The latest greatest Federal Cartridge

[Sockeye66]

This cartridges niche is for similar velocities to comparative cartridges like the 7PRC with a shorter barrel. The Backfire video shows high 2800's with a 170gr bullet in a 16" barrel with a standard bolt face cartridge, that alone is pretty impressive considering the case capacity and powder charge. For a non-reloader who combo hunts deer/elk and wants a short barreled suppressed rifle, it looks pretty good. Time will tell, we'll all be genius's a year from now.

 

[liber]

This cartridges niche is for similar velocities to comparative cartridges like the 7PRC with a shorter barrel. The Backfire video shows high 2800's with a 170gr bullet in a 16" barrel with a standard bolt face cartridge, that alone is pretty impressive considering the case capacity and powder charge. For a non-reloader who combo hunts deer/elk and wants a short barreled suppressed rifle, it looks pretty good. Time will tell, we'll all be genius's a year from now.

So, we compare against a cartridge that had problems from the get-go, AND was one of the most recent PRC cartridges that everyone has been waiting for. Compare the velocities of the short action cartridges...7SAUM, 300 WSM, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 WRPM, et al...at the end of the day the PRC line seems to beat it out. For a long action you have 7PRC and 300PRC today. The marketing is basically gaslighting it to be 200 fps faster than 7PRC, but that is not handloads, that's the ammo available today, as I understand it.

But the real proof is in available ammo. If the 7mm Backcountry is intending to be the king, let's see who loads for it. In that regard, PRC has the Hornady push, which has proven a *slight* advantage over Federal. If they can show the ballistics and the market growing like PRC, they could have a winner...but that verdict is still out...

EDIT: Does anyone actually have 80,000 psi loads that have been verified safe? I'm talking about 277 Furry also, does any manufacturer have verified 80,000 psi loads?

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

..if it's legit that amazing ballistics to say the least from a 20 inch....guess 80'000 psi does produce something..lol

 

[MarkInPA]

 

[RegionRat]

This test was pretty frank. They showed the good but more importantly the bad as well.

I appreciate that they didn't spin it or white wash the problems. They just showed their work.

 

[liber]

This test was pretty frank. They showed the good but more importantly the bad as well.

I agree, it seems pretty objective, I posted that video in another thread. The end where they calculate the spread to show they only expect 66% it rate didn't sound too good to me. And the velocities are nothing to write home about. However, it is a 16" barrel.

If it's as good as they say, they should be able to prove it. It's not too bad a start for a new cartridge, they sure did create a stir with it. Maybe Federal has learned...but the verdict is still out on that, IMO. I was feeling a bit hesitant towards 7 PRC, but now it's looking more logical. If Federal can prove it before I build, I will consider it.

I don't know if I'm playing mind games with myself or not, my good friend the 308 will always be there. I shoot a 24" barrel on that. 8" is attractive, but will I find my way back? That goes for 6.5 PRC as well...I'm not sure if I will go back to 308 in the end or not. I may just be messing with my own head...