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

[Potsie]

I'm still just kind of meh...

All things being equal, it's cool, but the weakest link is still always the nut behind the bolt. So the why question still remains.

 

[Sheltowee]

I'm still just kind of meh...

All things being equal, it's cool, but the weakest link is still always the nut behind the bolt. So the why question still remains.

^this. Let me know when there is a man-portable rail gun.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

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

Probably. Which is why even if it can be done, they probably won't

 

[Gr8bawana]

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

None of those will work because they're all obsolete, if you believe everything you read on hunting forums.

 

[ismith]

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!

I’d say your 257 Weatherby is an elk rifle.

 

[ismith]

^this. Let me know when there is a man-portable rail gun.

I’m waiting for self guided long range infared cross bow bolts so I can take full advantage of drone archery season

 

[Wyosam]

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.

Anyone with quickload that can see what a 7RUM or 28N does at 80k psi?

 

[Wyosam]

Im curious how those barrels will last too.

That much pressure doesnt come free...

The good news is, factory ammo almost certainly won’t be available long enough to wear one out anyway.

 

[Greyman]

 

[ismith]

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.....

I just wish they would make some damn 300 H&H and quit messing around.

 

[Ben Lamb]

20" barrel


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

I saw total package ridiculousness open up for the SAUMs outside of the SHOT Show.

Only industry dudes liked them. Can't recommend.

 

[Elky Welky]

I like it. The lack of ability to reload is a downer, but I'm not a reloader (yet), so this checks the boxes for me. OL's article really does a fair job going through this: https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/federal-7mm-backcountry-review/

I'm tired of whacking the end of my 300 win mag (28 inches including the brake) on every tree I walk by, and if I can save my hearing and shoulder a little with a suppressor but get that performance out of a short barrel in the mountains, well then that's just awesome.

Adjusting pressure seems like the final frontier in cartridge design right now.

 

[RaiderRich]

Cartridge sounds interesting, to those that mentioned 277 Fury, isn't that the next generation military round? I mean military rounds do tend to gain traction and stick around, 30-06, 308, 223 (5.56 NATO), I'm just saying.

Back to the 7MM Backcountry, I will wait and see and until then stick to my 30-06.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

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.....

I think that's a long action. At least, based on what I read today. So, no thanks for me.

But we shouldn't always immediately dismiss new technology. If what they are claiming is true, then it is in fact a step forward and worth looking at. I will keep an eye out for what they come up with in a short action. I'll also keep an eye on what the cases will sell for and how easy (or not) they will be to reload.

Anything firearms related is bringing a premium, ever since Covid. They have money to play with and they are testing the market to see just how far Joe Flat Bill will go to get the latest and greatest. That's Capitalism, I suppose. We can't say we love Capitalism and then turn around and hate on new products and shiny marketing.

 

[millerkiller77]

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

Primed 277 fury bimetal cases have been available as pull downs for the last year+ from the usual 3 companies that sell "pulls". I'm curious about what is going on with SIG ammo manufacturing since the vast majority of pulled brass, or steeply discounted ammo has been predominantly SIG products.

 

[ploxwithblox]

I won't be buying one, but I do find it interesting. I'm sure there were plenty of detractors when the first lever guns came out, as well as smokeless powder and so on. Some of it will catch on, some won't, time will tell with all of the latest and greatest. It's exciting to see that companies are still investing into new technology and searching for the next improvement. In a hundred years, these crazy new cartridges may be a classic, who knows? As for me, my 300 win mag will likely be my go-to for life.

 

[Forkyfinder]

How many cans would be rated for that pressure

 

[BuzzH]

I like it. The lack of ability to reload is a downer, but I'm not a reloader (yet), so this checks the boxes for me. OL's article really does a fair job going through this: https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/federal-7mm-backcountry-review/

I'm tired of whacking the end of my 300 win mag (28 inches including the brake) on every tree I walk by, and if I can save my hearing and shoulder a little with a suppressor but get that performance out of a short barrel in the mountains, well then that's just awesome.

Adjusting pressure seems like the final frontier in cartridge design right now.

22" 7-08 on a 7-8 lb rifle, I hear good things, pun there.

 

[44hunter45]

Anyone with quickload that can see what a 7RUM or 28N does at 80k psi?

 

[OKED]

Has anyone heard a price on ammo for this ?