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

[The Guide]

I like information that is natural and unbiased. Unfortunately, there really isn't anything out right now from anyone comparing the 7mm Backcountry to another modern cartridge to back up their claims. The main claim I'm interested in is if the 7mm Backcountry can produce velocities with a 20" barrel from factory ammo that other cartridges get using a 24" barrel.

I found a budget friendly option for a 7mm Backcountry rifle at Scheels in a Savage 110 Trophy Trail Hunter Lite with a 20" barrel so I ordered it. I've also ordered ammunition in each of the 5 factory offerings of 155 TA, 168 LRX, 170 TA, 175 Fusion Tipped, and 195 Berger.

What to compare it to? Might as well use another modern cartridge with the horsepower and twist to run the same 7mm bullets. I already own a 7mm PRC Preferred Barrel Blanks prefit on a Tikka action that shoots very well so that will be what I will be comparing the 7mm Backcountry to. Federal has factory ammunition for the 7mm PRC in 155 TA, 170 TA, and 175 Fusion Tipped available right now with the 168 LRX coming soon so I have 3 bullets to do a direct comparison between the two cartridges and a 4th in the near future. The 3 offerings for the 7mm PRC have also been ordered and I'm on a couple wait lists for the 168 LRX ammo once it is sent out into the wild.

Other than velocities, is there any information that others might like to see? I'm not going to do any ballistic gel stuff because these are existing bullet just being driven by a different kind of cartridge casing.

Let me know what you think...

Jay

 

[5811]

I was looking at this cartridge and hoping for an update, so I appreciate you starting this. I'd like to try a tikka prefit in 7bc, but not if the cartridge is flaming out.

I'd be curious if the steel ammo is not reloadable and not readily available at some point, will anyone make brass that will be reloadable? Like a more mainstream 280 ai?

I can't seem to find the case capacity for the 7bc to compare to the 280 ai, that would be neat to see.

 

[The Guide]

I was looking at this cartridge and hoping for an update, so I appreciate you starting this. I'd like to try a tikka prefit in 7bc, but not if the cartridge is flaming out.

I'd be curious if the steel ammo is not reloadable and not readily available at some point, will anyone make brass that will be reloadable? Like a more mainstream 280 ai?

I can't seem to find the case capacity for the 7bc to compare to the 280 ai, that would be neat to see.

Well hot damn...

I didn't even think about my 280AI! Might have to see if there are some 280AI Federal factory offerings using the same bullets. I think there might be a 155 TA for the 280AI. I'll look and see if there is anything else for the 280AI that uses the same bullets as the 7mm Backcountry ammo. I'll do a post firing h2o content for the 3 cartridges.

Jay

 

[Sundodger]

Looking forward to this.

I am very excited about the possibilities these newer higher pressure cartridges offer, and hopeful they work out in the long run and get mainstream adoption.

I am probably most curious about accuracy, but one rifle and a handful of ammo isn't going to be enough data to draw any conclusions on that for the cartridge in general.

 

[reynolds243]

Id be interested in recoil or at least perceived recoil vs 7PRC or like rounds. Federal claims it has less "perceived" recoil then the PRC. Curious to know if thats accurate or not especially suppressed.

obviously everyone handles recoil different and gun weights etc change the perceived punch of it. For Skinny guys like me it would be cool if that gun doesnt feel like a 7PRC shooting it (just not a FUN gun to go shoot for me)

 

[The Guide]

Looking forward to this.

I am very excited about the possibilities these newer higher pressure cartridges offer, and hopeful they work out in the long run and get mainstream adoption.

I am probably most curious about accuracy, but one rifle and a handful of ammo isn't going to be enough data to draw any conclusions on that for the cartridge in general.

I'm mostly doing it for velocity but will be shooting using practices that lead to the best accuracy from most rifles. As you said, it is just one rifle and a cheap one at that. Most rifles can have ammunition tailored to them to milk the best accuracy out of even the most picky of barrels. Unfortunately, at this time there is no way to handload these casings. You have to rely upon only these 5 factory ammo offerings so it will be interesting to see what they provide.

Jay

 

[The Guide]

Id be interested in recoil or at least perceived recoil vs 7PRC or like rounds. Federal claims it has less "perceived" recoil then the PRC. Curious to know if thats accurate or not especially suppressed.

obviously everyone handles recoil different and gun weights etc change the perceived punch of it. For Skinny guys like me it would be cool if that gun doesnt feel like a 7PRC shooting it (just not a FUN gun to go shoot for me)

I will be shooting all rounds suppressed with a SilencerCo Omega 300 DTM. Nothing fancy or expensive. I can probably video the shooting so you can see the recoil difference between the different rifles and ammunition. I'm 6'6" and 280# with an athletic build so my perceived recoil is not what others will experience.

