The 7mm SAW can drive mid weight .284 bullets like the 162 Hornady ELD-M and 168 Berger VLD to between 2850 and 2900FPS in a 26″ barrel. Heavy bullets such as the 180 Berger Hybrid and 183gr Sierra Match King can be pushed to around 2725-2750FPS. Those numbers give the cartridge a slight edge in drift and drop over the medium 6.5’s, while still providing low recoil and excellent barrel life.
Additionally, the cartridge will hold around 1000 ft.lbs. of energy to 1000 yards with either the 162 or 180 class bullets. This makes the 7mm SAW an excellent option for normal and extended range hunting on deer sized game. Like the 7mm08 and the medium 6.5’s, the best performing powders for the 7mm SAW are in the Varget to H4350 burn rate range. Varget, H4350, and IMR 4451 have all yielded excellent speed and accuracy. Match small rifle primers such as the Federal 205M and CCI BR-4 are good choices for the round. For shooters using the AI A/W 10rd mags, Alpha Mags, or the extended Accurate-Mag AICS pattern magazines and 162-168gr VLD type bullets the 7mm SAW II chamber works perfectly, allowing full use of the magazine and seating the bullet bearing surface above the neck/shoulder junction of the case. The .150″ freebore on the SAW II chamberyields a max OAL of around 3.090″ with 183 SMK, for F-Class shooters who single load. We also have to option of a short .045″ throat 7mm SAW I chamber version for shooters who want to run standard AICS mags or Magpul AI pattern PMAG’s.
Left to Right: 6.5 Creedmoor with 140ELD, 7SAW with 162ELD, 7mm08 with 140Accubond
Click Here to see the 7mm SAW barrel length and powder test
Reloading Dies: Custom die sets for the 7mm SAW are in production and can be bought through our web store here:
Reamer Rentals: 7mm SAW Type 1 (short throat) and Type 2 (0.145″ long throat) reamers are available for rent and purchase. Rental cost is $80, with a three week rental period.
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7mm SAW Loading/barrel length performance AVG FPS
Bullet/Barrel Length | 18” | 20” | 22” | 24” | 26” |
140gr | 2820 | 2840 | 2880 | 2930 | 2980 |
150gr | 2780 | 2800 | 2840 | 2880 | 2940 |
160-162gr | 2660 | 2700 | 2760 | 2810 | 2860 |
166-168gr | 2640 | 2680 | 2720 | 2770 | 2840 |
175gr | 2560 | 2600 | 2640 | 2690 | 2740 |
180gr | 2540 | 2580 | 2620 | 2650 | 2710 |
7mm SAW Starting Load Data
Bullet/powder charge | H4350 | Varget | RL16 | N540 | N550 |
140gr | 45.5gr | 42.5gr | n/a | 41.5gr | 43gr |
150gr | 45gr | 41.5gr | 45gr | 41gr | 42.5gr |
160-162gr | 44.5gr | 41gr | 44.5gr | 40gr | 42gr |
166-168gr | 44gr | 40.5gr | 44gr | 39.5gr | 41.5gr |
175gr | 43.5gr | 39.5gr | 43.5gr | n/a | 40.5gr |
180gr | 43.5gr | 39.5gr | 43.5gr | n/a | 40.5gr |