26 Nosler for elk?

[a_noob_hunter]

I bought a Browning xbolt Western hunter chambered in 26 Nosler this past fall. Wondering if anyone has used it for elk. I couldn't really find any videos of it other than a dude who shot a deer at 1500 yds. I've seen plenty of videos with a 6.5-.284. Wondering if there is anyone out here with experience with a 26 Nosler for big game.

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[bamagun]

Killed two last year with a 270wsm and that 26 nosler is packing a little more heat than the wsm I believe. Right bullet in the boiler room should do the trick just fine, but probably not the best cartridge obviously..

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Killed two last year with a 270wsm and that 26 nosler is packing a little more heat than the wsm I believe. Right bullet in the boiler room should do the trick just fine, but probably not the best cartridge obviously..

Hmm yeah can't beat a well placed shot. I actually was considering the .270 wsm but didnt go with it. Just from a numbers perspective, at 800 yds a 142 grain ablr has over 1500 ft. lb. energy. Recommended minimum ft. lb energy for elk is 1500. Just wondered how far anyone has shot an elk with a 26 Nosler

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[Rsully661]

Seeing first hand what the 26 has done to a few big nasty hogs I imagine you will have to problem out to 600. If I remember correctly it’s carrying 1500 pounds out to 800yds. Will just have to come down to what bullet you chose.


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[2five7]

140 accubonds would be a great all around choice for that rifle. 140 Bergers if you're expecting long (500+) yard shots.

 

[bamagun]

Hmm yeah can't beat a well placed shot. I actually was considering the .270 wsm but didnt go with it. Just from a numbers perspective, at 800 yds a 142 grain ablr has over 1500 ft. lb. energy. Recommended minimum ft. lb energy for elk is 1500. Just wondered how far anyone has shot an elk with a 26 Nosler

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yeah, I kind of jumped the gun on that purchase, but I wanted an Edge CT from Fierce a few years ago and that was the only one I could find in stock anywhere. I wish I would have waited for them to build me a 28 nosler, but it was one of those impulse things.

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Yeah I've seen plenty of 28 Nosler videos. For me it was too much. I'm from Ohio and we can't hunt deer with rifles so really the only reason I needed it was for mule deer/ antelope and maybe elk

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[Wrench]

I'd be more worried about the bullet holding up at 50 yards than anything else.

 

[RaggedHunter]

No experience with the 26 Nosler, But I've taken several elk with a 6.5-06 Ackley Improved with 140 Berger Elite Hybrid Hunters Muzzle Vel. 3075 and have had very good results. Shots with this setup have been between 75 yards and 500 yards, no issues at any of those distances.

The 26 Nos would shoot those same bullets 3150-3200 with fairly little effort. I do not see there being any problem with the 26 Nos for elk. However shot placement is king.

If Berger ever gets around to making the 156's I think that would make for a very sweet elk bullet out of the 26 Nos.

 

[TomAZ]

My 127 gr LRX load at 3650 will take anything in North America. I prefer a .338 win mag, but the 26 is no slouch. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.


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[a_noob_hunter]

My 127 gr LRX load at 3650 will take anything in North America. I prefer a .338 win mag, but the 26 is no slouch. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.


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What concerns me the most about the 26 is shooting a 140 grn bullet. Most videos are of 180-210 grain bullets. But if you aren't having problems with a 127 I'd be comfortable. I could shoot a 129 grain around 3400-3500 so I'd be fine.

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[07jkjeeper]

You can absolutely take an elk with a 26 Nosler. I did with a 142 Accubond out of my Christensen at 350 yards with no delay. Just like anything else if it's a quality shot that round will get the job done.

 

[TomAZ]

What concerns me the most about the 26 is shooting a 140 grn bullet. Most videos are of 180-210 grain bullets. But if you aren't having problems with a 127 I'd be comfortable. I could shoot a 129 grain around 3400-3500 so I'd be fine.

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I also want to try the 140 grain partitions, but haven’t loaded any yet. I’d stick with a bonded or solid copper bullet. I shot a coues at 425 yards with a 143 eld-x and it looked like it exploded. Fist sized exit with a lot of damage. In my opinion the eldx are too soft for these speeds. Much better suited for a creedmoor.


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[a_noob_hunter]

I also want to try the 140 grain partitions, but haven’t loaded any yet. I’d stick with a bonded or solid copper bullet. I shot a coues at 425 yards with a 143 eld-x and it looked like it exploded. Fist sized exit with a lot of damage. In my opinion the eldx are too soft for these speeds. Much better suited for a creedmoor.


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Gotcha. Yeah I really want the bullet to hold together, unless it's a varmint round, which really isn't necessary with a 26. Ill probably just shoot accubond, but I do have a press I could use if I'd want to make my own bullets


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[sneaky]

Gotcha. Yeah I really want the bullet to hold together, unless it's a varmint round, which really isn't necessary with a 26. Ill probably just shoot accubond, but I do have a press I could use if I'd want to make my own bullets


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Guys have killed truckloads of elk with 6.5 Creedmoors, 6.5 PRC etc etc. Some at some pretty long ranges, Ryan Avery has seen these kills first hand. The 26 Nos is a 6.5 on nitrous. Only reason you aren't seeing more data on it is it's a barrel burner, just like the 6.5-300 WM, and guys are all on the 6.5CM bandwagon. Hell, you can't even find another caliber on the rack these days seems like. That 26 will do just fine on an elk. Every one of the 26Nos I've shot has been a tack driver. You do your part, the gun will do its part.

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[a_noob_hunter]

Guys have killed truckloads of elk with 6.5 Creedmoors, 6.5 PRC etc etc. Some at some pretty long ranges, Ryan Avery has seen these kills first hand. The 26 Nos is a 6.5 on nitrous. Only reason you aren't seeing more data on it is it's a barrel burner, just like the 6.5-300 WM, and guys are all on the 6.5CM bandwagon. Hell, you can't even find another caliber on the rack these days seems like. That 26 will do just fine on an elk. Every one of the 26Nos I've shot has been a tack driver. You do your part, the gun will do its part.

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Yeah when I handload I'm probably not gonna shoot it as hot as I can because I don't need it. Not really shooting it a ton but wanted some kind a magnum caliber to do it all for NA big game. The 28 is too big imo for antelope/deer but perfect for elk. I chose the 26 for deer)antelope and possibly elk. Good to hear that the 6.5 doesn't have problems it shot placement is good. Plan is to get an elk with the 26 Nosler if I don't fill my Montana general tag with my bow.

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[Josh Wright]

I've killed one bull that chest was facing me. 142 gr ABLR. 60 yards. Bullet entered the chest and found the rest at very end of hind quarter.

He flopped in the scope, dead before he hit the ground.

I've also killed one with the 6.5CM. 170 yards. 303" bull.

The 26Nosler will kill anything that walks. And I would be completely fine killing @ 800 yards.

Why people carry the .30 cals, with the bullet technology we have today, I will never know.

 

[Sadler]

Are you guys hand loading your ammo to get the performance you need from the 26 for elk or are you using factory ammo? I’m looking at the 26 as well but I don’t have the time to hand load for it.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I think bullet choice dictates what it's good for. Lots of guys using 6.5s for elk. 26 noslers are moving pretty fast so I think a good bonded bullet or mono would be perfect.

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Are you guys hand loading your ammo to get the performance you need from the 26 for elk or are you using factory ammo? I’m looking at the 26 as well but I don’t have the time to hand load for it.

Imo factory ammo should be good enough but for me I like the peace of mind that handloaded brings. Especially if I have time to load it

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