Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 33 Nosler

Probably "better" enough to need a brake!

I know the dimensions are not identical, but it seems to me that it has taken the gun industry 100 years to catch up to Charles Newtons imagination....... He listed a 33 newton which is almost the same as this 33 nosler.............

I'm not impressed with the .33 Nosler.

It shoots a bullet weighing only 25 grains more than a plain old .300 Weatherby, but 35 fps slower than the Weatherby, and with a slightly worse ballistic coefficient. Does anyone believe that a slightly slower bullet, weighing only about half as much as a .22 long rifle bullet more, would be even noticeable?

One would think that they could have made more of an improvement in the last 72 years.

338Rules,

Nosler isn't trying to compete in a big way with the .338 Winchester Magnum. Instead they're introducing cartridges that work in their rifle action, with an emphasis on ammo, handloading brass, and rifles that are a step up in quality from the basic mass-produced rifles and ammo offered by major companies.

This has always been a viable "marketing strategy." Charles Newton did it, unfortunately starting just before World War One, which ruined his chances. Roy Weatherby used it to start his company in the 1940's, though his products became more standardized in the 1950's.

But it's become more common in the past couple of decades, due to newer manufacturing techniques that make producing "proprietary" actions less expensive. There are a bunch of shooters who desire rifles and ammo a cut above average factory products, but don't want to invest the time and hassle of putting together a custom rifle, or even handloading. They're willing to pay the price for more expensive out-of-the-box rifles with many custom features, and high-performance factory ammo.

As a result, I doubt whether Nosler is concerned about some of the stuff rifle loonies will endlessly discuss, such as whether the 33 offers "new" ballistics, or whether rechambering a .338 Winchester Magnum factory rifle would be easier if the 33 case had slightly different dimensions. Instead they're offering an upscale "package" for a specific market. They want their rifles and ammo to sell well, but they're not looking to directly compete with Remington, Ruger and Winchester.

As Elmer Keith asked way back at a meeting introducing the 8mm Remington Mag to industry gun writers, "what the h--- is it good for"? My rendition of his comment, "why"?

As John put it, there is nothing new ballistically here (how could there be?), just a new concept product

Newton was way ahead of the game and his time....

I'm not impressed with the .33 Nosler.

It shoots a bullet weighing only 25 grains more than a plain old .300 Weatherby, but 35 fps slower than the Weatherby, and with a slightly worse ballistic coefficient. Does anyone believe that a slightly slower bullet, weighing only about half as much as a .22 long rifle bullet more, would be even noticeable?

One would think that they could have made more of an improvement in the last 72 years.

It's the case being shorter for better bullets. I'm sure you still don't get it though.

It's the case being shorter for better bullets. I'm sure you still don't get it though.

His .256 had a standard twist of 1 in 10",
and a bunch of taper ( .418" at the shoulder )

Why Not ?

It fits in the 3.34" magazine of Noslers M48 etc., and doesn't have the dread belt affliction.

My only sad, is that making the neck geometry work wrt the ogive of the LR AccuBonds, put the Neck Shoulder junction closer to the bolt face than with the .338 Win.

Who cares ? Loonie Me , That's who!

I just wanted to re-chamber an M70 EW w/ 26" barrel, work up loads, and start trimming back the barrel by a couple centmetres at a time until it is 23.5" , or I am deaf, flinched, and shoulder dislocated.

Re-Barrelling on the other hand allows me to get the 33 Nosler throat specs, and start even longer ! :-)

I see you've mentioned the belt on the 338 win mag a couple times in this thread. Why is this even a concern? The 33 is better than the win mag because it has no belt?? You are really grasping at straws here..