26 Nosler rifle thoughts?

[MtnSquach]

I have a rifle I had custom built about 6 years ago in 26 Nosler. It’s actually a really nice build, but I have not shot it in about 4 years. I had it built to shoot a 127gr Barnes LRX (1:7 I believe)(because I was forced to use lead free in the state I use to live in). While developing a load I tried multiple bullets including eldx, vld’s (130 and 140), ablr, hammer hunters. Never could get it to stabilize with 130+gr bullets. I have been kitchen to rebarrel it to a more modern or common caliber (the 26 never took off like I hoped it would).

1. Anyone have any recommendations on load data before I rebarrel it? It currently has a 26” Lilia barrel.

2. Recommendations on a new caliber if I rebarrel it? It currently has a .540 bolt face.

My goal with this rifle is a do all medium to large game rifle. Elk, deer, pronghorn.

 

[earrow]

28 nosler

 

[glock233]

6.5 PRC is good for killing anything to 1000 yards with heavy bullets. You don’t need heavier unless you looking to shoot longer.

 

[MtnSquach]

6.5 PRC is good for killing anything to 1000 yards with heavy bullets. You don’t need heavier unless you looking to shoot longer.

6.5 PRC was definitely at the top of my list. I currently shoot a 300 PRC for elk (absolutely love it but it’s too much for deer). And I shoot a 6.5 CM for anything from coyote to deer. I’d like a rifle I can shoot anything with.

 

[huntnful]

If you hand load and like a little extra horse power, the 6.5-7 PRC has been good to me.

 

[MtnSquach]

If you hand load and like a little extra horse power, the 6.5-7 PRC has been good to me.

I do hand load. I have been researching 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC. I have a 300 PRC and absolutely it.

 

[dgfavor]

I have a rifle I had custom built about 6 years ago in 26 Nosler. It’s actually a really nice build, but I have not shot it in about 4 years. I had it built to shoot a 127gr Barnes LRX (1:7 I believe)(because I was forced to use lead free in the state I use to live in). While developing a load I tried multiple bullets including eldx, vld’s (130 and 140), ablr, hammer hunters. Never could get it to stabilize with 130+gr bullets. I have been kitchen to rebarrel it to a more modern or common caliber (the 26 never took off like I hoped it would).

1. Anyone have any recommendations on load data before I rebarrel it? It currently has a 26” Lilia barrel.

2. Recommendations on a new caliber if I rebarrel it? It currently has a .540 bolt face.

My goal with this rifle is a do all medium to large game rifle. Elk, deer, pronghorn.

Seems strange - that should realistically be capable of shooting any .264 bullet available. Are you seeing keyholing or what with 130+gr? I don't have the 26 Nosler but shoot the 6.5-300 Wby - currently I'm shooting handload 125gr Hammer HHT's but have shot up to 156gr Bergers no problem, lazer beams all of them. Hard for me to imagine a 26 Nosler wouldn't do the same...I mean it's no 6.5-300 but it's no slouch.
Anyway, I'm no help other than to say that just sounds wonky...not right...something amiss...etc.

 

[MtnSquach]

Seems strange - that should realistically be capable of shooting any .264 bullet available. Are you seeing keyholing or what with 130+gr? I don't have the 26 Nosler but shoot the 6.5-300 Wby - currently I'm shooting handload 125gr Hammer HHT's but have shot up to 156gr Bergers no problem, lazer beams all of them. Hard for me to imagine a 26 Nosler wouldn't do the same...I mean it's no 6.5-300 but it's no slouch.
Anyway, I'm no help other than to say that just sounds wonky...not right...something amiss...etc.

The 137gr hammer hunters keyholed. The 143gr Eldx’s fouled really bad (I couldn’t slow them down under 3300 fps with the powder I was using (US869). With the Berger and Nosler ablr I couldn’t get them to shoot under 2moa. The 127gr LRX shot great but I definitely want to shoot a heavier bullet. What powder were you using with the 6.5-300?

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Curious as well. I have a xbolt in 26 nosler. Current loads are us869 with 127 lrx at 3500. Looking at trying h1000, retumbo, or n570 and 147s

 

[MtnSquach]

Curious as well. I have a xbolt in 26 nosler. Current loads are us869 with 127 lrx at 3500. Looking at trying h1000, retumbo, or n570 and 147s

I primarily used US869 for load development. I tried H1000 with Berger and eldx but couldn’t dial it in enough to decide on a load with those bullets. I’d prefer a heavier bullet then the 127gr but was not successful. I had to give up reloading for a few years and have started back up again. It just seems like the 26 Nosler never really took off like the 28

 

[Ringbill27]

I’d switch to 6.8 western.

