7mm Backcountry 195gr Berger
- Thread starter 6.5x61Super
- Start date
Sounds like somebody needs to step up to a 28 Sherman Mag. 
Bonus to the Sherman is that you don't have to admit to the general crowd that you celebrate Pride month with a 7mm Backcountry.
Bonus to the Sherman is that you don't have to admit to the general crowd that you celebrate Pride month with a 7mm Backcountry.
A 20” 28 Nosler shows the same performance as the 7 BC.Sounds like somebody needs to step up to a 28 Sherman Mag.
Bonus to the Sherman is that you don't have to admit to the general crowd that you celebrate Pride month with a 7mm Backcountry.
I wouldn't doubt it, but you are going to have to trade off charge weight (and a touch more recoil) vs pressure... so the 7BC boys probably favor the lesser charge. I wouldn't doubt if 95% of 7 Backcountry users probably stick with factory ammo for their entirety though.
The 28 Nosler is a powerhouse. I stayed away from it due to initial brass availability outside of Nosler, but now several quality brass manufacturers have come on board.
I was pretty certain they had to use a different material for the case to handle the pressure? That should severely limit brass options and the ability to reload.
Yessir. It is a steel alloy to handle the ~80K PSI. Federal has done a video where a case was reloaded (once). However, I am unsure of the aftermarket support for the cartridge as far as reloading.
Rcbs stated they have been working with the BC since the early stages of the project but haven’t been able to make dies that can resize without a good number of passes. I think it will be a long time before aftermarket support is available for it. IMO if people want 7bc performance just get a 28 nosler, it’s a factory ammo available cartridge with good aftermarket support, I’ve been having a lot of arguments on YT about it. Not to throw shade at the wildcats but not everyone especially new shooters are willing or able to figure them out.
Unfortunately, you lost me at RCBS. As a guy who grew up with that brand, it was sad to see their quality drop off... but I've had issues with 3 of my last 5 RCBS die sets. I have since switched to Redding and Forester. I should have done it earlier.
I second your support for the 28 Nosler. I did the 7-300PRC as it was the 'easy button' of things you might call a wildcat. I bet you could get another 50 FPS out of the 28 Nosler. Up until recently though, you were stuck with Nosler brass. Not the case anymore (pun intended).
I'm at 3,001 FPS out of my 7-300 and the 195gr Berger with a 27" barrel. Takes me 79.0gr N568 to get there. At 80.0 I ran into some pretty serious ejector swipes. Switching to a different powder might get me more speed, but I've got the widest acceptable accuracy window with this cartridge/bullet/powder/barrel combo of anything I've ever owned.
If a guy wanted the most horsepower, I'd still think that the 28 Sherman Mag might be the king. ADG makes brass for it now too... but it is really 30 SM brass that you have to neck down and fireform (need to read the fine print at the bottom for that one).
They kinda lost me before the even started, rcbs is great for new shooters and has been around for awhile but why they picked them over another reloading supply company like widden, L.E Wilson, or shit even Redding is beyond me. They should have ironed out the reloading way beforehand if they even wanted to be remotely successful at launch. I get it that they are trying to push the envelope on innovation but that’s what you do testing in a lab for, you don’t release it unfinished for the market. If you’re going to innovate actually innovate not give a half assed copy of 10 other cartridges that have existed for years with three of them being factory available.
That’s the last of my rant.
You may want to try n570 in your 7-300 prc the case volume is plenty large enough to have near or at 100% burn rates and have a good fill %. Also the reason I chose to make the example of the BC being the same as the 28 nos is just because it’s factory available and it’s more likely for new shooters and people who don’t care about reloading to look at it. I personally want a 6-6.5 prc, I’ve heard other people call it the 6 prc the performance is frightening even with the heaviest 6mm bullets. I’m just a huge 6mm fan.
I actually didn't realize how many dudes were into the big 7mms until I posted a (crappy) video of my ramblings on my cartridge choice.
There are some really solid ,284 options out there on the table for hunters. A 7mm/195 Berger EOL at 3K FPS has 28 inches LESS drop and only 2 inches more drift than a big 30cal/245 Berger at 2900 FPS... at 1,500 yards. Obviously, that is even beyond what I think most dudes who like to stretch the range of hunting shots would take. Velocity for reliable expansion (>2K FPS) is the same at about 1,050 yards.
