Doesn't sound like the 26 Nosler is much different in terms of performancethan the 6.5x63 Messner that was based on the 9.3x64 case.

Probably not. The principal difference is the 26 Nosler and the 6.5x63 Messer is that the Nosler is available in a brass footprint readily available in the USA whereas the Messer is not. Nothing more nothing less...

I do believe however that Nosler is handicapping the 26 Nosler by designing it with a 129gr LR bullet whereas it would really shine with an LR hunting bullet in the 140gr-150gr weight then it'd truly be in the ballistic footprint of the 270 and 7mm Weatherby Magnums while eliminating most of its overbore capacity identifiable with the 129gr LR bullet.

Just my thinking on the subject...

I wouldn't sell it short quite yet. The 6.5 Weatherby is used a lot in 1000 yard shoots and is very popular with dedicated sheep hunters. You can take your foot off the throttle a little with it to tame it but the speed is there if you want it. By loading I can turn a 26 Nosler into a 6.5x55 but not vice versa.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I wouldn't sell it short quite yet. The 6.5 Weatherby is used a lot in 1000 yard shoots and is very popular with dedicated sheep hunters. You can take your foot off the throttle a little with it to tame it but the speed is there if you want it. By loading I can turn a 26 Nosler into a 6.5x55 but not vice versa.

Very true...

I think it might be a bit early to say there is no interest in this cartridge.
Doubt I will get one as I have a 257 WBY and 7MM Rem nag so not needed in my case.
But there might be quite a few rifle cranks that want one.

It may take off, but there are so many other 6.5s to fill the bill.

I think the 6.5 has slowly been gaining a foothold in the US. I bought my first, a pristine M96 6.5 Swede for $125 at a gunshot in the early 90s. I bought it based on Finn Aagard's articles. No one I met at the range had ever heard of it.

These days half the guys I know have one form or other of a 6.5.

Problem with the 26 Nosler is it already has competition from the National Rifle of Texas, the 7mm Mag. They'll have to promote the heck out of it to make inroads into that club. I shoot 6.5s for accuracy and low recoil. A 26 Nosler with a huge case and lots of muzzle blast gets away from the reason I like the 6.5s.

It'd make a hell of a "speed goat" gun, however.

A7D,

I hunted back in the mid-70s with a guy using a 7mm RemMag with 26" barrel. I used a 264 WinMag with a 24" barrel. Perhaps I had a hearing issue back them 'cause I didn't notice any difference in muzzle blast or report between the two; he didn't either. I must say we were verifying our sighting in the open desert at an old military range and neither of use were using hearing protection.

I doubt the 26 Nosler loaded with proper burning powder will be any louder, likely less so, than the .257 STW or the .264 STW (aka: 6.5mm STW) and I'm not even considering any of the full-length 404 Jeffery, RUM, or Lapua based wildcats in the .257 a .284 caliber range.

Speed-goat, yes it should be very good in that area, but loaded with proper weight bullet it'll be great for mule deer in the open spaces of the Western states and will make as good an all-a rounder as the 270 WeathMag, or either of the 7mm RemMag/7mm WeathMag cartridges. And since I don't hunt at 500yds+ I don't need one of the full-length STW or RUM cartridges.

Oops forgot, yes the .264 caliber is catching on in popularity and perhaps in the not to distant future will have as many or perhaps more offerings than the .308 caliber.

Just my perception...

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
It strikes me as another answer to an un-asked question.

I agree. It seems we have a lot of carts like that now.

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
It strikes me as another answer to an un-asked question.

I agree. It seems we have a lot of carts like that now.

And we can thank wildcatters for that - 'cause when others are satisfied with factory fodder they're always asking the "what if" questions. And lest we forget, many of our current factory rounds were originally wildcat rounds. Some take, some don't.