7mm Backcountry, does BC stand for best choice or bad cartridge? Let's test it!

[coach]

I haven't shot a 7bc, so I'll start with that, but recoil is powder mass, bullet mass and velocity. Load data for 7bc is in the 55-60 grain range. 5-10-ish grains different from 7rm, depending on powder. So if the bullet weights are the same, and the 7bc has more velocity, it's going to be really close in recoil, in theory.

I'd be curious if people with first hand experience would agree.

I have a 7PRC and 7mm Backcountry. Honestly feel the PRC has a twinge more recoil. The 7PRC is a 24 inch barrel and weighs 10.3 lbs with scope, the 7mm Backcountry weighs 8.4 lbs with scope and has a 20 inch barrel. Just for context. I shoot both Suppressed with same Aero Lahar 30L can.

 

[coachmks]

My 20” barrel 7BC is 7 pounds 13 ounces including scope and suppressor. I have never shot a 7PRC but the recoil on my 7BC is much less than I expected. It is very similar to my Ruger M77 in 280 Remington, although the two guns are really not comparable. The Ruger is heavier and is not threaded for a suppressor.

 

[The Guide]

I have a heavy (24" medium Palma barrel in an Oryx chassis) 7mm PRC Tikka shooting 180 ELDM, the 20" Savage I started the thread with shooting 195 Bergers, and a 24" Proof CF barreled 280AI R700 in a B&C M40 stock shooting 168 Bergers. I would rank them in felt recoil as 280AI/7mm Backcountry/7mm PRC from least to most. None of them are unpleasant but I would not want to shoot the 7mm Backcountry or the 7mm PRC without a suppressor or at minimum, a good directional muzzle brake. They both have more muzzle rise and recoil than I would like to shoot without a muzzle device.

Jay

 

[Kooziehiker]

My 20” barrel 7BC is 7 pounds 13 ounces including scope and suppressor. I have never shot a 7PRC but the recoil on my 7BC is much less than I expected. It is very similar to my Ruger M77 in 280 Remington, although the two guns are really not comparable. The Ruger is heavier and is not threaded for a suppressor.

What set up is that - sounds about perfect?

 

[coachmks]

What set up is that - sounds about perfect?

Weatherby 307 Alpine CT with Leupold VX3 4.5x14x50, Vortex medium rings, Scythe Ti suppressor. I’m getting speeds 50-100fps faster than advertised on the ammo box for the 155 and 170 grain Terminal Ascent loads. It shoots .5”-.75” groups when I do my part. The bare rifle actually weighed a few ounces less than advertised is how the rig stayed under 8 pounds.

 

[Kooziehiker]

Sweet set up, thanks for sharing. I'm a fan of the 4.5x14, it's been my go to for many years, and fairly light weight (I have the 40mm). I've been toying with the 7mm BC for a few months, now do I wait for the 6.5 in June (as suspected), or just go 7mm? I'll probably go 7mm!

 

[coach]

Hey all,
Could use some help in a decision.

I was debating between 2 7mm Backcountry builds:
*Rifle#1
Proof research mtr 2.0. 16.5 inch barrel, origin action
*Rifle #2
Custom build with MDT HN26 chasis. Same barrel and action.

Rifle 2 weighs a 1/2 Ib less.
Rifle 1 is 3400
Rifle 2 is 5200

Any thoughts or does anyone own any of these??


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[Halligan]

Hey all,
Could use some help in a decision.

I was debating between 2 7mm Backcountry builds:
*Rifle#1
Proof research mtr 2.0. 16.5 inch barrel, origin action
*Rifle #2
Custom build with MDT HN26 chasis. Same barrel and action.

Rifle 2 weighs a 1/2 Ib less.
Rifle 1 is 3400
Rifle 2 is 5200

Any thoughts or does anyone own any of these??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That $1800 difference buys some greaaaat optics… or a ton of ammo… ya know, fwiw and stuff

 

[The Guide]

Hey all,
Could use some help in a decision.

I was debating between 2 7mm Backcountry builds:
*Rifle#1
Proof research mtr 2.0. 16.5 inch barrel, origin action
*Rifle #2
Custom build with MDT HN26 chasis. Same barrel and action.

Rifle 2 weighs a 1/2 Ib less.
Rifle 1 is 3400
Rifle 2 is 5200

Any thoughts or does anyone own any of these??


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To be really honest, with as good as the $550 Savage has shot I wouldn't spend custom money on either one of them. Granted, if you are building a lifetime hunting rifle that will only be shot a few times a year, that might be fine for you. I just wouldn't spend a bunch of money on a gun that you can't reload for but even of you can no longer find ammo for it in 5 years you just have to swap the barrel to a 280AI and you'll have a gun that will do 90%+ of what the 7mm Backcountry would do on external ballistics.

Jay

 

[coach]

That $1800 difference buys some greaaaat optics… or a ton of ammo… ya know, fwiw and stuff

Great point. Totally true


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