In a way, the American shooter is playing catch-up with the rest of the world. Classically, our rifles were easily characterized by their longer barrels, a symptom of the National Firearms Act. Eventually, product families like large-format pistols showed us the value of shorter barrels, especially in hunting scenarios.

Fast-forward to current day, and we’re enjoying negligible wait times for suppressors, driving the demand for shorter guns higher than ever before. With that comes a sad reality: when you cut barrel length, you also cut velocity. A bullet’s speed is the most significant factor in the kinetic energy equation, which means a little loss in this department can severely impact lethality. Getting more punch out of a shorter runway requires more ignition pressure, but the roadblock we hit along the way is the cartridge case itself. Typically made from brass, pumping things up higher than our current state would jeopardize its integrity, resulting in an enormous amount of misplaced pressure – damaging firearms and injuring shooters. So naturally, this is the place to start.

Back in October of 2024, Federal Ammunition invited a handful of select writers to an event, claiming they had solved this problem using a steel alloy of all things. As we rallied at a private venue in Pine City, Minnesota, we were introduced to the new technology, as well as the first cartridge to utilize it: the 7mm Backcountry.

7mm Backcountry

Federal calls the new material Peak Alloy, which is a proprietary grade of steel that is soft enough to work as a cartridge case, tough enough to withstand over 80K PSI of pressure, and tensile enough to spring back like brass for easy extraction. Furthermore, it’s drawn into a conventional one-piece case, bringing about a certain sense of ease that comes with familiarity. On that note, these cases are not to be mistaken with the ones used in inexpensive Russian ammunition. This material is entirely different and made right in the USA, by Federal. It also doesn’t feature any sort of polymer or lacquer coating. Instead, classic nickel plating is used to stave off corrosion while completing each case with a uniform finish.

So, when we think “new cartridge offering” from Federal, images of .30 Super Carry come to mind. While it’s a great cartridge, few people are going to adopt it, as there are currently only four guns out there that are chambered to fire it. In short, without support from the firearms segment of the industry, cartridges just don’t make it. Federal took what it had learned with that cartridge and immediately started working with manufacturers to get firearms ready for the launch. Since the cartridge uses a standard .473-inch bolt face, common long-action magazines, and typical 7mm barrel blanks, there are already more than 11 gun companies offering at least one rifle chambered to fire it. At this particular summit, we had the opportunity to work with seven of them as we put the cartridge through its paces.

Rounds Downrange

Our day started off with a little proof of concept as we fired a currently available cartridge built from the Peak Alloy case. A magazine that alternated standard ammunition and peak ammunition was handed to us, and we were tasked with trying to figure out which rounds were based on recoil. I wasn’t quite able to tell, at least until I looked down at the chronograph. The rounds loaded into the Peak cases generated more than 400 feet per second of additional velocity yet flowed through the semi-automatic rifle the same as the others. This kept on for several magazines, which also demonstrated that the material would run in a hot firearm just the same as brass. 

We moved onto a longer range where we were able to push the new 7mm Backcountry out to roughly 500 yards. Given the windy conditions, we found that no compensation was needed to stay on target, with some being as small as 9 inches. This is impressive performance that seemingly didn’t quit. During this time, we each had a chance to gauge the 7 BC against the 28 Nosler and the 7 PRC in a showdown that pitted them against each other in identical rifles. The 7 BC proved to be a bit milder than the 7 PRC while offering more velocity than either offering. As we made our rounds, I was able to visit with each of the manufacturers and gather information on what they had brought out, as well as what might be in store for 2025.

7 New Rifles Chambered in 7mm Backcountry

Fierce Firearms – Mountain Reaper

If you’ve just hiked 50 miles, the last thing you want to do is miss. At the same time, dragging a heavy target-style rifle all that distance is impractical. Fierce’s mountain reaper blends both works through the use of a Magnesium chassis and their proprietary C3 carbon barrel. 

