I am thinking of having one made. Has anyone had PERSONAL experience with the cartridge? Factory ballistics appear to be very conservative, according to some reviews, and the reverse with others. Thanks

No personal experience, but for a practical standpoint I would rather go with the 6.5x284. Really its about brass. With the 6.5x284 you will have more and better sources for brass.

I'm thinking along the same lines. Just can't see needing one though as my old 264 is shooting just fine.

I have no personal experience and don't plan on getting any. As difficult as it is to use case capacity of a 264Wmag I can see no reason to add capacity. The 6.5STW makes no sense to me and the 26 Nosler is in the same bucket.

6.5x284 if great I've never been hot of the rim. (that is just me) I prefer the 6.5-06. Or at most a long barrel 264.

I have no experience with the new Nosler cartridge and don't plan on it.
I view the cartridge as wastefully over capacity for the bore.
In my opinion when you go beyond the .284 or 30/06 capacity with the .264 diameter you have reached the point of diminishing returns.
I personally don't want to waste the powder for the fps gained over 6.5/06, 6.5-284, or .264 Win Mag.
I think the 26 Nos will be a barrel burner of epic proportions.

Still waiting for someone who is not deterred by this overbore, barrel burning, silly, un-needed, awful cartridge to actually provide ballistics in person.

Ammo Guide has some actual load result postings.
For the 26Nosler in a 26" barrel

140gr Noslers 89gr 869 for 3247fps
75.5 or H1000 140 swift 3281fps
120 75gr 4831 for 3339


Looking at 26" 264wmag
140grs 3050-3163fps using 10-15gr less powder

130gr 3200-3269 with 65-70 grs of powder.

So maybe 100-150fps over the 264wmag.

quote:

Originally posted by emron:
Still waiting for someone who is not deterred by this overbore, barrel burning, silly, un-needed, awful cartridge to actually provide ballistics in person.

Good luck finding that person.

I recently shipped two Rem 700 actioned rifles to a fellow in LA, he says he likes them. Maybe he will chime in here.

The current issue of Rifle Magazine has an article on it.
joe

Nosler max. load data(26" barrel) shows 140gn at 3303mv.

The rifle G&A tested, averaged 140gn @ 3425mv

quote:

The rifle G&A tested, averaged 140gn @ 3425mv

It seems like everyone wants to be sniper anymore. No one wants to get more then 10 feet away from their truck to that a shot. If that's the case, you need a 260 Nosler. I have no problem with that but don't call it hunting.

I just take hunting as it comes, I adapt to situations and like cartridges that better assist me in doing so.
Ive been in territory where game can be 15 yd away in foliage,
and where just 15min xtra walking puts you in wide open plain zero cover terrain,
where game is at 400yd!

Having said that, Id prefer .264win or 7mmWBY to the .26 Nosler.

quote:

The rifle G&A tested, averaged 140gn @ 3425mv

quote:

at 400yd!

How many people can shoot that far? It's sniper territory. a 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, 300 Win Mag can all make that shot. What makes the 260 Nosler so special? I don't care how fast and flat it shoots, it's not a lazer beam.

I see people who can't drive 600HP muscle cars, That don't stop them still wanting 800hp and 1000hp muscle cars,
...probably cause it makes them feel special...Same with wanting 'faster' hotrod guns I guess ..

quote:

Originally posted by Trax:
I see people who can't drive 600HP muscle cars, That don't stop them still wanting 800hp and 1000hhp muscle cars,
...probably cause it makes them feel special...Same with guns I guess ..

That's not my point, if you want one go for it. It's not a magic cartridge.

I don't think Nosler is using magic as the lure to market the .26,
Id say it more about capitalising on/exploiting peoples egos...and maybe their boredom.

The hardest the 'magnum bug' has ever bit me, is the Weatherby range,
and I think I'm still due a .240WBY...

The thing thats hardest is not estimating drop, but the drift at longer ranges.

Compare the Drift and Time of Flight of .30/06 180gn 2750mv (vs) .26 Nosler 140gn 3400mv.

quote:

Id say it more about capitalising on/exploiting peoples egos...and maybe their boredom.

I think you're right.

Drift and Flight time? A lot more game has been killed with black powder guns, bows and arrows, and spears than all the smokeless cartridge guns. They knew drift and flight time without a computer.

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
Drift and Flight time?

yes, DRIFT.
Drop remains rather constant for a hunting bullet, drift however, can vary quite a bit.

If you want to use rocks spears or arrows Im not stopping you.
However modern cartridges give modern convenience,
even just a plain .30/30 or 308win is a 'laser' compared to an arrows trajecory.

JUst depends how flat one wants their hunting projectile trajectory to be.
If your happy with what a bow or .30/06 offers in drift & trajectory, then your easy pleased.
Of course strictly dedicated bow hunters might think your being extreme by using such a 'flat shooting' .30/06
as compared to the curved trajectory of their arrows.
and of course dedicated .30/06 users might themselves think that a 'flat shooting' .26 Nosler is being extreme.

Some here can appreciate new technology. Many unfortunately refuse to accept that there has been advances since 1906.
You don't need to be a trained sniper to make clean killing shots at 400 yards.

