The World’s Most Correct 7mm Backcountry Rifle

The 7mm Backcountry, rolled out by Federal earlier this 12 months, has generated extra curiosity and controversy than some other cartridge introduction in current reminiscence. Its declare to fame is smoking quick muzzle velocities that prepare dinner each different 7mm cartridge on the market. It does this by utilizing metal alloy circumstances — referred to as Peak Alloy by Federal — able to containing greater pressures than conventional brass.

Typically when cartridges are loaded to greater pressures accuracy can endure, and many individuals have questioned whether or not the 7 BC’s velocity comes at the price of precision. 

I got down to reply that query by constructing a heavy-barreled rifle with one objective in thoughts: squeezing the utmost potential accuracy from the 7mm BC with at present obtainable manufacturing unit ammo.

Present 7 Backcountry Rifles

We’ve shot quite a few 7 BCs to this point, and our testing has demonstrated that the cartridge delivers on its promise. When shot via related rifles, the 7 Backcountry will outpace different 7mm magnums just like the 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm PRC and 28 Nosler — this regardless of the 7 BC case being noticeably smaller than these different mags.

In observe we’ve seen that via a 20-inch barrel the 7mm BC will equal, or exceed, the muzzle velocities {that a} 24-inch 7 PRC achieves, making the newcomer an excellent alternative for compact rifles with suppressors. And most firearms corporations chambering rifles for the 7 BC are leaning into that concept with extremely moveable light-weight choices suited to (naturally) backcountry looking.

The Proof Glacier Ti is an ideal instance. With its carbon fiber inventory and carbon-fiber wrapped barrel it’s glossy and helpful and was the rifle I hunted with most final fall. Like most different 7 Backcountry rifles we’ve examined, it shot the 175-grain Fusion Tipped spherical the most effective. 

The .32-inch imply radius is superb for a looking rifle, particularly one as gentle because the Proof, which weighs lower than six kilos, however I knew that via a rifle purpose-built for long-range precision we’d see even higher outcomes.

Assembling the World’s Most Correct 7mm Backcountry

With the standard of immediately’s elements, which maintain super-tight tolerances, it isn’t tough to construct an correct rifle your self. So long as you choose the best bits and items, and assemble them accurately, chances are high good you’ll find yourself with a shooter. I’ve cobbled collectively many such lengthy weapons over time, and it’s an effective way to create a rifle that completely meets your wants.

For this undertaking, I wished a rifle primarily designed for inclined taking pictures, with the function set (and heft) related to ELR competitors weapons.

My construct used the next:

Proof Analysis Barrel

I’m no stranger to correct rifles so I knew the place I wished to begin. There are a whole lot of nice barrel makers on the market, and one among my high picks is Proof Analysis, which makes premium cut-rifled barrels. As a result of I would like the rifle to be hefty I selected one among their 24-inch metal competitors barrels with a 1:8 twist.

Zermatt TL3 Lengthy Motion

I had the barrel lower as a pre-fit for a Zermatt TL3 lengthy motion. The TL3 is a great alternative for precision rifle builds; its consistency is second-to-none and its function set is good for long-range taking pictures. The motion has an integral recoil lug, a floating two-lug bolt head with a 90-degree throw, and a full-length Picatinny rail.

The round-body receiver has a Remington 700 footprint and an enclosed ejection port that gives beneficiant entry to the chamber, but retains energy and rigidity.

The TL3 is very customizable. You may choose right- or left-hand bolt, which facet you need the ejection port on, motion size, bolt face diameter, the diploma of declination desired (if any) on the Pic rail, type of bolt deal with, kind of journal lower, thickness of the tang, and the receiver end. It comes with a bolt launch tab on the facet of the motion and makes use of an enclosed mechanical ejector.

I did a right-handed lengthy motion with a 20 MOA rail, DLC end on the receiver, medium tang thickness, and AICS journal lower. For a 7mm Backcountry I used a typical (.478 inch) bolt face, which is appropriate with .308 and .30/06 sized cartridges.

One other factor within the TL3’s favor is the flexibility to swap bolts with totally different dimension bolt-faces, making it straightforward to transform from one cartridge to a different. Since so many barrel makers have pre-fits for the TL3 it’s perfect for a multi-caliber construct, particularly for one like this, which I’ll use as a platform to check the accuracy of different long-action cartridges down the highway.

