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

[Presswood_936]

How do you like that EPL-4? Just ordered this rifle for <$400 so looking for a “budget” optic to throw on. Really prefer a 4-16x FFP. Was also looking at the Helix Gen 2 4-16x.

It’s been really good so far , the glass is great for the price . I haven’t really beat the crap out of it or had it in low light conditions yet , I am happy with it though

 

[The Guide]

Got some free time and shot the 7mm Backcountry some more with the final 2 types of ammo available. I had honestly put it off since these two loads were the most common for people to have issues with when shooting and get the casing stuck. Lucky me, no such issues were seen. What I did see was velocity readings very close to box velocities.

I started with the 155 grain Federal Terminal Ascent. This bullet had only 1 reported incident that I could find so I had more confidence in it not locking my bolt closed with a stuck casing.

7mm Backcountry Federal Premium 155 grain Terminal Ascent. Box velocity for a 20" barrel was 3150 fps. Observed velocity on 5 rounds was 3143 fps.



Next up was the infamous ammo that got stuck in the Savage Trophy Trail Hunter Lite 16" rifle on YouTube. I was happy that my small sample size did not have any issues and that the observed velocity was just over the box velocity.

7mm Backcountry Federal Premium 170 grain Terminal Ascent. Box velocity for a 20" barrel was 3000 fps. Observed velocity on 5 rounds was 3007 fps.



Didn't see poor groups from either load. Shot in windy conditions right at last light and still held sub 1.5" groups. Not bad for 28 rounds down the pipe and having shot 5 different loads and bullets at this point. The LRX and the Berger EOL still have the best group size at this point. I've decided I'm going to hunt the last few days of the season with the rifle. I really like the way the rifle carries suppressed with the 20" barrel and slightly butt heavy stock. I'll try and get some live tissue testing done between now and the end of shoulder season.

Jay

 

[PapaSmurf]

That’s good to hear! I just ordered the 16.5” version a couple days ago. Got it all in for sub $500 so not overly worried of something goes wrong.

By the way, that YouTuber posted an update today. Apparently Federal has “modified” the cases a bit to help with the extraction issues? Idk, I’m not an expert. Here it is if anyone wants to watch.

 

[The Guide]

That’s good to hear! I just ordered the 16.5” version a couple days ago. Got it all in for sub $500 so not overly worried of something goes wrong.

By the way, that YouTuber posted an update today. Apparently Federal has “modified” the cases a bit to help with the extraction issues? Idk, I’m not an expert. Here it is if anyone wants to watch.

My LGS said that if I had any issues with my bolt getting locked up to bring him the ammo and they would return it and give me new off the shelf. Federal rep said there was an adjustment to the case right after first release.

Jay

 

[jreyna]

Tagging in to follow along. Enjoying the conversation and data.

 

[PapaSmurf]

That’s good to hear! I just ordered the 16.5” version a couple days ago. Got it all in for sub $500 so not overly worried of something goes wrong.

By the way, that YouTuber posted an update today. Apparently Federal has “modified” the cases a bit to help with the extraction issues? Idk, I’m not an expert. Here it is if anyone wants to watch.

I know this thread is predominantly about 7BC, but just wanted to chime in that Savage is having a $100 rebate on their 110’s right now if anyone wants to pick one of these up on the cheap.

I just missed it but still submitted everything as I didn’t do the FFL transfer until the day the rebate started 11/21. Prolly won’t honor it but it’s worth a shot

Also - Federal is having 20% off rebates on ammo.

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

Well, looks like I just ordered the last Fierce Carbon Rogue (in 7 BC) that was available to ship from Cabelas. I had one too many beverages and was feeling the itch, so I used the 10% on top of the sale pricing as fuel to place the order.

Now I know I'm gambling whether or not there will be rifling in the barrel, but if it works out, this could be a cool setup. If not, I can always go back to Fierce to make it right--and truth be told, I'd rather gamble with rifles than Vegas.

I'll keep you guys posted as I set it up.

ETA: I'm also fully prepared to hear a lot of "told you so" after the goat ropes that have been documented on here.

 

[dårlig jeger]

Looks like the load data and reloading info is out there. So much for 12 passes needed to resize....

 

[reynolds243]

2nd update.

Contacted Federal about the hang up issues that seem to happen more on the 170 TA rounds. They are having me send them back the cases and remaining rounds and sending me a box of those and the 175 fusions. This leads me to assume that there was a possible issue with some of the earlier batches, that could be totally incorrect but good on them for at least offering it. Will be interested to see if the velocities are the same or if I see any difference on new boxes from them.

just to keep this updated. Got the new ammo from federal and still had some hang ups every 4th-5th shot. So I contacted Christensen Arms and sent my rifle back. I will say the time I submitted the warranty until I actually heard back from them was almost a month, I had to end up calling them twice to see wtf was going on. The sent me a packing slip and I mailed it back. Once they actually got it and worked on it was about 2 weeks which was pretty fast.

They checked the headspace and said it was good, then polished the chamber and tested it with no issue.

I got the gun back friday and took it out and shot it 18x today with no issues using the TA and Fusions. Seems whatever they did fixed my issue or a combination of whatever they did and the new ammo from federal.

 

[The Guide]

just to keep this updated. Got the new ammo from federal and still had some hang ups every 4th-5th shot. So I contacted Christensen Arms and sent my rifle back. I will say the time I submitted the warranty until I actually heard back from them was almost a month, I had to end up calling them twice to see wtf was going on. The sent me a packing slip and I mailed it back. Once they actually got it and worked on it was about 2 weeks which was pretty fast.

