The 26 Nosler Cartridge
Nosler will be introducing a new long range hunting cartridge at SHOT Show next month. The 6.5mm cartridge is named the 26 Nosler and is capable of shooting a 129 grain high-BC bullet at 3400 fps. This gives a Point Blank Range (range of which no adjustments for bullet drop are required to be made) of 0 to 415 yards. At 400 yards it has the muzzle energy of a .260 Remington.
Internet forums are speculating it is based on a necked-down .375 Ruger. The real question is if this cartridge will gain a following or fade away like so many others. This is a niche cartridge for a small subset of the hunting community. A cartridge as hot as this will generate more recoil than the vast majority of casual hunters could tolerate, and nor should they since most game is taken at much closer ranges than the 26 Nosler will be capable of.
The press release …
The 26 Nosler® cartridge was designed to take advantage of the inherently accurate and high B.C. 6.5mm (.264) caliber bullets, and is capable of shooting the Nosler® 129 grain, AccuBond® Long Range™ bullet at a blazing 3400 fps out of the muzzle. Zeroed at 350 yards, the 26 Nosler® has a Point Blank Range of 0-415 yards. Loaded with the 129gr ABLR, the 26 Nosler® retains as much velocity at 400 yards as the 260 Remington® produces at the muzzle.
The 26 Nosler® case is non-belted, thus headspaced off of the shoulder to further enhance accuracy. The “26” also utilizes a standard (30-06) length action meaning shorter bolt-throw and lighter weight than magnum length actions.
“I really feel the 26 Nosler® has great value amongst the large family of 6.5mm cartridges. With minimal recoil, tremendous velocity, energy and the ability to point and shoot at the intended target up to a quarter mile away, this is the quintessential deer, antelope and long-range target cartridge available on the market today.” –Bob Nosler, CEO/President Nosler, Inc.
The 26 Nosler® is a new and unique cartridge that was submitted to SAAMI® in June, 2013. The formal launch will take place at the 2014 SHOT Show where more exciting news will be released regarding this cartridge. Additional announcements will include Nosler’s new platform rifle, in addition to exciting new bullet, brass and ammunition offerings.
Thanks to Joe for the tip.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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I am going to jump on the band wagon and have my 264 rechambered. I have been messing with it for a year and still can not get it to shoot an inch consistantly. I have a 300 UM that will shoot rings around it. I am thinking that getting rid of the belt might make the difference. I found that to be true with the RUM so it makes cense it would work with the 26. I went through 3, 300 winnys before the ultra and will never go back. Besides i have about 300, 375 ruger cases to use. I have double checked the measurements and they fall in line with the necked down ruger. Just for info Redding is already in the works for available dies. Oh, yes i jumped on the 375 ruger before any left handed ruger models came out and have not regretted it one bit. It also is a great cartidge.
Dustin Lowe
I have bought my barrel an can not wait tell my brass gets in
As far as throat erosion goes keep the bullet off the lands an clean 10 00 rounds no problem my 264 win mag was doing great till I put the Berger bullets .001 into lands after that .030 gone in 250 rounds