Nosler 26

[Freebore]

I went to the Great Outdoor Show in Harrisburg this weekend and stopped at the Nosler booth.
They are really promoting their newest cartridge design. A shortened RUM case necked to .264.
Factory ammo 129 Accubond at 3400 MV.

Anyone have one or shot one or chambered one of these up?

 

[MudRunner2005]

If you want any kind of barrel life, this will not be a cartridge for you. I'm betting probably under 1,000 rounds of barrel life, if I had to guess, just based on the overbore factor. As a good reference point, most 7RUM's get 600 rounds of accurate barrel life.

I think the idea is cool, and I like Nosler's ingenuity, but I don't see it being a caliber I'd go to the range with alot. Range-only calibers need to be high-barrel life calibers, like the .308 Win, .300 WinMag, 6.5-284, 6mm BR, .300 Blackout, .223 Rem, .260 Rem/.260 Ackley Imp, 7mm-08, .280 Rem/.280 Ackley Imp, .30-06/.30-06 Ackley Imp, .270 Win/.270 Ackley Imp, and calibers like that.

 

[Jud96]

If you want any kind of barrel life, this will not be a cartridge for you. I'm betting probably under 1,000 rounds of barrel life, if I had to guess, just based on the overbore factor. As a good reference point, most 7RUM's get 600 rounds of accurate barrel life.

I think the idea is cool, and I like Nosler's ingenuity, but I don't see it being a caliber I'd go to the range with alot. Range-only calibers need to be high-barrel life calibers, like the .308 Win, .300 WinMag, 6.5-284, 6mm BR, .300 Blackout, .223 Rem, .260 Rem/.260 Ackley Imp, 7mm-08, .280 Rem/.280 Ackley Imp, .30-06/.30-06 Ackley Imp, .270 Win/.270 Ackley Imp, and calibers like that.

+1 the .264 Winchester and 7mm RUM are both overbore, but the .26 Nosler, which is pretty much a .264 RUM will be a real barrel burner! I bet it takes close to 70 grains to get that 129 going 3,400 fps. In the end I don't really see the point in this cartridge. It would seem to explosive for big game and too overbore for deer, for varminting shooting rapidly and a lot is common, especially while in a good spot leading again to the toasting of your barrel. The .264 WIN Mag died off because of the better 7mm Remington Magnum but also because of its inefficiency and barrel life. Yea pushing a 129 at 3400fps is cool but not to practical, for 6.5s I believe the .260 fits the bill the best.

 

[Freebore]

Burning barrels...I'm ok with 1000 rounds rounds before it goes south if I get the performance out of a 'hot rod'. Probably have 2 barrels made as I'm sure I would burn one out developing loads and just seeing what she'd do. I have 2 .257 Weatherby's one has been rebarreled to a ...257. I have a 7Rum, 7STW and 7mag and very efficient big 30 on 2nd barrel. I don't have 6.5. I sold my .260 because I have 2 7mm-08's and the 260 didn't do anything for me..

I am just contemplating building a fast 26 caliber. I would think with the chamberings today usage of freebore and .0005 under diameter leads along with today's sloooow powders and 28" of barrel I would think you could easily get 1000 rounds....maybe not. That is why the post. I don't know if I can afford their brass though!!

 

[Frank7mm]

What do they claim with a 140gr bullet? My 6.5 WSM with 26" gets 3200fps with a 140 and I have a barrel with 1400 rounds through it and it still shoots 3/4 moa. Again it is an interesting case I'm sure wildcats will start before brass is available.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Burning barrels...I'm ok with 1000 rounds rounds before it goes south if I get the performance out of a 'hot rod'. Probably have 2 barrels made as I'm sure I would burn one out developing loads and just seeing what she'd do. I have 2 .257 Weatherby's one has been rebarreled to a ...257. I have a 7Rum, 7STW and 7mag and very efficient big 30 on 2nd barrel. I don't have 6.5. I sold my .260 because I have 2 7mm-08's and the 260 didn't do anything for me..

I am just contemplating building a fast 26 caliber. I would think with the chamberings today usage of freebore and .0005 under diameter leads along with today's sloooow powders and 28" of barrel I would think you could easily get 1000 rounds....maybe not. That is why the post. I don't know if I can afford their brass though!!

No, I said probably 1000....Probably worse than that. But I'm willing to watch someone burn one out to verify my estimate. However, everyone has a different level of "accuracy loss" that they will tolerate before they call a barrel junked. Some folks if a barrel hits 3/4 MOA, they scrap it for a new one. Some folks scrap them when they open beyond 1 MOA. Personally, if I have one that hits above 1 MOA I will pull it and replace it. But it takes me a LONG time before I get barrels that shoot 1/2 MOA and better, to reach above 1 MOA.

No 2 barrels are alike, you'd burn both out trying to develope loads for them, equally, if it is that difficult to work. What 1 barrel likes, the other might hate. Yes, even if they're the same brand, cut with the same tools, on the same day, 1 after the other, and reamed by the same reamer, & built by the same smith at the same time. No 2 barrels will be identical.

