Things in the ammunition world are changing, sometimes to better the efficiency and capability of the hunter/shooter, other times to meet the changing trends on rifle design, and sometimes both. We’ve seen the 6.8 Western employ a faster barrel twist rate to facilitate the use of heavier-than-normal bullet weights, we’ve seen the PRC line of ammunition use slightly shortened cases to better handle the long, high B.C. bullets that work so well at longer ranges, and now Federal has released its 7mm Backcountry.
At first glance, the 7mm Backcountry might seem to be a 280 Ackley lookalike; the case head diameter, overall length and body diameter are very close, and the 7mm Backcountry even sports a steep 30-degree shoulder for headspacing and increased case capacity, but that is where the similarities end. The Backcountry is designed to function in a standard long-action receiver, but generates velocities previously unattainable in a case of this length and diameter. The secret? Higher pressure.
The 7mm Backcountry uses a case manufactured by Peak Alloy, constructed from a proprietary steel alloy, allowing for chamber pressures as high as 80,000 psi. Now, before you start waving the Ought-Six flag and throwing spent 7mm Rem Mag cases at me, realize Federal has more than just a new speed demon here. What the goal seems to be is to allow a hunter to obtain a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps with the 170-grain Terminal Ascent bullet, from a 20-inch barrel. The popularity of suppressors has made the 24- and 26-inch barrels—so good for generating the high velocities associated with magnum cartridges—unwieldy when used with a large can on the end. Many hunters have gone to shorter barrels to offset the additional length of the suppressor, resulting in a better-handling rifle. Federal has utilized the stronger case material to handle the higher pressures necessary to maintain magnum-level velocities from a shorter barrel.
Are these cases reloadable? Federal indicates that they are, but will require a different level of attention than common brass cases. This is not the first time the ammunition world has sought an alternative material for centerfire cases, but it may be the formula which sticks around. Federal will produce the 7mm Backcountry with the 155- and 170-grain Terminal Ascent, the 168-grain Barnes LRX, the 195-grain Berger Elite Hunter, and the 175-grain Fusion Tipped bullet. Learn more at federal.com.
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