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...

 

[RegionRat]

Life can be short. Have fun while you can. But...

If the risk that this new design fails makes you blink, then hold off and let the early adopters (and the DoD) hash this out.

Federal makes some good stuff, but they have not exactly been a reliable civilian supplier have they? They make get this to work, but they may not. (Did you jump on the Valkyrie? Bet you are glad you didn't.) I wish them luck.

Meanwhile, you can do a lot of loading for your 308 and go shoot it a ton while you gather your next project. If I were you, I would pick one that you know you can get good quality brass for now, and then see if the 7 Backcountry pans out.

Good Luck and Good Hunting!

 

[liber]

Meanwhile, you can do a lot of loading for your 308 and go shoot it a ton while you gather your next project. If I were you, I would pick one that you know you can get good quality brass for now, and then see if the 7 Backcountry pans out.

The 308 has so many bullet options and XLNT chances of finding ammo in obscure locations...even match quality or great hunting rounds.

Certainly the 7 Backcountry could make sense, as it's 8" shorter barrel, so aside from being a possible better round, I would consider it. That goes for the 6.5 PRC also, but as you say, the 308 is always there, and while it's not a lightweight rifle, it is a good friend. I think it's good to hunt with good friends.

And that reminds me, PTG does a 12.5" 6.5 PRC barrel, I didn't ask about it as I don't consider that a good round for that short of a barrel.

 

[RegionRat]

And that reminds me, PTG does a 12.5" 6.5 PRC barrel, I didn't ask about it as I don't consider that a good round for that short of a barrel.

Agree, leave the real low energy stuff to the fanatics who have their reasons for doing this, it certainly isn't for everyone.

A short bbl 6.5 will certainly kill an elk when in capable hands. That folks have used very much lower energy guns is in the record books.

We all know that folks hunted (really the word is poached) with 22 LR during austere times like The Depression and such, but that gets way off the beaten path for a reloading forum and is more like an ethics discussion than a cartridge discussion.

You can even hunt game with handguns in many places, while at the same time not being allowed to hunt with 223. Go figure.

A short bbl centerfire cartridge in my view, is no worse than handgun hunting as long as the distances are kept short. You still want to be confident that a shot through a shoulder can kill. But heck, even a lever action with a 30-30 can dump an elk when the placement and distance is right.

A 6.5 PRC in a short bbl at shorter ranges and in the right hands is going to drop an elk in short order.

 

[liber]

A short bbl 6.5 will certainly kill an elk when in capable hands. That folks have used very much lower energy guns is in the record books.

I think it would also, but just not sure how the bullets would handle with that short of a barrel, it's not like 8.6 blackout, or 300 blackout, or even 6.5 Grendel. This is the video that convinced me to go 6.5 PRC. This girl is 14 years old and she's got a 16" or 18" barrel, but if I was her Dad, I would never let her shoot 6.5 Grendel until she learned how to shoot better. 400 yards on an elk is pretty far for a Grendel. I was trying to explain this to someone on this forum, I think the Grendel is good to about 400 yards on medium size game.

I completely agree, hunting is like real estate...location, location, location. Sure, Grendel will kill if you hit them in the head, but $#!T can happen with bears quick if you're not on your toes.

 

[MarkInPA]