New Federal 7mm Backcountry “Ammunition Reinvented”

[Tundra Tiger]

Some things I found surprising:

Recoil is not increased, at least not proportionately, as the powder charge is less than other cartridges with similar performance.

Safety should not be an issue, as the increased pressure is contained inside the case, and not applied to the rifle receiver. Besides, modern rifles are routinely tested with proof loads greatly exceeding the pressure of the 7 BC.

Barrel life is not decreased, at least not as much as similar performing cartridges, because the powder charge is again decreased (compared to say a 28N). Extractor lifespan is supposed to be good as well.

Muzzle blast and suppressor performance is unaffected. Surprisingly, the pressure at the muzzle is not increased compared to other similar cartridges. Though the pressure in the case is higher, by the time the exploding and expanding powder reaches the muzzle pressure is similar supposedly.

Now, this is what I’ve gleaned from a few podcasts and articles. Of course, this is largely sole source from Federal so we will have to wait and see if this is verified. But, if it is, it offers significant advantages.

Having considered all this, having a love for 7 mm cartridges, and having decided that this will be a winner if it is as advertised - I’m still not buying one. ROTFL…. I think this really is a better mousetrap, but it doesn’t make the cartridges I’ve got any less effective…. I own more cartridges than the following three, but I can’t think of anything I won’t hunt with a 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, and 375 H&H. I might want more, but can’t see myself ‘needing’ more.

I had no issue with your post until the last sentence. "Need"? Did you really say "need"?

 

[375Ruger416]

lol, you’re right - I don’t know what I was thinking!

 

[375Ruger416]

Just watched the Alterra Arms video on YouTube. Eye-opening. They weren’t getting the accuracy or velocity consistency you’d hope for in a ‘long range’ round. ES was 120 fps or something over 49 rounds for the 170 Terminal ascent production load.

Worth a watch if you’ve got the time. Will be interesting to see what sort of accuracy and velocities end-users are getting.

 

[Puddle]

Good video, and good data.

Federal has some work to do. Either eat the marketing already spent and back off the stated factory loads by ~100 fps, or even more R&D if they're gonna stick with the current claims.

I wonder what those primer pockets measure after a single firing?

 

[Daisy]

Apparnetly if watching the video some big name reloading company is going to make DIES especially for these steel cases.

If not I think the new best will be short lived.
This new route going to hardened steel cases and going to 83K PSI is surely going to bring changes if they can get the reloading pasrt sorted out as it will surely need to bring new actions to handle the pressure and few more new cartridges. Some staying the same just moving over to the stronger case.

Won’t need a new action. The case handles the pressure

 

[Daisy]

Federal claims reduced recoil, but there will be ZERO evidence to prove it. With the same bullet weight, pushed at the same speed from a rifle weighing the same…will yield the same felt recoil.

Just because it’s a new cartridge doesn’t mean that they can magically bend the laws of physics.

Less powder. Will be reduced recoil.

 

[DLSJR]

I saw this yesterday at the Sheep Show. I walked away from Federal’s booth thinking about how nearly all the best cartridges were developed more than 50 years ago.

I’ll stick with my .264 &270 Winchester when shooting a 6-7mm bullet. They both do just fine.