What smiths are now chambering the 26 Nosler?

Or, who has the reamer without having to rent one?

DF

Give Nathan a call at Hillbilly Rifles

http://www.hbrifles.com/nathans-blog/30

I just got off the phone with PanNor today and they are building finished barrels in that caliber. They will do the whole shebang for you if you send them your barreled action including truing and blueprinting the action (which they insist upon) and will not only get it RIGHT, but if it is not right or shooting like it should, everyone knows who messed up and it goes right back to them. No finger pointing between them and the gunsmith who may or may not have got everything straigtht and true etc. That is the route I would go, and probably will someday.

Montana Rifle Co. is making .26 Nosler in the ASR lineup.

http://montanarifleco.com/?page_id=149

Mark,

Sounds good. Did you get a price on the fitting/action truing?

DF

Super match SS blank ....$310
Fitting and chambering...$300 (includes lapping and truing of action)

price list is here.... http://pac-nor.com/pricelist/

Thanks, I just got the $610 total price from Dan Wynne at PacNor.

By the time I go thru a smith who has to rent a reamer, even with good pricing, it gets pretty close to the turn key PacNor deal.

Hart wants $700.

DF

I will go on record and predict great happiness betwixt you and a Pacn Nor finished barrel.

If I had not JUST finished a trade to get back my stunning gorgeous and FAST Len Brownell original, tapered octagon barrel and all the other goodies rifle in 7mm Mashburn Super, I would probably be all about building a 26 Nosler on a Mauser action with a Pac Nor barrel myself.

But you still end up with a Pac-Nor

I've never gotten a bad barrel from them. I'm on my 8th or 9th.

Buy a Nosler Patriot. They use PacNor barrels. You won't be sorry with the fit and finish. You can find them on GB for $1299. I called Nosler in Friday, and their customer service us second to none..top rate.
I just bought a 6.5x284. Rifle Basix trigger, SS Pacnor Barrel. Stock is beautifully bedded. Hell what's not to like?

That's a great looking rifle. Congrats. Great cartridge as well.

How long is the mag box on that rifle?

Approx 3.350.

Jim,

I know you like Shilen and so do I. The ones you've done for me are stellar performers. But, like most folks, your loyal customer included, I'm looking around, seeing what's out there.

I haven't pulled the trigger on any option at this time, am still thinking seriouisly about well fitted Shilen tubes...

DF

Is the brass still stupid expensive?

Yep.

I saw 25 cases for $55 on the SPS blem list. Retail is $68 or so, IIRC.

DF

That, would be a real downside right now. Makes me glad I am sticking with my 7mm Mashburn Super for a while. 300 Win Mag case (which I have a BIG pile of) through the neck sizing die and VOILA I have useable big cases. No can pay $2.00 each + for cases!

But like most new things, as popularity climbs the prices will come down to earth.

Dies aren't too bad, a barrel is a barrel, bullets and other components are pretty straight forward. It's just the brass. Guess I can live with that, just won't have a bunch of brass lying around.

DF

I have. Three and they would not stand behind them. Two had loose spots in the bore.

A lot depends on service from the barrel maker. That's a good case for working with a trusted smith and going with his recommendations on which barrel maker to use. Seems to me a maker would be more responsive to a smith who buys a number of barrels each year.

DF

Tis what I'd do as well.

I see three bullet possibilities.

Of course the Nosler 129 gr. LRAB with .561 B.C.

The Barnes 130 gr. LRX with a .468 B.C.

And the Swift 130 gr. SSII with a .571 B.C.

One of those should do the trick, right accuracy and right expansion or lack there of for the critter being hunted.

One post on line said Nosler recommended 1,300 to 3,200 fps as the optimal window for the LRAB. Reportedly Nosler now has that window from 1,300 fps to "unlimited". Guess they had to move that 3,200 cap up a bit to accommodate 3,400 fps for the 26 Nosler.

DF

www.weaverrifles.com had a Sako l61R 26 Nosler for sale on his site. It's not on his list of reamers, but I don't know when that was last updated. Might give him a a call if you're still looking.

I saw a bax just so marked in the fun store that I had my old MAshburn Super sent to now that it is MINE again. Hoping for an accubond or Barnes LRX in about the 130-145 weight range.

I'm looking at three bullets for the 26 Nosler.

One is the 129 Nosler LRAB, the bullet this gun was built around. If it's too friable at 3,300+ fps, then I want to try the Barnes 130 gr. LRX and the Swift 130 gr. SSII.

The LRAB B.C. is .561, the SSII, is .571. The Barnes is a bit less at .468 but has some great reviews on the MidwayUSA web site for accuracy and terminal ballistics. SSII's can sometimes be hard to find the magic COAL, load combo for optimal groups, but should be a tougher bullet than the LRAB.

Should be an interesting exercise.

DF

If you're really going to get into this, you need a copy of Bryan Litz's APPLIED BALLISTICS FOR LONG-RANGE HUNTING, partly because it includes actual range-tested BC's for a number of bullets. The Swift's BC tested at a little under .500, while the ABLR's is spot-on.

