How bad is the 7 backcountry?

[Ua26fitter]

I get a kick out of all the "barrel life " people getting all excited about this.
Suddenly it's not a concern?
Barrel life is directly related to pressure.

 

[Lou270]

Sig, Federal, Olin, True Velocity were all in the running for the 6.8x51 contract (and some others). Both Sig and TV already have their rounds saami approved. Sig of course is shipping tons of rounds to Army and Olin actually won the "big" contract making the Sig Military version even though Sig came up with it. I think there is a new plant either built or getting built and Win will run. I saw something like 5M rounds in 2023. So people wandering why not seeing 277 Fury yet is because shipping the initial millions of round to army. So just because we have not seen these high pressure rounds does not mean they are not seeing a lot of develolment.

The 6.8 Federal entry which apparently morphed into 7 BC did not make it past the first round of selection process to final 3. Don't know why, but last 3 were Sig,Olin, TVC and Sig eventually won. Sig has said as well plan to expand beyond 277 down the road but apparently Federal is trying to jump ahead in civilian market since lost the military before Sig or somebody else gets around to it

Lou

 

[Joefrazell]

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

They're saying it'll have good barrel life because there's not a ton of powder just pressure. Tell that to a 22 creed.

 

[liber]

They're saying it'll have good barrel life because there's not a ton of powder just pressure. Tell that to a 22 creed.

That's what concerns me, is that on paper it looks phenomenal, long barrel life, shorter barrels than have ever been used, higher velocities than have ever been achieved, delivers more energy than a speeding locomotive...ok, wait...can this be the Superman of cartridges? Federal did get people talking about it, and probably didn't spend that much giving out rifles and ammo...but I want to see Federal follow up.

This is why people are talking about it, and it's not all good. Hopefully Federal knows what they doing, cause consumers don't tend to forget quickly.

I previously mentioned Hornady. They are very involved with ballistics currently. They also have a very popular podcast. Whether you like Hornady bullets or not, they offer a view on many aspects of shooting. Will Federal be able to understand this new media and be able to leverage it? They haven't proven that to me yet. We don't need to hear from anyone eating donuts and drinking coffee, we need to hear from people that pack with 60 lbs up a mountain and when they get up to the ridge exhausted, they see game, try to quietly drop their pack, pull their rifle, setup and shoot...those rounds need to go boom...thousands of rounds can do that today.

Also, if this peak alloy is the material that allow us to get past the 65,000 psi barrier, all the better. It will most likely propogate to other cartridges, possibly even existing cartridges, to achieve higher pressures. I can't help but find irony comparing it to 7 PRC, as I was kind of skeptical lately over the claims, but there are folks getting close to 3000 psi out of a 22" barrel with factory ammo. They are not reloaders, AFAICT, but did see a guy with a Garmin, so maybe he is. But I do want to say that if this technology does work as advertised, it might be possible to achieve 4000 (EDIT: not psi as I had typed, thanks @JAYgs8163) in some of the traditional cartridges that were already achieving over 3000 EDIT: fps. Something to ponder.

It looks like Superman on paper.

 

[Varmiter71]

I like the idea, but I think there's a few hurdles.
#1. I am not convinced that one will be able to reliably reload it. That being said reloading is a dying art. Everyone thinks that their time is too valuable.
#2. Wildcatting will be impossible.
#3. New offerings would have to be all new cartridges just like when the long high BC bullets came out.
#4. If you did this to say you used this alloy to duplicate or beat the 22 creedmoor it would be a micro action or AR length case like a 22 ARC. And it would only be a matter of time until someone puts it in an AR, and that would not be pretty. The publicity would ruin it. It wouldn't matter that it wasn't federal's fault. Same thing if someone builds the 7BC on an old action like a Mauser.

 

[fseaman.js]

They're saying it'll have good barrel life because there's not a ton of powder just pressure. Tell that to a 22 creed.

This got me thinking. Is barrel life a function of where the burn part of the expansion process happens?

