Federal’s introduction of the novel 7 mm Backcountry cartridge marked a significant advancement in metallic-cartridge technology and performance. Its ability to safely operate at higher pressures set a new standard, and shooters have been wondering what Federal might offer next. Well, now we know. Instead of introducing another new cartridge, Federal enhanced an already existing cartridge—the immensely popular 6.5 Creedmoor.
Before looking at the new 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammunition, you need to understand exactly what +Peak is and how it works. Instead of common brass cartridge cases, 7 mm Backcountry and 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammunition utilize reloadable +Peak steel-alloy cases. These are substantially stronger than brass cases and allow safe operating pressures as high as 80,000 psi. By comparison, standard 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition is limited to a MAP (maximum average pressure) of 62,000 psi by SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute).
These more robust cases also permit a broader range of powders—faster-burning powders—to be used. Higher pressures equate to faster velocities, and faster-burning powders allow for the use of less powder that burns more efficiently in shorter barrels without substantial recoil increase. For the 6.5 Creedmoor, this means faster velocities from the more suppressor-friendly, shorter-barrel rifles hunters are now demanding. The technology is so innovative the U.S. Army has obtained GPR (Government Purpose Rights) to it, and Federal will be supplying 40 million rounds of ammunition.
I’ve shot 5.56 NATO +Peak-cased ammunition and witnessed the 200 fps (or greater) velocity advantage it offers. I’ve also thoroughly tested the 7 mm Backcountry and hunted with it in Africa. Federal claims 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammo will “boost velocities 300 fps over standard 6.5 Creedmoor and offer 100 fps over 6.5 PRC.” To see if that was true, I tested the 130-grain +Peak Terminal Ascent load and the standard 130-grain Terminal Ascent load from three different rifles with three different barrel lengths. See the table for results.
The most appealing aspect of the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak is that it can be fired out of current 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. The obvious first question is whether this stuff is actually safe to shoot. Federal worked with a number of rifle manufacturers during the development of the +Peak ammo, and its guidance is to, “Refer to your rifle manufacturer for recommendations on compatibility with high pressure ammunition.” The only exclusion among manufacturers was CVA, which warned that “6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammunition is not compatible for use in CVA break actions, such as the Scout, Hunter and Apex models.” I talked with several rifle manufacturers that verified compatibility, but if you have concerns, you should ask for yourself. Beyond that, I can only share my experiences. Out of the three rifles in which I tested the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammo—none of which were on Federal’s list—I experienced no stiff bolt lifts, hard extractions or any other issues.
Those looking for more velocity—power—than 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition can produce might also be wondering, why not just buy a more powerful cartridge? Well, if you already have a 6.5 Creedmoor and think you need more power for a specific application, +Peak ammo provides that without the purchase of a new rifle. With the five loads currently offered, +Peak ammo can deliver the same, or better, downrange ballistics as a 130- or 150-grain .270 Win. and 150-grain .30-’06 Sprg.
But, won’t the higher-pressure ammunition accelerate barrel wear? Yes, but, if you have a 6.5 Creedmoor, you don’t have to shoot +Peak ammo all the time. There are in excess of 100 factory 6.5 Creedmoor loads suitable for a great many target and hunting applications. There’s no reason to shoot the +Peak ammunition for everything—just use it when you feel you need the advantages it offers. Used judiciously, any potential increase in throat erosion should be inconsequential.
Let’s be real about something: This new +Peak ammo is not something contrived by some garage-based manufacturer. Federal is a massive company with engineers and ballisticians and, yes, lawyers who undoubtedly asked the hard questions. High pressures can be intimidating, but keep in mind, standard 6.5 Creedmoor ammo already produces 47 percent more pressure than .30-30 Win., and 6.5 Creedmoor proof loads in brass cases generate as much pressure as 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak. Additionally, +P (increased pressure) ammo is nothing new. We’ve been shooting +P versions of cartridges like the .257 Roberts, 9 mm and .38 Spl., with between 7 and 17 percent pressure increases for a long time.
The bottom line is that +Peak ammo has substantially increased the versatility of the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 7 mm Backcountry was the beginning; 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak is just the next step. Combining +Peak ammo with the new pressure-spike-reducing PXT rifling technology coming from Proof Research, for example, means the future of the metallic cartridge is going to be very exciting.
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