Need Pricing & Info: Ruger M77 7mm SAUM

[Snareman]

Hey guys!  I'm looking at a new caliber I'm not familiar with.  I saw a Ruger M77 7mm short action ultra mag today.  I then looked at the shells and thought it was an oddity to see a shorter stubby shell like that.  Gun was walnut with blued barrel.

I then went home and checked the ballistics on some 140gr. shells and was impressed.  I now have questions!...

1.)  What does this gun normally sell new for?
2.)  What sort of long range for whitetails do you think it could handle?
3.)  What caliber does this gun have a similar kick to? (I'm thinking "recoil pad!" LOL!)
4.)  Do any of you own(ed) one and what do you think/thought of it?

Also, if you know or can find any links where I can read up and learn more, I'd appreciate it.  I googled very little and couldn't find any places where it is being sold!

Any additional info you can provide would be cool.

Thanks,

Snareman

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Being as the cartridge was stillborn---I wouldn't touch it unless you get the rifle for a song.

Will soon be a "reload only" load---stock up on brass while you can still get it.

The WSM's are dying off already---its an even worse situation with the SAUM's as they never caught on at all.

[Graybeard]

Now I confess to not following Ruger guns very closely but are you certain it was a SAUM not a WSM? I didn't realize anyone but Remington every chambered for the SAUM or for that matter the long versions either.

[Snareman]

The gun is a Ruger M77 7mm saum, ie, short-action-ultra-mag.  I am almost certain the shells for it at the store were made by Remington... 140 grains.  If you go to Remington.com, they have a ballistics comparison chart and they have 3 different bullet options to look at for this caliber.

Omaha-BeenGlockin, your answer was killin' me, then I thought... I recall telling the gun guy that I didn't even mind the expensive shells at over $40 a box.  Out of a box of 20, it will take 9-14 to sight in, then the extra shells will be for deer!    (and yes, the gun "was" sold for a song. I did end up buying it!)(under $400 used...and looks MINT)

Does anyone please have any other info or opinions they'd like to offer?  Perhaps you have a few links I could check out too?

Thanks y'all for the help!

Snareman

[yooper77]

I feel the SAUM's and WSM's are dying off, they were the whole short fat speed hype, along with the WSSM's as well.

You cannot reload and achieve the same velocities as with the factory ammo, they develop special powders in order to achieve these velocities.

If you want a magnum, I would select a 7mm Remington Magnum.

If you want a non-magnum, then I would look at a 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield.

As for the rifle, I wouldn't give more than $500 if its new and unfired, but the price of ammo would kill it for me alone.

As for distance, I personally don't shoot over 300 yards, any further I have the ability to stalk closer.  That being said, most of my shots are under 100 yards, after successful stalks.  My only long range kills have come from Antelope, but these have all been under 300 yards, given the terrain and conditions.

yooper77

[Snareman]

yooper77, hello!

I did end up buying that caliber under $400 and it was in MINT condition!  I just recently got a killer deal on a Nikon Monarch 3.5-10x50 Scope as well.  I'm loving it.

I wanted a caliber that would reach out and touch 'em.  I liked the fact the ballistics were better than the .270 and that was another selling factor for me.  As for the ammo, it's almost irrelevant for me because I will only need enough to site in, and the rest for the deer! (plus maybe a few shots to make sure I'm in stroke)

As for getting closer shots, this is for sitting on a stand or spots where my shots will be over 250+ yards.  I'm a bowhunter... BIGTIME, and have stalked deer into very close range.... extremely close.  This will be my "Go To" gun for long distance.  I grew up using a 30-30 and have shot several deer over 200 yards with my .243, but I wanted something with more umph.

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Any others have any input?

Thanks,

Snareman

[yooper77]

Great deal on the rifle.

Do you reload?

A 140 grain bullet in your 7mm SAUM should prove to be perfect deer medicine.

I have a Ruger M77 MKII in 270 Winchester with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9x40mm scope and gives me MOA accuracy with IMR-4831 powder and any 150 grain bullet.

I have successfully taken Antelope up to 300 yards with my 243 Winchester, IMR-4350 & R19 powders with 100 grain Nosler Partitions.

yooper77

[Snareman]

New Information!

Ok guys, had a new development just taken place.  I went to pick up the rifle as it was held a few days for me, but I forgot my ID.  Later that day, ID in hand now, I visited another shop and wasn't necessarily looking for a deer rifle.  Low and behold I see a gun that was on the rack earlier in the year that had disappeared... and is now in front of my eyes!  I asked to see the gun and the owner dropped the price $30 on this gun!

The gun I was now holding was a Remington 700 .270 with camo stock.  I loved the feel of the gun and it was a caliber I had my eye on for a longer range gun, so I bought it right on the spot!

Now I'm a proud owner of a Remington 700 .270 and couldn't be happier.  To date it's my largest caliber and am looking forward to an opportunity to hunt with it and hopefully get my hands on some heavy beams, if you know what I mean. 

Thanks for the replies.

Snareman

[yooper77]

Snareman,

So did you buy the Remington 700 in 270 Winchester instead of the Ruger M77 7mm SAUM?

Which Remington 700 did you buy?

270 Winchester, cant buy a much better deer cartridge.

yooper77

[Snareman]

yooper77,

At the time I was going to pick up the M77 but did not have my ID.  Late that day I was back in the area but was at a different store... where I talked about the .270.  I ended up buying the .270.

Not sure what you mean by which one I bought. ??  I only know it's a Remington 700 .270 with synthetic stock.  It's an older model because they don't offer the same camo pattern anymore.

I ended up getting some Hornady shells and am now waiting for my scope I bought online to arrive.

Thanks,

Snareman

[yooper77]

Sounds like its a Remington 700 ADL.

Does it have a hinged floor plate magazine, if not its a ADL?

yooper77

[Snareman]

When I originally picked up the gun, one of the things I didn't conscientiously think about, was that it didn't have that annoying plate on the bottom... where shells are loaded. 

This gun you load the shells from the inside, ie, by opening the bolt.(no bottom plate)

It's obviously an older model, but I love it.  Is this an ADL then?  LOL!

Thanks,

Snareman

[Swampman]

Glad you bought a Remington!

[yooper77]

Nothing wrong with the ADL, I was just wondering which one.

I have rifles that have the hinged floor plates and I find myself ejecting them out the top, when I can easily pop the plate.

yooper77

[03A2]

I thought the 7 RSAUM was the best of the short mags, I feel one could get a standard rifle with 24" barrel, as opposed to the 22" in most standard 270's, and use mid range loads that would better hot loads in a 270.  This is of course assuming that you hand load.  A 150 grain bullet at ~2950 and mid range pressure appeals to me.  I was saddened when ruger dropped the remington line of short mags as I think them better designed than the winchesters - longer neck for the remingtons and 30 degrees is all the shoulder angle I want, as opposed to the 35 of the winchester, just more of those little details that turn my crank and most others here too, I think.  That gun shop with the ruger didn't happen to be in Idaho did it?