Basis Sampson Inventory

The important thing function that separates Basis shares from others is that they’re machined from stable Micarta composite. Along with being inflexible and impervious to the atmosphere, they’re dense and have a particular “lifeless” really feel below recoil. Different inventory supplies —— aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber —— can vibrate when recoiling (within the worst circumstances imparting a “tuning fork” sensation) however Basis shares really feel completely inert. This interprets into glorious recoil administration and shooter suggestions.  

Basis shares, just like the Centurion and Genesis, have been a mainstay on the PRS circuit for years, mixing nice ergonomics with the heft, sturdiness, and accuracy that sport calls for. The corporate’s founder, John-Kyle Truitt, launched the Samson inventory just a little over a 12 months in the past. It’s designed for ELR work and is very customizable.

I went all in to maximise the inventory’s weight, selecting the brass (slightly than aluminum) ARCA rail with the additional brass weights. The inventory additionally comes with a Micarta barrel bridge, adjustable recoil pad and cheek piece, and ambidextrous thumb shelf.

Hawkins Precision Backside Steel and MDT Magazines

Many high-end rifle corporations and customized gun makers use Hawkins elements of their builds, and who am I to argue in opposition to their collective knowledge? I’ve been a fan of Hawkins for a few years, and so they had been a pure alternative for this construct.

Their M5 backside metallic is on the market in at the least 5 totally different lengths and the short-action model will work with AW type magazines along with AICS sample mags.

Their long-action backside metallic, which I used, is AICS solely and works with AICS, Correct, and MDT magazines. The 7mm Backcountry, being an extended and thin spherical, works greatest with mags for the .30/06. MDT makes some glorious .30/06-sized magazines, and I used their 3.715-inch mannequin. Paired with the Hawkins backside metallic, the MDT journal feeds the 7mm Backcountry easily and reliably.

TriggerTech Diamond Set off

Good precision rifles want high quality triggers, and the TriggerTech Diamond is the preferred alternative amongst high long-range rivals. The only-stage Diamond will be tuned to journey between 4 and 32 ounces, and I set mine at 1 pound, 15 ounces. It’s crisp and constant, giving the shooter glorious management over the break of the shot. TriggerTech additionally makes a double-stage Remington 700 sample set off that adjusts from 4 to twenty ounces for the primary stage and from 4 to 24 ounces for the second stage — if that’s your factor.

Nightforce 7-35×56 ATACR Scope

There are numerous fabulous precision scopes to select from, with extra being launched every year. That mentioned, the Nightforce ATACR is a stalwart within the long-range sport and stays a best choice because of its good glass, crisp and optimistic controls, exact monitoring, 29 mils of elevation journey, and bomb-proof development.

Sure, the scope is heavy, however on this case that could be a function and never a bug. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the Mil-XT reticle, which strikes a just-right steadiness between the quantity of data it conveys and its usability. It has ample windage and elevation reference marks which can be straightforward to navigate with out being overly cluttered. The ATACR and Mil-XT combo remains to be the most effective choices for field-style long-range taking pictures and sniper competitions.

I secured the ATACR to the rifle with Nightforce Ultralight 34mm rings. They won’t look as substantial as another precision-rifle rings and mounts however don’t let that idiot you. I’ve discovered them to be completely dependable and by no means hesitate to make use of them when peak accuracy is the objective.

7mm Backcountry Efficiency

Up to now, I’ve put simply over 200 rounds via the rifle and it has lived as much as my expectations. Included in that spherical depend had been six 20-shot strings to assemble accuracy and velocity information.

The information for every load was gathered by taking pictures 4 5-shot teams after which overlaying them to kind a 20-shot mixture. With the assistance of the Group Evaluation function in Hornady’s 4DOF app, we’re in a position to calculate the intense unfold of the 20 photographs in addition to the imply radius of every group. As well as, I captured velocity information with a Garmin Xero C1 Professional chronograph, which has been a sport changer for this type of work because of its simplicity and reliability.

