26 nosler loads?

[Shawn15]

anyone reloading a 26 nosler with 140 Berger vld?

 

[q2hunter]

Just got my dad a 26 Nosler from Montana Rifle. Only put 50 rounds through it so far, and Im attempting to build a load with 129gr LR Accubonds for him to hunt with. After barrel break in procedure, I've seen some promise with the 129s and RL25. Shot a 5 shot 1" group yesterday, with a mild load of 75gr at 3,275. Pushed it up to 75.5 and 76 and it didn't like that as well. So going to work around that 75 and play with seating a bit before moving to probably Retumbo.

 

[hogpatrol]

anyone reloading a 26 nosler with 140 Berger vld?

Reloder 33 is my go to powder for 130 and 140 VLDs. Try and get a good load with as few a rounds as possible. I have two of these and this caliber eats throats.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Never will understand the appeal of the big 'over-bore' cartridges. I mean 75gr of powder to get a 129gr bullet moving only 3275???

I know I probably sound like an ass to you fellas right now, but honestly, what is the appeal of these big inefficient overbore catridges? I know they CAN go faster than most other smaller cartridges at their upper limits when you throw enough powder at em. But at what cost?

I see the Nosler case having a lot of potential, but not in a 6.5mm. The 28 Nosler is the smallest caliber I would go with that case. The 30 Nosler is ideal for that case capacity. If they come out with the 33 Nosler, that will be a good one as well. But in 6.5, it's just an overcharged inefficient barrel burner in my opinion. My 6.5 Remington Magnum can achieve 3275 fps in a 26" barrel with a 130gr bullet using 20 grains less powder than the 26 Nosler.

 

[hogpatrol]

Never will understand the appeal of the big 'over-bore' cartridges. I mean 75gr of powder to get a 129gr bullet moving only 3275???

I know I probably sound like an ass to you fellas right now, but honestly, what is the appeal of these big inefficient overbore catridges? I know they CAN go faster than most other smaller cartridges at their upper limits when you throw enough powder at em. But at what cost?

I see the Nosler case having a lot of potential, but not in a 6.5mm. The 28 Nosler is the smallest caliber I would go with that case. The 30 Nosler is ideal for that case capacity. If they come out with the 33 Nosler, that will be a good one as well. But in 6.5, it's just an overcharged inefficient barrel burner in my opinion. My 6.5 Remington Magnum can achieve 3275 fps in a 26" barrel with a 130gr bullet using 20 grains less powder than the 26 Nosler.

Good points Ledd. The overbores are not for everyone.
My 24" Brux is pushing the 130 VLDs, a touch over 3500 at less than 1 MOA out to 500 meters. But yes, I'm using around 22 grains more powder than the 6.5 RM. For hunting, I do prefer the 28 version. It hasn't been as hard on the throats as the 26.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Good points Ledd. The overbores are not for everyone.
My 24" Brux is pushing the 130 VLDs, a touch over 3500 at less than 1 MOA out to 500 meters. But yes, I'm using around 22 grains more powder than the 6.5 RM. For hunting, I do prefer the 28 version. It hasn't been as hard on the throats as the 26.

Are those the hunting or target VLDs? If they are the hunting version, have you ever had one come apart on you at that speed?

I remember back when I first started shooting a 6.5 Rem mag, I was using a load with 58.5 gr of RL-22 that was pushing the 140gr Hunting VLD's at 3250 fps in a 26" barrel. I say "hunting" VLDs, but actually was shooting the original Berger bullets when they first hit the market and there was only the one offering. Anyhow, i missed a couple antelope one hunting season when the bullet jackets came apart. Could hear the bullet whizzing and tumbling down range.

I run them at 3209 fps in a different barrel now and haven't had the problem since.

 

[hogpatrol]

Are those the hunting or target VLDs? If they are the hunting version, have you ever had one come apart on you at that speed?

I remember back when I first started shooting a 6.5 Rem mag, I was using a load with 58.5 gr of RL-22 that was pushing the 140gr Hunting VLD's at 3250 fps in a 26" barrel. I say "hunting" VLDs, but actually was shooting the original Berger bullets when they first hit the market and there was only the one offering. Anyhow, i missed a couple antelope one hunting season when the bullet jackets came apart. Could hear the bullet whizzing and tumbling down range.

