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Posted: 6/15/2026 6:02:19 PM EDT
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From everything I'm reading and watching, the Federal 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammunition in the same type of steel cases as 7mm BackCountry does NOT create more bolt thrust than standard 6.5 Creedmoor, even though the pressure inside the case reaches 80,000psi. The idea is that the strong steel case absorbs most if not all of the extra pressure and the net result is +300fps velocity over brass-cased 6.5CM with no negative effects on the rifle. Federal notes that 80k psi is the operating pressure, and they've tested to well past that. The Vortex Nation podcast goes into some depth about the new cartridge:  Ep. 450 | Federal’s 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Changes Everything Federal is releasing reloadable cases along with the first drop of factory ammo, so it'll be possible to tailor some hammertime loads, even out of 16" barrels. Federal says their testing shows barrel life is no worse than with standard brass cased ammo. Since lawyers have for sure been all over Federal's public statements and marketing, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. I personally am going to try this ammo in a 16.5" 6.5CM POF Rogue. If it does OK with the thinner walled bolt face, it'll change the game. |
Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
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Originally Posted By vmpglenn: From everything I'm reading and watching, the Federal 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammunition in the same type of steel cases as 7mm BackCountry does NOT create more bolt thrust than standard 6.5 Creedmoor, even though the pressure inside the case reaches 80,000psi. The idea is that the strong steel case absorbs most if not all of the extra pressure and the net result is +300fps velocity over brass-cased 6.5CM with no negative effects on the rifle. Federal notes that 80k psi is the operating pressure, and they've tested to well past that. The Vortex Nation podcast goes into some depth about the new cartridge:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=433CJfI4JdkFederal is releasing reloadable cases along with the first drop of factory ammo, so it'll be possible to tailor some hammertime loads, even out of 16" barrels. Federal says their testing shows barrel life is no worse than with standard brass cased ammo. Since lawyers have for sure been all over Federal's public statements and marketing, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. I personally am going to try this ammo in a 16.5" 6.5CM POF Rogue. If it does OK with the thinner walled bolt face, it'll change the game. It looks interesting but you cannot increase pressure and NOT increase bolt thrust. I don't know if i would try it in a gas gun unless i had an adjustable GB. |
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Originally Posted By Turtle556: It looks interesting but you cannot increase pressure and NOT increase bolt thrust. I don't know if i would try it in a gas gun unless i had an adjustable GB. Watch the video. Federal explains that the "old" way of thinking about chamber pressure does not apply to their case technology. |
Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
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Originally Posted By bluedog82: My biggest question is how much more backpressure does it generate? You would think there would have to be more with 20k more psi. There isn't more backpressure or bolt thrust. The case is the key to what seems like magic. You're not getting sticky bolt lift on bolt actions or severe slamming recoil on gas guns, you're not popping primers, etc. It's not the same thing as overpressure in a brass case. |
Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
|
OP, I look forward to hearing how it goes with your POF. My 6.5 Creedmoor gasser is an old DPMS, but I’m happy shooting my reloads. I suspect Federal’s new ammo doesn’t come cheap. Any increased baffle wear on cans? I do wish Federal success with it. We always need product improvements. |
Knight of Blunder - Fogo '21
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Originally Posted By vmpglenn: There isn't more backpressure or bolt thrust. The case is the key to what seems like magic. You're not getting sticky bolt lift on bolt actions or severe slamming recoil on gas guns, you're not popping primers, etc. It's not the same thing as overpressure in a brass case. Just got through the whole podcast and damn, that is crazy. Do the other steel/NAS3 cases like from ShellShock and others perform similarly, or is this unique to Federal? |
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Myself, I would contact POF and ask them their thoughts . ... at the very least. I have been following this 6.5CM + PEAK fairly closely. I am waiting to see what the various manufacturers recommend , as far as recoil setups, and "if" gas port sizes need to be "adjusted". I, for one would not be comfortable firing the, in a Semi Auto, + PEAK ammo without the firearms manufacturer putting it in writing. Frankly, even Geissele hasn't said it is A-Ok in their MRGG... and "G" has been messing around with 5.56 PEAK ammo since 2025. If it was 100% ok,I would think the various semi auto rifle makers would be Jumping on the band wagon. "If" you decide to try it.... Do so at your own risk..... REMEMBER... the chamber MUST be oil free ! |
*Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them.*
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man.
