Is 26 Nosler abandoned?

[Hydra6]

I bought a 26 Nosler Browning X Bolt a few years ago when Cabelas had it on clearance. Bought a few boxes of Nosler brand 26 Nosler ammo off their blem site. Shot the "blem" ammo (shot great) to zero scope and get brass to load. Loaded Barnes 127 LRX and harvested a mule deer in Wyoming.

However, Nosler seems to have abandoned the 26 Nosler - never ammo or brass in stock. Seems like Nosler puts a cartridge on market then supports dries up in a few years. I have reached out to Nosler but no responses to my email inquiries.

 

[VinceMule]

When you find ammo that your rifle likes, pull out a credit card and buy 10 boxes at a minimum, IF you do not reload.

It seems that the 26 nosler has gained a reputation as a barrel burner in the extreme. Also, the new PRC series of cases are gaining popularity fast with the 6.5 PRC being one of the most popular.

As a reloader, you can stock up on brass, and the reported barrel life on the 26 Nosler is between 450-800 rounds, depending on shooting style. I would encourage you to use cool burning powders like H1000 and N160 or other powders that burn cooler, which will add to the barrel life. Consult a Powder Heat Index Chart.

Best Wishes

 

[Dmagna]

I don't really think the 26 ever took off, not like the 28 did at least. With Peterson brass it's still a great cartridge for long range hunting, not something that is used for target shooting.

 

[Wachsmann]

Its somewhat like what happen to the 7mm Rum and a bit of the 300 Rum. New cartridges stolen the lime light and the other that it does have there issues of burning out the barrels which they have almost become non existent. The 300 RUM still hangs around enough to find a little love here and there but the other 2 are well pretty much obsolete. One thing is you have a great action to build something different. 28 Nos or something else.

 

[VinceMule]

The 28 Nosler is just stupid accurate, no getting around that fact. The 7 PRC that is gaining acceptance is a duplicate of the 7 Rem mag, but the 7 PRC will be shot in the Competitions. Stay tuned.

New marketing runs gun sales with the latest and greatest, people buy whatever they see in gun magazines.

As time goes on, fewer and fewer people reload and learn the art of rifle load tuning, which is just what the Ammo Manufacturers want.

 

[QuietTexan]

With Peterson brass it's still a great cartridge for long range hunting, not something that is used for target shooting.

I shoot steel with a 26 Nosler. It's no worse than shooting any other boomer. The arguments of short barrel life and lots of powder applies to every overbore anything from 20-250 to 300 LIMP, it costs to shoot the big boys in every bore diameter.

 

[MagnumManiac]

If you struggle to get brass, buy the more popular size and neck it up or down to get what you want.
The 264WM lost favour here in Australia about 20 years ago, no rifles, no ammo and brass has to be ordered and takes months to arrive… easiest fix was to buy 7RM brass and neck it down, use a mandrel and turn to clean it up and carry on as if it was made for the rifle.
Have done this without issue for a very long time.

Cheers.

 

[Dmagna]

I shoot steel with a 26 Nosler. It's no worse than shooting any other boomer. The arguments of short barrel life and lots of powder applies to every overbore anything from 20-250 to 300 LIMP, it costs to shoot the big boys in every bore diameter.

If you feel like replacing a barrel in a weekend by all means go ahead.

 

[Slick8]

I think all the nosler rounds suffer from poor marketing and limited clambering outside of nosler rifles. That directly relates to limited ammo outside of nosler.

They designed a great cartridge and one I'm a huge fan of. I owned a 30 nosler and I'm now having a 30-28 built.

 

[VinceMule]

Depending on Nosler for anything is a *** endeavor to be involved with. They can not keep up with demand on any level. Sierra is in the same boat as Nosler, war and LEO demand take priority by law.

Having a tuner on a barrel to tune a particular Lot# of factory ammo maybe a wise move for the guys that do not reload.

 

[JiggyIi]

I shoot steel with a 26 Nosler. It's no worse than shooting any other boomer. The arguments of short barrel life and lots of powder applies to every overbore anything from 20-250 to 300 LIMP, it costs to shoot the big boys in every bore diameter.

Just like a high performance race engine, ya love em but they like fuel & are not made for longevity

 

[QuietTexan]

If you feel like replacing a barrel in a weekend by all means go ahead.

Just curious, how many 26 Noslers have you burned out?

 

[lancetkenyon]

In my opinion, the 26 Nosler is THE big 6.5mm to shoot. I would take one over the 6.5-.300Wby all day long.
But, it is murder on a barrel. If used stricktly for hunting, it should last a lifetime.
The need to handload for it is a must. 156s @ 3300+ is a deer crusher a long ways out.

 

[VinceMule]

A good friend of mine has Christianson arms 26 Nosler and it is wicked accurate with factory ammo at 500 yards. He verifies zero and hunts. His rifle will last a long time.