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.

 

[BeeMaa]

Less powder. Will be reduced recoil.

Feel free to experience the difference for yourself. Measuring on paper you could be right, however feeling the difference in the real world would be minimal…if at all.

As others have said, this is a solution looking for a problem. Or possibly a small niche group could be interested. But I’d find it hard to believe that someone who has a super lightweight mountain rifle capable of 600 yard 1/2 MOA shots and spent thousands of dollars on the rifle & scope, not to mention the time in load development…will all of a sudden pick this thing up and go “Yeah, this is the way to go!”

Federal is throwing money at a future failure.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The 7BC uses less powder and has much less ejecta.
It’s been learned that what causes hot loads to “burn” barrels out is the Ejecta. Not the speed as many think.

it’s the heat and abrasion from the powder being blown out the muzzle as it burns.

Its showing to be very accurate, the terminal ascent ammo gets 3000 fps with 6fps variations. Very high BC, heavy for caliber and matches 24” barrel performance from 18 and 20” barrels.

I will be the AH Guinea Pig I’m buying one from Montana Rifle Company.

 

[Daisy]

Feel free to experience the difference for yourself. Measuring on paper you could be right, however feeling the difference in the real world would be minimal…if at all.

As others have said, this is a solution looking for a problem. Or possibly a small niche group could be interested. But I’d find it hard to believe that someone who has a super lightweight mountain rifle capable of 600 yard 1/2 MOA shots and spent thousands of dollars on the rifle & scope, not to mention the time in load development…will all of a sudden pick this thing up and go “Yeah, this is the way to go!”

Federal is throwing money at a future failure.

Let’s you and me talk, and not worry about what others say.

Same velocity in 4-6” barrel length reduction allowing easier suppressor use, with at worst same recoil. That is a win.

Most changes don’t require you to go sell what you have that works. It’s the person without a rifle that is buying that gets the benefit.

Higher pressure new metal cartridges are the way imo. Suppressors are here and will become the norm.

 

[BeeMaa]

Same velocity in 4-6” barrel length reduction allowing easier suppressor use, with at worst same recoil. That is a win.

I have the benefit of a 4" shorter rifle by having a Blaser R8, with all other things being equal. Nothing I couldn't do with an Ultimate Carbon 7RM with 160 grain Barnes TTSX at 2950 fps while still retaining the ability to find ammo in the event I needed to.

Higher pressure new metal cartridges are the way imo. Suppressors are here and will become the norm.

This last statement is strictly opinion, and I've been hearing this about suppressors since the 1980's. I still believe that suppressor use is good, but only in certain situations...predator hunting, hunting from a blind or use on a home defense firearm for example. I'm not a fan of these for spot & stalk or almost any other type of hunting.

I know you are a big supporter of suppressors, but they significantly change the balance, weight and swing of any firearm. For that reason, I'll leave mine home most of the time. Granted, a 4" shorter barrel will minimize the impact.

It’s the person without a rifle that is buying that gets the benefit.

This is where I can see Federal making inroads, the new buyer. But the new buyers have an attention span of a TikTok video and will be moving on to something else before the game animal has fallen over.

I respect your views very much, but I'd be very surprised to find this at the top of the sales chart (let alone the top of the 7mm sales chart) five years from now. That is my opinion.

 

[Daisy]

I have the benefit of a 4" shorter rifle by having a Blaser R8, with all other things being equal. Nothing I couldn't do with an Ultimate Carbon 7RM with 160 grain Barnes TTSX at 2950 fps while still retaining the ability to find ammo in the event I needed to.


This last statement is strictly opinion, and I've been hearing this about suppressors since the 1980's. I still believe that suppressor use is good, but only in certain situations...predator hunting, hunting from a blind or use on a home defense firearm for example. I'm not a fan of these for spot & stalk or almost any other type of hunting.

I know you are a big supporter of suppressors, but they significantly change the balance, weight and swing of any firearm. For that reason, I'll leave mine home most of the time. Granted, a 4" shorter barrel will minimize the impact.


This is where I can see Federal making inroads, the new buyer. But the new buyers have an attention span of a TikTok video and will be moving on to something else before the game animal has fallen over.

I respect your views very much, but I'd be very surprised to find this at the top of the sales chart (let alone the top of the 7mm sales chart) five years from now. That is my opinion.

Respect yours too my man! You’re a good apple.

I like seeing innovation. There will be a lot of swings and misses for sure. I don’t plan to buy this cartridge.

What I’m hoping is this tech gets to my predator ammo. Getting 3000fps from a 223/556 in a 16-18” barrel would be awesome.

 

[Altitude sickness]

BeeMaa my freind. You left out that those specs and performance levels are coming from $1000 dollar rifles. An R8 is much more than the average deer and elk hunter pays for a rifle.