"Now it's my turn!" -Federal circa 2025

[KingOfTagSoup]

We seem to have entered a world where cartridges have become like iPhones, we must introduce a new one every year . The latest was released today from Federal. Introducing, the 7mm Backcountry. It boasts 3,000 fps+ with 170+ gr bullets out of a standard length chamber and 20 inch barrels. How? By using a "proprietary steel alloy case" that allows higher pressures than brass.

Now, I have not seen any performance data but here's my initial reaction. This kind of performance sounds great in theory, IF they actually support it and can get it in stock. Will it survive? I'll believe it when I see it. My fear is that this "cartridge war" we're seeing is going to result in great rounds that no one produces and are never in stock. (Don't worry I'm sure the proprietary steel alloy cases will be easy to get ) And in the end, those of us who just want to buy factory without backordering all the time will be the ones that lose. Hey Federal, I still don't see 6.8 Western on your site and your 7mm PRC loads still seem out of stock nearly everywhere.....

 

[Sheltowee]

Too early for April Fool's Day, King.


Translation: LOL NOPE

 

[Ought Six]

I mean I guess you could just buy a .243, .270, .308, 30-06, .300WM, etc and go kill stuff without worrying about all that

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

I mean I guess you could just buy a .243, .270, .308, 30-06, .300WM, etc and go kill stuff without worrying about all that

And you can actually find ammo for those too, what a novel idea lol

 

[MThuntr]

This won't catch on but it'll hold a small market share then after a few years it'll fade away leaving people unable to shoot their rifles. Not that dissimilar to the 277 Fury and 270WSM. It's likely only going to be made by 2 companies: Savage and Geissele which is $3800. It's been a few years since Federal released a new cartridge so they just wanted to be included in some long range hype.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

This won't catch on but it'll hold a small market share then after a few years it'll fade away leaving people unable to shoot their rifles. Not that dissimilar to the 277 Fury and 270WSM. It's likely only going to be made by 2 companies: Savage and Geissele which is $3800. It's been a few years since Federal released a new cartridge so they just wanted to be included in some long range hype.

That's about what my prediction is too. My personal policy is I won't even consider getting into a brand new cartridge until it has been on the market for 5-10 years and has shown evidence of survival

 

[Forkyfinder]

Dont really see the benefits/gains if its with a unique case material/design. Seems like 277 fury with a bigger case. Given that it wasnt commercially successful - i see this ending the same way.

 

[TheTone]

DOA. I bet it sees some hype for a little bit and then is just gone

 

[Cammy]

The beautiful thing about the WSM is that it uses a standard projectile. IF one had the foresight to keep empty casings or procured 250 once fired Norma brass casings a couple years ago, one would be able to shoot the WSM for years to come.

 

[utah400elk]

Sorry, but don’t you know that unless you hit an animal with a huge bullet going really fast nothing dies. JK of course.

Something that really stuck with me from years ago. I went with a friend who was on a guided hunt in Utah’s San Juan for elk. He was shooting a Weatherby 30-378. Before the hunt he went out to shoot and was over 12 inches off at 100 yards. The guide said he had watched more people miss with a big rifle. They were recoil sensitive and it caused a lot of marginal hits and misses.

For deer he really like a 25-06 and a 270, 280 or 30-06 for elk. He said guys who were comfortable shooting their rifles accurately were better clients.

I didn’t go with the 25-06 but do have a 257 Weatherby for deer. Lite recoil and accurate as hell.

I am still working on my elk rifle (I predominantly archery or muzzleloader hunt elk). I am kicking around the idea of a 280 AI to finish out my rifles.

I don’t rifle hunt for elk much and have not jumped on a new rifle. I am just as interested in getting a nice 20 gauge over/under for upland.

Have fun and good luck this draw season!

 

[mevertsen]

I guess I'm not all that impressed.

3150 for a 170 grain bullet out of a 24inch barrel isn't exactly ground breaking.

 

[shb]

20" barrel


It has to be short enough to get your can on there, without total package ridiculousness

 

[Forkyfinder]

Im curious how those barrels will last too.

That much pressure doesnt come free...

 

[brymoore]

If I get the concept right, moving to a steel alloy case similar to the 277 Fury will be the next movement in cartridges. However, it can be done with any cartridge. Creating a new cartridge is a gamble.

I looked into what the upgrade would be for my 280ai earlier this year. I could basically upgrade my bullet from 160s to 180s for my elk rounds at roughly the same velocity. Do I need to do it? No. Every elk I’ve seen hit with 160gr ABs has died. Would I consider upgrading to 180s? Maybe.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

If I get the concept right, moving to a steel alloy case similar to the 277 Fury will be the next movement in cartridges. However, it can be done with any cartridge. Creating a new cartridge is a gamble.

I looked into what the upgrade would be for my 280ai earlier this year. I could basically upgrade my bullet from 160s to 180s for my elk rounds at roughly the same velocity. Do I need to do it? No. Every elk I’ve seen hit with 160gr ABs has died. Would I consider upgrading to 180s? Maybe.

So that was my other thought. If this cartridge alloy is so good why not just market that and apply it to the great cartridges we already have? For example, could it be applied to a .30-06 and improve the performance of that?

 

[Sheltowee]

Im curious how those barrels will last too.

That much pressure doesnt come free...

Barrels, actions, everything will be subject to more stress through high pressure.

 

[Sheltowee]

So that was my other thought. If this cartridge alloy is so good why not just market that and apply it to the great cartridges we already have? For example, could it be applied to a .30-06 and improve the performance of that?

Probably be a bad day if someone stuck an 80,000psi .30-06 into a 111 year old P14 Enfield. Incompatibility with legacy cartridges is a feature, not a flaw here.

 

[winmag]

The fury’s problem was their inability to get product to market. It’s available now, as is ammo.

Barrel life is almost a non-issue on hunting rifles. And the military has plenty of tricks to extend barrel life that civilian firearms and ammo manufacturers could adopt.

There are also diemakers that now make dies for the bimetal (actually tri-metal) cases. I haven’t played around with them. I still can’t wrap my head around what they’re doing for primers, because those start to fail pretty consistently around 80k psi.

Modern actions can handle 80k psi fine. Primers are the weak link.

Edit: great to see they’ve already contemplated hand loading and plan to release load data

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

I just watched Ron Spomers initial video and according to him, in theory, this case material could be applied to legacy cartridges safely. Is it true? Who knows. Be interesting to see if that is ever attempted.

 

[TheTone]

I just watched Ron Spomers initial video and according to him, in theory, this case material could be applied to legacy cartridges safely. Is it true? Who knows. Be interesting to see if that is ever attempted.

So if that was done wouldn’t a bunch of existing cartridges immediately obsolete it?