Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 26 NOSLER

JUST WHAT IS THE POINT? NOW WHAT GOOD IS IT EXCEPT FOR LONG RANDE SHOOTING 1000 YARDS OR MORE AND THAT IS JUNK TO ME AS A PLANE HUNTER WITH NO TRAINING IN LONG RANGE.

These are always good.

If you are going to hunt planes, something in the .50 cal plus range would make more sense than the Nosler.

Agreed.

Damn, you beat me to it!

I have one, had it built just cause I wanted one. I didn't need it. It won't kill any better at the distances I hunt. It doesn't seem to have any more recoil than the 264 Win mags I own. It won't do anymore than the 7mm ultra mag I have will do. It's something new. People buy new things that wouldn't spend their money otherwise. I think it will be more popular than the 6.5x300 Weatherby, but what the hell do I know?

Why does it seem that if a poster's name has savage in it somewhere, there is better than a 50% chance of (*&) like this?

So that must be no training at all, not just referring to long range?

JUST ASK WHAT GOOD IS IT OVER THE REST . I SHOOT OUT TO 300 TO 400 YARDS NOW WHAT THE HELL DOES MY HANDLE HAVE TO DO WITH IT .TO SHOOT 1000 YARDS U HAVE TO KNOW WIND AND LOTS MORE TRAINING I WILL SAY

The 26 is a very good LR round, the velocity is a real asset fighting cross winds, bullet gets there quicker than conventional.

It's an effective round, well engineered and thought out.

JB bought the one he tested, sold his .264 WM.

The 26 thrives on ultra slow powder like US869 and WC872.

It's not for everyone, but is very nice to those who appreciate such. I like mine, my hunting buddy likes his.

DF

Here is mine. Rock Creek barrel. It was a Sendero 7 mag. I load 869 and 140 Ballistic tips

Mine was a 7RM, too.

26" Shilen #2.

DF

Dirtfarmer nice looking rifle and thanks for the answer I was just wondering what the big fuss was on this gun now I know thanks and good hunting u all

Nice looking rifle.

Thanks,

I found this 700 BDL at my gunsmith's shop. It was an ins. gun, smoke damaged in a house fire. The barrel was toast, the trigger couldn't be adjusted. The wood was as you see, no damage. If the wood shows no charring, and this stock wasn't damaged at all, the metal is OK. Paid $400.

I got a Timney 510 trigger, had my smith fit a Shilen barrel. I glassed it.

It's a half MOA shooter at 400 yds. with 120 gr. TTSX over case full of US869 and at around 3,450 fps. For some reason, it likes those and 120 E-Tips, both with identical performance at the range on on game. Can't tell them apart.

My buddy prefers 140 NPT's, so I loaded those for him. It's almost as accurate with slightly less US869 at around 3,200 fps.

DF

Hanco, great looking rifle. Looks perfect for reaching long.

Same to you DF... great rifles fellas.

Hanco,

I wonder about the NBT, would think it would blow up on critters at mega speed.

Have you killed anything with it?

DF

Mohick?

The 140 BTs at 3200 from my 264 were pretty tough in water jugs. Usually going 5 jugs. The core would come out but still about the same overall performance as the AB version.

Haven't had a deer hold one yet.

If it's of no use to you and you don't understand the round, might I suggest you discuss other topics that are relevant to you like terrestrial targets?

I have killed two deer and 4 pigs. DRT. Accubonds would probably be better. I have a couple boxes of Barnes TTSX. Gonna try them soon.

I really like that. Stainless barrel in the factory wood stock.

I am just now getting my .264's figured out. After that I might step up to a 26.

I haven't so much as looked at a pic/design of the 26 Nos. cartridge but I've read enuff to understand its large capacity and long range performance.

That said, as a PLAIN hunter I'd pick a 264 Win Mag OR 26 Nosler over
the 6.5 Creed and smaller cases.

I like SPEED and I only have to make me happy. Efficiency is not that important to me. Efficiency comes at a cost TOO.

Jerry

..........LOL ....Your reaction or comment is sometimes and even always typical anytime a new cartridge with either slightly better or even much better ballistics than the old standbys are introduced. You say why?..... I say why not!!!

After all....Who needs a 375 Ruger when we have had the 375 H & H since 1912? Well? How about 24" or 25" tubed H&H ballistics from a 20" tubed 375 Ruger? Whoops! What a mistake that 375 Ruger was uh? Those creative boys at Hornady and Ruger screwed the pooch with that one. Thousands and thousands of new 375 Ruger rifles have been sold since its intro and a few rifle manufacturers offer it today. But what the hell....LOL Just what was the point?...LOL

Who needs a 338/378 Bee when the venerable 338 Win can be used?