Litz published some test results from the ABLR's on the Hide. Some were spot on, others less so...

http://forum.snipershide.com/range-...ler-lr-accubonds-bc-testing-results.html

That's a bit heavy reading for me...

I'm not into all that stuff, just want a good LR load. So, I'll probably depend on the experiences of others and some testing on my own to find what's OK for me.

DF

In that case you might as well just ask Stick.

Now, that's a great idea.

Never crossed my mind.

Would need a Leupold 6x42 with M1 turret and a Jolly Roger stencil for the stock...

DF

Don't forget the 139gr scenar...I've pushed that one close to 3200fps in testing loads in a couple different 6.5 SAUM's, and it held up well, and killed well. Maybe not the highest BC .264 bullet, but one of the most accurate, and dependable.

That was through a Bartlein 1-8.7". Stable even at 10,000', and at negative 35*F.

The 26 Nosler I'm planning will be 8 twist. I do like the 139 Scenar. I have a couple of boxes and it is the go to load for my 6.5x55 Shilen/98 FN Mauser.

You've shot it at 3,200 fps. I hope it holds up at 3,300+.

The 105 gr. 6mm Scenars you sent me wouldn't stabilize in a 10 twist .240. The 90 gr. Scenar at 3,300 fps shot sub half inch, but was way too friable and turned a WT chest into soup, even got into the diaphragm with a few grains of corn floating in the goop.

DF

26 Nosler brass is super expensive, guess I'll have to take back all the derogatory things I've said about the cost of Wby. brass. And considering the trouble I went to, forming .240 brass out of .25-06 cases. And, I'm now paying even more than Wby. prices for 26 Nosler brass.

I picked up some blem 26 Nosler cases, $55 per 25 on SPS. They have a few more available, if you think $2+ per case is a bargain...

I also picked up a box of 26 Nosler Custom Ammo with 120 gr. E-Tip bullets. I can't find any ballistic info. on that ammo. The 120 gr. load must be pretty new. Blem cost, $55 a box, listed for $85, otherwise.

With the cost of cases, blem priced ammo makes sense.

Getting ready.

DF

I can find no ballistic info on the new 120 gr. E-Tip, 26 Nosler Custom Ammo. The bullet has a .497 B.C. and I've sent Nosler an email, asking about the velocity.

DF

Hot off the press, just got a call from Nosler. The new 120 gr. E-Tip, 26 Nosler Custom Ammo is rated at 3,450 fps. Loading data not yet available.

I'm going to compare this round with 129 LRAB and 140 NAB ammo, using the Hornady ballistic calculator. Probably won't be that much difference, lower B.C., higher velocity. Could be a wash.

With their access to special powder blends, sometimes it's hard to duplicate factory loaded velocities using canister powders available to reloaders.

DF

I wonder how heavy of a bullet I willl have to go in my 7mm Mashburn Super to get the same BC? I have some 140gr Accubombs on hand, will have to look and see what the BC is on them. If I get those up to 3500fps, and the BC is really close, I will have my poor mans 26 Nosler, sort of.

Keep the reports coming! I am totally enthralled with this cartridge and your project.

Will pick up the shot out 7RM/700 tomorrow. It's a very nice older BDL and should work great. The smith says Shilen SS Match barrels have around 4-5 weeks turnaround and he can do his stuff pretty quick.

I'm going with a #3 contour at 24". I'll pillar, glass and free float. Hopefully the older 700 trigger can be fine tuned without needing an aftermarket Timney. The stock is good enough to use as is.

I would like to have a VX-6 3-18x44 CDS and will have some time to shop for one. Best price so far is around a grand on EBay. I really like my 2-12 and the 3-18 with parallax adjustment should be nice for a LR rig.

DF

Hi Pat,

Sorry I missed this post--was involved somewhat in elk hunting too, though not nearly as, uh, LARGE as yours. My wife got picked for an early-season ranch damage cow hunt, so we have been busy off and on in collecting a "heifer" and getting the meat in the freezer.

I just happen to have a bunch of 139 6.5 Scenars on hand, and will run them through the 26 and see what happens. I'm going to buy it from Nosler, partly just to see how long the barrel lasts, since as we all know barrels are like bullets: You use 'em up and replace 'em!

John,

Glad to hear you're buying the 26 Nosler and will be working with it. I will await your 139 Scenar results, as I have a couple of boxes and like them a lot.

The 120 E-Tip factory load at 3,450 looks interesting. I got the last box (blem) from SPS, so all I need now is a 26 barrel on my 700 7RM rifle.

DF

I got my brass today. Looks good.

I checked COAL with different bullets. With just the boattail protruding into the case body, full bullet shank/neck contact, the COAL with a 140 gr. VLD will be around 3.5". If one goes with the factory COAL, the bullet will protrude well into the case body.

The donor 7RM Rem 700 box is a full 3.6" magnum length, not the typical std. mag. box length of 3.4". I'm wondering if I can have this round chambered for a COAL of 3.5" with the 140 VLD and not the factory spec. of 3.34"? There would be less compression of some powder charges with heavier bullets and a bit more case capacity.

I'll have to discuss this with the smith.

DF