Deciphering the Information

5-shot teams have been a typical for judging rifle accuracy for many years, however we’ve come to comprehend they aren’t as helpful as we thought. Put merely, a five-shot pattern has too nice a margin for error to be dependable. By upping the info set to twenty photographs, we dramatically enhance the standard of the knowledge, whether or not taking a look at dispersion (group dimension) or velocity. That is statistics 101.

However much more significant than the intense unfold (ES) of a bunch, which is predicated on the efficiency of the worst two of the 20 photographs, is imply radius (MR). To generate the imply radius, the Hornady App determines the mathematical middle of the group after which calculates the typical distance (imply) from that time that every shot impacts. This common is extra legitimate as a predictive instrument than group dimension because it makes use of information from 20 photographs, slightly than two.

And you’ll see how the five-shot information jumps round in relation to the imply radius, whereas the 20-shot group ES tracks extra persistently with the MR. We’ve written in-depth about imply radius, and find out how to generate and use 20-shot teams, if you wish to study extra.

Giving Which means to the Numbers

In sensible phrases, any imply radius round .40 inches is taking pictures fairly effectively and is greater than succesful for basic looking. Whenever you get to .30 inches or so, you’re coping with ammo that’s delivering excellent efficiency — on this case printing a 20-shot group a contact bigger than one inch. If the MR is at .25 inches, or higher, we’re taking a look at distinctive accuracy. That’s a load able to making probably the most demanding photographs, so long as the velocities are constant. (MRs at .20 inches and smaller is the hallmark of very high-quality match ammunition.)

Concerning velocity, manufacturing unit ammunition with 20-shot SDs within the teenagers is great. That’s about nearly as good as manufacturing unit ammo will get, although generally you’ll see higher. SDs within the twenties are completely acceptable as effectively, and also you shouldn’t hesitate to take that load in your subsequent hunt. Low SDs are fascinating as they translate to constant bullet drop at distance.

How Properly Does the 7 BC Shoot?

I’ve been actually impressed with Federal’s 175-grain Fusion Tipped bullet. The numbers it put up — MRs of .22 and .26 inches — are excellent. The SDs are additionally glorious. This load has persistently been the most effective performer in nearly each 7 BC rifle we’ve shot up to now (eight and counting). With a median muzzle velocity round 3050 fps from a 24-inch barrel it’s stepping out in type too.

The 170-grain Terminal Ascent isn’t any slouch both. Its MRs of .32 and .35 inches are indicative of nice accuracy. The SDs on that ammo, whereas a contact greater than the Fusion Tipped, nonetheless qualify as excellent, and the 3175-fps muzzle velocity is blistering.

The 168-grain Barnes LRX load can also be stable. The 3135-fps MV packs a wallop and the SDs, hovering round 10 fps, are phenomenal. This spherical’s precision, with MRs at .37 and .40 inches, is on par with common manufacturing unit rifles. Whereas some rifles love monometal projectiles, it’s extra frequent than to not see high-quality lead-core bullets outshoot their copper alloy counterparts.

The 7mm BC at 1000 Yards and Past

Whereas we punched a whole lot of paper with the 7 Backcountry to assemble this information, we didn’t neglect to shoot it at longer distances. After I zeroed my Proof Glacier earlier than chasing elk, I shot it out to 1,100 yards and had no issue banging metal with the 175-grain Fusion Tipped at that vary.

This heavy-barreled customized construct extends the 7 BC’s sensible vary additional. Throughout a visit to Gunsite Academy in March, probably the most distant piece of metal we positioned was at 1,450 yards, and we had been in a position to ring it persistently.

Quickly, Federal will go into manufacturing with a 195-grain Berger load and, as soon as that arrives, I think it will likely be the go-to for this type of taking pictures, however for now the Fusion Tipped guidelines the roost.

Uneasy Rests the Crown

For now, I’ve no qualms proclaiming to have the world’s most correct 7mm Backcountry. I acquired a bounce on the remainder of the pack with this rifle from a need to determine the accuracy potential of the spherical, and fortunately the elements gelled in addition to I had hoped.

As I discussed above, I plan to get extra barrels for this Zermatt TL3 and use it as a go-to platform to check different cartridges and bullets.

Finally, I’m positive somebody will assemble a 7 Backcountry that can dethrone my construct, however for the second this rifle is king of the hill.