Federal's 7mm Backcountry: A New High-Performance Cartridge Launched

Federal’s new 7mm Backcountry cartridge provides unprecedented performance. By utilizing cases made of high-grade “Peak Alloy” steel, the cartridge safely contains 80,000 psi. That’s 20 percent more pressure than traditional magnums, which top out at about 65,000 psi. These high-performance pressures are achieved using gunpowders with a burn rate that’s faster than usual for the internal capacity.

As a result, the 7mm Backcountry provides a significant increase in muzzle velocity. Even though the cartridge case is similar in size to the .30-06 rather than high-volume magnums, it outperforms all magnums in terms of velocity achieved by heavy-for-caliber 7mm bullets. Yep, even the .28 Nosler.

Although this new cartridge is at its best with bullets of 170 to 195-grain bullets, it also excels with lighter projectiles. To showcase its ballistic superiority, let’s pull numbers for the .280 Ackley Improved, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC, .28 Nosler, all factory-loaded with 155-grain Terminal Ascent bullets, and compare them to the 7mm Backcountry.

This new svelte 7mm hotrod produces 3,300 fps with 155-grain Terminal Ascent bullets. That’s 370 fps faster than the .280 Ackley’s 2,930 fps. It’s 300 fps faster than the 7mm Rem. Mag.’s 3,000 fps. It’s 200 fps faster than the 7mm PRC’s 3,100 fps, and it’s 100 fps faster than the massive .28 Nosler’s 3,200 fps.

Impressive Numbers

I’ll leave you to input the numbers and crunch the ballistic calculations. The inevitable result is a flatter trajectory, less wind drift, and more retained energy downrange.

Here’s some really crucial additional information: The 7mm Backcountry kicks less than traditional 7mm magnums, and has longer barrel life.

How can it kick less if it’s pushing the same bullet faster? Glad you asked. Only part of recoil is created by that old “equal and opposite reaction” law. The rest is created by the jet effect of exploding propellant gasses exiting the muzzle. (Those gasses are what muzzle brakes harness and redirect in order to reduce recoil.) Here’s the cool thing: Since the 7mm Backcountry uses less gunpowder than all other 7mm magnums, it generates less recoil.

Likewise, barrel erosion is reduced by lessening the quantity of propellant particles and gasses flowing through it. So lower charges of gunpowder equal longer barrel life. The 7mm Backcountry wins again.

Short Barreled Performance and Magazine Capacity?

Is the 7mm Backcountry cartridge safe in normal bolt-action rifles? Absolutely. The traditional limiter has always been the strength of the brass in the cartridge case, not the strength of the action. When paired with Peak Alloy steel cases, modern rifle actions are plenty strong.

Another cool aspect of the 7mm Backcountry is that it’s very good in short barrels. This is a big deal to modern hunters with suppressors screwed on their hunting rifles. According to Federal’s tests, a 7mm Backcountry rifle with a 20-inch barrel will equal and, in some cases, still outperform traditional 7mm magnums with 24-inch barrels.

Here's another advantage: Because the 7mm Backcountry uses .30-06-size cases, most hunting rifles will hold 4 or 5 rounds in the magazine, rather than just three like most magnum cartridges. So not only does it provide more terminal performance, it provides more firepower than any traditional 7mm magnum cartridge.

How about cost? Federal states that it intends to sell 7mm Backcountry ammo for about the same price as its 7mm PRC ammo. And rifles? Quite a few notable names in the riflemaking business are already on board, including Weatherby, Christensen Arms, Horizon Firearms, Seekins Precision, Gunwerks, Proof Research, and others.

Factory Ammo Offerings

Initially, Federal introduced the 7mm Backcountry with no less than five—count ’em; five—different factory loads. There’s the 155-grain Terminal Ascent described above, at 3,300 fps in 24-inch barrels. Going up in bullet weight, next is a Barnes 168-grain LRX at 3,150 fps.

My personal favorite load is a 170-grain Terminal Ascent load. It’s got a good BC of 0.645, provides wonderful on-impact performance, and exits the muzzle at 3,150 fps. I’ve seen multiple animals taken by this load, including a whopper of an Alaskan black bear shot by my 11-year-old daughter Sophie, and it kills impressively. Recoil is low enough that she shoots the lightweight rifle comfortably.

There’s a Fusion Tipped 175-grain bullet at 3,125 fps, and for the super-heavy-bullet lovers amongst us, a Berger Elite Hunter 195-grain bullet at 3,000 fps. It has a terrific G1 BC of 0.755.

There is still a lot to be learned about the 7mm Backcountry cartridge. I can’t answer them all, but I can answer a few questions that readers are probably wondering.

The Brass-Tax Bottom Line for Inquiring Minds

Yes, the steel cases can be reloaded, and RCBS has dies for doing so; the process requires more steps than traditional brass cases.

Yes, the 7mm Backcountry is an accurate cartridge. The ultralight Proof Research Glacier Ti rifle I’ve been hunting with reliably produces groups averaging 0.85 inch. That’s darned good for factory ammo in a featherweight shooting tool.

For those wondering, Federal utilized high-pressure steel-case tech developed for the military when designing the 7mm Backcountry. It’s an incredible advancement in hunting-cartridge technology, and just might presage the future.

---