6.5mm SAUM

[macguru]

Apparently according to the web you can burn 60+ grains of 2217 in one of these, , get 140s up to 3150-3200fps and 1/4 moa accuracy with 2000+ barrel life ....... so there is a santa clause !


My question therefore is: Has anyone tried a 6.5 saum yet or am i going to be the lucky first to order a reamer ??

[willow]

Hi Andrew, I believe there's a guy down in Canberra who makes Wombat Ordnance chassis (AI clones) running one of these. Greg Turlington is his name.

[williada]

Andrew, speed kills. Go for it. Interested to see the upper node group size.

[shooter mcreid]

2000+ barrel life seems a little optimistic. I'm definitely interested.

[jasmay]

Are these being used for hunting or target? I could see 2000 from a hunter....

[AlanF]

2000+ barrel life seems a little optimistic...

My 6.5-284 barrels varied between about 1200 and 1800 rounds life, and that was with 140s between about 2900 and 3000, so more than a little optimistic IMO . After using a 7mm for about 6 barrels, I would never go back to a fast 6.5 for target shooting, but for hunting medium size game barrel life is much less of a concern.

[Tim N]

Maybe the anneal count was meant to be barrels
I am considering a hot 6.5 with a muzzle brake for a varminter but it will only be used occasionally.
If you build one it will be good to get a local/realistic opinion.

[plumbs7]

This has already been tried ? 6.5x284 Norma . It had reputation as a barrel burner !??
6.5 Saum Good hunting cal though !??

[BRETT B]

I don't see the 6.5 SAUM having much more than 500-700 rounds usable barrel life for Target shooting throwing that much powder down a 6.5 bore. Hunting would be a different story.

I use 49 gn 2217 in my 260AI and I will still re chamber after about 1200-1300 rounds to keep throat fresh...

[Matt P]

I think everyone should have one !!!
Must remember to order a few 6.5 barrels, might need a few
2000 rounds from a 6.5 SAUM, how many rechambers !!!

[Elwood]

I had one that I never did get to shoot any sense, I pulled the barrel after 600 rounds and gave up. I'm not saying it doesn't work, but it didn't for me. On bore scoping the barrel I had fire cracking but nothing more than I would expect. I would have put it on par with what I would expect from a 7 WSm after the same round count.My powder of choice was N165, a very cool burning powder. The figures published for velocity are very realistic, in my case I would say they are conservative.

I would dearly love to try the caliber again and maybe one day I will, there's certainly plenty of people in the US that like it. The secret of the barrel life if there is one is the pressure generated is on par to that of the .308. 50-55 psi when run at 3050 fps.

There's a whole lot written about it on the Snipers Hide.

http://ukvarminting.com/forums/topic/22311-65-4s-saum/

[KHGS]

Apparently according to the web you can burn 60+ grains of 2217 in one of these, , get 140s up to 3150-3200fps and 1/4 moa accuracy with 2000+ barrel life ....... so there is a santa clause !


My question therefore is: Has anyone tried a 6.5 saum yet or am i going to be the lucky first to order a reamer ??

I have a reamer & I have done some as hunting rifles, but as Matt said, better buy several barrels, about 600 to 800 rounds for target accuracy.
Keith H.

[gregt]

I've got one with almost 1200 rounds through it now. I shot it in a comp today with some fairly decent groups at 900m thru 600m. It's not a dedicated target rifle but is very accurate for what it is. The barrel is a 24" 1:8 twist 3 groove Lilja that had already done 500 or so rounds as a 260 Rem.

I'm shooting 130gr Berger hunting VLD's at 3280fps with 63gr of 2217 and BR2 primers so it's pretty flat shooting, 6 mils at 900m. The case have just done their 11th time through and I culled out around a dozen from the original lot which had slightly loose primer pockets. I anneal and full length size the cases each loading and so far no split necks or the like but it's probably time to prep some new ones. The cases are Remington 7mm SAUM necked down and turned to suit a .296" neck. I've trimmed them once just to even them up.

The barrel has a little heat cracking on the lands but hasn't really eroded, I'm still running the same OAL and haven't had to stretch it out to find the lands, it's still within a thou or 2 of where it started. It really is an impressive cartridge for something that mag feeds well in a short action with not much recoil and fairly decent barrel life. I reckon the barrel could be set back a little after another few hundred and keep going. Just my opinion after using it for a while but I'm impressed.