If most of the burn is inside the cartridge then there is no or less flame against the throat and rifling. Think 6 BR.

 

[JAYgs8163]

That's what concerns me, is that on paper it looks phenomenal, long barrel life, shorter barrels than have ever been used, higher velocities than have ever been achieved, delivers more energy than a speeding locomotive...ok, wait...can this be the Superman of cartridges? Federal did get people talking about it, and probably didn't spend that much giving out rifles and ammo...but I want to see Federal follow up.

This is why people are talking about it, and it's not all good. Hopefully Federal knows what they doing, cause consumers don't tend to forget quickly.

I previously mentioned Hornady. They are very involved with ballistics currently. They also have a very popular podcast. Whether you like Hornady bullets or not, they offer a view on many aspects of shooting. Will Federal be able to understand this new media and be able to leverage it? They haven't proven that to me yet. We don't need to hear from anyone eating donuts and drinking coffee, we need to hear from people that pack with 60 lbs up a mountain and when they get up to the ridge exhausted, they see game, try to quietly drop their pack, pull their rifle, setup and shoot...those rounds need to go boom...thousands of rounds can do that today.

Also, if this peak alloy is the material that allow us to get past the 65,000 psi barrier, all the better. It will most likely propogate to other cartridges, possibly even existing cartridges, to achieve higher pressures. I can't help but find irony comparing it to 7 PRC, as I was kind of skeptical lately over the claims, but there are folks getting close to 3000 psi out of a 22" barrel with factory ammo. They are not reloaders, AFAICT, but did see a guy with a Garmin, so maybe he is. But I do want to say that if this technology does work as advertised, it might be possible to achieve 4000 psi in some of the traditional cartridges that were already achieving over 3000 psi. Something to ponder.

It looks like Superman on paper.

"PSI" or FPS?

 

[liber]

"PSI" or FPS?

FPS (I'm dyslexic, will change) I always pump my rifle up before I shoot!

 

[JAYgs8163]

FPS (I'm dyslexic, will change) I always pump my rifle up before I shoot!

Air rifle!!

 

[Mike D Texas]

They're saying it'll have good barrel life because there's not a ton of powder just pressure. Tell that to a 22 creed.

The difference is this won't be as overbore as a 22 Creed. It won't have to use ultra slow burning high temp and or super abrasive powders to achieve the velocities.

 

[Poor_choices]

It's always amusing to hear the barrel life comments. The overwhelming majority of hunters and shooters will never shoot out a barrel. It's even funnier when it involves burning up a barrel with factory ammunition. If a shooter can afford enough factory loaded ammo to burn a barrel, the cost to rebarrel the gun shouldn't be an issue.

 

[liber]

It's always amusing to hear the barrel life comments. The overwhelming majority of hunters and shooters will never shoot out a barrel. It's even funnier when it involves burning up a barrel with factory ammunition. If a shooter can afford enough factory loaded ammo to burn a barrel, the cost to rebarrel the gun shouldn't be an issue.

Depends on how much one goes to the range and practices, but in general you're correct as many hunters don't practice.

 

[coop2564]

I do think this type of technology is here to stay. Will this cartridge be the champion of the technology? I doubt it. It might do well enough to hold on. Today anything over 25 Ft lbs of recoil doesn't sell like crazy. It can sell to some, but not like the next creedmore. I believe they are on the right track, just not quite right caliber and recoil. Some thing in .257 @ 3000-3100 with 130-145gr high BC, 20" barrel and recoil 21 or under might be the next winner, winner, chicken dinner.

 

[Joefrazell]

It's always amusing to hear the barrel life comments. The overwhelming majority of hunters and shooters will never shoot out a barrel. It's even funnier when it involves burning up a barrel with factory ammunition. If a shooter can afford enough factory loaded ammo to burn a barrel, the cost to rebarrel the gun shouldn't be an issue.

I agree completely. I just don't like when marketing is lying to us. Maybe they're not but I have my doubts.