QUOTE]That's not my point, if you want one go for it. It's not a magic cartridge.[/QUOTE]

I've been using an old Winchester in 264 since I graduated High School - and that's been a good while. Maybe the cartridge isn't magic but the rifle sure as hell is. The 26 is something new and looks good on paper. Will I replace my old with the new and take a chance on losing the magic? DON'T THINK SO!

quote:

Some here can appreciate new technology.

Larger case is new technology? Capacity wise the 26 is basically the came capacity as the 6.5STW or the 6.5-300wby. If you don't want a belt fine there is the Scramjet.

Over my 50 years of hunting I've seen a lot of misses at long range. more often than not it isn't from drop. Get a range finder drop shouldn't be an issue if you know where you what you are doing.

I see the 26 as just the new 7STW on the block. Hey it has more capacity it shoot so flat you don't need to know your range and anyone can now shoot to 6-700yds. No sweat. The BC on 7mm bullets is just as good if not better than the 6.5. For the most part the STW ship has sailed.

I see the 26 coming and going the same way. But heck if my vision was that good I would have left the stock market in 2007

Belted non belted so what. Never had a belt cause an issue of any kind I can remember.

As to published velocities for the 26. I find them optimistic. I had at least 3 7STWs I worked loads up on and never could reach the velocities Simpson posted without serious pressure.

Buy what you want,(it was boring where I grew up 30-06 or 30-30 was all the store carried) believe what you want. People on here will have different opinions. Different from your own. Doesn't necessarily mean they are wrong.

I'm sure the chemical companies have been working on slower burn rates and longer pressure curves to take advantage of more overbore cases.

For the hunter is the only relevant place I see this cartridge. It will smoke barrels quickly, but if you shoot 100 shots a year and practice with another gun, this could make a 600 yard hunting shot much more practical than with a 308, 30-06, etc, I'd venture to guess even a 300 Win Mag.

300 Win Mag, 208 Amax at 2900 fps:

300 yard drop: 11.2"
300 yard drift (10mph): 4.5"

600 yard drop: 72.5"
600 yard drift (10mph): 19.7"

26 Nosler, 140 Berger at 3400 fps:

300 yard drop: 7.3"
300 yard drift (10mph): 3.6"

600 yard drop: 49.9"
600 yard drift (10mph): 15.8"

Tyler that data needs the zero yds to really mean anything.

I'm still trying to become proficient with the .264 Win Mag.....hell the .270 Win can shoot almost as far as I can.....Nosler is a fine bunch of folks....but this creation is for folks other than me.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
(it was boring where I grew up 30-06 or 30-30 was all the store carried)

Same here and still remember a lot of good natured campfire arguments between the two sides.

The 26 Nosler a great marketing tool to sell a few rifles and bullets. It reminds me of the old bait shop story. A guy walks in a bait shop and see's a lure that everybody is buying, he asks the bait shop owner "Do these catch a lot of fish?" The bait shop owner replies " I really don't know, they catch a lot of fishermen though."

I use a .264WM and love it. It does what a lot of the bigger magnums do with a lot less recoil. I probably will never buy a .26N but I wish Nosler nothing but success with thier new cartridge.

Terry

I guess its all fine with me Nosler has created a new round. However I am more pleased that Nosler has made their Accubond Longrange bullets. I would say their 150grain .277cal bullets has really made the .270Wea shine that the .26Nosler in comparison does not offer any advantage.

I was waiting for someone to answer the original posters question. Well, guess not.

Sorry emron.

As with any new round don't buy if you don't like or want it.

If I would find a free market gun in that caliber at the right price I would buy it.

A set of dies and 500 rounds of brass and go kill things with it.

Well, my personal experience with the .26 Nosler is that I ordered one in March, and it still has not been delivered.

If it is that moribund, I would have thought Nosler would have gotten it to me already.

I brought it for shooting speed goats and maybe long range at mountain game, it should work for that, if I ever get it...

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
I was waiting for someone to answer the original posters question. Well, guess not.

Sorry emron.

The only review I heard was from John Barsness in American Rifleman.

http://www.americanrifleman.or...esting-the-nosler-26

If the article isn't enough, he hangs out on 24Hourcampfire as Mule Deer and is always answering peoples questions. You may want to post this question there.

Scott, that's more what I was looking for. THANKS!

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
I recently shipped two Rem 700 actioned rifles to a fellow in LA, he says he likes them. Maybe he will chime in here.

He like them for the same reason Nosler likes them, Money! I think it's a dud
Getting back to reality, every so often the gun people have to come up with something new to boost sales. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Stepchild

And what's wrong with boosting sales? A healthy gun industry is good for all of us.

quote:

And what's wrong with boosting sales?

Hey I'm all for boosting sales. But there is more of a benefit to the shooter if what is being sold really brings something to the table.

For the OP's original question

This past weekend I guided a hunter for an Addax (about the size of a smaller cow elk). He was using Berger hybrids in 140 gr I believe. He shot his Addax at 150 yards. The animal humped up, walked about 10 feet and fell. End of discussion.
Neither of us noticed whether or not there was an exit with the Berger.

Another hunter was using a 7 STW and had complete pass through with the Accubond. Addax was DRT at about 100 yards.

In my recently received Sports Afield, Dianna Rupp used one on her Ibex. Maybe she'll chime in.

We've done this before, a long time ago, 6.5x68 Schuler