 

[Jud96]

6.5-06 Ackley Improved is another option. Would have a barrel life in upwards of 2000+ and can shoot 140s at 3100fps and burning 55-60grs of powder.

 

[MudRunner2005]

6.5-06 Ackley Improved is another option. Would have a barrel life in upwards of 2000+ and can shoot 140s at 3100fps and burning 55-60grs of powder.

As much as I like my Ackleys, the 6.5 Sherman would be a better option, and it's still based on the '06 case.

 

[Jud96]

No, I said probably 1000....Probably worse than that. But I'm willing to watch someone burn one out to verify my estimate.

No 2 barrels are alike, you'd burn both out trying to develope loads for them, equally, if it is that difficult to work. What 1 barrel likes, the other might hate. Yes, even if they're the same brand, cut with the same tools, on the same day, 1 after the other, and reamed by the same reamer, & built by the same smith at the same time. No 2 barrels will be identical.

I agree the .26 Nosler will be lucky to get 1000yds but I disagree that a load won't shoot in more than one rifle. Our standby load of 44grs of IMR 4350 with an 85gr or 87gr out of a .243 has grouped 1/2 inch or better in every .243 we have tested it in. There are certain loads that shoot out of everything.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I agree the .26 Nosler will be lucky to get 1000yds but I disagree that a load won't shoot in more than one rifle. Our standby load of 44grs of IMR 4350 with an 85gr or 87gr out of a .243 has grouped 1/2 inch or better in every .243 we have tested it in. There are certain loads that shoot out of everything.

I didn't say it won't shoot, but 9 out of 10 times you will have to tweak it. And tweaking loads for ladder testing is the same thing as load development, might as well just have 1 barrel made to see if you like it, you know?

 

[Jud96]

As much as I like my Ackleys, the 6.5 Sherman would be a better option, and it's still based on the '06 case.

True, I keep forgetting about those Sherman cartridges. They are an amazingly simple improvement that really boosts the performance of its parent shells. I'd be interested in trying a .270 Sherman one day, its velocities would be nipping at the heals of the .270 WSM and .270 WBY while burning 10grs less powder. If you haven't noticed, I'm obsessed with efficient cartridges haha!

 

[Jud96]

I didn't say it won't shoot, but you 9 out of 10 times you will have to tweak it. And tweaking loads for ladder testing is the same thing as load development, might as well just have 1 barrel made to see if you like it, you know?

True, but to be honest, I have never gone through 100% full blown load development. I normally research and find 2-3 of the best powders for a given cartridge then narrow them down by testing their velocities over the chronograph and starting a few grains under max and check out the primer. Then I go to the max and see what the primer looks like, if its crushed real bad, I back off a grain then test that. If the max load is good I push it no farther and leave it there. If the grain under load is my max and everything works good I stick with it. It's pretty simple and has worked for us for years. Maybe we just luck out but all our hunting rifles and long range rigs shoot under 1/2inch at 100yds pretty easy and under MOA to their farthest zeros. Never tried ladder testing and may not if everything pans out like it has so far. I agree about the barrel thing, my Dad and Pap are bad about buying extra barrels for stuff they'll never wear out like .308s that have Harts in them but you better believe there's a few spare ones lying around. HAHA!

 

[MudRunner2005]

True, I keep forgetting about those Sherman cartridges. They are an amazingly simple improvement that really boosts the performance of its parent shells. I'd be interested in trying a .270 Sherman one day, its velocities would be nipping at the heals of the .270 WSM and .270 WBY while burning 10grs less powder. If you haven't noticed, I'm obsessed with efficient cartridges haha!

I am, too. However, I'm more obsessed with unique calibers or off-the-wall type stuff that none of my buddies will have. I like being a unique individual. At the local range, I'm known as "that crazy gun guy that's all about precision and accuracy". I rather like my nom de guerre, because I consider it a mark of distinction, which means they hold me to a higher regard than the average joe that walks up and goes to blasting ammo... But at the same time that also means they've noticed my horrible case of OCD in my shooting habits. LOL

 

[Jud96]

I am, too. However, I'm more obsessed with unique calibers or off-the-wall type stuff that none of my buddies will have. I like being a unique individual. At the local range, I'm known as "that crazy gun guy that's all about precision and accuracy". I rather like my nom de guerre, because I consider it a mark of distinction, which means they hold me to a higher regard than the average joe that walks up and goes to blasting ammo... But at the same time that also means they've noticed my horrible case of OCD in my shooting habits. LOL

Haha I like different stuff too! All the kids and guys around here are pretty much '06, 7mm MAG, and .300 Win Mag guys and that's about it. They think you're crazy when you say you shoot pop cans at 500yds and soft ball sized rocks at 700 haha. They also look at you funny when you mention odd balls like Ackley Improved shells, .308 Norma Mags, and anything else unfamiliar to the average deer hunter. I lose most of them soon as the topic of ballistics comes up ha! They don't realize the potential of reloading and that SPs drop a ton more than say a B-Tip or HPBT.