The biggest trade-off, is that the 7s will recoil about 25% less in this matchup... but at a cost of about 25% less barrel life.
There are some really solid ,284 options out there on the table for hunters. A 7mm/195 Berger EOL at 3K FPS has 28 inches LESS drop and only 2 inches more drift than a big 30cal/245 Berger at 2900 FPS... at 1,500 yards. Obviously, that is even beyond what I think most dudes who like to stretch the range of hunting shots would take. Velocity for reliable expansion (>2K FPS) is the same at about 1,050 yards.
The biggest trade-off, is that the 7s will recoil about 25% less in this matchup... but at a cost of about 25% less barrel life.
I think N570 (or one of the unobtanium RL powders) is the ticket as well if you're chasing max velocity. That would be my first powder recommendation to a guy following my footsteps, or going to a 28 Noser/Sherman.
I got an unopened 8lb keg of N568 for a steal (same for a 500ct box of 195s), so I just went with that. Honestly, 3K FPS and 2/3 MOA accuracy was my target goal. Anything better would have been great, but I made my target goal.
*****
I'm kind of jones'ing to do a 6.5-7PRC next. It would just be an optimization of the .264 Win Mag IMO.
Shoot if your gonna go that route might as well go all out and get a 6.5-300 prc, you already have brass you can just use a neck sizing die and bring the diameter down. Basically a 6.5-300 wby at that point. Also I found a lot of n570 at sportmans warehouse somewhat recently they keep a pretty good stock of powders.
You know what you got?
Hood-rich problems
All these 6.5 whiz bangs and magnums. Just shoot a 308 already. And an Arken.
Guys who shoot Arkens can sit on popsicles blindfolded and tell you what flavor it is... just sayin'.
Send 3 fired cases to any major die company and they will make you a set of dies.
This service was available from RCBS, Hornady, Redding, C&H, and Lee.
Call and see if any provide this service today.
You could just neck size a case few times with a simple bushing die, for cases fired in your rifle. These are easy to make in a home lathe or ask your machinist & fellow shooting buddy.
The 7 BC is the real deal.
Brand new...20" 6 lb carbon rifle shooting factory 170 gr terminal ascent factory ammo 3104 fps at 93° today .166" 3 shot group...single digit S/Ds.
After firings 20 rds of 175 gr fusion tipped bullets...which had several 1/4" or less 3 shot groups...15 rds in the box at 3031 fps ave velocity single S/Ds excellent for factory ammo.
No barrel break-in, no cleaning at the range. No letting it cool. Fired 12 rds one after another the mirage was showing.
But the barrel still grouping...just moved up a bit. Put more rds in the mag, and continue shooting...
No malfunctions or stiff bolt lift, just easy normal functioning.
Recoil is moderate no pain at all.
Why carry a heavy 28 Nosler when a 6 lb 7mm BC will same thing in a light 20" barrel and much less powder ...which really multiplies recoil.
Perfect for hunters who do not reload, but I will be reloading it with steel and brass cases for everyday plinking, not necessarily getting the factory velocities with what is available to the handloader...but seeing what is possible...and if the reloads are as accurate as the factory offerings I tried today.
Brand new...20" 6 lb carbon rifle shooting factory 170 gr terminal ascent factory ammo 3104 fps at 93° today .166" 3 shot group...single digit S/Ds.
After firings 20 rds of 175 gr fusion tipped bullets...which had several 1/4" or less 3 shot groups...15 rds in the box at 3031 fps ave velocity single S/Ds excellent for factory ammo.
No barrel break-in, no cleaning at the range. No letting it cool. Fired 12 rds one after another the mirage was showing.
But the barrel still grouping...just moved up a bit. Put more rds in the mag, and continue shooting...
No malfunctions or stiff bolt lift, just easy normal functioning.
Recoil is moderate no pain at all.
Why carry a heavy 28 Nosler when a 6 lb 7mm BC will same thing in a light 20" barrel and much less powder ...which really multiplies recoil.
Perfect for hunters who do not reload, but I will be reloading it with steel and brass cases for everyday plinking, not necessarily getting the factory velocities with what is available to the handloader...but seeing what is possible...and if the reloads are as accurate as the factory offerings I tried today.
