Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Out of touch: Verdicts on the 26 Nosler cartridge?

Hit "reply" to see a bigger image.

John,

What did you find the recoil of the new 26 to be comparable to?


Bill

I have been handloading for a year and a half and have a question. I got in to it b/c I have a 6.5x55. A 30-06 will push a 150 grain bullet over 3,000 fps. My reloading manuals don't show 6.5-06 velocities with a 140 grain bullet moving as fast as a 150 grain 30-06 bullet. Why is that?

Smaller hole. 270 runs a 150 at about 2,900 if you stand on it.

You know, if I didn't already have a 260, 280 or a 7mmRM, that 26 Nosler would cover pretty much cover all three for the majority of shooting I do. Maybe someone out there looking at getting into the sport with a looney bent might think the same.

Cartridges are like chicks, they come in all different sizes because we all have different tastes. Long live choice.

I appreciate the different companies (Hornady, Marlin, Nosler, Ruger,et al) producing new rifles and cartridges. It keeps things interesting and gives each generation of new hunters more variety to choose from, which, in my mind, is a good thing. I loved it when Remington brought out the first Model 7's, Ruger introduced the American and Compact models, Hornady paired up with several to introduce new cartridges, etc. though many criticized them unduly. I remember Finn Aagaard saying he saw no use for something like the Model 7 with an 18 1/2" barrel and I have heard more negative than positive about the Ruger Compact (which my son has and we both love dearly).

I was one of the ones who drank the .338 RCM Kool-aid a few years ago. For me it seemed like the perfect elk rifle for where I used to hunt. While it ultimately wouldn't do anything my old '06 wouldn't do, it WAS shorter and lighter (making it a real joy to hunt with) which when combined with .338-06 performance I was in love. Sadly, probably more to do with me than anything, I never could get it to group consistently and case life was 3 loadings so it went on down the line and I am still hunting with my '06. Eventhough it didn't work out for me the process was fun and I would do it again. The rifle really was a dream to hunt with and would love to have another in any number of different chamberings.

To me the biggest negative to the "new" is that brass or factory ammo can become nearly impossible to find. If I could've reliably found brass for my RCM I would probably still have it but I was running out of cases to work with and didn't see that changing anytime soon.

For me, the super-hot chamberings have no appeal because my shooting ability doesn't extend beyond 400 yards...and only then in perfect conditions.

16bore,

You might run the numbers on the 129 ABLR at 3400, which is the load the 26 Nosler was designed for. It beats the wind-drift of .270 WSM load you show by about a foot at 800 yards.

Apples to apples, meaning ABLR's across the board and using Brian Litz's .277 BC of .543, the 270wsm would have 21" more drop, 6" more drift at 800. 7mm Mag would have 7" more drop and about an inch less drift with 150 ABLRs.

Assuming all the other BC's hold and Noslers own data (3,240 7RM and 3,150 270WSM) is attainable.

But lets not forget that the difference between 10mph and 15mph with those loads is an additional 20" for the 270 WSM and 18" for the 26 Noz. Meaning a 2" "advantage"

Cause everyone can read wind at 800 yards.

Big shrug on all counts, partly because a .300 Winchester with really heavy bullets beats all of 'em.

But mostly because Nosler went with 6.5 because it's all the rage among those who want to shoot longer ranges and not get beat up doing it. And bullets from the 26 will drift less in the wind than those from any other 6.5.

The recoil of the 26 (which somebody else asked about) feels a little less to me than any of my 7mm magnums except the SAUM. Computer numbers back that up.

As I noted earlier, I don't regard the 26 Nosler as the greatest cartridge ever invented, but also tend to have a more open mind than the average shooter, in either way. I don't regard any cartridge as magic, and I won't reject it without trying it.

One thing I do know is that I really like the .257 Weatherby Magnum with 115-120 grain bullets at 3300+ fps, so thought the 26 Nosler with higher-BC 140's would be worth a try.

Also as noted earlier, I can't comprehend the almost visceral reaction against some cartridges some people have, especially without ever trying them. But hey, one of the great things about the Campfire is that anybody can go on a rant, for whatever reason.

And the great thing about numbers is they don't lie or have a marketing department. Diminishing returns goes over a lot of people's heads.

"Rants" and "facts" look alike.......