26 Nosler

[Coach]

Anyone been watching this?

 

http://www.nosler.com/news-and-articles/2013/11/22/the-26-nosler

 

It looks like it could be one amazing round. It's built around the Accubond LR bullets, and as far as I've seen, rifles specially made by Nosler. I'm not aware of any other barrel makers out there, let alone big names behind this round. Nosler, who I didn't even know was in the rifle building business has their model 48 line that seems to be centered around this round.

 

The brass is $66 per 25 on Midway USA.

 

The reloading data is really where I find this round interesting. Wildcats love to overbore, but this is pushing things further than most wildcats, and for Nosler to break into the rifle building world around what I consider a pretty extreme cartridge: Powder charge runs from the high 70's in Retumbo to high 80's in mag powders, even 90+ compressed loads.

 

That's a .260, 130 grain bullet. Compare that with .300 WSM where the loads are between 65-74 grains, or 300 Wby Mag or RUM, between 76 and 82 grains, and these loads are designed for 180 grain bullet for the most part.

 

I have to say, I'm a little skeptical about pushing a .260 bullet behind what amounts to an Ultra Magnum case/charge, but it's beltless unlike the WBY mags that have always looked to take a tame, fast round and supercharge it on a .404 Jeffrey's case.

 

The advertised MV is over 3400 fps with a Point Blank Rang of 0-415 yards. No bullet I've seen can match that, but will it be a commercially viable round?

[firstcoueswas80]

Nosler had been building rifles for years.

 

Looks like a bigger 257 wby to me, I expect barrel love to be less than 800 rounds.

[pwrguy]

There was a post earlier in the year about this round on this forum. Do a search for 26 Nosler.

[Big or Bust]

Google it. Data out there now. Been around a year or more.

[dse]

Looks to me like it won't do anything the 270 wsm won't, except burn a lot more powder and $$$ doing it.

[Big or Bust]

Bullets man. It trumps anything in .277" simply because of the bullets. It smokes anything in .277"...

[firstcoueswas80]

Greg, unfortunately, stick is right.... bullets trump head stamps.

[Coach]

Greg, unfortunately, stick is right.... bullets trump head stamps.

What does that mean?

[firstcoueswas80]

Something another poster on another board says....

 

 

Basically bullets make the most difference. Example.... the 257 wby, amazing cartridge, terrible bullet selection, ballistically speaking

[dse]

The BC of the lrab in 6.5 is .561. The .277 lrab is .625. Cutting edge has a .277 130gr bullet with a BC of .540. Still not seeing a big advantage in bullet selection. However the .26 would be the clear winner in the muzzle flash contest.

[Big or Bust]

Compare like bullets for like bullets my man -

[PRDATR]

Make a pot of coffee and read this.

 

http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/221658-26-nosler.html

[Havasuhunter]

Seems like a great cartridge, but not sure of its necessity. More for the guy who thinks he needs the latest, greatest. Range finders eliminate much of the need to extend point blank range.

[Flatlander]

Make a pot of coffee and read this.

 

http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/221658-26-nosler.html

I liked the hypothetical # of rounds fired per year by a hunter in this thread. Personally I shoot more than 35 rounds in one trip to the range, albeit not from the same rifle, let alone a two year span, but hey for lots of guys I am sure he is correct.

 

Seems like an interesting round, but I think my thoughts are still centered around the .264

[Havasuhunter]

I love my very mild 6.5x55. Confident to 500+, as far as I need to be shooting at game. Any of the hotter 6.5s would be great. So many excellent 120-140 grain bullets in 6.5.