RL26 & Berger 140 Elite Htr in Nosler 26

[travisblossom72]

I have a Nosler 26 ready for load development. I loved the 140 VLD's in a 6.5-284 that i had so i want to try the elite hunter version in the 26. I also am shooting RL26 in a 6-284 with 105 Amax's that is giving me awesome velocity, accuracy and ES. I'm having a hard time getting a starting point out of anyone as there's no data to be found on this combo yet. I'm calling Berger tomorrow to see if they will part with any info they might have, but ran into a dead end with alliant today. Does anyone out there have any info or maybe the ability to run a QL just to see if this may be a good combo. I have a feeling that the 26 is going to love this powder. I will own QL at some point, but am a Mac user and keep thinking they will just have a mac version soon enough and they never do. I may have to break down and just run it on the parallels side. I love this site. So much good info on here to be had. A lot of passionate people that like to help. Thanks for any help.gun)gun)gun)gun)

 

[tbrice23]

I have a Nosler 26 ready for load development. I loved the 140 VLD's in a 6.5-284 that i had so i want to try the elite hunter version in the 26. I also am shooting RL26 in a 6-284 with 105 Amax's that is giving me awesome velocity, accuracy and ES. I'm having a hard time getting a starting point out of anyone as there's no data to be found on this combo yet. I'm calling Berger tomorrow to see if they will part with any info they might have, but ran into a dead end with alliant today. Does anyone out there have any info or maybe the ability to run a QL just to see if this may be a good combo. I have a feeling that the 26 is going to love this powder. I will own QL at some point, but am a Mac user and keep thinking they will just have a mac version soon enough and they never do. I may have to break down and just run it on the parallels side. I love this site. So much good info on here to be had. A lot of passionate people that like to help. Thanks for any help.gun)gun)gun)gun)

I do not own a 26 Nosler (yet)
However, I know a couple of people who do and they are using MUCH slower powder. One guy is using H50BMG the other is using US869 both with 140 vld.

FWIW RL 26 is way too fast for my 264wm with 140vld. I'm using RL33.

 

[travisblossom72]

869 is tough to beat. Nosler book data has it giving the best velocities. I have some and will probably try it also but would rather have an extreme powder. The new RL powders are supposed to be less sensitive to temp and have the additives to help burn cleaner. RL26 is supposed to be a little slower burning than 25 which would make it a little faster than 33. I ran 33 and retumbo in a 6-284 then tryed some RL26 and gained almost 200 fps. I know this is a much different case but a lot of the data is on very similar powders. Most of what I saw on the 50 bmg looked good except the velocities. I may try it at some point. I have some of the other powders so I'll try them first. I have, Retumbo, H1000, 869, RL25, RL26, RL33. Hunting in MT I need a temp insensitive powder that will hopefully push the 140 bullet at 3400+. I didn't get a 26 Nosler to shoot it at 6.5-284 speeds. I spoke with Alliant today and he wouldn't give me any details but assured me that there is testing going on at this very moment with RL26 and the 26 Nosler. He seemed to think that it is going to perform really well in that case. Thanks for the input.

 

[jetbrook]

Cartridge : .26 Nosler
Bullet : .264, 140, Berger Hunt VLD Hunt #26504
Useable Case Capaci: 90.349 grain H2O = 5.866 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 56875 psi, or 392 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 100 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

72 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2218 95.4 84.7 5.49 3263 99.6 56875 17609 1.335 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 90.8 79.7 5.17 3208 99.0 56875 17064 1.366 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 80 93.8 84.7 5.49 3195 99.6 56875 16777 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-33 92.6 83.6 5.42 3192 99.2 56875 16845 1.373 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-50 96.6 87.0 5.64 3181 98.9 56875 17195 1.405 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870 96.5 83.0 5.38 3180 99.8 56875 16379 1.375 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 93.9 78.7 5.10 3157 100.0 56875 14780 1.360 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2225 93.9 78.7 5.10 3157 100.0 56875 14780 1.360 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 217 95.8 78.6 5.09 3155 100.0 56875 15188 1.387 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 90.1 75.0 4.86 3140 100.0 56875 15093 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP30 90.1 75.0 4.86 3140 100.0 56875 15093 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon 50BMG 99.6 84.2 5.46 3139 92.0 56875 16436 1.353 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 94.5 83.9 5.43 3138 95.3 56875 16022 1.345 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 97.5 85.9 5.56 3133 93.3 56875 16839 1.400 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 91.9 75.7 4.90 3130 100.0 56875 14461 1.341 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2217 91.9 75.7 4.90 3130 100.0 56875 14461 1.341 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon US 869 99.2 88.0 5.70 3124 95.3 56875 16044 1.363 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 8700 100.0 86.9 5.63 3086 98.5 53914 15539 1.397
SNPE Vectan SP 13 100.0 85.1 5.51 3085 98.4 55168 15432 1.396
Vihtavuori N170 94.9 78.2 5.07 3083 98.2 56875 14864 1.365 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 20N29 100.0 89.6 5.81 3078 96.7 53895 15980 1.417
Lovex D100 92.7 83.1 5.38 3071 95.9 56875 14856 1.357 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 513/520/9520 100.0 85.1 5.51 3027 96.9 51917 15354 1.435
NC A3502 ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2841 79.2 42602 14613 1.513
TLP A 502(RH) ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2795 80.4 41469 14103 1.552
V1734 7-multiperf ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2022 39.8 21716 7330 2.045

 

[jetbrook]

I have not tried RL -26 but have shot a lot of 869 and RL -33 in the 26 Nosler. I am avg 3400 with the 143 ELD-X and 3340 with the 147 ELD-M. I have been playing with the 26 Nosler for a little over two years and QL speeds never add up for me.

