2025 Ammo of the Year

Federal Premium advanced ammunition when it introduced the .284-­caliber 7mm Backcountry in January 2025. Federal’s patented Peak Alloy case technology enabled the cartridge’s achievement, which yields higher muzzle velocities from short-­barreled rifles. Short barrels on lighter rifles plus flatter trajectories equal greater success for hunters and long-­range shooters.

The rimless-­type bottleneck 7mm Backcountry cartridge case is formed from a proprietary steel alloy designed to support higher pressures than traditional brass alloys. To maximize the accuracy potential, range, and terminal ballistics of the cartridge, Federal offered its initial offerings with its 170-­grain Terminal Ascent and 175-­grain Fusion Tipped bullets, as well as Berger’s 195-­grain Elite Hunter and Barnes’ 168-­grain LRX projectiles. These heavy-­for-­caliber projectiles feature a high ballistic coefficient (BC) for reduced drag. When fired out of a 20-­inch barrel with 1-­in-­8-­inch twist rate, the 7mm Backcountry produces more muzzle velocity than typical 7mm magnums from a standard 24-­inch barrel.

Felt recoil is similar to rifles that chamber magnum rounds. Even though observed pressures are higher, Guns & Ammo’s long-­term testing supported Federal’s assertion that throat erosion and barrel life is comparable to that of similar cartridges.

The 7mm Backcountry makes the most of 2025’s high-­performance bullets when fired from short-­barreled, lightweight rifles. Lightweight rifles with short barrels are easier to carry afield — and are ideal for use with suppressors. Attaching a suppressor to a rifle chambered in 7mm Backcountry harnesses all the benefits of the cartridge with a familiar balance, handling, and weight. Using a suppressed rifle in 7mm Backcountry minimizes visible flash and reduces the audible report, thereby lowering stress on game and benefiting the shooter’s health. n

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