Thoughts on 7BC?

[ElevenBravo]

Just finished putting together a demo rifle for a client chambered in 7BC. It's an absolute tack driver. I can just pile bullets through one ragged hole at 100 yards. In case my client doesn't go with my proposal, I usually sell them off through other channels to get my money back. In this case, I may keep it. I was planning on taking my 300PRC to SA next year, but this rifle is giving me reason to reconsider that. Has anyone used 7BC on African plains game?

 

[DaleGribble82]

Just finished putting together a demo rifle for a client chambered in 7BC. It's an absolute tack driver. I can just pile bullets through one ragged hole at 100 yards. In case my client doesn't go with my proposal, I usually sell them off through other channels to get my money back. In this case, I may keep it. I was planning on taking my 300PRC to SA next year, but this rifle is giving me reason to reconsider that. Has anyone used 7BC on African plains game?

What’s the barrel length?
What muzzle velocity are you getting?
Shooting suppressed?
What ammo are you shooting?
How far have you shot this rifle/load out to?
What are the build specs?

 

[ElevenBravo]

What’s the barrel length?
What muzzle velocity are you getting?
Shooting suppressed?
What ammo are you shooting?
How far have you shot this rifle/load out to?
What are the build specs?

Falkor 7even receiver
Proof Research 20" carbon fiber barrel, Sendero contour
MDT Field Stock (they're cheap so I keep a couple around to bolt an action to so I can take it out to the range)
Banish Backcountry suppressor
Leupold Mark5 HD scope
Backfire recoil pad

Getting an average of 3045fps shooting the Federal 170gr Terminal Ascent factory loads, but the extreme spread is a worrying 100fps. I just put it all together last night, did the Pepsi challenge with some different factory loads this morning. Took it out to 300 yards after figuring out what it liked and zeroing the scope to the load. Just couldn't miss with it.

 

[Ray B]

I understand the 7BC uses a steel rather than brass case so that it can operate at 80K. Seems like that might result in shortened barrel life.

 

[ElevenBravo]

I understand the 7BC uses a steel rather than brass case so that it can operate at 80K. Seems like that might result in shortened barrel life.

Steel alloy. Supposed to be reloadable. I hear you can get 3 or 4 reloads before the case goes bad but I don't have dies to explore that. As for barrel life, consensus is 1500-2000 rounds.

I'm more interested in hearing if anyone's used this for hunting, especially for plains game in Africa. I realize it's a newer cartridge so adoption in this community may be low.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Falkor 7even receiver
Proof Research 20" carbon fiber barrel, Sendero contour
MDT Field Stock (they're cheap so I keep a couple around to bolt an action to so I can take it out to the range)
Banish Backcountry suppressor
Leupold Mark5 HD scope
Backfire recoil pad

Getting an average of 3045fps shooting the Federal 170gr Terminal Ascent factory loads, but the extreme spread is a worrying 100fps. I just put it all together last night, did the Pepsi challenge with some different factory loads this morning. Took it out to 300 yards after figuring out what it liked and zeroing the scope to the load. Just couldn't miss with it.

I shot a red-eared slider off a log at 500 yards June 27th with my 7PRC shooting a Federal Premium 170gr Terminal Ascent. I have gotten tremendous results with that ammo.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Steel alloy. Supposed to be reloadable. I hear you can get 3 or 4 reloads before the case goes bad but I don't have dies to explore that. As for barrel life, consensus is 1500-2000 rounds.

I'm more interested in hearing if anyone's used this for hunting, especially for plains game in Africa. I realize it's a newer cartridge so adoption in this community may be low.

I’d be willing to bet nobody on here has taken a 7BC to Africa. I could be wrong but I’m probably not.

 

[winterfell]

A friend of mine had one with some issues. Finally got it straightened out. Chamber was not concentric with the bore by a good bit. They finally rebarrelled it under warranty and now it's a shooter. 7mm Rem Mag. Might be worth a call to customer service about the stiff bolt.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

One of the rifle builders I know has delivered over 100 of the new 7BC rifles. When we spoke a few weeks ago he advised me against building one. He said everything you hear about them is true. It’s an amazing cartridge. However, there is a serious issue. When using it to hunt in environments where sand, dirt, or debris can enter the action you can experience problems. He said that just a couple grains of sand in the chamber can cause a spent case to stick. With the higher pressures that the 7BC operates at and the steel case that it uses, the stuck case is a real problem. Removing the stuck case can also cause permanent damage to the chamber.

