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

[Presswood_936]

Damn, 2925 with 170's in a 16" is kinda wild.

That’s what I thought

 

[wind gypsy]

I’ve been happy with mine . I’ve tried 3 factory loads and they all shoot consistently under an inch in my 16” savage . The best has been the 170s with SDs in the low teens . I’m gonna try the 155s when they come in .
View attachment 921841

Wow, impressive! Bolt lift and extraction feel like normal savage?

 

[Presswood_936]

Wow, impressive! Bolt lift and extraction feel like normal savage?

Yes , crappy like a normal savage

 

[The Guide]

I've got Federal 155 TA ammo in 280AI ordered to give another data point for the same bullet from the same manufacturer in a different cartridge. This is becoming expensive but should be fun. The real world data from off the shelf ammo and rifles should fill in some of the holes we've seen in what has been released so far.

Jay

 

[UnckleBob]

Do yourself a favor and buy a box of Nosler 140g BT ammo for the 280AI. I got screaming velocities with that ammo.

So far, I haven't caved, but I have been trying not to buy that Savage 7 BC, I certainly don't need one.

I do think the new technology is the future b/c it makes a lot of sense for a rifle with a can on it...short barrel.

I would love to see a 6mm BC in a short action.

 

[khuber84]

Do yourself a favor and buy a box of Nosler 140g BT ammo for the 280AI. I got screaming velocities with that ammo.

So far, I haven't caved, but I have been trying not to buy that Savage 7 BC, I certainly don't need one.

I do think the new technology is the future b/c it makes a lot of sense for a rifle with a can on it...short barrel.

I would love to see a 6mm BC in a short action.

If I had F you money, thays exactly what I'd be doing. Making smaller midsized cases with the peakalloy tech in smaller calibers sizes. I'd even pay some 5 year old to come up with a better name than back country.

 

[The Guide]

Do yourself a favor and buy a box of Nosler 140g BT ammo for the 280AI. I got screaming velocities with that ammo.

So far, I haven't caved, but I have been trying not to buy that Savage 7 BC, I certainly don't need one.

I do think the new technology is the future b/c it makes a lot of sense for a rifle with a can on it...short barrel.

I would love to see a 6mm BC in a short action.

I'm trying to keep all the bullets the same and make it an even comparison. I could cherry pick things to scue the results but I want this to be as unbiased as possible with actual numbers.

My 280AI eats a diet of 168 Berger Classic Hunters.

Jay

 

[mattmann]

Will be picking up my 7BC from hells canyon when I get home and testing it out soon… looking forward to results here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fishdart]

I’ve been happy with mine . I’ve tried 3 factory loads and they all shoot consistently under an inch in my 16” savage . The best has been the 170s with SDs in the low teens . I’m gonna try the 155s when they come in .
View attachment 921841

By chance, did you get a weight on that rifle before you added your scope and suppressor?

 

[Presswood_936]

By chance, did you get a weight on that rifle before you added your scope and suppressor?

I didn’t , sorry

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

I'm on the verge of picking up a rifle in this caliber as I have been intrigued by it. I wish Weatherby had a 16"-barrel option on the 307's or maybe even the MKV. Have been considering a Christensen Evoke since they do have a 16" and even considered the Savage as a cheap try out the cartridge option.

 

[TaperPin]

I ran across this on the SAAMI site and it’s kinda fun to see the difference between the BC and 280 AI. I’m guessing a lot of folks will reload it with trimmed and fire formed 280 brass and lower pressure 280 AI loads.

 

[Presswood_936]

I averaged 3045 fps with the federal 155s from my 16” savage yesterday . Didn’t shoot any groups , only steel to 500 yards . This is the only ammo that I’ve experience the sticky bolt lift and extraction with . I think I’ll stick to 170s .

 

[cloan11]

Not much of a 7mm fan, but can't wait to hear all the results - pros and cons. If it proves out as advertised, only matter of time till they do it with a 300 and probably a 6.5, but that would kill the needmore.

 

[khuber84]

@The Guide please measure shoulder, base od, plus shoulder datum on several new VS fired cases so we get an idea of expansion/spring back.

Here is a video of a fellas results with a similar savage.

 

[Taudisio]

I’m just tagging in to hear the results. Thanks for providing the info guys. This tech in other calibers will make some sweet setups for the non reloader crowds.

 

[The Guide]

I'm just waiting on a couple more boxes of ammo and I should have everything to start testing on my next days off in 2 weeks. My family (4 of us) all got activated for a damage hunt for antlerless whitetail deer right before I left for work. We chose the last 2 days of the session so I would be off to hunt. I thought about doing a quick sightin with the 7mm Backcountry and using it but we decided this would be a 22 caliber shootout. We will use the 223 and the 77tmk, the 22arc and the 75gr ELDM, and the 22 Creedmoor with the 80 ELDM all suppressed as our shooting tools. The 7mm Backcountry would be a little too much for the thin skinned summer hide on a whitetail doe when the maximum range is generally around 400 yards in these hay fields. Hopefully I'll get pulled for an elk damage hunt also as I have a single digit place number in a place that had over 100 people activated last year. If I do, I'll try and get some on game performance of whatever ammo shoots the best in the 7mm Backcountry.

I also got my ammo order from Unknown Munitions delivered finally right after I left for work. I got one batch of 7mm PRC loaded with the 180 Berger Hybrid Target to give use a "handloaded" metric for the 7mm PRC with a great bullet option. Should be some fun shooting as long as I don't have to beat the action open with my tailgate...

Jay

 

[UnckleBob]

Not much of a 7mm fan, but can't wait to hear all the results - pros and cons. If it proves out as advertised, only matter of time till they do it with a 300 and probably a 6.5, but that would kill the needmore.

The entire point of the 6.5CM is to minimize recoil and use a moderate velocity.

Where the 6.5 BC is going to kill it is when we can get 2,700-800fp from 16-18" suppressed rifles.

 

[TaperPin]

I’m not going to lie, at first the idea of a cartridge with a case made out of a special material that might be hard to resize was a turnoff, but now that I know regular old brass and regular old pressures are an option I’m a fan. 7 mag velocities with high pressure ammo and 280AI velocities with normal brass are two home runs. Can’t say I woke up this morning expecting those words to come out of my mouth today. *chuckle*