The Sporting Arms and Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) is the organization that standardizes and accepts cartridges. Of course, there’s more to SAAMI than that. They are an accredited standards developer and do everything from including setting standards for safety to outlining the specific specifications of cartridges for commercial production. The organization has announced the acceptance of three more cartridges: 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC), 400 Legend, and 360 Buckhammer.
7mm PRC
The 7mm PRC was designed by Hornady in 2022 to fill a niche between the 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC. It was created with precision shooters in mind but is also a fantastic option for hunters. 7mm PRC is designed for standard long actions and, according to Hornady, utilizes magnum speed propellants. SAAMI has it listed with a maximum pressure of 65,000 psi.
360 Buckhammer
360 Buckhammer was created by Remington and is a straight-walled cartridge with great hunting applications. It’s made for lever-action rifles, of course, and according to Remington has a 200-yard effective range. President of Remington Ammunition Jason Vanderbrink even calls the 360 Buckhammer a “gamechanger.” It is now a SAAMI cartridge with a maximum pressure of 50,000 psi. This cartridge has already proven itself to be effective on medium-sized game animals and a reliable performer through lever actions.
400 Legend
Finally, we have the 400 Legend. Little is known about this cartridge beyond the SAAMI specifications. It lists a maximum pressure of 45,000 psi and an overall length of 2.125 to 2.260 inches. The 400 Legend is clearly a big brother to the 350 Legend courtesy of Winchester and appears to utilize a bullet with 10mm dimensions. SAAMI lists it as producing a velocity of 2230 feet per second with a 215-grain bullet. It should be interesting to see what comes of the 400 Legend, but at first glance, it appears that it will be a solid performer for hunting and tactical purposes.
What do you think of the three latest SAAMI official cartridges? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
