26 Nosler

[manyletters]

Thoughts on 26 Nosler...worth it?

[marky_mark]

Yep
It’s a supercharged 6.5

[pikergolf]

If you like replacing barrels it is your Huckleberry. Seriously if you plan on shooting it a lot you will be looking at barrels. If you plan on 25 rounds a year it should last a while.

[Dean2]

I have always been a fan of loud and fast, I have also never worried about replacing barrels. That said, there is a point of diminishing returns, and also a point of going backwards fast. The 26 Nosler is a prime example of going backwards fast, same as the 7 RUM (which I own) and the 28 Nosler. Using the RUM as the example, I burn 30 grains more powder, almost 50%, to pick up 200 fps on a 7 Rem Mag. Barrel is good for about 800 rounds, the 7 Rem mag 3500.

With the 26 Nosler you burn 90 grains of powder to get a 130 grain bullet to 3400 fps. Fun, but not very practical and the recoil penalty is substantial. A 6.5 Weatherby RPM will give you 3250 with 65 grains of powder and a 270 will launch a 130 at 3200 with 55 grains. If you want it for the fun factor, sure, but for any real performance difference versus what you give up to get it, not really.

[marky_mark]

I’m pretty sure I was getting over 3400 fps with the 142’s when I had mine
Never should have sold it
It Was a laser beam
Using the high bc bullets is where these shine
If I’m not mistaken a 26 nosler has the same velocity at 400 yards that a 6.5 creedmoor has at the muzzle

[catnthehat]

My son has a 6.5 STW , he figures an 8 pound keg of RL33 should last the life of the barrel. That will last him mant years .
He has lots of other rifles to shoot at the range, this is a hunting rifle only .
Ballistics are crazy but I din't think the 7 STW really gives up much if anything with a 140 grain bullet
Cat

[7magtime]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I have always been a fan of loud and fast, I have also never worried about replacing barrels. That said, there is a point of diminishing returns, and also a point of going backwards fast. The 26 Nosler is a prime example of going backwards fast, same as the 7 RUM (which I own) and the 28 Nosler. Using the RUM as the example, I burn 30 grains more powder, almost 50%, to pick up 200 fps on a 7 Rem Mag. Barrel is good for about 800 rounds, the 7 Rem mag 3500.

With the 26 Nosler you burn 90 grains of powder to get a 130 grain bullet to 3400 fps. Fun, but not very practical and the recoil penalty is substantial. A 6.5 Weatherby RPM will give you 3250 with 65 grains of powder and a 270 will launch a 130 at 3200 with 55 grains. If you want it for the fun factor, sure, but for any real performance difference versus what you give up to get it, not really.

Well said Dean. Exactly why I’ve shot a 7 RemMag for 30 years.
I looked into what extra benefit you’re getting out of the 7STW/7RUM/26 Nosler/28 Nosler when they came out.
I couldn’t justify switching. They’re flatter shooting, better velocity and more energy but the increased recoil, muzzle blast, powder used and decreased barrel life needed to get those gains wasn’t worth it IMO.
I’ve never felt undergunned with the 7 Rem Mag on all Alberta game I’ve taken if I do my part on the shot. And some of those shots were a bit longer on occasion.
Both my kids are now shooting .270 Win’s too which will also take most Alberta game handily if they do their parts on the shot.

My two cents…..

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

My son has a 6.5 STW , he figures an 8 pound keg of RL33 should last the life of the barrel. That will last him mant years .
He has lots of other rifles to shoot at the range, this is a hunting rifle only .
Ballistics are crazy but I din't think the 7 STW really gives up much if anything with a 140 grain bullet
Cat

I have been shooting the 7mmstw since 1990, and I actually considered a 6.5stw, but I just couldn't see any advantage, over the 7mmstw. I now have a 6.5prc, and I find that to be a nice balance of ballistics and barrel life. I actually considered the 6.5 Nosler, before going with the prc.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by 7magtime

Well said Dean. Exactly why I’ve shot a 7 RemMag for 30 years.
I looked into what extra benefit you’re getting out of the 7STW/7RUM/26 Nosler/28 Nosler when they came out.
I couldn’t justify switching. They’re flatter shooting, better velocity and more energy but the increased recoil, muzzle blast, powder used and decreased barrel life needed to get those gains wasn’t worth it IMO.
I’ve never felt undergunned with the 7 Rem Mag on all Alberta game I’ve taken if I do my part on the shot. And some of those shots were a bit longer on occasion.
Both my kids are now shooting .270 Win’s too which will also take most Alberta game handily if they do their parts on the shot.

My two cents…..

Funny though how I never follow my own advice. I have a 7 Rem Mag I have had since I was 17, shot a ton of game, but have had the 7 RUM for about 20 years and take it if I am going long distance hunting. The 7 Rem hasn't been hunting since I got the RUM. I am also having a 338-378 Weatherby built because I had a spare LH Mark V action with the correct bolt face. A 338 Win mag is nearly as fast with a whole lot less powder, noise and recoil, but what the hell, you only live once.