Who needs a 264 Win Mag when the 6.5 Creed can be used?

Who needs any of the the 300 mags when the good ol standby 30-06 can be used?

Forget about the 7mm Rem and 7mm Wby rounds. We have the 280 Rem.

And who needs the 378 and 460 Wbys when we have the 375 H&H and 458 Win.

On and on and on I can go.

Dam those flatter trajectory and down range harder hitting cartridges anyway!!!..LOL

My neighbor just bought a new Challenger Hellcat with 707 HP...Why hell! A std 305 HP 6 cylinder Challenger will still take him anywhere he wants to go????..What was the point of that?

Sounds to me Savage that your hunting conditions and lack of long range talent cannot justify owning a 26 Nosler....And that is ok.

One mans "what's the point" and "junk" cartridge can be the treasure of many others...

Creed vs. Swede, vs. 26 Nos, etc.

Have all three, (no .264 WM).

To me it depends on the task at hand. The faster rounds handle wind better. The Creed, etc. are great LR rounds, especially with a good turret, just not as good in a cross wind.

I don't see a lot of killing difference at closer ranges. Bullet performance rules and of course, bullet placement.

What bigsqueeze said.

DF

savage62 from 02/14/17:

WHAT THE BIG DEAL ON THIS ? WHO IS GOING TO USE IT ON THE WOODS WHERE MOST HUNT CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS. THE 30-06 OR 300 MAG OR 270 30-30 CANT DO ALONG WITH OTHER CALIBRE

This thread is like deja vu all over again.

MEN I UNDERSTAND ALL THIS WHAT I MENT A FEW HUNDARD FEET DOES IT DO THAT MUCH .I HEARD IT 200 FT SLOWER THEN STATED WHICH BRINGS IT CLOSER TO A LOT OF GUNS

Savage62

Not meaning to give you grief but do you realize that, in computer speak, using all caps means you are screaming at us?

No i did not. Never heard of this

savage 62,

Well, your capital letters have convinced me.

I'm selling all my rifles except my custom 8x57 Mauser, since its chambered for the oldest smokeless cartridge of any of the hunting rifles in my collection. All cartridges developed since then are obviously useless redundancies.

Thanks for the followup on the 140 NBT.

But, 3,200 fps is pretty fast, 140's in the .264.

140's at 3,200 fps is about Kosher for the 26 Nos, a bigger case.

Wonder what PSI's you're generating, the .264 at 3,200 fps?

What load are you using?

DF

Hogwash! I know guys that get their plane every year with .243s and 7-08s. I was on a cull hunt where we took down 67 Piper Cubs and nobody had anything larger than a .338 WM with a majority of those being .270s.

I'm sure some stunt shooter is going to chime in with how he killed a deHaviland Beaver with his .233 as well.

It all comes back to the age old argument between caliber/velocity and bullet placement. I believe bullet placement wins every time.

But I will add that a 300 Weatherby is the ONLY rational choice for shooting elk.

I'm using RL25 in my load DF with a 26" 264 Win Mag. Was able to get the same speeds out of IMR7828 and Retumbo with140's pretty easily. I've shot this load for about 5 years outta Nosler cases, CCI250's and the 140 AB/BT. Not saying it's a cream puff load but I'd guess around 64-65K going off speeds chrono'ed and QL listings of it.

It's funny but our own. Wayne Van Zwoll here just mentioned he runs 140 Partitions with 7828 for 3200 as well from his. That was another great shooting load I remembered him writing about in the past so I tried it, but the 25 and 140 BT/AB just shoot exactly the same for me.

Have you tried RL-33? Rcamuglia is a real RL-33 fan and shoots some impressive speeds/groups with his .264 WM.

The Nos with US869 can reach 3,300 with 140's, but burns more powder than the .264.

.264 WM fans seem to like the round. My experience with it wasn't so good; I found it to be fickle.

The 26 Nos has been more straight forward, at lesat for me. The secret is ultra slow powder, US869 being the champ. Pull down WC872 is about a US869 clone, at least in my experience. And, 872 is cheaper than 869.

DF

Not always. Some are better than others. When it starts out with all caps, and dumps on someone else's favorite cartridge that's a good sign though.

DF, I just tried some RL33 about a week or so ago. You're right, speeds were very good. Honestly after running through a bunch of Retumbo, 7828, RL25 and now a little RL33, I'm not sure what I'd try again with a new barrel.

I liked Retumbo but it seemed really "spikey", that's probably a horrible technical term but the accuracy and speed I get from 25 is good and I don't beat up primer pockets so I'm okay with it as it sits right now.

