26 Nosler questions

[pewpewfever]

I chose to start out with 6mm creedmoor because I have recoil sensitivity and decent factory rounds are available. The builder told me I will be able to switch to any other caliber in a medium length cartridge with a barrel change, but not a long cartridge like 308 win mag, 338 Lapua, etc.

Is 26 Nosler a medium length cartridge?

Are decent, match grade, factory rounds available for 26 Nosler?

Is the recoil of the 26 Nosler similar to a creedmoor, or is it significantly more recoil?

 

[Bradu]

26 nosler is a long action cartridge. A 6.5 saum would be better suited for a short action and the recoil isn't bad. However, the bolt face would need opened up for a magnum type round.

 

[pewpewfever]

Thanks. I was thinking about going 6mm dasher with my next barrel and getting copper creek or similar to make my ammo. How does dasher compare to saum? Are match grade saum factory loads available?

 

[Bradu]

Thanks. I was thinking about going 6mm dasher with my next barrel and getting copper creek or similar to make my ammo. How does dasher compare to saum? Are match grade saum factory loads available?

Dasher would be very similar to the creedmoor. If you are shooting factory ammo then the 6.5 prc would be a good option for a little more velocity.

 

[Rocketmandb]

What considerations do you have on your mind as to why switch? The 6mm CM is a great round. What do you want to do that the CM won't?

 

[pewpewfever]

What considerations do you have on your mind as to why switch? The 6mm CM is a great round. What do you want to do that the CM won't?

Try something new as much as anything else. I’ve seen a lot of hype about how much better the dasher is than the creedmoor, but I just made a model rifle in BallisticArc for dasher and it doesn’t seem to be much better on the chart. Maybe I’m doing it wrong. The 6.5 PRC dies seem to be a bit better, but not a whole lot. Maybe half a mil less wind hold past 1000 yards, assuming I made that model properly. How’s the PRC on barel life?

 

[Rocketmandb]

I don't have a 6.5 PRC, so I can only comment on what my gunsmith said when I mentioned possibly getting a build in one:

- Hard on barrels
- Magnum bolt face

He suggested the 260 Remington as an alternative. It has a little more case capacity than the 6.5 CM, but not so much that it appreciably affects barrel life. It also uses all things standard about a short action - and you can get Lapua brass for it. Also, don't get drawn in too much by simulators when comparing one case to another. Some cases are inherently more efficient and produce tighter extreme spreads and standard deviations than others.

There is an interesting article relating to this on PRB: https://precisionrifleblog.com/2018/12/14/rifle-caliber/ - look at the end of the article at the chart comparing standard deviations of top rounds. I don't know how scientific the data collection was, but it tells a story none the less.

 

[pewpewfever]

That’s an interesting article. I didn’t realize the dasher is a bit slower than the 6mm creedmoor, but it has a lower SD.

 

[Rocketmandb]

That’s an interesting article. I didn’t realize the dasher is a bit slower than the 6mm creedmoor, but it has a lower SD.

That article is one of the reasons I'm putting together a 6mm BRA build... that and I used to be an engineer in the space industry and like to try new and different things

 

[pewpewfever]

That article is one of the reasons I'm putting together a 6mm BRA build... that and I used to be an engineer in the space industry and like to try new and different things

I was thinking about trying dasher next with copper creek doing the loads but after reading some more about the criticism of manufactured dasher brass versus fire formed, I’m not sure I should go that route until I’m at least willing to fire form my own brass. For 6bra, I’m guessing the same applies?

 

[Rocketmandb]

I was thinking about trying dasher next with copper creek doing the loads but after reading some more about the criticism of manufactured dasher brass versus fire formed, I’m not sure I should go that route until I’m at least willing to fire form my own brass. For 6bra, I’m guessing the same applies?

Yeah, 6mm BRA is a 6mm BR case with a more angled shoulder. Fortunately, fire forming it is easy. Just stick a 6mm BR round into the action. Fire. Rinse. Repeat. Lapua makes 6mm BR brass, and that makes me happy. Frankly, if you're not going to reload your own, I'd go with something that has more readily available factory ammo. If you want to go a little different than the pack (6 CM, 6.5 CM) look at 6.5x47 Lapua or 260.

 

[b6graham]

not to be a dick

but you should stick with 6 creedmoor or 6.5 creedmoor based on this thread. your knowledge on cartridge is pretty limited. 26 Nosler, 6.5SAUM, 6.5PRC are magnums and if you're 'recoil sensitive' that's not what you want. and it's not what you want for a match gun or something you're gonna shoot all day and need factory ammo options for.

the reason people go dasher is it gets very close velosity wise with like 7 less grains of powder. yes it can be a bitch with mags. yes you have to fireform. but you're gonna get slightly better barrel life, and mainly less recoil and a better ability to stay on target when shooting, especially positional in matches

you made a comment about SD of dasher to creed...and thats entirely in the load not the cartridge itself. yes 'easier' with dasher but it's not like every dasher has better SD than a 6CM

 

[pewpewfever]

not to be a dick

but you should stick with 6 creedmoor or 6.5 creedmoor based on this thread. your knowledge on cartridge is pretty limited. 26 Nosler, 6.5SAUM, 6.5PRC are magnums and if you're 'recoil sensitive' that's not what you want. and it's not what you want for a match gun or something you're gonna shoot all day and need factory ammo options for.

the reason people go dasher is it gets very close velosity wise with like 7 less grains of powder. yes it can be a bitch with mags. yes you have to fireform. but you're gonna get slightly better barrel life, and mainly less recoil and a better ability to stay on target when shooting, especially positional in matches

you made a comment about SD of dasher to creed...and thats entirely in the load not the cartridge itself. yes 'easier' with dasher but it's not like every dasher has better SD than a 6CM

I think you are right all the way around; drawing the same conclusion as me.

BTW my “recoil sensitivity” is due to 4 fused neck vertebra and a laminectomy at the upper back/neck juncture. Even firing my AR lights it up by the end of the match. The custom rifle I ordered has a heavy profile barrel and will weigh 19 pounds. The builder told me that, even in 6.5 creedmoor, you can set it on the table, stand to the side, touch the trigger, and the rifle won’t even move back when it fires. So I thought maybe I could handle a little more recoil. But if all the top competitors are using 6mm ...