• Model: Mountain Reaper
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8″
• Stock: Fierce Mountain Reaper Chassis
• Trigger: Bix and Andy 1-4.5 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $3,199

Horizon Firearms – Venatic Carbon

The shortest-in-show award goes to Horizon’s Venatic Carbon. With a barrel just 16 inches in length, it was balanced enough to land repeatable off-hand shots…at 485 yards. Built with a PROOF Research carbon fiber barrel and stock, this highly shootable package weighs in at just 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

• Model: Venatic Carbon
• Barrel Length: 16 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8
• Stock: Iota EKO Carbon Fiber
• Trigger: TriggerTech 2-4 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $3,999

Christensen Arms – Ridgeline FFT

Christensen’s Flash-Forging process was applied to its Ridgeline series a few years back with stellar effect. This lightweight rifle offers an affordable solution to those looking for a carbon-fiber barrel and stock, which are both made entirely in-house. A three-port muzzle brake keeps recoil manageable and is removable if you wish to screw on a suppressor.

• Model: Ridgeline FFT
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8
• Stock: Carbon Fiber FFT
• Trigger: TriggerTech 2.5-5.5 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $2,049.99

Geissele Automatics – King Hunter

The biggest news of the event was the introduction of Geissele’s first-ever bolt-action rifle. Dubbed the King Hunter, it utilizes the company’s proprietary action and their incredible Super 700 two-stage trigger. Even the barrels are made in-house. 

• Model: King Hunter
• Barrel Length: 16 or 20 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8”
• Stock: Carbon Fiber Manners Long Range Hunter (OEM’ed for Geissele)
• Trigger: Geissele S700 1.5-2.5 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $3,900

Seekins Precision – Havak Element

Although built for shorter-barrel performance, throwing more tube to 7 BC only helps it to generate more velocity. Seekins’s Havak Element offers a 22-inch barrel for increased velocity, and thanks to its steel-sleeved aluminum action, it managed to beat the weight of the shortest gun on the line by a full 3 ounces. 

• Model: Havak Element
• Barrel Length: 22 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8”
• Stock: Seekins Havak Stock
• Trigger: TriggerTech 1.5-4 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $2,795

Weatherby – Model 307 Alpine CT

Weatherby built its reputation on hard-hitting hunting cartridges, so it shouldn’t surprise you to see them on this list. The only shock was the sticker price, which, for once, was in the other direction these days. The Model 307 is one of the most affordable options in this chambering and leaves budgetary room for enhanced trims like the Alpine CT that we shot at the event. This version steps the furniture up to a PEAK 44 Bastion carbon fiber stock and BSF carbon barrel. 

• Model: Model 307 Alpine CT
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8
• Stock: Peak 44 Bastion Stock
• Trigger: TriggerTech 2.5-5.0 pound adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $2,199

PROOF Research – Glacier

PROOF Research ignited the industry fire for carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels and it’s hard to argue with their accuracy. Couple their featherweight composition with a reduced barrel length, and you get some of the lightest tack drivers on the market. At the event, we got to the fire the 7mm Backcountry version of the company’s hit Glacier series. PROOF makes both the barrel and the stock on this rifle, which marry to a Lone Peak Arms Razor Action. Each rifle is hand-bedded and features a sub ½ MOA guarantee. 

• Model: Glacier
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Twist Rate: 1:8”
• Stock: Proof Carbon Stock
• Trigger: TriggerTech 1-3.5 lb. adjustable pull weight
• Approximate MSRP: $6,399

Alongside the rifles that I’ve spec’ed out, many of these manufacturers had other guns on the line that they will we offering in 7mm Backcountry, as well as a few concept firearms that they were gathering feedback on. Additionally, I was able to confirm that at least five other brands are set to release guns in early 2025, many with the manufacturing capability to pump out thousands between now and next hunting season. Federal is also well ahead of the game with ammunition, as both a 170- and 155-grain Terminal Ascent load are shipping, with a 168-grain Barnes LRX, 175-grain Fusion Tipped, and a 195-grain Berger Elite Hunter load soon to follow. Finding a winning combo of gun and ammo should be no trouble at all; all that’s left is for something to step out in front of you.

For more info, visit federalpremium.com.