 

[dgfavor]

The 137gr hammer hunters keyholed. The 143gr Eldx’s fouled really bad (I couldn’t slow them down under 3300 fps with the powder I was using (US869). With the Berger and Nosler ablr I couldn’t get them to shoot under 2moa. The 127gr LRX shot great but I definitely want to shoot a heavier bullet. What powder were you using with the 6.5-300?

I've been using Retumbo. I settled on 86gr which is only getting me just over 3200fps with the 125gr HHTs but sure shoots where it's aimed day after day year round, hot or cold. Gives me a MPBR, calculated for conservative 8" vitals, of 364yds - so brainless point n shoot hunting at ranges I'm taking first shots on game which IMO is the biggest reason to have a 6.5-300 or 26 Nosler. If a guy wants to calculate, dial n shoot there are plenty of kinder, gentler cartridges that still carry plenty of speed and energy to extended ranges - that's not me. If it was, 6.5 PRC with 156gr Bergers would be my choice.

FWIW I looked up the 137gr Hammers and recommends 1:6.5 twist.

 

[K9kodi]

I like the idea of a 28 nosler; 277 fury, if I was going to step away from basic calibers. Call me basic! But when they quit working I’ll start eyeing up the odd ones

 

[dgfavor]

Sitting here drinking coffee and this popped up on my YT feed. Timely - clearly something not right, like you are seeing with your rifle. Do you have suppressor on yours? First thing I'd do with rifle in this vid is pull the suppressor and see if still keyholing.

 

[MtnSquach]

I definitely feel like th

Sitting here drinking coffee and this popped up on my YT feed. Timely - clearly something not right, like you are seeing with your rifle. Do you have suppressor on yours? First thing I'd do with rifle in this vid is pull the suppressor and see if still keyholing.

I have not ran it suppressed, it has a muzzle break. I have shot it with and without the muzzle break, it made no difference. The last time I messed with load development with this rifle I definitely felt like these guys chasing accuracy. I think I’m going to try some new powders and new bullets o see if I can get it solved before I rebarrel it

 

[dgfavor]

I definitely feel like th

I have not ran it suppressed, it has a muzzle break. I have shot it with and without the muzzle break, it made no difference. The last time I messed with load development with this rifle I definitely felt like these guys chasing accuracy. I think I’m going to try some new powders and new bullets o see if I can get it solved before I rebarrel it

When I first got my rifle it shot sub-par with everything I put thru it - best performer was the 127gr LRX but still not as good as it should have been. Weatherby uses pressure pads on the forend of their stocks for their #2 barrels so the barrel is not free floated - they say it's harmonically necessary. Anyway, similar to you, I was ready to re-caliber/re-barrel. I tried some "ladder testing" with different action screw torque settings putting different pressures on the barrel but didn't seem to change anything. Finally I decided to grind off those foreend pressure pads to free float the barrel. It was night and day - immediately consistent sub-moa groups with whatever I put thru it. I took off the factory stock altogether and put it in a Stocky's VG2 and continues to shoot really well with the barrel flopping in the wind.
For the way I like to hunt (brainless shots with bullets shot flat and fast out to a MPBR distance) a 26 Nosler or similar makes great sense and I'd continue to check thru the variables known to affect accuracy. If I wasn't sold on the cartridge and had had enough of the frustration, I'd re-barrel with the cartridge de jour. Good luck!

 

[MtnSquach]

When I first got my rifle it shot sub-par with everything I put thru it - best performer was the 127gr LRX but still not as good as it should have been. Weatherby uses pressure pads on the forend of their stocks for their #2 barrels so the barrel is not free floated - they say it's harmonically necessary. Anyway, similar to you, I was ready to re-caliber/re-barrel. I tried some "ladder testing" with different action screw torque settings putting different pressures on the barrel but didn't seem to change anything. Finally I decided to grind off those foreend pressure pads to free float the barrel. It was night and day - immediately consistent sub-moa groups with whatever I put thru it. I took off the factory stock altogether and put it in a Stocky's VG2 and continues to shoot really well with the barrel flopping in the wind.
For the way I like to hunt (brainless shots with bullets shot flat and fast out to a MPBR distance) a 26 Nosler or similar makes great sense and I'd continue to check thru the variables known to affect accuracy. If I wasn't sold on the cartridge and had had enough of the frustration, I'd re-barrel with the cartridge de jour. Good luck!

Funny you posted this. I pulled the rifle out of the safe this morning and put it on the bench. I blew the dust off, cleaned, and oiled the rifle. I was curious and tried sliding a piece of paper under the barrel. It was pretty smooth until the first 3” at the chamber. Not enough clearance to slide it into the receiver without stopping. I might have to grind the inside of the barrel channel down a bit and see if it helps. I’m assuming it will.