Federal introduces 7mm Backcountry

I think Joseph Von Benedikt has been shooting and hunting with the cartridge for over a year now and aside from being paid he seems to speak very highly of it.
Like all cartridges there will be the Negative Nellie’s and numbskulls like me who love the idea and can’t wait to try it !
 
Ok here’s the 7BC rifle rebarreled and ready to go,
I was also able to grab some ammo so I have 3 of the 5 options from Federal,

I’ve also heard Federal will announce a 6.5 version this fall and .338 version Jan 2026.

Defiance Anti action, 24 inch 1/8 twist #3 contour Benchmark Barrel with self timing brake, Wildcat Stock
With Talley’s holding a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 scope it weighs 8lbs 13.5oz
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Ok a couple range reports on the 7mm Backcountry, 24” barrel length,

I have 3 factory ammo options, 168gr LRX, 170gr Terminal ascent and 175gr Federal Fusion.

First range day was ok, 1 shot at 25 yards adjust scope, 1 shot at 100 adjust scope now for the first 3 shot group with the 175gr Fusions 😳 pretty good, then I cleaned it and the groups opened up !

15 shots averaged 3078fps (3060-3102) advertised velocity for 24” barrel 3125

168gr LRX advertised velocity 3150, 9 shots averaged 3092 (3082-3105)

170gr Terminal Ascent advertised velocity 3150,
3 shots 3114/3100/3097
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Ok day two at the range, I cleaned the rifle extremely well at home before hitting the range,

I thought I would just shoot the 168gr LRX and not mix the ammo, seemed to smarten up after the first group out of a clean barrel
27 rounds averaging 3100 FPS, (3087-3111)

1st shot was a little over an inch from a clean barrel,
2nd 3 shot group was impressive which I had a few like that
I also shot a 5 shot group for the purists that don’t believe a 3 shot group is representative !

I also shot the rifle without the brake and for an 8lb 13.5oz rifle it was snappy to say the least, but not so obnoxious that you couldn’t shoot it without a brake hunting, kind of like a 7mm PRC without a brake maybe even like a 300 win mag,
So far I’m really impressed with this cartridge.


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I wonder if the advertised velocity was from a 20-22” barrel since the idea behind the cartridge is to be used in short suppressed barrels?!?
 
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