Federal introduces 7mm Backcountry
- Thread starter mikeyb
- Start date
There's a good review on Backfire on youtube. They compare the 7mm PRC with a 26" barrel and the 7mm Backcountry with a 16" barrel getting the same velocities. He stated that the ammo was going to be slightly less the the 7mm PRC ammo according to Federal. Only time will tell.
According to Ron Spomers video its is comparable to 7 PRC, supposed to be a little bit less.
The more I look into this the more I am interested, I am in the market for a new rifle anyways. Hunting and packing with a 18-20" all carbon rifle, especially with a titanium action and retaining 24" 7 PRC velocities is attractive.
I emailed RDSC to see if they have any on order, or when they expect to have any. Waiting on a response, suppose I could always find a prefit.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Not my intention to compare them.
The Western is a recent addition that i would like to see survive. The 7BC does nothing for me having a steel case.
If the 7mm wsm couldn't make it being argueably the best of the wsm family, i can't see this one doing well.
I think lots of us up here forget we (us Canucks here eh) are probably the smallest fraction in the ammo company and firearms manufacturers market. Lots of these cals that guys roast and call useless (22 ARC, 6 ARC, 350 Legend etc etc) aren't designed for us. Their designed for the big markets that actually make these companies their money. More specifically the states and Europe.
This isn't a dud caliber. Sure your grandpas 7mm Rem Mag does the trick for you in the bush in Ontario or the flat lands of SK but they don't care about that, or you for that matter. Imagine if there were no advancements or new calibers ever introduced, its called innovation and nobody is going to make you buy it, but for those of us who like to keep up with the times and be "different" than some folk, this is a cool idea.
The more I read into it, this actually might be the smartest thing Federal could do. As others have stated, this is designed to be run in a lightweight, short barreled rifle with a can on the end and still produce "long barreled magnum" velocity. Which is the new trend down south of that imaginary line. Mountain hunters will be on this like a fat kid on a Smartie.
This isn't a dud caliber. Sure your grandpas 7mm Rem Mag does the trick for you in the bush in Ontario or the flat lands of SK but they don't care about that, or you for that matter. Imagine if there were no advancements or new calibers ever introduced, its called innovation and nobody is going to make you buy it, but for those of us who like to keep up with the times and be "different" than some folk, this is a cool idea.
The more I read into it, this actually might be the smartest thing Federal could do. As others have stated, this is designed to be run in a lightweight, short barreled rifle with a can on the end and still produce "long barreled magnum" velocity. Which is the new trend down south of that imaginary line. Mountain hunters will be on this like a fat kid on a Smartie.
I look on many of these innovations the same way I do cars and trucks.
They really don't affect me. I have no plans on embracing them because I will never use them in my lifetime.
Interesting?
Sure, to a point.
Usable for me? Not really , because of the type of hunting I do and the firearms I prefer to hunt with and compete with .
Cat
They really don't affect me. I have no plans on embracing them because I will never use them in my lifetime.
Interesting?
Sure, to a point.
Usable for me? Not really , because of the type of hunting I do and the firearms I prefer to hunt with and compete with .
Cat
Last edited:
For Canadians without silencers, this cartridge still has some appeal. You could use a 16-20" barrel and obtain 24-26" barrel velocities. That's a pretty nice feature for a hunting rifle. Obviously this only would be a tangible asset for a certain segment of hunters, as many don't really care about barrel length or velocity.
The "new" case material and the 80K PSI pressure rating seems to represent a new development in civilian ammunition development, for sure this will be interesting to pay attention to.
The .277 Fury has the 2 part segmented case which is distinctly different from Federals design. Federal seems like a simpler and less expensive route to make cases but the 7mm Backcountry isn't scheduled to be used in fully automatic firearms either so maybe that's a factor.
The "new" case material and the 80K PSI pressure rating seems to represent a new development in civilian ammunition development, for sure this will be interesting to pay attention to.
The .277 Fury has the 2 part segmented case which is distinctly different from Federals design. Federal seems like a simpler and less expensive route to make cases but the 7mm Backcountry isn't scheduled to be used in fully automatic firearms either so maybe that's a factor.
I definitely would lump the ARC calibers in as useless in Canada. The 6ARC as well as the Grendel are great hunting cartridges with appropriate bullets, to well over 30-30 ranges. Absolutely perfect calibers for kids starting out hunting, I have a 6.5 Grendel and a 6ARC for my son, he can shoot them all day, and it much cheaper to load something that is burning slightly more than 223 powder amounts.
As for the 22ARC, I think it's perfectly suited for a small bolt gun. Very efficient, fast twist, works very good with short barrels, easier on barrels that a 22-250. Easier to load the heaviest .224 caliber bullets in that a 223, and have it actually function through a magazine. It's nice to have a cartridge designed to be able to shoot light bullets, up to the heaviest available if you want, without losing case capacity.
I have also found, like Hany others, light, short barreled rifles for hunting is ideal. Yeah I'll still carry a big long magnum sometimes if I'm sitting in a blind. But for walking through the bush, or on the quad all day breaking bush, it's nice to have a small rifle. I used my SIG cross this year, it fold up and fits in the back of my 2up seat on the quad, don't even have to worry about mounting or ripping off my gun case.
- Location
- Steel Town
My understanding is that brass lets go at approximately 85K psi, so the move to steel is required. There are, however, several modern bolt-actions that are proofed around 75K (though I don't have published literature to confirm this). These lawyer approved limits can probably be safely exceeded a bit. I bet the M77 and Rem 700 actions can handle the 7BC pressures.
Last edited:
I'm not in the group to call them useless at all, but lots have. Mostly cause their 243 or fast twist 223 or 22-250 "does the job just fine so why bother" but the fact is those cals were designed to be ran in an AR platform, which we all know how big that is down south. Yes they offer them in a bolt gun, but they were intended for an AR platform. But unfortunately theres a lot of narrow minded folk who cant see past 1980 and refuse to actually see that sometimes these small differences actually add up and benefit the shooter.
It’s slightly outperforms 7mm prc ballistics from what i read. Out of barrels 4-8 inches shorter. As they’re being manufactured in 16”, 20”, and 22” barrels. Velocities varying. But the case is similar more to a 280AI from the little I’ve seen. Skinnier than the new fat cartridges we are seeing. But yes, it’s outperforming the PRC, with much shorter barrels. And can be made in a standard/longer barrel rifle, and is roughly said to gain about 50fps per 2” increase in barrel length. So then further superseding the PRC. My only concern is the Case materials and reload-ability. Claimed to be do-able. But I guess we shall wait and see on that one. I’m definitely intrigued by this cartridge.
I want to see the velocity with 80k in a 26" barrel, but I bet a 16" would bark pretty good
Pretty much the biggest advancement in cartridge development in a century. I know Federal has a few in the development stages. I'd love to see some 5.56 NATO come out, I've heard they have some already developed. I think the limiting factor will be how the case technology is patented, if other companies can use it I would bet we will see them become the de facto case in time. I mean why wouldn't you if you could get an extra 15-20k pressure with the same case dimensions.
More is always more. If the metallurgy can be adapted to other cartridge's, then it could be something. 200 fps extra is a game changer to some. Think of the list of "long range" cartridges and what this would do to them. If some of the boutique brass makers figure it out, it could be good.
Having said that, until it's made widely available, this is a big yawn, and a play by one manufacturer to try get some traction.
R.
Having said that, until it's made widely available, this is a big yawn, and a play by one manufacturer to try get some traction.
R.
- Location
- Vanderhoof BC
