I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this round? I am thinking of buying a 300 Win. mag and a 300 Saum popped up for sale.. Any opinons? Thanks, Dave

I do not have one, but from looking at the ballistics, it is in my opinion a 30-06 loaded to modern pressures in a short action.

A 300 WM is going give you higher performance.

If you really like the gun go for it if you reload. But I would stock up some extra brass. There's talk of the SAUM's going away. Thirty caliber bullets will always be available.

Just as Betamax video tape lost the popularity race to VHS, the SAUM's have lost to the WSM's and will likely disappear as factory chamberings shortly. (How long the WSM's themselves will be around now that their proprietary sponsor has quit making rifles is another issue.) Likewise, ammunition will become a bit scarce. That's not to say that the .300 SAUM is not a useful cartridge (in fact, it really will work through a true short action magazine, while the WSM needs the magazine stretched a bit.) So, just as the Beta format was in some ways technically superior to the VHS, it may be that the soon-to-be-obsolete SAUM competitor also had some technical advantages. Unless you're a handloader, I would shy away from the SAUM.

Some SAUM magazines will only reliably hold two cartridges; and some SAUM-chambered rifles are said to be not totally dependable in feeding. Both of these problems are related to altering an action built for smaller diameter cartridges to the SAUM's larger case.

The advantage to the .300 Win is that it will provide a hundred or so FPS more velocity at similar pressures, is and will be widely available as factory loaded, the magazine will hold one or even two more cartridges than a SAUM (depending the particular model of gun), and there is rarely a feeding problem.

The sole advantage to the SAUM is that the action will be 3/4 inch shorter.

If you don't mind giving up a hundred fps in velocity, a .30-06 provides the same basic ballistics as a .300 WSM and and gives you two or possibly three additional magazine rounds, plus the ammunition is the most widely available and economical of any big game cartridge.

Bottom line: If you reload, like something different, and the gun is cheap enough, buy the .300 SAUM.

I would buy the 300 WM if I had it to do over again.

I bought the 300SAUM and while it is very accurate, it offers nothing more than a 30-06AI. I didn't say 30-06 because I get a bit better velocity w/ the SAUM. It's alittle shy of the WSM in capacity and performance.

Many say the Short fat rounds don't feed smoothly in some rifles. I've only shot my SMs at the range single feeding so, I can't comment on the feeding.

The difference between a SA or LA means squat to me. They handle the same in my hands. If you do have a preference for a SA like some, it may be the ticket.

Also may wnat to consider that Factory ammo will be nearly impossible to come by. The SAUMs flopped and so will the factory ammo. The only reason I purchased the rifle was because I only shoot reloads and I purchased Forester Bench Rest dies and Brass to go along w/ it.

Good Luck

Reloader

A 300SAUM is basically between a 30-06 and 300Winmag. 100fps slower and it's a 30-06. 100fps faster and it's a 300winmag. It does work through a short action and Remington BDL's will work with three in the magazine and one in the pipe. The ADL's only hold two in the magazine.
Feeding problems have mostly been solved except for those with poor quality control. No matter the cartridge, it's going to happen every now and again. But there were some problems with WSM due to Winchester rushing out their shortmags without all the proper research. Remington did do the research and did not have as many problems with feeding, out of round chambers, ect.
Finally, if worse comes to worse it's a simple rechamber to get a 300WSM.
Also, don't believe the hype that heavy bullets intrude on powder space. If the same length of bullet sticks below the case neck of a 30-06 and 300saum than than it is going to take the same powder space. And the 300saum has more powder space.
It's not a bad cartridge but other than fitting into a shorter rifle, nothing new performance wise. It was just poorly marketed by Remington.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaska Dave:
I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this round? I am thinking of buying a 300 Win. mag and a 300 Saum popped up for sale.. Any opinons? Thanks, Dave

My personal experience: You can safely do 2950+ with 180s, and 3100 with 165/168s. So you're probably 150-200 fps better than the '06, and 50 fps less than the 300 WM. I did mention safely? And you can put it in a SA rifle well under 8.5 lbs.(even less if you really try) all up--how about a Rem Ti in 300SAUM under 6.5 lbs as a starter??? And its not finicky to handload--shoots just about everything well. A 168 TSX at 3100 should work....

I think the 300 WM will do much better with 200 gr bullets and up, though. The SAUM is a medium/light bullet round IMO. I agree with our colleagues that Big Green seems to have prety much blown off the SAUMs and they will likely soon be handloaders cartridges....if I didn't handload, I wouldn't have one.

I guess that i'll keep using my 30-06 with Hornady Lite Mag ammo and look for a 338 or 358. Thanks for all your advice. Dave

I'd get the 300winmag. I suspect it will be around another 50 years in factory rifles/loads. I'm not confident in saying the same regarding the SAUM's.

I have a Remington SA Ti in 300 SAUM and has been trouble free, feeds well, accurate with 150 and 180 grain Core-lokts ahead of H-4350.

High_Slot's accessment is right on.

With scope/rings etc it weighs under 7.5#'s. Recoil is very manageable, helped by the excellent R3 pad.

Short action, light weight, good hitting power with 180's, fits the bill for a planned SA Plains game hunt.

Yep, 300 WSM brass, ammo, rifles etc are more plentiful, but I handload as well and just put in 1500 rounds of once fired 300 SAUM brass so I should be good for awhile!

quote:

Originally posted by iamgene:
I have a Remington SA Ti in 300 SAUM and has been trouble free, feeds well, accurate with 150 and 180 grain Core-lokts ahead of H-4350.

High_Slot's accessment is right on.

With scope/rings etc it weighs under 7.5#'s. Recoil is very manageable, helped by the excellent R3 pad.

Short action, light weight, good hitting power with 180's, fits the bill for a planned SA Plains game hunt.

Yep, 300 WSM brass, ammo, rifles etc are more plentiful, but I handload as well and just put in 1500 rounds of once fired 300 SAUM brass so I should be good for awhile!

It all depends on what you want to shoot with it I guess. I have the 300SAUM in a Sendero and really like it. If I wanted a little more horsepower I would get the 300 Win Mag but since I don't plan on shooting anything bigger than a moose so the 300 SAUM is all that I need.

I have a little experience with the 300 SAUM. I bought one in a model 7. I took one whitetail Deer with it and it hit the Deer like the proverbial "hammer of Thor". I sold it to a friend, not because I didn't like it, but because I inhereted 3 300 Win Mags from my Brother and something had to go. The guy I sold it to took it to africa and took an Impala, a Lechewe, a Kudu and a Zebra with it. In short, the 300 SAUM works well; if the price is right I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

TerryR

The only saum that interests me is the 7 saum. Not crazy about the different shoulder on the 7wsm.

For a good .30, the 300 Win Mag is worth waiting on.