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TOGC,IADC
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man.
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TOGC,IADC
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Originally Posted By Scott_S: I watched 25 minutes of the podcast. If I was a hunter or shot competition often, I’d probably consider the +Peak cartridge. But for your old fart steel and paper puncher like me, I’ll stick with the economy of brass. Not sure how many in the competition world will be using it. There are velocity limitations for PRS type events, and even with that, most have found that a round in the 2750-2900fps range is optimum for spotting trace/impacts/misses (namely at sub 400yds). I think this will be big for hunters that are always chasing speed thinking that it will create a deadlier round, but I doubt it’ll be big for comp shooters. Even if you could run a shorter barrel and hit the same speed, many prefer the longer barrels for the “free” weight it provides. |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Not sure how many in the competition world will be using it. There are velocity limitations for PRS type events, and even with that, most have found that a round in the 2750-2900fps range is optimum for spotting trace/impacts/misses (namely at sub 400yds). I think this will be big for hunters that are always chasing speed thinking that it will create a deadlier round, but I doubt it’ll be big for comp shooters. Even if you could run a shorter barrel and hit the same speed, many prefer the longer barrels for the “free” weight it provides. Thanks for the clarification. The only recent competition I've shot was Cola Warrior, and I'm darn sure not using my 16 lb 6.5 Creedmoor for that! |
Knight of Blunder - Fogo '21
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Not sure how many in the competition world will be using it. There are velocity limitations for PRS type events, and even with that, most have found that a round in the 2750-2900fps range is optimum for spotting trace/impacts/misses (namely at sub 400yds). I think this will be big for hunters that are always chasing speed thinking that it will create a deadlier round, but I doubt it’ll be big for comp shooters. Even if you could run a shorter barrel and hit the same speed, many prefer the longer barrels for the “free” weight it provides. It may well simply allow people to run shorter rifles (like 16” 6.5CMs) with a longer/braked can and still get similar performance to their 26” tubes. |
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Originally Posted By Turtle556: Physics is physics, I watched the video but need more information, I'm an engineer kind of guy. As you say, the devil is always in the details. |
Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
|
A cursory search on details finds this: Federal's 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammo uses a special high-pressure alloy case that allows it to reach speeds up to 300 fps faster than standard 6.5 Creedmoor. It runs at extremely high pressures (up to 80,000 psi) but is marketed as producing "no increased bolt thrust". Whether or not bolt thrust actually increases is a major topic of debate among shooters and ballistics experts. The answer depends on how the case material interacts with the rifle's chamber: The Theory (No Bolt Thrust Increase): Standard brass cases expand and "grab" the chamber wall during the initial microsecond of firing. However, they act like grease and slide back as pressure peaks. The +Peak alloy case uses proprietary materials that are designed to grip the steel chamber much more tightly. Because the case "sticks" to the wall to help contain the pressure, the rearward force on the bolt face remains similar to standard loads. The Catch (When Bolt Thrust Can Spike): The principle described above only applies if the chamber and the outside of the case are completely clean and dry. If any oil, solvent, or moisture gets into the chamber, the case can slip. If this happens, the massive 80,000 psi pressure will push straight back, resulting in significantly increased bolt thrust. Action Safety: While the bolt thrust may not increase under optimal conditions, the barrel and action are still enduring massive amounts of outward pressure (known as hoop stress). Sounds like they're trying to turn 6.5 CM into 6.5 PRC. |
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