. Now I'll see how it shoots! Thanks again.

I love it it says it all