How bad is the 7 backcountry?

[Texis]

Agreed, the rifles can handle it. UR Gavin pushed a small primer 308 case to over 100,000 psi without issues. The straight wall case also helps a lot. During my recent 280AI build I never found pressure signs, just got nervous and stopped adding powder

 

[cajun]

At an estimated or actual operating pressure of 80K PSI I'd say barrel life will be short.

Not necessarily. In federals testing they claim close to 280 rem. The 28 nosler and the 280 have the same max pressure 65k. But one eats barrels because of a larger powder column which means a longer time the throat is exposed to the heat and pressure. I'm not 100 convinced due to the extra velocity. But probably no worse than a 7mag.

 

[javman]

Not necessarily. In federals testing they claim close to 280 rem. The 28 nosler and the 280 have the same max pressure 65k. But one eats barrels because of a larger powder column which means a longer time the throat is exposed to the heat and pressure. I'm not 100 convinced due to the extra velocity. But probably no worse than a 7mag.

Yeah only time will tell. If I were looking into one I'd wait to see what feedback looks like. They touted the 7prc so much and the 7mag is still a better round. It never lived up to the advertised velocities.

 

[cajun]

One problem I see with this for reloaders is you lose the safety margin of the brass case. I see some of the loads people put out there that obviously are over pressure. If something bad happens the case will go first and most modern actions can handle it. With an 80k round I wonder what the brass is capable of ? You are approaching the limits of the action. I get they run proof loads that are way out there. I would be concerned if the brass can take 100k their is the potential to damage the rifle and the shooter.

 

[JAYgs8163]

Yeah only time will tell. If I were looking into one I'd wait to see what feedback looks like. They touted the 7prc so much and the 7mag is still a better round. It never lived up to the advertised velocities.

7mag VS 7PRC quote is definitely up for debate. I'm a 7WSM guy and don't own either though. Sold all my belted magnums. To each their own. I'm sure someone will ring your bell on this one.

 

[fseaman.js]

I doubt I'll ever own one, but Siri doesn't live in my house either.

No Siri here that is "authorized".

 

[southpa]

My guess is that most of the ones who are hating on the idea also own at least one of the PRC cartridges.....

Regardless of how anyone wants to beat it to death, this will likely be the new craze. If the numbers turn out to be true and if it can be reloaded (even with special dies) it will have traction. I think the major gun manufacturers behind it tell a bit of a tale. There's quite a bit of steam behind this one wether you want to except it or not. I doubt the .284 is the only planned launch....

 

[javman]

7mag VS 7PRC quote is definitely up for debate. I'm a 7WSM guy and don't own either though. Sold all my belted magnums. To each their own. I'm sure someone will ring your bell on this one.

Yeah I hear ya. It's like when people ask which is better a 308, 30-06, 300WM, 300WBY, RUM etc. For me it depends what am I going to hunt and at what distance am I comfortable doing so ethically. Or am I just going to ring steel?

 

[bballard]

What are the actual real life gains here? And at what price? Seems to me it will cost me alot to lose a few inches of barrel length so I can run my suppressor and not have the overall length a few inches longer? Velocity gains in the short action are not super impressive......again, what are the real world gains and are they really worth it. Me says no....but the latest and greatest will always sell.....for a little while anyway.....

 

[Sherman Millard]

No argument. With the current state of brass, all we can do is tweak dimensions for a goal. Caseless, fail. "Ceramic", fail. There are others that failed. Maybe this will work.

We have a variety of "steel case" ammo right now. Nothing promoted as high performance, high accuracy. Just standard designs in steel (military?).

Price value equation? These standard designs in steel are "cheap" like steel case 7.62x39 at $0.50 each or 5.56 at $0.60 each. I haven't seen how much 7mm Backcountry is, I'm sure it's more than $1.00 BTW: Last I bought Remington UMC 223 at the LGS was $0.86.

Next part of that value equation is cost of one specific material. At the moment brass is very expensive. Just using recycled/scrap as a measure since it is a big part of all products.

By my limited understanding of the economics of production, the 7mm Backcountry should be significantly less expensive than a brass based equivalent to provide a value proposition to the consumer. The "equivalent" to me is the 28 Nosler and while AmmoSeek shows some at $2.50 each, Midway and local is more like $5.00. If 7mm Backcountry is at the LGS for say $3.50 that could work. All my cost models for 28 Nosler reloads are from the prices in 2015-18. I looked up some current pricing and a 28 reload with a quality CEB, Berger or Hornady ELD looks to come out at $2.25 I think. Not counting brass. Not being exact.

So, for me if the factory loads are more like $3.50, I could forgive the no-reloading. If over $5, fogedaboudit.

 

[fseaman.js]

What are the actual real life gains here? And at what price? Seems to me it will cost me alot to lose a few inches of barrel length so I can run my suppressor and not have the overall length a few inches longer? Velocity gains in the short action are not super impressive......again, what are the real world gains and are they really worth it. Me says no....but the latest and greatest will always sell.....for a little while anyway.....

That is the question, what is the value proposition for us.
If the cost per is closer to quality 308 or 6.5 CM, it will sell.

What are the safety concerns of "old" rifles are rebarreled for it?

I am not likely to be their customer in this but I wish them luck and I hope that reloading and wildcatting can be worked out.

 

[Sherman Millard]

fseaman.js Fred please not related to this thread, but happened to see you on the forum. This is Sherman in Cal. and wanted your contact info please send to [email protected] would like to ''yammer'' with you thanks

 

[JAYgs8163]

For those asking questions you can get most early answers here.

Backcountry | Federal Premium

Federal’s 7mm Backcountry is an entirely new high-performance, all-range cartridge that reinvents ammunition as we know it. It not only provides superior ballistics and terminal performance, it does so through compact, shorter-barreled suppressed rifles.

www.federalpremium.com

 

[comfisherman]

Just curious. I wasn't into rifle shooting in '07 when the 6.5 CM was introduced. For those who were, was it met with the same skepticism and negativity as this new round?

Nobody cared till 2012/13.

In 10 we had a local gun counter guy with a Tikka in 6.5 not sure which door knocking cult he was more like but his zeal for Tikka was only surpassed by his religious fervor for 6.5 creedmor. Fast forward a few years and almost every single gun at shot was in 6.5, and the big selling point to the overwhelming majority was fast twist from factory combined with high quality reasonable price factory ammo.

At the time I'd picked up a rebarreled fast twist 260 to kill paper for cheaper than the then more popular 6.5x284, as such the creed did little for me.