 

[txtrout75218]

While I have not used the 7BC in Africa, there are many hunters that have used the 7 Remington Magnum there to excellent outcomes over the decades. I look at the 7BC as an improvement over the 7RM with heavier bullets. I guess there is the argument that you are more likely to locate 7RM ammo there if needed.

 

[txtrout75218]

One of the rifle builders I know has delivered over 100 of the new 7BC rifles. When we spoke a few weeks ago he advised me against building one. He said everything you hear about them is true. It’s an amazing cartridge. However, there is a serious issue. When using it to hunt in environments where sand, dirt, or debris can enter the action you can experience problems. He said that just a couple grains of sand in the chamber can cause a spent case to stick. With the higher pressures that the 7BC operates at and the steel case that it uses, the stuck case is a real problem. Removing the stuck case can also cause permanent damage to the chamber.

That is logical comment from your friend.. The "match" chambers don't have the more generous chambers of the old 7RM combined with the high pressure could be major downside with grit.

 

[ElevenBravo]

One of the rifle builders I know has delivered over 100 of the new 7BC rifles. When we spoke a few weeks ago he advised me against building one. He said everything you hear about them is true. It’s an amazing cartridge. However, there is a serious issue. When using it to hunt in environments where sand, dirt, or debris can enter the action you can experience problems. He said that just a couple grains of sand in the chamber can cause a spent case to stick. With the higher pressures that the 7BC operates at and the steel case that it uses, the stuck case is a real problem. Removing the stuck case can also cause permanent damage to the chamber.

The same could be said for all the PRC calibers.

 

[samson7x]

I'm just not sold on them yet. I know it's the new rage but I'm not an early adopter on this one. I haven't really heard much talk of folks reloading these although they say it can be reloaded. I can't imagine a steel alloy case is very easy to reload, lots of resizing wax used I would think.

 

[Tex .416]

The same could be said for all the PRC calibers.

I have a Bergara Premier Approach in .300 PRC. It has worked fine in the hot sand and dust on the west side of South Texas in the Wild Horse Desert area. My loads are worked up in the hot months and pretty conservative.

 

[WC86]

The same could be said for all the PRC calibers.

Not from the perspective of pressure. 7bc operates at 80k psi whereas all the PRC calibers operate at max of 65k psi. That would suggest there is less room for error with regard to chamber geometry (and potentially running dirty)

That said, I come from a perspective of reading a lot about it, no personal experience

Although I think this philosophy is where small arms are headed (its unlikely that there are too many other ways to build the mousetrap the 1880's way with brass cases, smokeless propellant, and steel barrels) I too am not an early adopter on this one

But I will be getting some of those cases for 6.5cm to tinker with in an existing rifle. If it's a success I may grab a 7bc or wait until they "plus peak" something else I already have for hunting

If i recall correctly, there are 2 guys on this forum that have built a 7bc on an R8. I suspect they'll chime in soon

 

[WC86]

Just finished putting together a demo rifle for a client chambered in 7BC. It's an absolute tack driver. I can just pile bullets through one ragged hole at 100 yards. In case my client doesn't go with my proposal, I usually sell them off through other channels to get my money back. In this case, I may keep it. I was planning on taking my 300PRC to SA next year, but this rifle is giving me reason to reconsider that. Has anyone used 7BC on African plains game?

To go back to your original question, the game animal wont care

That equation remains shot placement>>>>>bullet construction>>>velocity>caliber

While it may push higher velocity from a shorter barrel or much higher velocity from a standard barrel, the 7 rem mag has already proven itself the world over and doesnt require improvement

Where 7BC shines is using that higher pressure to generate those 7 rem mag or PRC velocities in significantly shorter barrels so a suppressor can be hung off the end and the rifle remain handy with said suppressor. Not that you cant shoot it without one which, i suppose, would make it handier still

This would only apply to those African countries that would allow suppressors which, while oft debated here, seems to be a short list

To be clear I don't write this from a perspective of dislike of this cartridge. I'm interested but wouldnt probably be interested considering the potential quirks those pressures create if I didn't do most of my hunting with a can