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7mm Federal Backcountry

drop_point

Silver $$ Contributor
Federal has released a new cartridge that looks suspiciously similar to the .280 AI, but outperforms 7mm PRC. The kicker is its a new steel alloy that will reload similar to brass, but handle an operating pressure of 80,000. Basically, it makes a 175 gr bullet run 3175 in a 20" barrel.

Is this the future of ammo?

What will barrel life be on such a contraption? If the new alloy is much more expensive than brass, will it be prohibitively expensive? A lot of questions remain.
 
I haven't seen any case dimensions of the new Federal round, but given the operating pressures it will still most likely last as a pure hunting rifle (meaning maybe at most 20 shots a year) many years . Bonded or Mono bullets will be the norm I'd say.
Like the 277 Fury...Use the factory (bi-metal) ammo with the Nosler 150 Accubond for hunting or load the standard brass at standard pressures.
It would be interesting to see what loads Federal recommends to attain 80,000 psi.
 
Hornady has been using similar marketing tactics. Raising pressures, changing bullet tips, etc for years and its worked for them. The 6.5 PRC is nothing more than a necked down 300 or 338 RCM but was marketed far better than the RCMs and people sucked it up. My 338 RCM is a tack driver. Put a 250AI and Creedmoor side by side and You'll see little difference other than shoulder angle, caliber, and max pressure. Reinventing the wheel thru marketing
 
SeabeeKen said:
Hornady has been using similar marketing tactics. Raising pressures, changing bullet tips, etc for years and its worked for them. The 6.5 PRC is nothing more than a necked down 300 or 338 RCM but was marketed far better than the RCMs and people sucked it up. My 338 RCM is a tack driver. Put a 250AI and Creedmoor side by side and You'll see little difference other than shoulder angle, caliber, and max pressure. Reinventing the wheel thru marketing
Click to expand...
Well the 6.5 prc filled a gap, there was no high performance short action “magnum” 6.5. I wonder if a 6.5 wsm would have taken off if introduced earlier?
And 80,000 psi is a much higher pressure increase than standard maximum of 65ksi. So its kinda not reinventing the wheel imo.

More i think of it, it does seem to be advantageous. Sure a hotrodded 7 wsm, 7prc, or 28 nosler could see great performance in a 20-24” barrel thats ideal in the back country. Hell even 16.5-18” for more suppressor friendly lengths, you could still kill game a long range. But it def wouldnt be as efficient. And thinner case for an extra round or two seems cool. Has merits.
My biggest concern is reloading and how expensive it will be, price of alloy casings? Forming/resizing process, any special equipment? How many reloads?
 
It’ll be interesting to watch this experiment… shorter barrels lengths are more popular than ever with suppressors but an operating pressure that high will certainly have some weak points show up, whether it’s barrel life, price of ammo, trashing actions etc. let’s see what happens.
 
SeabeeKen said:
Hornady has been using similar marketing tactics. Raising pressures, changing bullet tips, etc for years and its worked for them...Put a 250AI and Creedmoor side by side and You'll see little difference other than shoulder angle, caliber, and max pressure. Reinventing the wheel thru marketing
Click to expand...
I see a huge difference in the throat geometry between the 250 Savage and the 6.5 CM. The 250 Savage is a great round for many reasons but I'll take the Creedmoor every day of the week and twice on Sunday :D
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Just Say Moe said:
I don't think they want us to reload...... quite a few of the lead slinging long range "hunters" buy ammo by the case.
Click to expand...
Or get it furnished in a “Sponsorship “ deal…
The rest of us just get “Sticker Shock” when they see it on the shelf at $8-12 a round…
As for Bi-metal cases they have come and gone in the past and I think that this will be just another marketing exercise aimed at “Early Adaptors”…
Where have all the WSM’s gone….? Long time passing….”
Companies are geared up to “Newest and Latest”
Will a 7mm round traveling 3’000fps+ and needing 80K breech pressure and bi-metal cases be any better or more deadly than the current crop of 7mm cartridges??? My .280AI will deliver a 184 with deadly accuracy at 2’830 and driving a lighter 165-180 easily reach toward the 3Kfps mark.
EDIT: I do stand corrected, the cases are NOT Bi-metal... Just some sort of high quality steel though I imagine they may be a real challenge for dies... "Gone to need a bigger can of lube...!"
 
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SO, many of you act surprised that Federal would bring out a new cartridge with a steel case and no SAAMI certification.
Do you realize the brand is now owned by Czechoslovak Group?
European manufacturers are quite adept in making rifle ammo with steel cases.
 
shoot4fun said:
SO, many of you act surprised that Federal would bring out a new cartridge with a steel case and no SAAMI certification.
Do you realize the brand is now owned by Czechoslovak Group?
European manufacturers are quite adept in making rifle ammo with steel cases.
Click to expand...
Not yet.
 
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