New 26 Nosler, first thoughts?

[LCazador]

Can't wait for the brass.

You mean they're going to have brass available?? If it's anything like the new cartridge launches of the last two years. You'll be lucky to have ammo available, and the rifle will cost at least one eye if it's available. After the first few barrels are burned out, the whole craze will be gone and everybody will wonder why? It will be a real barrel burner!!

 

[Valar]

I really dont think it will be more of a burner than a .243 I could be wrong?

 

[dkhunt14]

If a 6.5-284 and a 264 Win Mag are barrel burners how could this be any better? I agree with you Donovan but maybe not quite that bad. Matt

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Better yet I can see someone necking this brass down to 6mm..

 

[Raythemanroe]

I would neck it up to .284, that would be better yet

 

[effendude]

Despite how important we as a group think we are to the shooting industry, Nosler didn't design or market this cartridge for us high volume shooters. Their market is the average hunter, who in all likelihood will never shoot the rifle enough to burn up the barrel. I have seen many pre-64 Winchesters in .264 Win Mag still in use by hunters, especially out west. These guys are great hunters, not gun guys, and they only shoot a few shots a year. These rifles are more than 50 years old and still shoot well (enough). Factory ammo will probably cost around $4-6 a round so I doubt the rifles will be shot too frequently.

If I didn't love my 6.5-284's so much, I would build one just for the fun of it. Still might as I have a used pre-64 mag action looking for a job.

Scott

 

[bheadboy]

why bother?

Bob

 

[A_Gamehog]

I figured 580+ shots before accuracy degrades. Donovan was right in a previous post. 1/2 of the life of the 243..

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/excel-formula-predicts-useful-barrel-life/

 

[Larryh128]

Effendude is spot on, 99% of the owners will never wear out a barrel. Also my guess is that in a year or so there will be used 26 Nosler barrels popping up from guys not liking the recoil level compared to other 6.5's. I see it all the time from guys that simply look at the ballistics and not the recoil factor. 20 rounds or less & the rifle has a different caliber on it.

 

[Brians356]

Couple of observations:

1. Nosler trumpets "Flat to 415!".

But that's the point-blank range using their new 129-gr AccuBond LR @3400 fps for a 10-inch diameter target. Awfully large vital zone for my purposes.

2. In the S.T. cover story, the author was able to get 3247 fps with 140-gr AccuBond from 89 grains of powder. That only bests a 264 Win Mag burning 60 grains of powder by about 220 fps. So for nearly 50% more powder, I only gain 7.5% velocity?

I figure a 264 WM Ackley Improved would nearly match that performance, and with less recoil, by burning 20 grains less powder.

Brian

 

[Law888]

I just bought a 26 Nosler, Cooper M52 Classic. It came with a factory target with a .302 3-shot group. The rifle is gorgeous. Waiting for the ammo. When I travel for hunting I always take two rifles. This will make a perfect companion for my weatherby deluxe 270 WBY Mag. The recoil may be a little less and the ballistics should come out with my handloads to be about the same for both.

 

[wildcat284]

I'm shooting a 6.5mm SAUM. Found that 62.5grs Retumbo with a 143gr Hornady ELD-X is what my rifle likes accuracy wise (I fired a 3 shot group of 0.462 at 100 yards).

Haven't had a chance to chronograph that load. However 62.5grs H1000 gave me 3072 fps from my 24 inch Criterion barrel.

Thats pretty good compared to what you get from a .264 Winchester Magnum firing same weight bullet from same length barrel. I find the 24 inch makes the rifle balance nicely.

What was also pleasing to discover is the recoil is about the same as the .270. Not only that but there is no muzzle jump, rifle recoils back in a straight line. So no need for a brake of any description.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

The best reason for me to build one is a simple thing. No one else in deer camp will have one. That in itself is almost priceless some days.

I learned a long time ago that having an odd caliber isn't neccesarily a good thing. Such as, you forget and leave your amoo in the truck... These days I stick with standard calibers.. And I make sure I have the correct ammo before leaving the truck.