7mm Backcountry Review: Could this be the Ultimate Elk Rifle?
The 7mm Backcountry Review
This past year, I had the chance to test Federal’s latest caliber: the 7mm Backcountry. Here’s a breakdown of the caliber and my thoughts from both performance and hunting perspectives.
What Is the 7mm Backcountry?
The 7mm Backcountry is based on the .30-06 case, necked down to 7mm—similar to a .280. However, its standout feature is the new Peak Alloy casing. This advanced alloy enables higher pressures and is part of a SAAMI-approved cartridge rated at 80,000 psi, compared to around 60,000 psi for traditional brass cartridges. The alloy case can withstand increased chamber pressure without additional bolt stress, delivering approximately 20% better performance.
Why the 7mm Backcountry?
With many hunters opting for suppressed rifles, the trend has leaned toward shorter barrels. However, shorter barrels typically decrease projectile velocity. The 7mm Backcountry was specifically designed to maintain high velocity in shorter-barreled rifles.
The higher pressure from the alloy case allows a 170-grain 7mm bullet to achieve 3,000 fps from a 20-inch barrel and 3,150 fps from a 24-inch barrel. This results in flatter trajectories, reduced wind drift, and improved energy downrange compared to similar bullets at lower velocities.
Another advantage is its case diameter of 0.473 inches, compared to the 0.532-inch diameter of a 7 PRC. This smaller diameter often allows an additional round in the magazine, offering magnum performance in a more compact package.
The Peak Alloy case is also marketed as reloadable up to four times on standard equipment. While I haven’t reloaded any myself, I spoke with others who achieved good results during testing.
At the Range
I tested the 7mm Backcountry using my Live Wild Edition Weatherby Mark V rifle, which features a 20-inch barrel paired with a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor. Over the course of 20 shots, my chronograph recorded an average velocity of 3,023 fps.
Accuracy was excellent, with sub-MOA groups at 100 yards. As I extended the range, I observed minimized wind drift, achieving exceptional groups at 400 and 500 yards, and consistent accuracy out to 900 yards (that was as far as I have targets set).
Compared to other rifles I own, the increased velocity from the shorter barrel helped keep the bullet on target at long distances, even in variable winds. For instance, compared to a similarly barreled 7 PRC firing the same bullet (2700 fps It should be noted that this is comparing 20 inch barrels. I get just under 3000 fps with the 24 inch barrel but this is the benefit of the 7 Backcountry the speed tops the PRC with a 20 inch barrel), I observed roughly 3 inches less wind drift at 600 yards in a 10-mph crosswind and 5 inches less at 800 yards. While this might not matter with a good wind call and dope, in hunting scenarios—especially in mountainous terrain where wind can be unpredictable—it seemed to keep the shot in the kill zone on the targets with the hard to call variable wind.
Into the Field
For me, range time serves one purpose: hunting. After refining my drop compensation and familiarizing myself with the rifle, I took the 7mm Backcountry on its first hunt—pursuing elk during the late-season migration.
Late-season hunts can be hit or miss, as elk migration patterns dictate their presence in specific areas. Bulls often carry scars from the rut, and broken antlers are common. My goal was clear: find a mature bull with intact antlers. Easier said than done.
Day 1
The first day began with a high-country approach. Snow blanketed the landscape as I glassed a familiar spot known for holding bulls. Hours passed, revealing only raghorns and groups of cows. By midday, the hunt felt like it was slipping away. Then, I spotted two bulls—a large-bodied one and a smaller companion—about five to six miles away in rugged terrain. Circling around for a closer look, I was disappointed to find the larger bull was a massive-bodied 4x4, and the smaller was a dwarf-bodied 5-point.
Day 2
The next day, I switched to lower elevations and quickly located a bachelor group of 13 bulls. Though a few respectable six-points were among them, none were exceptional. Later, I joined a hunting buddy who’d seen better bulls entering cover. That evening, we closed to within 200 yards of sparring bulls, but I decided to hold out.
Day 5
High-country hunting tested my resolve, with glassing challenges compounded by wind and snow flurries. However, it eventually paid off. We spotted two bulls navigating snowy cliffs, one of which was a fully intact. After a long stalk, I set up 300 yards away. A cow call prompted the bull to stand, offering a perfect broadside shot. The 7mm Backcountry did the trick as expected and dropped him in his tracks with a high shoulder shot. The hunt had come together perfectly.
Conclusion
The 7mm Backcountry impressed me with its performance, especially in a shorter-barreled rifle. Its advanced technology offers exciting potential for future cartridge development, making hunting rifles more efficient without compromising power or accuracy. While time will tell if this caliber gains widespread adoption, it’s already earned a place in my hunting journey.
For those who enjoy magnum performance in a compact package, the 7mm Backcountry makes a lot of sense.
For an in depth dive into the 7mm Backcountry and this hunt you can listen to my full length Live Wild Podcast.
My Set Up
The 7mm Backcountry is being produced by many rifle manufacturers. Weatherby is also making a 7mm Backcountry in my Live Wild Edition Mark V. With the 20 inch barrel it pairs nicely with the Silencer Central Banish Backcountry. For the scope I chose the Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42 for accurate longer range shots in a light weight hunting setup (Available in my store). For a bullet I was shooting the 170 gr Federal Terminal Ascent.