They checked the headspace and said it was good, then polished the chamber and tested it with no issue.

I got the gun back friday and took it out and shot it 18x today with no issues using the TA and Fusions. Seems whatever they did fixed my issue or a combination of whatever they did and the new ammo from federal.

Glad to hear you got some resolution.

Jay

 

[JefeRey]

Hopefully getting my back ordered rings from UM soon and getting a scope mounted on this soon. Started life as a stainless .270 T3 and is now wearing a hells canyon 7BC barrel and peak 44 stock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any updates after scope install and shooting? Would love to see more feedback from anyone building 7mm BC with Tikka action.

 

[swampy14]

Any updates after scope install and shooting? Would love to see more feedback from anyone building 7mm BC with Tikka action.

Same I’m on the fence about building the tikka action or settling on the weatherby alpine CT. Cost wise they would be about the same. But I’m leaning towards being able to have a warranty on the weatherby with this newish cartridge

 

[cmatzek]

For the guys shooting 7BC, I'm curious how the recoil compared to a 7mm RM. I'm strongly considering the 7BC, rifle would be about 10lbs. Trying to decide if it can be my everything rifle, treestand whitetail deer to western big game 500+ yd shots. I currently have a Tikka 7mag in an XLR chassis and it's not really fun in a treestand, I can handle the recoil but it just seems bulky.

 

[dårlig jeger]

For the guys shooting 7BC, I'm curious how the recoil compared to a 7mm RM. I'm strongly considering the 7BC, rifle would be about 10lbs. Trying to decide if it can be my everything rifle, treestand whitetail deer to western big game 500+ yd shots. I currently have a Tikka 7mag in an XLR chassis and it's not really fun in a treestand, I can handle the recoil but it just seems bulky.

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.

 

[The Guide]

For the guys shooting 7BC, I'm curious how the recoil compared to a 7mm RM. I'm strongly considering the 7BC, rifle would be about 10lbs. Trying to decide if it can be my everything rifle, treestand whitetail deer to western big game 500+ yd shots. I currently have a Tikka 7mag in an XLR chassis and it's not really fun in a treestand, I can handle the recoil but it just seems bulky.

I've never owned or shot a 7mm RM but I've shot 7mm-08, 280AI, 7mm WSM, 7mm PRC, 7mm RUM, and 7mm Backcountry. To me, my suppressed 7mm Backcountry and suppressed 7mm PRC are very similar in recoil impulse with similar grain bullets. The first 3 in the above list were with much lighter grain bullets and had less recoil and the RUM was also with lower grain bullets but much higher recoil as I remember.

Jay

 

[reynolds243]

well it looks like the 7mm BC is moving forward some because I got an email from Remington last night saying they are now selling ammo for it. 175g Premier Long Range, 175 Tipped Core Lok and standad core lok.

This was what I was hoping was going to happen that other ammo manufacturers would start producing ammo for the round other then federal.

 

[UnckleBob]

well it looks like the 7mm BC is moving forward some because I got an email from Remington last night saying they are now selling ammo for it. 175g Premier Long Range, 175 Tipped Core Lok and standad core lok.

This was what I was hoping was going to happen that other ammo manufacturers would start producing ammo for the round other then federal.

Remington shares the same ownership as Federal. Having a second manufacturer and n board is smart.

I do, however, have visions of simple Core-Lokts hitting a deer at 100 yards going Mach Stupid. It makes me smile.

 

[JefeRey]

well it looks like the 7mm BC is moving forward some because I got an email from Remington last night saying they are now selling ammo for it. 175g Premier Long Range, 175 Tipped Core Lok and standad core lok.

This was what I was hoping was going to happen that other ammo manufacturers would start producing ammo for the round other then federal.

This is great movement. Should also help see more in stock of 7BC ammo across the different offerings.

 

[EODSABAB]

tagging to follow along. Hoping it catches on.

 

[PapaSmurf]

Slightly off topic - but for anyone wondering thought I’d post an update for those of us with the Savage’s.

I did end up getting the rebate, yay. I did end up having to ship the rifle back to Savage, nay.

This was a 16.5” Trail Hunter Lite, LH, 7mm BC. It shot the 170 TA’s lights out. 1/2” groups. The 155 TA’s, 168 LRX’s, and 198 Berger’s all MOA. For some reason (might’ve been me) it hated the fusions. 2-3” groups with that. Velocities were great. 3025 for the 155’s, 2884 for the 170’s, Even 2704 for the 198’s.

But par for the course, I had a hell of a time with extraction. 155 TA’s and Fusions were fine, the Berger’s and 170 TA’s bolt lift and extract very hard. Had a failure to extract on the LRX’s.

Federal cleared the ammo, Savage checked the rifle out. Something is wrong because I’ve been waiting on “parts” (can’t tell me what) for a month or so now. I’m not mad though, only paid $400 for it as fun “experiment,” and see below:

Of course, couple months after I bought mine Savage came out and introduced a re-worked 110 action. They say it has dual ejectors, new extractor, and overall “more smoothness.” They discontinued that model, with a new one listed on the website as “V2.”

I was also told over the phone the new 110’s and any “V2” designation includes the new bolt and some changes to the receiver. Couldn’t get that clarified. So I’m sure my “Gen 1” Trail Hunter Lite is just waiting to get the “V2” makeover? They also have a “Core Hunter” and “Core Hunter Pro” model out now with all the updates, 16.5” barrel, and new stock. For anyone curious (might swap mine out eventually for one of those).

Long post but figured someone someday might read it and it answer a question for them.