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Pound the hell out of it...totally comical and totally idiotic.
I don't think I'll follow this clown... and "he cleaned it"?
Sounds like a Savage problem.
The velocity is way low at 2840 fps for 170 gr....mine runs 3104 fps....with no heavy bolt lift at
It's a Weatherby 307...but that shouldn't make a difference in a correctly chambered rifle.
Measure the diameter of fired cases vs the unfired cases.
Ya need a fairly tight chamber diameter on your 7mm BC because steel case won't stretch as much as the brass case, which would cause the hard bolt lift, and cracked case.
Hence it appears to be a Savage problem.
Federal 's 7mm BC ammo has been really good stuff....meeting or exceeding velocity specs and good accuracy and low S/Ds especially for factory ammo.
Couldn't ask for more.
Bottom line we'll see... I'm reloading the steel cases and reached 3118 fps with Bergers 180 gr after a few rounds had a slighty stiff bolt lift... will pull the bullets on remaining few and run them at 3050 fps for a shooting max on that powder at over 90° temperature.
I'm gonna shoot the piss out of the 7mm BC and find out how many times the case can be reloaded, and how the bore and rifling appear after so many rds.
Serious stuff...
I have 7mm BC load data printed on this site...
Not for Savage rifles...at least not the one above or for comical clown show shooters.
What a fuckin idiot...
I don't think I'll follow this clown... and "he cleaned it"?
Sounds like a Savage problem.
The velocity is way low at 2840 fps for 170 gr....mine runs 3104 fps....with no heavy bolt lift at
It's a Weatherby 307...but that shouldn't make a difference in a correctly chambered rifle.
Measure the diameter of fired cases vs the unfired cases.
Ya need a fairly tight chamber diameter on your 7mm BC because steel case won't stretch as much as the brass case, which would cause the hard bolt lift, and cracked case.
Hence it appears to be a Savage problem.
Federal 's 7mm BC ammo has been really good stuff....meeting or exceeding velocity specs and good accuracy and low S/Ds especially for factory ammo.
Couldn't ask for more.
Bottom line we'll see... I'm reloading the steel cases and reached 3118 fps with Bergers 180 gr after a few rounds had a slighty stiff bolt lift... will pull the bullets on remaining few and run them at 3050 fps for a shooting max on that powder at over 90° temperature.
I'm gonna shoot the piss out of the 7mm BC and find out how many times the case can be reloaded, and how the bore and rifling appear after so many rds.
Serious stuff...
I have 7mm BC load data printed on this site...
Not for Savage rifles...at least not the one above or for comical clown show shooters.
What a fuckin idiot...
Pressure and recoil are not your friend. It's going to torch barrels much faster than conventional rounds
Dumb shit like this is just new marketing to idiots to sell more rifles. People don't need new guns so companies come out with new cartridges to force you to buy a new gun you don't need. 90% of new cartridges do nothing new or nothing better than existing rounds. The other 10% are just standardized wildcats getting Sammi approved.
Dumb shit like this is just new marketing to idiots to sell more rifles. People don't need new guns so companies come out with new cartridges to force you to buy a new gun you don't need. 90% of new cartridges do nothing new or nothing better than existing rounds. The other 10% are just standardized wildcats getting Sammi approved.
I get 2760 with the 195 out of a long barrel 284 win pretty conventionally.
Max-useful-poke is 150 yds closer in than flying them at 2900, so good enough
Max-useful-poke is 150 yds closer in than flying them at 2900, so good enough
Have you actually cut a 28 Nosler down to 20" and chronographed it?
I'm shooting 180 reloaded Bergers at 3104 fps in a 20" 7mm BC.
Plus I can 280 Ackley performance when using brass cases.
I built the dies today to run brass or steel cases out of the 7mm BC.
The most versatile 7mm on the planet...
The rifle is Light, short, handy, and versatile. Light loads a youngster could easily handle or magnum velocities...your choice and a choice on barrel life with the low pressure brass cases.
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I made reloading dies for it the day after I shot it for the first time.
Then made a die for making 7mm BC out of other brass cases for light loads.
Reloading dies were completed on the 3rd day of ownership, right after a range session with factory ammo.
Most hunters will shoot factory ammo, and the barrel will last most a lifetime of hunting. But I can reload mine, with factory steel or home built brass.
