When it was introduced last year by Federal Premium Ammunition, the 7mm Backcountry cartridge was quickly identified as a sizzler, featuring a steel alloy case described as “Peak Alloy,” capable of handling higher pressures, and designed to deliver higher muzzle velocities from lighter rifles with shorter barrels, which are popular with back country hunters.
Dubbed the “7mm BC,” it got quick attention from wilderness hunters, and now two companies have announced products for folks who reload their own cartridges. Its parent case is the .30-06 Springfield, with an overall case length of 2.417-inches, and an overall cartridge length of 3.34 inches.
Hodgdon Powder has announced the new Accurate High Country propellant for the 7mm Backcountry, with applications also for such stalwart cartridges as the .243 Winchester, 28 Nosler, various Winchester short magnums including the .270 and .300 WSMs, plus traditional cartridges including the .270 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum.
In a news release, Hodgdon explained it conducted “an extensive global propellant search” and eventually “identified the performance characteristics needed and developed High Country specifically for the application.”
“High Country gave us an opportunity to introduce a propellant around an entirely new level of cartridge performance,” said Justin Schrader, Hodgdon’s senior ballistician, in a news release. “The 7mm Backcountry presents a unique challenge because of its operating pressure and case design. We wanted a powder that could take advantage of that technology, while still giving reloaders the consistency, metering and versatility they expect from an Accurate propellant.”
Hodgdon said load data for Accurate High Country is now available through the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center. As always, handloaders should begin with published starting loads and work up carefully.
Additionally, RCBS announced a new three-die set for the 7mm Backcountry. The announcement, published at The Outdoor Wire, explains the set includes a neck sizer die, expander die, and bullet seater die.
According to the RCBS news release, “RCBS also recently published instructional information on the unique reloading process and safety information for handloading 7mm BC on RCBS.com’s Reloading Hub.
“This die set was developed alongside Hodgdon Powder Company’s new Accurate® High Country powder,” the company says, “which features an engineered burn speed tailored specifically for maximizing the performance of 7mm BC. Accurate High Country also is an excellent choice for similar cartridges shooting heavy-for-caliber bullets such as 7 PRC, 28 Nosler, .270 Winchester Short Magnum, .300 Winchester Short Magnum and others.”
