Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Popularity of the 26 Nosler and 6.5x300 WBY

I recently wrote Christiansen Arms to inquire if they ever plan on chambering a 26 Nosler or the 6.5x300 WBY in there Mesa Long Range rifle. They said those weren't popular enough to do that, although they do have the 26 Nosler it in their higher priced guns and the 28 Nolser in the Mesa Long Range. Are the two big 6.5s not that popular from what you have seen? I had hoped to get one or the other in the future.

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I may be wrong but the barrel life is going to limit the popularity of both. Both look like awesome long range hunting rounds, maybe the heavy A-tip bullets will help them.

Neither is very popular and neither is ever likely to be so. I looked at the 26 Nosler for a rebarrel I'm doing. While it will fit the (Savage) action, there are just too many negatives when using full-power loads - including short barrel life,

I expect the new 6.5 PRC will eclipse both the 26 Nosler and 6.5-300 Weatherby in sales, and by a wide margin. If I was going for an ultra-long range cartridge it would be the new .300PRC. In my case I'm more interested in hunting out to 600 and targets to about 1200 with a relatively light-weight, low recoil rifle. The 6.5PRC fits that very well (and will reach further). While both the 6.5PRC and .300PRC share the same negative of lack of new rifles, that will change quickly. Brass availability is also a problem for both but that will change as well. For what they do, both are conservative on powder consumption and both offer longer barrel life than cartridge like the 26/28/30 Nosler or Weatherby 6.5-300 or 30-378 cartridges.

Another concern of mine is building a rifle that will get used by other family members and will likely get passed down to one of them. The cost of brass and/or factory ammo is thus a concern. The PRC brass and ammo, while still in short supply, is priced competitively with standard offerings, about $1 each for brass, $40 per box of loaded ammo. The cost of Nosler and Weatherby brass and ammo is 2-3x that.

6.5 PRC may take market share from the two big boys, not sure. Time will tell.

The 6.5-300 Wby and the 26 Nosler are pretty close. I have the Nosler and estimate the barrel will be good for 1,000 to 1,200 rounds.

The PRC should go more, but time will tell on that one, too.

If you use Vulcan pull down powder, esp 872 instead of 869, you can get that powder for $55/5#'s from Jeff Bartlett, www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html.

IME, 869 and 872 perform exactly the same. I can't tell the difference. 869 has been the classic powder for the 26 Nosler, probably one of the best for the Wby, as well.

DF

Brother, the 6.5 PRC will NOT have long barrel life, Neither does the 6.5/284. Accuracy is a relative issue from shooter to shooter. 869 and 872 will give you longer barrel life in the 26 Nosler than conventional powders.

Expecting the same barrel life out of a 6.5/284 and the 26 Nosler is not sound thinking.

If you work up a load, then just verify zero from year to year, life will be good, but seldom does this happen.

It is not just the powder consumption, it is the Mag length vs Cartridge Over all Length that the barrel likes in the accuracy node.

I have been shooting the 7 STW's since 1989, latitude in OaL and mag constrictions are a deal killer.

Good luck!

Use is a key factor.

For the hunter who shoots a good bit working up loads, then uses the rifle mostly for hunting thereafter, barrel life isn't that critical. !,000 rounds is a life time of that kinda shooting.

For target shooters, or for more intensive use, that's different.

DF

I like my 6.5-300 wby, when if I shoot the barrel out, I’ll get another

Yep, my sentiments, too.

They make barrels every day...

DF

yep its hard to give up the speed and power in hunting rifle. my rifle may be a little less powerful but certainly is faster a 257 Weatherby Mag. .and i am with you guys when my barrel wears out i will still be shootin the same thing. i still might build a 26 Nosler ,for the last 30 years i wanted to build a 6.5 -300 Weatherby Mag. both are excellent cartridges.

26 Nolser and 6.5-300 Wby are pretty close.

To me, the choice would be brass, cost and quality, etc.

And, maybe the specific gun if I was buying rather than building. A deal is a deal...

DF

i have plenty 300 Weatherby brass but i kinda like the 26 Nosler because it does not have that mag rim on the case.

That's my feeling as well, is why my choice for a build was the Nosler.

But, if I had come up on a great deal for the Wby, don't think I'd have blinked.

DF

if i built a 6.5 mag. i would wanna use a Ruger #1 again its a great strong action. did you know Federal Cartridge uses Ruger #1 actions to test many cartridges ?

This is an interesting conversation on another site.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/new-build-for-1500-1760-yards-what-cartridge.3980810/

pete, Remington Bolt heads will stand 150,000 PSI, something that a lot of custom actions will not come close to.

Mines a rem 700, rem sporter contour 26” broughton 8”.

Judman, when you find a cartridge that does it all for you, get a reamer of your design, buy up a flock of brass, then call i "set for life". I did this on the 7 STW which duplicates the 28 Nosler ballistics, but I have great Winchester brass.

As I get older, I hate the recoil. 6.5x47 Lapua is a magnificant case in accuracy and OaL for magazines, not to mention barrel life.

These big magnums leade you down the path of becoming an expert in getting carbon out of a barrel, the copper is easy. You have no clue if you don't own a bore scope, Lyman's are $200ish...best money you can spend. Fire cracking at 400 rounds make you start planning on buying a couple of barrel blanks as funds allow.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/13344324/1

I avoid the weatherby free bore like the plague.No matter the caliber...
When the rifling starts a half a inch down the barrel .. Its like buying a pre-shot out rifle..

Short throat a weatherby reamer and hand load for it.
Thats fine.
Shoot factory ammo in a Short throated weatherby rifle.
And you have the very definition of a bomb.
I pass.
dave

There are others with shorter freebore, i.e. .240 and 416.

With a long free bore round, chambering it non SAAMI with shorter free bore, a future owner, not knowing what he has, could get into some pressure issues with factory ammo. Wby factory ammo is loaded pretty hot for SAAMI free bore chambers.

If I was going to do that, I'd have the smith stamp custom (non SAAMI) specs. on the barrel.

A simple CYA precaution for you and future owners..

DF

[quote=keith
pete, Remington Bolt heads will stand 150,000 PSI, something that a lot of custom actions will not come close to.

yes Remington makes nice rifles, i just like Ruger # 1`s better for deer hunting > in my book the Ruger #1`s are in a class all by themselves and you only get or need 1 shot !