Federal 6.5 Backcountry?

[ianpadron]

Have to assume 5.56 peak + is soon to come. 77TMK screaming at 3k makes me happy.

(Yes I use Nas3 loaded now getting about 2850 from 18”. But I think these guys are just using a little more powder in the cases, and not fully taking advantage of the increased pressure).

300 fps will make all the 9 twist 223s way more fun

 

[UnckleBob]

I think it’s a good thing. Less recoil, shorter barrel 6.5 PRC.


My question would be since they did the Creedmoor why didn’t they do 7Rem mag +peak? Instead having to buy a brand new rifle in 7mm back country.

I love my 7BC 16.5 inch Barrel. But would have been nice to just buy a new barrel instead.


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I have heard their engineers say the technology does better with narrow powder columns.

 

[Andouille]

I have heard their engineers say the technology does better with narrow powder columns.

This and several more reasons I can think of why 7RM is not a candidate for Peak + cases and why 7BC was developed:
1) Standard bolt face and higher mag capacity,
2) there was no need for the extreme velocities that would be achieved by the magnum powder volume of 7RM when 30-06/280-ish case volume is sufficient to beat 7 PRC,
3) excessive recoil of 7RM with a faster bullet velocity, vs slightly lower recoil of 7BC.
4) 7RM SAAMI chamber design is dated and doesn't accommodate modern long bullets,
5) Marketing; 7 BC stands up better against 7 PRC than a jazzed-up prehistoric (to many shooters) 7 RM, and
6) I speculate that surface area to powder ratio is lower in magnum cartridges and may not provide sufficient case-to-chamber friction required to prevent excessive bolt thrust.

 

[H80Hunter]

Seems really cool as many have said.

That said, I get 2825 out of an 18” sig cross with 129 SST. JvB (is a dunce but he) was getting 2950 with a 17” Weatherby Capra and that 130 TA. Thats not nothing, but made me glad I don’t have to throw away all my current ammo. Will be fun to play with especially some of those more interesting new loads. More options is always better, maybe not for my finances.

 

[WCB]

Using the steel cases for existing cartridges is exactly what we were saying in that original thread. The technology is great, but coming out with a brand new chambering to introduce it was an obvious money-grab compared to just supplying the ammo people could actually use. I’ll happily buy the gassed up ammo if it works as advertised.

Kind of hard to be a money grab for a company that only makes ammunition not firearms. This will sell more by many multiples over 7BC. So the money is in higher volume popular calibers. 7BC let it stand on its own and get SAAMI approval...basically backing saying the pressure "issue" isn't an "issue".

If Federal owned or was related to a firearm company and they came out with it together the money grab would make sense.

 

[craigrh13]

Those fusion tipped and berger hybrids have me interested for sure! Seems like they should be ok out of a 22" barrel in an 1.87 twist(Sauer 100)?

 

[Fabel.52]

Those fusion tipped and berger hybrids have me interested for sure! Seems like they should be ok out of a 22" barrel in an 1.87 twist(Sauer 100)?

Yeah I am going to try them in my sauer for sure. I would still want to chop it to 16-18 inches though. I will go through the trouble of reloading 130 tmks if that becomes a viable and neccessary option.

 

[craigrh13]

I was told from another ammo
manufacturer that accuracy isn't "very good". It's around 1.5 MOA ammo. So it's fine for hunting within moderate distances.

 

[Escalante11]

I was told from another ammo
manufacturer that accuracy isn't "very good". It's around 1.5 MOA ammo. So it's fine for hunting within moderate distances.

The Outdoor Life test video reported their testing showed excellent accuracy…

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I was told from another ammo
manufacturer that accuracy isn't "very good". It's around 1.5 MOA ammo. So it's fine for hunting within moderate distances.

I'm sure the other ammo manufacturer doesn't have any reason to say that.

 

[Bugger]

Kind of hard to be a money grab for a company that only makes ammunition not firearms. This will sell more by many multiples over 7BC. So the money is in higher volume popular calibers. 7BC let it stand on its own and get SAAMI approval...basically backing saying the pressure "issue" isn't an "issue".

If Federal owned or was related to a firearm company and they came out with it together the money grab would make sense.

