Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 26 Nosler with 160 Matrix

Yeah, I guess if a smith is set up for 700's, why tackle an Enfield. Those big action should work great for a big round if you can find a smith that wants to work with them. Not all want to work with Mausers, either.

IIRC, I read something about Swamplord getting head stamped 6.5 Pro brass produced commercially. What's the latest with that?

DF

It may be Norma that he was talking to on that one.

Dirt Farmer did you shoot the 127gr yet?

Not yet.

Got rained out last weekend, will turkey hunt this weekend, off to NW AR the following weekend for Easter with my son and his family.

Plan to have lunch with gunner500 in Heavener, OK Friday on the way up. My wife is currious about meeting someone I've never met for lunch. She doesn't understand Fire stuff...

So, one of these days I'll get around to checking out that load. I have a lot of hope for the 127 LRX at 3,575 fps. But, that's Jetbrooks data.

Will post my results.

DF

Dirtfarmer,

That's smokin'. What is the water capacity of that cartridge?

93 gr. H20.

DF

Thanks, Dirtfarmer.

Checking some numbers.

The 6.5 Pro has 102.9 gr. H2O case capacity vs. 93 gr. for the 26 Nos. That's a 9.9 gr. premium over the 26, or 10.6% more case capacity.

With JB's rule of 4, I can't figure the difference between 140 gr. bullets at 3,300 fps. vs. 3,700 fps. That's 400 fps spread, way more than calculated.

So, the 30" vs. 26" tube, WS2 coating and pressure must be contributing quite a bit.

DF

Well, I am delighted to read these numbers. Fired cases from my son-in-law's 6.5RUMLN hold 109 grains of water! He likes speed so I loaded up several Barnes TTSX 120's. Since I have no idea when mine will be in my hands, I will have to play with his. His barrel is 28" while mine is only 26". They were cut at the same time so comparing velocities should be interesting

I do believe the Norma brass is thicker than the Remington brass. I like to get at least five loads from one case, so I may not get the velocity the 6.5Pro achieves.

SMACK
I don't have any knowledge and experience like you obviously have, but have a question. What difference if any would a gain
twist barrel in say 12 to 8 do? Thanks for your time. Cheers NC

Who makes a gain twist 6.5 tube?

DF


Edited to say I checked on line and several make gain twist, including Bartlein. I would like to hear from those using them and what advantages they're seeing.

102.9 gr h20 case capacity is an estimate by Ammo Guide, actual verified case h20 capacity is right at 105.0 gr ..... (if that makes any difference)

I like the new 26 Nosler case and considered building one but it only shines with 130 - gr bullets as designed .....
and with the lightweight bullets and ultra short neck it's an acetylene torch on the bbl,

I'd push that shoulder down for a longer neck and improve the body a bit to get the case capacity back and throat it for seating heavy long bullets properly in a long action (Rem 700)
speed up the 150 gr and 160 gr Matrix VLD's and cool things happen ....

the Nosler case gets better as you neck it up to the caliber range ..... looks pretty good in 338 , long action length of course , get that bullet out of the case and use that space for a boiler room .....

I'm thinking the 127 LRX at 3,575 fps may be about optimal in the 26. Will need to see how they shoot and clock'em to confirm the data reported by another 26 shooter.

DF

Shot the 26 Nos yesterday.

I loaded 127 LRX's with 91 gr. 869 per another 26 shooter/Fire contributor. He reported 3,575 fps and great groups. My chrono wasn't picking up all data, probably due to sunlight, but seemed pretty consistent with the ones it did read.

The 127 LRX load was clocked at around 3,350 or so, about the same as my 130 NAB and 120 E-Tip loads. Of the three, the E-Tip shot the tightest 400 yd. group, around 3". The others were slightly over 4", still pretty good.

So, right now, the 120 E-Tip is still the champ, and I will continue working this project.

DF

Any new updates???
I plan to shoot mine again next week gonna try to keep it around 3400 with the 127gr lrx's

My latest 26 Nos range session had the 120 TAC-X at 3,450 or so grouping 2"+ at 400 yds, almost half MOA. It edged the 120 E-Tip at around 3" and the 127 LRX, essentially MOA. I loaded some recently acquired 129 ABLR's, but they were over MOA at 400.

Now, that's a limited sampling and more data needs to be accumulated. I was using WC-872 which seems to be about the same as US-869. I get close to the same speed with identical loads, can't tell them apart.

Let us know what you learn.

DF

I just had a full custom 26 nobler built with a 26" rock creek 8 twist.

90 grains of reloader 33
cci primer
140 berger hybrid
MV 3392 fps
ES in the single didgits
2" groups at 600 yards
------------------------------

87 grains of reloader 33
cci primer
160 matrix vld
MV 3281 fps
ES ?
2 1/4" group at 600 yards

just reviving this thread to see where everyone is at.
im currently trying
143gr eld-x
vihtavuori 20n29
Frederal 215m
3200fps
.418" group at 200 yards i think i got lucky (consistently under 1/2 moa)
still want to try some rl33 but its so hard to get in canada
i may just call it a day with the load ive got

I don't think you're gonna like RL-33 as well as Vv 20n29. The 26 thrives on ultra slow, Vulcan type powders, such as 869, 872, etc.

There is a BIG jump in performance, those compared to the usual slow burners like Retumbo, Magnum, Mag Pro, etc. I'm not even impressed with H-50bmg.

I've not tried 20n29, but have had excellent results with 869 and 872, can't tell any difference between those two. Similar charges produce similar velocities and accuracy.

Another good bullet choice is the 120 gr. E-Tip or 120 gr. TTSX, haven't yet tried the GMX. Those shoot half MOA (2" or so at 400 yds.) out of my gun (M700/Shilen #2) at 3,450 fps. MV. Terminal performance on critters is spectacular. I can't tell any terminal performance difference between those loads and 140 gr. NAB's/NPT's at 3,200 fps. Your ELD-X should be similar.

I find the 26 to be very easy to work with as long as I stick with ultra slow powders.

DF

Looks like RL-33 is working for you.

What's your pressure looking like, slick case heads, ejector imprints, etc.?

RL-33, reportedly is sorta like RL-17, smoother pressure curve, less pressure sign. With '17 it is said, once you actually see pressure signs, you're way over.

DF