7mm Backcountry - 170gn at 3,000 fps

[Heym SR20]

I do like 7mm rifles. This looks expensive to run.

Federal 7mm Backcountry, Tested and Reviewed

We've shot the 7mm Backcountry more than anyone else and have the most comprehensive accuracy, velocity, and rifle data on this hot new round.

www.outdoorlife.com

And

 

[Ronin]

another marketing ploy

 

[wytonpjs]

Other earlier thread running here:

Y

Thread 'Another new cartridge.'

Jan 7, 2025

Well, another new cartridge design to throw into the mix. I doubt if i will be reaching for the variation form. Make of it what you will.

The 7mm Backcountry from Federal. Steel alloy case to handle pressure. 'Federal is claiming up to 3150fps with a 155 grain bullet from a 20", yes 20" barrel.

Savage are chambering rifles starting at 16.5 inches and up to 20 inches.

7mm Backcountry – Federal’s New Wonder-Cartridge? By: Ryan Cleckner

The 7mm Backcountry is Federal’s newest rifle cartridge promising to “reinvent ammunition.”If you saw my review of their 30 Super Carry, which they called

globalordnancenews.com

• Yorkie

 

[trucraft]

another marketing ploy

Everyone said that about the 6.5 prc.
Time will tell about the 7BC
Definitely looks interesting but not one for the reloaders for a while at least.

 

[Dickie]

wrong post

 

[gaza916]

No possibility of home loading, factory loaded only, significant recoil penalty, chances of RFDs stocking factory ammunition……what’s not to like….!

 

[Heym SR20]

Must admit that reading some of the literature about it the 7 BC does quite interesting. It rather mimics the performance of cartridges such as the 7mm STW which requires a long 375 H&H length cartridge loaded to gills with a bucket full of powder and a long 26” barrel.

The 7 BC will achieve this with lesser amounts of high energy powder. Given reduction in powder weight there will be a pretty significant reduction in recoil. And it achieves the velocities with a 20” barrel.

Given that the US military has adopted the 6.8 Fury which also runs at 80,000 psi I can foresee others following suit.

Federal have patented the steel formulation used. It will need to have the elasticity of brass so that the case can obturate properly but then spring back to its original dimensions coming away from the chamber walls allowing the case to be extracted. I suggest the case may be a spinoff of work being done for the US military- the original 6.8 case uses a hybrid steel and brass case which will be very expensive to manufacture. A simple steel case could be made from one stamping.

I suspect it will be a while before it reaches this side of Atlantic.

 

[HonestJohn]

Barrel life will be sub 1000 presumably, if used in a target environment, less. I personally can’t see any U.K. hunters adopting such a cartridge, let alone target shooters, and esp if cannot be reloaded.

This screams of marketing ploy for the octane driven ELK type hunters who don’t bother reload as they draw only a few mixed tags a year, they don’t shoot much,with their hunting /hiking rifle, so don’t worry about barrel life for that ‘rig’. They have been convinced they will save xyz calories and energy per day in hiking back country by having a 20” pipe instead of 24”,,,but at what profile/weight isn’t mentioned

Maybe Trump and Musks new army will adopt it for their mercenaries to enter Greenland, Panama, etc. who knows,..but he will ask for commission on sales paid back to his own company of course, and for all soldiers and mercenaries to wear his perfume

 

[Heym SR20]

Barrel life will be sub 1000 presumably, if used in a target environment, less. I personally can’t see any U.K. hunters adopting such a cartridge, let alone target shooters, and esp if cannot be reloaded.

This screams of marketing ploy for the octane driven ELK type hunters who don’t bother reload as they draw only a few mixed tags a year, they don’t shoot much,with their hunting /hiking rifle, so don’t worry about barrel life for that ‘rig’. They have been convinced they will save xyz calories and energy per day in hiking back country by having a 20” pipe instead of 24”,,,but at what profile/weight isn’t mentioned

Maybe Trump and Musks new army will adopt it for their mercenaries to enter Greenland, Panama, etc. who knows,..but he will ask for commission on sales paid back to his own company of course, and for all soldiers and mercenaries to wear his perfume

View attachment 400750

Barrel life - they are saying that barrel life will be pretty good. What kills barrels is large amounts of powder burning hot. The 7 BC uses a smaller amount of powder but at higher pressures to achieve the velocities required.

Probably no need for it in the UK, but these fast flat shooting cartridges are useful in open country on big deer and antelope. Point blank range is 300m plus so centre of kill zone hold and no need to worry about exact range.

But the latter is rather a moot point these days with range finders and dialling turrets.

However there are a number of boffins within the rifle industry who need to constantly develop new things.

100 years ago some clever people came up with the 270 Winchester. Too fast, new fangled etc - will never last!!

Celebrating 100 Years with the .270 Winchester - RifleShooter

Still going strong after a century.

www.rifleshootermag.com

Mind you plenty of cartridges have not done the distance. 1950’s - 264 Win Mag and 244 H&H for example. Even more recently the WSMs created a lot of interest but where are they these days.

As for the 7mm BC not being reloadable - quoting from an article

“The goal is a stronger build that allows Federal to safely increase chamber pressures “far beyond the limits of brass case ammunition, significantly increasing velocity and energy.” While we’re not yet clear on all the details, we are told the Peak Alloy casings are reloadable when following the company’s yet-to-be announced processes and data.”

https://www.guns.com/news/2025/01/03/federal-7mm-backcountry-release

I suspect a steel case will be tougher to resize than brass, and your typical little budget red press and dies might not have the leverage or strength to do so, but these cartridges will be being loaded with dies on presses.

Perhaps the new steel alloys are strong and elastic enough that they will need minimal resizing. Brass in low pressure rifles has an almost infinite life. It’s only when modern rifle cartridges operating at 50,000 psi plus started be used that resizing, trimming etc is needed.

 

[Utectok]

Well it looks pretty grim new offer if you watch this video till the end 20% hit rate not good

 

[scotch_egg]

Well it looks pretty grim new offer if you watch this video till the end 20% hit rate not good

Utter junk ammo. It won’t be cheap either.

 

[Utectok]

Utter junk ammo. It won’t be cheap either.

Might be an issue with high pressure actually producing consistent velocity?? I dunno

 

[scotch_egg]

Might be an issue with high pressure actually producing consistent velocity?? I dunno

I would hazard a guess at it being neck tension being inconsistent.

 

[Utectok]

I would hazard a guess at it being neck tension being inconsistent.

Could something to do with the alloy case I suppose?

 

[webley701]

Not only another ‘commercial’ solution to a problem that doesn’t exist - but a ‘solution’ that comes with it’s own problems.

 

[Utectok]

A lot of effort for a 4” shorter barrel imho

 

[Muir]

Yawn! A new cartridge....~Muir

 

[TringSaint]

A lot of effort for a 4” shorter barrel imho

Funny that my 6.5x55 has a 20” barrel and works just fine. And my 243 and as for my 308, that’s a stubby 16”, all perfectly good for harvesting deer.
As other have said, a solution for no identifiable problem!!

 

[Ronin]

Clearly a cartridge only suitable for pipe hitters who have knitted hair styles and have a penchant for broken mountainous saddlery

 

[Dave_45]

Clearly a cartridge only suitable for pipe hitters who have knitted hair styles and have a penchant for broken mountainous saddlery

Sooooo

You won’t be buying in a reamer for this one , at a guess….