I run them at 3209 fps in a different barrel now and haven't had the problem since.

They're the hunting VLDs. So far haven't had one come apart and have actually pushed them about 50 fps faster but accuracy went south. Forgot to mention, this was an 8.5 twist barrel. If your shooting an 8, maybe the twist was a factor.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

They're the hunting VLDs. So far haven't had one come apart and have actually pushed them about 50 fps faster but accuracy went south. Forgot to mention, this was an 8.5 twist barrel. If your shooting an 8, maybe the twist was a factor.

It was actually a 1 in 8.5" twist barrel at the time, the barrel I have now is a 1 in 8". Might have been a few bullets with faulty jackets in the box. It only happened to two bullets on that one hunting trip and one time at the range afterwards. All bullets were from the same box. Like I said, that was back when Berger first came onto the market. I know a lot of competition shooters had jackets fail back then as well when they pushed speeds. Now of course they have the target version with the heavier jacket and they've improved their jacketing process for all of their bullets. I'm sure the berger bullets of today are higher quality with more uniform jackets.

 

[trailrider121]

Old post but needs an update. Anyone using us 869 or RL50 in their 26 nosler? I just built one and plan to run 127 LRX in 26" barrel.

 

[MBBCop]

Old post but needs an update. Anyone using us 869 or RL50 in their 26 nosler? I just built one and plan to run 127 LRX in 26" barrel.

Using 89gr 869 with 130gr Barnes tsx. Chrono 3418 3x out of 4 shots. Tried three powders and four bullets later his was found to give best groups.

 

[trailrider121]

So I settled on 91grs. of US869 with 127 LRX @.050" OTL. It has pretty good ES and speed (3500+), but I'm getting the dreaded two and one groups. Its grouping 1 and 3 shot with the second shot flier. I might back it down and see what happens.

 

[trailrider121]

My 127 LRX load using US869 didn't work out. Very inconsistent load with speed and groups. I plan to drop the 127 LRX and move to 140 hybrids. Going to use RL33 and hope for the best. Anyone else using 140's in their 26 Nosler?

 

[Horsetrainer]

Just got my dad a 26 Nosler from Montana Rifle. Only put 50 rounds through it so far, and Im attempting to build a load with 129gr LR Accubonds for him to hunt with. After barrel break in procedure, I've seen some promise with the 129s and RL25. Shot a 5 shot 1" group yesterday, with a mild load of 75gr at 3,275. Pushed it up to 75.5 and 76 and it didn't like that as well. So going to work around that 75 and play with seating a bit before moving to probably Retumbo.

Did you ever come up with a load that would shoot good? I can't get my mt rifle co 26 to shoot good groups

 

[Dannyringo]

Horsetrainer:
What ever happened with your rifle? Did you check your scope and mounts? I just saw a video, where the MAC (military arms channel) had your problem. Switched scopes and all was well. His scope didnt track right and threw shots consistantly.

Reloader 26, as well as US 869, are what I'm considering and a modest load to cut the barrel in, then send it off to get it QPQ (melonited) for longer durability.

Debating on muzzle threads and a SilencerCo Muzzle brake that I already have on my
AR 10-260 remington.

Still need to headspace the 26 nosler.

 

[q2hunter]

Did you ever come up with a load that would shoot good? I can't get my mt rifle co 26 to shoot good groups

Well, 10months after you asked this question, I just seen it....lol. Yes sir I did. 120gr barns TTSX with 7828ssc. Shot a couple .5s, one 4” at 400 (which was excellent for my ability), and turned it over to my pops. He’s yet to pull the trigger at a deer, he did kill a yote with it, and I took it on the last day and shot a doe with it at 325yrds. Only two shots fired out of the box of 20 I loaded for him. My data is at home, don’t remember exactly, but it was mid range of the barns data that I emailed them and requested for the 26 nosler and the 120gr bullet. They did not have data listed on their web site for the 26 at that time.