I think if I did another 264 it would be a Mashburn version... just because I'm a nut with this stuff. I do like the 264 the way it sits though.

One more note on the Nos. Some have tried 160's. To me, much over 140 gr, a 6.5 sorta gets bogged down. If I'm gonna shoot 160's, I'm moving up to 7mm.

Just me.

DF

beretz,

I've had two .264's, and in the first one (a pre-'64 Model 70 Westerner, the model with the 26" barrel) Ramshot Magnum was the clear winner with 140's, getting a little over 3200.

The second one was a Ruger Hawkeye with a 24" barrel. Magnum was the winner with 130's, but RL-25 did best with 140's--though top velocities were only around 3100.

You answered your own question.My advice is you need to be a Rifle Looney to comprehend why this cartridge is needed.

It`s obvious that the 264 mag is worthless.You did`nt hit the bullseye once!!!

That's a great point... any takers, I'll start the bidding off at a nickel!

Thanks JB.. Seems I'm not too crazy I guess. Never tried Magnum but heard it was excellent.

beretzs, you and DF have too much fun, here I am reading about the 264 WM [love the pre-64's in that chambering] and 26 Nosler, and looking at a 7x61 S&H, when I should be building a 7MSM. , you guys are messing me up.

Just wanted to weigh in and agree with the OP. Bahh humbug to the 26 Nosler. TOTALLY REDUNDANT ROUND. IM SHOOTING THE 6.5RSAUM AKA 6.5 GAP AND JUST DONT SEE NO REASON TO ABANDON THAT AND GET ANOTHER RIFLE WITH SAME PERFORMANCE. I HOPE THERE IS NEVER A NEW CARTRIDGE, EVER. MAYBE SOMEONE HEAR CAN EXPLAIN WHY.

LOL, caps off I don't understand why new cartridges seem to bother some so much. It's the American way. Would you prefer three or four .gov approved standard rifles...to go along with 3-4 standardized vehicles, maybe 3-4 standard domiciles in which we house ourselves? How about 3-4 meal choices allowed to be served?

Or maybe rifle loonieness is a genetic thing that either afflicts or doesn't, leaving the rest scratching their heads.

Get them all--- No reason denying yourself all that fun

LOL, there it is, all it takes is a bit of paper, ink and time.

And, wifey...

DF

Got clearance papers from her moons ago DF, she informed me early on a man can have MUCH MUCH worse habits that guns, hunting, race cars and harleys.

"It could be worse" is always a good defense. Glad it's working for you...

DF

We need the 26 Nosler because we need it. Not everyone can still drive a Studebaker. That said I don't have one and don't want one and don't need one. I have a 257 WBY, & a Pre64 M70 264.

I like the old stand buy's and if I were to build another rifle it would be a 6.5 X 55. Time has proven it again and again. Where will the 26 Nosler be in 25 or 50 years???

I might not need the 26 Nosler but you might need it and that is why we have it. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Spoken like a true Loony...

DF

Faster because you can. Whats a few extra grains of powder for more speed? No belt what's not to like?

Yeah, [it could be worse] while ducking , She's a good one DF, I get by with A LOT!

I am just glad that everyone agrees that the 6.5-300 Weatherby is completely justified.

Everyone needs one of them also

In the USA if you want it you can probably get it. God Bless America

Damn right GSP!

Guys, I'm still reading about the 26 N and I'm NOT knocking it. I'm simply comparing and considering...

For many years (since the 80s) I've been shooting 139 HBTSP in the 7 RM and using IMR 4350 I'm getting 3300 fps and good case life.

140 6.5 (264)--3200
....................1/2 mm-.020
139 7mm (284)--3300

The BC of the 6.5 will (I think) show up at extended range but I'm wondering how many of us would actually hunt/shoot at ranges long enuff to benefit ?


Jerry

This is good, but wish I were still driving that Studebaker - or two or three of 'em.

Precisely .0214%. Or at least that's the result from 2016. It will soft upward slightly in 2017, unless the weather's unusually breezy, which it may be due to "climate change.

But it will work at shorter ranges too....

Yeah, I'm sure it will work at shorter ranges.

I'm using LESS than 70 grs of powder for more vel (speed). I'm not disappointed.

Jerry

Congratulations! You're a perfect representative of the many hunters who believe muzzle velocity is the only velocity!

Well that's where it starts.

B C determines how well it holds up.

The 7mm 139 BTSP ain't too shabby. It's no VLD but it works for me.

Again I'm not knocking the 26 N.

Jerry

Everyone likes to go fast!