7mm Federal Backcountry

[Brians356]

A lot of hand-waving about reloading this. Forget it. Even if the dies become available, you aren't ever going to enjoy it.'
-

 

[tstowater]

Solving another problem that doesn't exist. I always thought I needed a 28 Nosler, but never got one. I do have a 7mm PRC waiting for me to put a scope on and get dialed in. I don't think that it will ever get shot enough to justify loading if the factory does what it is supposed to do.

The 7mm Backcountry looks like a beast. That case is going to make it difficult to load. The learning curve on sizing, annealing?, and bullet seating may be long. Barrel life has to suck. Short of long range shooting, 200 rounds of ammo for most big game hunters is going to be a great plenty. Waiting to see if the custom rifle makers go with this or stay with the 7mm PRC.

 

[drop_point]

So, would'nt this new round be considered one of the first new
endeavors of the Czech's who now own Federal. If so, would not
this cartridge fall under CIP, and not SAMMI for published data ??
Not real sure, how that would work with ownership.....

Don’t believe the deal is complete. This has been in development for a while.

 

[drop_point]

I wonder if old guys dismissed rifle cartridges back in the day, saying front-stuffers were all we needed. Then again with smokeless powder and yet again with the switch to centerfire.

 

[epc308]

Then you tell that to the bullet and ammo makers I've been at the shops for meetings who are dealing with it.

Two different places and both are using a hammer to open the bolt. So....? This is on Remington actions and on a ARC action. The one place said the ARC action is running better than the Remmy but still using a hammer on it. Now this was with hybrid cases. Not all steel.

If I recall correctly the one video they had hard bolt lift or if you will the double clicker happening.

As the saying goes you cannot fool mother nature. In this case physics. Action designs will need to be improved.

Also fouling from what I've been seeing goes up also. To the extent you need to clean the barrel about every 30 rounds or so to hold accuracy. A hunting gun... probably not a big deal... but for a shooter who has intentions to use it in competition.... than what?

I haven't seen a single person mention anything about the barrel steel. As a safety factor the steel has about a 2-1 safety margin on normal working pressures. Now increase it to 80k... your losing your safety margin there also. I will say here also... pressures go up, heat goes up, barrel life will suffer, fouling goes up and if accuracy suffers with certain bullets etc... who is covering the warranty? The bullet maker? The barrel maker? The gun manufacturer?

I'm going to be blunt about it here... till I see more data on all of this... calibers like this we warranty nothing. Not in terms of fouling, accuracy, safety etc... too much beyond our control.

You want to go fast.... as my best friend Dave always says... It's going to cost you to go fast! One way or another.

I worked for a parts store 40 years that sold a lot of high performance goodies. The sign above the door said- "Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go".

 

[a1712]

Didn't Dick Casull do something similar with turning a steel case head and using a brass body? I remember reading on it, I believe it was him. Brian.

 

[RegionRat]

There isn't anything new about trying to go to higher pressure. Folks have tried it before using all sorts of variation on the theme from bigger cases, different cases, to special powders, etc..

The issues of what standards and existing materials to keep and which ones to cut loose is just part of the challenge. If you do get past those, the elements of ballistics that contribute to accuracy remain similar.

As in the latest videos which show honest testing, the groups at 100 yards that are poor or throw fliers, combined with poor velocity stats, will not make up for higher velocity unless the distances are kept short.

Maybe the argument can be made that for LEO/MIL applications where the foe has body armor and engagement distances will be short, this 80 KSI concept has merit.

But if the marketeers want the civilian market to adopt it for distance shooting, then their tolerances for accuracy in group and speed stats have not been shown to work. Add in the reports of stiff bolts and no evidence the cases are reloadable, and we are headed for trouble.

Maybe they should try sending these Beta testers some prepped primed cases and allowing them to do the charges and seating. Could it be that the factory lines are just not good at metering the powder? Or is it that this powder doesn't want to perform at 80 KSI, or both? Careful loading will sort that out.

Wish them luck with their efforts. In for the range reports.

 

[Sniperhandle]

I think the bolt lift is because the brass flow and bolt thrust. Steel cases dont do that atleast thats what they are saying. All the videos released seem like the guns in 7 bc work like normal rounds

If you've ever shot a Mosin with some of the surplus MG ammo, The steel cases stick and you have a hard time getting the bolt open.

How long the primer pockets last is what I will be wondering, And a bushing die with carbide bushings is what I would want to reload it.

 

[209jones]

I see a Cdn dealer has Geissele bolt actions in stock already, he's on the Atlantic coast, a dealer in NW BC is advertising pricing on ammo he hasn't got yet. At 75-90.00/box Cdn, not sure it's going to be worth it, but, it isn't really any more or less, than regular ammo is up here.. One article says RCBS is having trouble getting proper sizing on these cases, Fed says they can be, but really shouldn't be reloaded.

 

[Phys86]

I'm wondering if they're using the same alloy as that nas3 stuff from shell shock. Perhaps they have shell shock making their cases.

 

[Phys86]

Also, I wonder how this will affect suppressor mfgs if it catches on. I don't doubt that many reloaders are already in the 80k psi realm with their hand loads on bras that doesn't easily show pressure.

 

[Bc'z]

My take on all this BS...
FEDERAL produced a solution to a problem we didn't have ,yet doesn't have a solution to the problem we have in reloading it.
I'll stick k with my 280AI
I'm for damn sure folks will buy into the marketing, hell I shoot a Creedmoor. Lol

 

[TC260]

I wonder if old guys dismissed rifle cartridges back in the day, saying front-stuffers were all we needed. Then again with smokeless powder and yet again with the switch to centerfire.

I’d be shocked if they didn’t. I’ve listened to old guys belly aching about anything new since I was a kid hanging around the range with my dad. I doubt that was a new trend amongst the old farts back then

 

[Fuj]

Give it a year, or just a tad more, and it will probably called the
7mm Bankruptcy.....

 

[Fuj]

Hell I shoot a Creedmoor. Lol

Sniffin' paint fumes will do that to ya'......Just saying !! LOL

 

[nakneker]

Here is an interesting and seemingly pretty unbiased review after building and testing a number of rifles in the 7mm Backcountry. Looks like there is more work to be done as their results aren't the greatest. Accuracy just isn't there yet, contradicts the long range accuracy promotion.

Thanks for sharing. Interesting, good video. I’m definitely gonna be a spectator on this one. I’ll keep an open mind but the reloading thing throws water on that fire for me, for now.

We’re head out to see if we can call a lion today. I’ve filled three lion tags calling them over the years. I’ll be packing my 2-6.5 PRC with 70 grain Barnes, it’s a bit faster than the 7BC, lol.

 

[Unclered]

I don't see any advantage over current rounds available. so many new rounds lately that will go down the toilet. crazy.

 

[DeerHunter82]

Had a conversation with a co-worker about this new Back Country cartridge just the other day. Final consensus was I'll stick with my 280 AI.

 

[dellet]

Has anyone seen what muzzle pressures are? I have looked and not been able to find any numbers, just claims of lower felt recoil.

Typically short barrels and magnum velocity cartridges are very hard on suppressors due to muzzle pressures and heat on the first baffle. High peak pressure generally means low muzzle pressure, but that would require a huge drop in less than 16”. Based on a 3”+ cartridge and max pressure 1” down the barrel. Again hunters may not have a problem, but a long string of fire multiple times could be interesting. More so on low end suppressors. Blowing baffles is not a good quality to be known for.

 

[RegionRat]

Has anyone seen what muzzle pressures are? I have looked and not been able to find any numbers, just claims of lower felt recoil.

Unless they give out the powder details, we cannot begin to estimate it.