Range Report 26 Nosler

For what it's worth, I think this will be an excellent cartridge... If you neck it up. 7mm would be awesome, would also probably deliver in the Win Mag range but without a belt for .308.
 
7mm RUM necked down to 6.5, if im not mistaken?

PTG has the reamer print now. It's a 404 Jeffery/RUM shortened to 2.59 with a 70 degree shoulder.

Nice size cartridge. I used QuickDesign to make variants from .243 to .458. Very cool ballistics on every caliber.
243 is a little ridiculous.
257 is just weird
264 is a 26 Nosler
277 would be very cool if that is your favorite. Faster then a Wby270
284 would scream with any bullet
308 while there are plenty, is faster than a WM but slower than a RUM nice size/speed
323/8mm IMHO really nice
338 seems to be right in there with a Lapua Magnum for Hdy 250 SP
358 now we are getting in to real whollop land
375 Faster than a Ruger slower than a RUM but pretty cool
416 Seems to beat most established offerings
458 Totally ridiculous and very practical
 
PTG has the reamer print now. It's a 404 Jeffery/RUM shortened to 2.59 with a 70 degree shoulder.

Nice size cartridge. I used QuickDesign to make variants from .243 to .458. Very cool ballistics on every caliber.
243 is a little ridiculous.
257 is just weird
264 is a 26 Nosler
277 would be very cool if that is your favorite. Faster then a Wby270
284 would scream with any bullet
308 while there are plenty, is faster than a WM but slower than a RUM nice size/speed
323/8mm IMHO really nice
338 seems to be right in there with a Lapua Magnum for Hdy 250 SP
358 now we are getting in to real whollop land
375 Faster than a Ruger slower than a RUM but pretty cool
416 Seems to beat most established offerings
458 Totally ridiculous and very practical

70 degree shoulder, first ive ever heard of one that steep. the 338 one sounds like it could be wicked.
 
I have a reamer, rcbs dies, go and no go, and a box of factory loaded ammo pictured......

May or may not be new pills for this medicine in the making.....

I have a 6.5 Bartlien 8.5 twist heavy palma I am considering installing on a Remington 700P in 300WM that doesn't get shot much..........Not really wanting to use that barrel so I have been looking for a couple others.

1491520_10152147583469099_851263846_o.jpgphoto-1.jpgScreen Shot 2014-02-06 at 7.06.31 PM.jpg
 
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8 or 8.5 twist. 8 is what is suggested if I recall. I think 1,500 is fair with custom barrel and that may be lucky for some, but well doable with others.
 
Now I wish they would stop copying the low BC Sierra bullets for their custom competition line and make some reasonably priced HPBT bullets with higher BC's. The 140 Custom Competition is .535. There is no reason they couldn't match or top the Hornady HPBT. You hear that Nosler? Make a 130 grain with a BC of at least .550-.580.
 
After the barrel life I and others have had with the 6.5 WSM I am guessing the barrels will be doing worse than 0.5-0.75 MOA after the first 500 rounds. The 6.5 WSM was a great round but I really like at least 1,000 rounds before the accuracy goes to pits.

As a hunting round it may work out very well for the handloaders as the barrels don't see many rounds and the accuracy requirements are less unless reaching out beyond 500 yards. For anyone shooting a barrel burner can be fun, it just costs a little more.

I wish I had known the 260 Nosler was coming out before I had Kiff make me 30-375 Ruger, necking up the .264 to .308 would have easier and the brass is more consistent.
 
My loads:
The US869 has shown the best groups and lack of psi.
26 Nosler3/9/14
Headspace guageD .400Go=2.239 Actual is 4.241
4.248" after 1st firingNo=2.245 Actual is 4.252
4.245" after FL Sizing
Per Drawing Trim2.590"
Factory 129gr ABLR20 rounds suppliedAdvertized 3400fps
20 rounds fired:ALL 20 rounds were fired using the Magnetospeed
Max FPS3351fps
Avg FPS3317fps
Min FPS3291fps
ES60
SD15
Results in grouping were poor, guessing the Magnetospeed was the majority of this.
Suggested Loads Supplied by ML on 3-11-14
140gr Loads, 3,300fps to 3,350fps with 26" barrel, 58,000 to 59,000 psi
89gr US869WLRM Primer140gr Nosler CC3.340" OAL
80gr RetumboFed 215 Primer140gr Nosler CC3.340" OAL
129gr and 130gr, 3,350fps to 3,400fps with same psi as 140gr loads.
74gr H4831SCFed 215 Primer130gr AB3.320" OAL
82gr RetumboWLRM Primer129gr ABLR3.340" OAL
82gr MagnumWLRM Primer129gr ABLR3.340" OAL
100gr bullet, not specified
88gr RetumboNA100gr bullet???NA
Bullet measurment with 5-26 Hornady bullet guage.
140 Berger Hybrid1.722"
123gr Sierra HPBT1.795"1.793"
142gr Sierra HPBT1.712"
OALOGIVESeating depth .015" off lands.
140 Berger Hybrid3.497"3.816"3.801"
123gr Sierra HPBT3.408"3.820"3.805"
142gr Sierra HPBT3.391"3.798"3.783"
Actual 1st Reloads
140gr Berger Hybrid3.8" OGIVE .015 off lands
F215M Primer
9 at 79gr Retumbo3314fps avg HOTHOT
10 at 79.5gr RetumboHOTHOT
3/14/14
140gr Berger Hybrid3.8" OGIVE
F215M Primer
78gr Retumbo3278fps avgStill Hot
78.5gr Retumbo3292fps avgHOT
3/15/14
140gr Berger Hybrid3.8" OGIVE
F215M Primer
75gr H10003202fps avg
75.5gr H10003223fps avg
76gr H10003237fps avg
Below is from ML on 3-18-14.
140gr Custom Comp – 74.0gr/H1000/Fed 215/3.320” OAL – 3,132 fps (starting load)
140gr Custom Comp – 76.5gr/H1000/Fed 215/3.320” OAL – 3,234 fps (MAX load)
With US869, I was running 89.0 grains in front of a WLRM, and getting 3,375 fps and shooting ½” groups all day long. I zeroed at 300yds, which gave me some ridiculous drops out to 1,000yds..!
3/23/14
140 Berger HybridF215M, 7RUM Case3.8" Ogive
88gr US8693 shot avg3232fps avg
88.5gr US8693 shot avg ***Retest3233fps avg
89gr US8693 shot avg3264fps avg

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Interesting data. I was thinking it would be a lot faster. Probably just the barrel length.

I get 3220 fps out of my 29" barreled 6.5 Saum with 140 hybrids and 63 grains of Retumbo, which is throated out so the bullets baring surface is above the neck shoulder junction. It's a warm load but not a hot one.