Every new rifle needs ammo right? And if it’s their proprietary technology then they’re the only ones to buy it from.
If mass-producing popular rounds with steel cases was the goal, they sure took a dumb way of getting here. They opened the door with SAAMI to get steel alloy approved then weren’t even close to the first ones to offer it in 6.5, 223, and 308.
They took the best thing they had going and treated it like the 30 Super Carry.
I hope this new release is a huge success so they finally realize we’ll actually buy stuff that we’ve been asking for.

 

[pilgrim7]

People who have shorter 16-18" 6.5 CM rifles just got a big boost in FPS.

Recently bought a 6.5 cm Howa ultralight short with a 16.25" barrel. +Peak TMK loads will make for a sweet little mountain rig!

 

[craigrh13]

I'm sure the other ammo manufacturer doesn't have any reason to say that.

They are a smaller company that doesn't produce bottleneck ammo. From what I can tell he's partially right because all of the test ammo wasn't produced to higher factory accuracy standards. Federal even told testers that it isn't precision ammo at this point.

 

[craigrh13]

 

[Andouille]

JVB had respectable accuracy out of a Tikka, Sako, and another rifle in the video below. I get the impression that 6.5 Peak+ will have fewer growing pains than did 7 BC because of the use of an existing and rather forgiving chambering of 6.5 CM.

 

[Forkasauras]

Have to assume 5.56 peak + is soon to come. 77TMK screaming at 3k makes me happy.

(Yes I use Nas3 loaded now getting about 2850 from 18”. But I think these guys are just using a little more powder in the cases, and not fully taking advantage of the increased pressure).

Already exists in Nas3 cases. 73 gr eldx going 3000+ from 18 inch barrel. 77 gr otm at 2950.

NAS3 262 ALPHA™ - Blackarc Munitions

The 262 ALPHA™ is our premium match grade 5.56 ammo using the latest technology in case design, The NAS3 paired with the legendary 77gr Sierra Match King projectile. This is the ultimate package in leading performance in velocity, lower standard deviations, and weight reduction. Primarily...

blackarcmunitions.com

There are other vendors. Somebody might load the tmks already. You just have to buy them as soon as they are available.

 

[omicron1792]

Already exists in Nas3 cases. 73 gr eldx going 3000+ from 18 inch barrel. 77 gr otm at 2950.

NAS3 262 ALPHA™ - Blackarc Munitions

The 262 ALPHA™ is our premium match grade 5.56 ammo using the latest technology in case design, The NAS3 paired with the legendary 77gr Sierra Match King projectile. This is the ultimate package in leading performance in velocity, lower standard deviations, and weight reduction. Primarily...

blackarcmunitions.com

There are other vendors. Somebody might load the tmks already. You just have to buy them as soon as they are available.

Again I use them from those vendors. You get about 2830-50 from 18”. They are consistently getting 100fps more than brass. But they are loading to normal pressure, not 80k. So you are not getting the 300fps + increases. Not a guess. I’ve chronoed it many times.



They originally said 2931 from 18”. They have changed that down to 2835fps.

Again. Normal pressure (less than 62k) just with about 8% more powder. Loading to the higher pressure with fast powders is the key to unlock the advantages. My guess is these small companies most can’t handle the risk of loading to the higher pressures.

 

[omicron1792]

I’m talking about more like this. But safely in peak alloy at 80k running 3200-3300fps.

 

[omicron1792]

These guys already have been testing it. My guess is they are working out safety concerns with all the various 5.56 platforms.

9.7K views · 168 reactions | Federal’s Peak Alloy is changing ammunition with the launch of 7mm Backcountry. Here’s a demonstration on how the case technology increases velocity with similar recoil. | Geissele Automatics, LLC

Federal’s Peak Alloy is changing ammunition with the launch of 7mm Backcountry. Here’s a demonstration on how the case technology increases velocity with similar recoil.

www.facebook.com

 

[UnckleBob]

Again I use them from those vendors. You get about 2830-50 from 18”. They are consistently getting 100fps more than brass. But they are loading to normal pressure, not 80k. So you are not getting the 300fps + increases. Not a guess. I’ve chronoed it many times.

View attachment 1076722View attachment 1076723

They originally said 2931 from 18”. They have changed that down to 2835fps.

Again. Normal pressure (less than 62k) just with about 8% more powder. Loading to the higher pressure with fast powders is the key to unlock the advantages. My guess is these small companies most can’t handle the risk of loading to the higher pressures.

I don't think they have the ability, from a cost or technology perspective, to do the necessary testing.

From what I understand, the defense department probably subsidized Federal’s R&D as they competed for big contracts.