Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting The new 26 Nosler

I think JB is hesitant to work up a load using a powder than may not be around over the long haul and with which pressure testing may never be done. In his position, he has to be extra cautious.

I talked to Jeff Bartlett who sells pull down .50 BMG and 20mm Vulcan powders. He said the burn rate differences between the Vulcan powders are pretty subtle, each one tweaked for specific projectiles. If I understood him correctly, WC-872 is still being made, two of the Vulcan series have been discontinued (replaced).

I would like to try WC-872 with 140-150 gr. bullets. I think your comparative .264 WM WC-872/US-869 data may be a place to start, as we have hard 26 Nolser, pressure tested data for US-869 and can use it as a reference for WC-872.

I would like to try the Matrix 142 VLD and their new 150 VLD when they get it on the market. WC-872 may work well with heavier bullets.

It's gonna get interesting...

DF

According to Jeff, WC-870 and WC-875 were the two discontinued Vulcan powders, evidently replaced by others.

WC-872 is a current powder.

DF

Any new updates on load developments and how they're working

I don't yet have my gun back from the smith. I'm just collecting data and ideas for when I finally get to try it out.

I'll first have to pillar, glass and free float it in the factory stock.

I bought one of the new 510 Timney triggers on EBay for $107 to my door. It sure looks nice. With the 510, the safety blocks the trigger, so it can't move. On earlier Timney triggers, some claimed different pulls after moving the trigger around while on safety. This design assures the sear contact remains constant, on or off safety. This was never a problem for me, but what the heck. I'm all for progress...

DF

Mine is being built on a defiance action a 26" #4 fluted benchmark barrel and a McMillan hunter edge stock with a timney trigger not sure what scope to use yet but am leaning towards a huskemaw

John Burns has a custom Leupold that he offers, incorporating a lot of the Huskemaw ideas.

At least with Leupold, you have great CS. Not sure about Huskemaw.

That sounds like a very nice set up. My project(s), rebarreling shot out 700 7RM BDL's, aren't nearly that fancy. I am probably going to put my 6500 Elite 2.5-16x42 on my 26 Nosler and get a Kenton Industries turret for the best load. My bud is thinking about a Conquest for his.

I had considered a VX-6 3-18x44 CDS, set up for my best load.

DF

Update:

Just got an email from the smith working on the 26 Nosler projects (two shot out 7RM 700 BDL's). He already had one barrel on an action. He said the SAAMI reamer with min specs will require the 140 gr. Berger VLD dummy round I sent at 3.5" COAL to be at 3.540" COAL to touch the lands. Or, .04" longer than the already overlong round.

With the SAAMI 3.34" COAL factory round specs, it appears to me that Nosler has borrowed from the Roy Weatherby playbook with a .20" freebore (3.34"/3.54").

Sorta surprises me. I told him to proceed with the SAAMI spec. chamber. I may not want to kiss the lands, anyway. The 139 gr. Scenar, seated in the neck like the Berger, will probably touch the lands. Not sure about the 136L, it's pretty sleek like the Berger.

I've ordered 129 gr. and 142 gr. Matrix VLD's to try. I'm going to get their 150 gr. VLD's when available.

I have Magnum powder for the lighter bullets, US-869 for the heavier ones. I'm also going to try WC-872 with the heavies.

BTW, SPS still has blem 26 brass at $55/25, high but cheaper than retail. I picked up a few more rounds at that price while I could.

DF

Forgot to add, with the RUM box mags in place, the max COAL is 3.675".

I didn't ask, but bet we'll have three down.

DF

Both actions have been blueprinted, #3 Shilen SS Match 26" barrels threaded and chambered, Ultra Mag boxes fitted and the 7RM actions tweaked to feed 26 Nosler rounds.

Amazing turn around time, both Shilen and the smith. We should have our barreled actions by late next week. It won't take me long to have them in their stocks, scoped, ready to rock and roll.

DF

Talked to a smith yesterday about the 26 Nosler I am going to have him build and he was telling me that now that they have some experience with the round, they are finding the barrels are only lasting 400-600 rounds before shot out.
They just received a new reamer with different throating geometry that is supposed to raise this to around 1,000 rounds. Time will tell. Should be starting on my rifle sometime in November if all goes well.
I'll be curious to see how yours does and your loading specs. Mine will be a hunting rifle, so I will most likely be using the Nosler 129ABLR and the 140, though I may try the Bergers for work up as the smith says they have had excellent results with them.

http://www.nwactionworks.com/#!barreled-actions/c23j7

Bob

Why not try one of the Darrel Holland Scopes?

http://www.hollandguns.com/

My buddy and I are hunters, not LR target shooters. We'll get plenty of use out of these barrels without shooting them out.

With two identical rifles, mine and his, of course I'll use his for all the load development...

It's only fair. I do the bedding, fixing and loading for both of us, at least for this round. So, my rifle won't have much wear at all...

Not really, just kidding...

DF

Interesting project, for sure. Keep us in the loop.

Yesterday, I received an email from Berger. I asked if they had a 140 Hunting VLD load for the 26 Nosler. They had one, a mild US-869 load, maxed at 3,150 fps. Nosler has a 3,300 fps load with 869 for their 140 AB. The Berger 140, with less bearing surface, should theoretically be a faster bullet than the 140 NAB, or so it would seem.

Then, it dawned on me. They are wanting to keep their 140 Hunting VLD below 3,200 fps. Some .264 WM fire members have cautioned against pushing the Hunting 140 VLD over 3,200 fps, which may be the design ceiling for that bullet.

I sent Berger a follow up email, asking if their Target VLD with its thicker jacket would be a better choice above 3,200 fps. To my surprise, their reply was, if I could safely get the velocity above their 3,150 max (which I can easily to), the Target VLD may be a better choice than the thinner jacketed Hunting VLD. Wonder what the design ceiling of the Target VLD may be?

So, there. You have it from the source.

DF

What's the verdict on the 26 Nosler? Anyone actually shoot one yet?

The short neck.

Someone should come up with a wildcat with the same case capacity, but a long neck.

been there done that, lovin it still doin it,

my wildcat existed before the 26 Nosler came out ....

105 gr h20 case capacity, .347" long neck
100 gr US869 160 gr Matrix VLD 3500 fps

26 Nosler on left
both loaded to 26 Nosler coal with the 160 gr Matrix VLD's .....

the 26 Nosler suffers from case capacity loss due to bullet protruding into powder space, my wildcat has bullet seated to base of neck with zero impact on case capacity offering 100% use of powder space


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pretty much looks like a BADAZZ

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With the 6.5 Creedmore and 140 gr Amax



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Outrageous! What case is that? What's the head diameter?