[4v50 Gary]

It's Frankengun time and I'm buying a 20" LTR 300 SAUM bbl to mate with a spare short action 700. Also picking up a used (but never used) LTR stock. Base will probably be two piece since it's a left handed action so the stock will need modifying (sealing up the cutout for the right hand and cutting out a notch on the left hand side for the bolt. Don't know what scope I'll drag out yet (gotta see what spares I have) or I may just buy a new one.

But in going over the ballistics, the 300 SAUM is quite a cartridge. According to the ballistics at the Remington site, at 500 yards the 180 grain Nosler Partition retains 2046 fps over the 1823 of the Rem Express (168 gr HPBT). Drop at 500 yards is -34.3" compared to the -49.9 for Rem Express.

One minor issue - what am I going to do with it once it's done? I suppose at Xmas it could hang it from a Xmas tree along with the other rifles. :)

[Schuey2002]

One minor issue - what am I going to do with it once it's done?
Throw it in the safe and buy something else. :D

[Art Eatman]

Well, you could wander down my way with it; I'll set up some 1,000-yard targets...

:), Art

[Dave P]

Might want to get a shoulder pad, too. That LTR is a lite rifle!!

[Robert inOregon]

300 SAUM is the to little too late cartridge.

[4v50 Gary]

Well Robert, tell me about it then. I would have preferred a .223 LTR bbl but I take what I can get.

In looking over the ballistic table for the 300 SAUM, for the 165 grain there really isn't that much over the .308 168 gr BTHP Remington Express load. When the 180 gr Nosler Partition is used, there's noticeable difference. The trouble with those ballistics is that they're out of 24" tubes whereas the LTR is a 20" tube. I'm wondering what the original tactical application was behind making the 300 SAUM in a 20" tube.

Please enlighten me (serious). These past years I have been studying the blackpowder era and have fallen behind in cartridge development (especially since The Tactical Rifle became The Accurate Rifle).

[Robert inOregon]

The Remington 300 SAUM got beat to market by Winchester's 300 WSM a couple of years ago. Both cartridges are near identical, but the Winchester produces hair splitting better ballistics. Remington is the only rifle company that has not adopted the WSM cartridge and is pushing their failed SAUM cartridge on their loyal customers. Everyone else in the industry is using the Winchester WSM as the "standard" for short action magnums. Even custom rifle makers that traditionally use Remington products have jumped ship and are making 300 WSM rifles using Remington actions.

That is why I say to little too late. It a good cartridge, but its already fading away.

Got a reamer. :D

[Preacherman]

IIRC, the reason Remington came out with their SAUM range is that the maximum cartridge length that their Model Seven action can accommodate is marginally shorter than the WSM range. For this reason, they HAD to go with a slightly shorter cartridge - or re-design and re-engineer to produce a longer Model Seven action.

[4v50 Gary]

Ream it out? Not a bad idea. Ammo would be easier to come by too.

BTW, haven't check on cartridge dimensions. Wouldn't the .308 bolt face be a bit small and need to be opened?

[Gewehr98]

And Preacherman is on to something there. If it doesn't fit in a Remington Model 700 short action, something's gonna have to be compromised. Looks like the cartridge length, hence the .300 SAUM, instead of the Winchester version. Wonder if Winchester knew that all along, and purposely made their short magnum just that little bit too long? :scrutiny:

[Robert inOregon]

If it doesn't fit in a Remington Model 700 short action, something's gonna have to be compromised.

Problem with Remington chambering 300 WSM is with their Model Seven actions. Model 700 action works. Or at least custom makers like Magnum Research and HS Precision are making 300 WSM work in Remington's small action without compromises of any kind.