 

[jetbrook]

Cartridge : .26 Nosler
Bullet : .264, 140, Berger Hunt VLD Hunt #26504
Useable Case Capaci: 90.349 grain H2O = 5.866 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 56875 psi, or 392 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 100 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

72 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2218 95.4 84.7 5.49 3263 99.6 56875 17609 1.335 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 90.8 79.7 5.17 3208 99.0 56875 17064 1.366 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 80 93.8 84.7 5.49 3195 99.6 56875 16777 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-33 92.6 83.6 5.42 3192 99.2 56875 16845 1.373 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-50 96.6 87.0 5.64 3181 98.9 56875 17195 1.405 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870 96.5 83.0 5.38 3180 99.8 56875 16379 1.375 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 93.9 78.7 5.10 3157 100.0 56875 14780 1.360 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2225 93.9 78.7 5.10 3157 100.0 56875 14780 1.360 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 217 95.8 78.6 5.09 3155 100.0 56875 15188 1.387 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 90.1 75.0 4.86 3140 100.0 56875 15093 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP30 90.1 75.0 4.86 3140 100.0 56875 15093 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon 50BMG 99.6 84.2 5.46 3139 92.0 56875 16436 1.353 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 94.5 83.9 5.43 3138 95.3 56875 16022 1.345 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 97.5 85.9 5.56 3133 93.3 56875 16839 1.400 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 91.9 75.7 4.90 3130 100.0 56875 14461 1.341 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2217 91.9 75.7 4.90 3130 100.0 56875 14461 1.341 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon US 869 99.2 88.0 5.70 3124 95.3 56875 16044 1.363 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 8700 100.0 86.9 5.63 3086 98.5 53914 15539 1.397
SNPE Vectan SP 13 100.0 85.1 5.51 3085 98.4 55168 15432 1.396
Vihtavuori N170 94.9 78.2 5.07 3083 98.2 56875 14864 1.365 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 20N29 100.0 89.6 5.81 3078 96.7 53895 15980 1.417
Lovex D100 92.7 83.1 5.38 3071 95.9 56875 14856 1.357 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 513/520/9520 100.0 85.1 5.51 3027 96.9 51917 15354 1.435
NC A3502 ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2841 79.2 42602 14613 1.513
TLP A 502(RH) ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2795 80.4 41469 14103 1.552
V1734 7-multiperf ,test only 100.0 81.5 5.28 2022 39.8 21716 7330 2.045

 

[bigbulls]

When I had my 26 I used us869 and it worked great

 

[tbrice23]

When I had my 26 I used us869 and it worked great

What happened to your 26 ?????????

 

[bigbulls]

I sold it and moved on to others. I seem to always need to be trying new things.

 

[travisblossom72]

Do you mind me asking what your loads are for those bullets? I actually have some 142 eldx's im going to try at some point. Maybe sooner rather than later. I'm aware of all the precautions you need to take with other people's loads. My 26 is a Shilen/stiller action and carbon 6 barrel. How close to max in your gun are these loads. From your velocities I would guess these are pretty hot loads. My brother and I built identical guns and he said round 1 with Berger 140 elite hunters and 869 was a bust. I won't get to shoot until next week some time. We have picked up about every long range hunting bullet available except the Barnes bullets and almost every slow burning hogdon and alliant powder. Thanks for your help.

 

[stx]

I'm getting 3380fps with 140 gr HVLDs with 77 grains of Retumbo, Nosler Brass & WLRM primers.... groups are .25"...... got 3400+ with 79 grains but groups opened up to .4" and this was pretty much max in my rifle.

 

[bigbulls]

I was shooting 140 vld, 26" barrel, 88.6 grs. US869 at 3300 fps

 

[257Tony]

869 is tough to beat. Nosler book data has it giving the best velocities. I have some and will probably try it also but would rather have an extreme powder. The new RL powders are supposed to be less sensitive to temp and have the additives to help burn cleaner. RL26 is supposed to be a little slower burning than 25 which would make it a little faster than 33. I ran 33 and retumbo in a 6-284 then tryed some RL26 and gained almost 200 fps. I know this is a much different case but a lot of the data is on very similar powders. Most of what I saw on the 50 bmg looked good except the velocities. I may try it at some point. I have some of the other powders so I'll try them first. I have, Retumbo, H1000, 869, RL25, RL26, RL33. Hunting in MT I need a temp insensitive powder that will hopefully push the 140 bullet at 3400+. I didn't get a 26 Nosler to shoot it at 6.5-284 speeds. I spoke with Alliant today and he wouldn't give me any details but assured me that there is testing going on at this very moment with RL26 and the 26 Nosler. He seemed to think that it is going to perform really well in that case. Thanks for the input.

Not trying to pick on you, but this is a common misconception based on Alliants naming scheme. For some reason they have decided to deviate from their normal numbers. RL26 is actually faster than RL25.

 

[tbrice23]

Agree ! I've found 25 to be slower burn rate than 26 in 300wm 264WM and 270wsm and 6AI.
Just like I've seen RL23 is faster burn rate than RL22 in 7RM and 6.5-284.