Jay

 

[khuber84]

Badass! By the time you get all that ammo fired, the barrel will be near break in/speed up. I'd save 3-5 loaded rounds of every type, and reshoot them after you have 75-85 rounds down it, see the delta if or how much the barrel sped up through round count. Either that or shoot everything round robbin style and plot velocity in a chart from start to 100 rds fired.

I saw one YouTube of a guy with a broke in rifle getting mid to low 2900s out the 195 through what I think was a 20in barrel. That's pretty nuts, 28 nosler speeds.

 

[The Guide]

Badass! By the time you get all that ammo fired, the barrel will be near break in/speed up. I'd save 3-5 loaded rounds of every type, and reshoot them after you have 75-85 rounds down it, see the delta if or how much the barrel sped up through round count. Either that or shoot everything round robbin style and plot velocity in a chart from start to 100 rds fired.

I saw one YouTube of a guy with a broke in rifle getting mid to low 2900s out the 195 through what I think was a 20in barrel. That's pretty nuts, 28 nosler speeds.

I've got 2 boxes of the 155 and the 175 for the BC so I can get the round count at or over 100 rounds and do a second 5 round velocity comparison to see if the barrel has sped up. Should be an interesting point of information.

Jay

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm primarily interested in rifle function - is bolt lift and case extraction sticky on 7BC? Precision and velocity will be interesting as well. Seems the Outdoor Life guys have had best luck with the 175 tipped fusion ammo and less with many of the other offerings.

 

[The Guide]

I'm primarily interested in rifle function - is bolt lift and case extraction sticky on 7BC? Precision and velocity will be interesting as well. Seems the Outdoor Life guys have had best luck with the 175 tipped fusion ammo and less with many of the other offerings.

I've seen the video where the guy had to beat his bolt open on the tailgate. I'll mop the chamber and throat with acetone to make sure there is no manufacturering oils remaining that might cause sticky extraction. I mean, if I can run cheap steel cased 7.62x39 in a Ruger American I should be able to run 7mm Backcountry ammo in a chamber designed for this Peak Alloy case. We will find out soon.

Jay

 

[Okie_Poke]

Tagging in here to follow along. Looking forward to your results, and would love the 280 ai thrown in as another comparator. What barrel lengths do you have on your 7 PRC and 280 ai?

 

[Footshooter]

Can’t wait to see results! I am still dialing in my new 7PRC for an Elk hunt in October. 7.5lb total build on a Christensen FFT, really feels like the recoil is very manageable (I was thinking it would be a bruiser but not at all). My buddy just ordered a 7BC to play with so I’m interested in your results to see how ours may compare

 

[The Guide]

Tagging in here to follow along. Looking forward to your results, and would love the 280 ai thrown in as another comparator. What barrel lengths do you have on your 7 PRC and 280 ai?

I have a 24" 7mm PRC on my Tikka action and a 22" 7mm PRC barrel that I haven't shot yet. My 280AI is a 24" Proof CF barrel that Snowy Mountain Rifles cut for me on a Remington 700 action they blueprintedfor me.

Jay

 

[eoperator]

This is an awesome project, thanks for this. I am a bit skeptical of 80k psi stuff but if it works it's a step forward.

Three topics come to mind for me;
-will the bolt open reliably in wet/snow conditions?
-significant sample size accuracy?
-barrel life?

 

[Macintosh]

A fast magnum rifle isnt on my Christmas list, but its an interesting concept that Id like to see applied to much smaller cartridges. Biggest issue I saw called out amidst the launch hoopla was accuracy—no one I saw seemed to be able to get any of the rifles to shoot. Savages arent expensive but ime they are usually decent accuracy out of the box. Would be interested to see at least 3 or 4 consecutive 3-round groups on the same target at ranges where a warp-speed heavy bullet is needed, to compare large round-count groups without the inevitable questions about walking with a hot barrel. Your 7prc ought to be able to serve as a benchmark of sorts.

 

[Dave Thomas]

I too am more interested in the accuracy and how consistent it is.

 

[nm.otter]

its an interesting concept that Id like to see applied to much smaller cartridges.

Definitely.

I'm fantasizing about a 6mm GT sized case that could push 3,000+ FPS out of a 16" barrel.