.26 Nosler
| .26 Nosler | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, and 30 Nosler | ||||||||||||
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||
| Designer | Nosler | |||||||||||
| Designed | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||
| Parent case | .404 Jeffery | |||||||||||
| Case type | Rebated rim, bottlenecked | |||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .2645 in (6.72 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .2970 in (7.54 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | .5275 in (13.40 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Base diameter | .5500 in (13.97 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .534 in (13.6 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .050 in (1.3 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Case length | 2.590 in (65.8 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Overall length | 3.340 in (84.8 mm)[1] | |||||||||||
| Case capacity | 93.5 gr H2O (6.06 cm3)[2] | |||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 1 in 8 inches | |||||||||||
| Primer type | Large rifle magnum | |||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (SAAMI) | 65,000 psi (450 MPa)[1] | |||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
Test barrel length: 26 in (660 mm) Source(s): [3][4] | ||||||||||||
The .26 Nosler (6.5×66mmRB) is a rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler and first announced in November 2013. It is designed as a modern 6.5mm cartridge, using recent advances in firearm technology to attain exceptionally high muzzle velocities (up to 3,400 ft/s (1,040 m/s)) and maintain an extremely flat trajectory. The overall cartridge length of 3.340 inches (84.8 mm) is the same as that of the .30-06 Springfield, allowing the use of widely available standard-length actions. Nosler claims that the .26 Nosler is the most powerful commercial 6.5mm cartridge in the world(However since RWS loads the 6.5x68 commercially developing 14% more energy it is actually the 2nd most powerful 6.5) :[5] when loaded with 129-grain AccuBond Long Range very-low-drag bullets, the velocity of the .26 Nosler at 400 yards is nearly as high as the muzzle velocity of the .260 Remington.[3][5]
The high velocity of the cartridge has raised concerns about excessive barrel wear, potentially wearing down barrels at a rate faster than that of the similar .264 Winchester Magnum, which itself has a reputation for being a "barrel burner".[4]
The cartridge specifications have been submitted to SAAMI and a data sheet is currently available.[1]
In 2015, Nosler introduced a 28 caliber version based on this cartridge called the .28 Nosler and then in 2016, Nosler introduced a 30 caliber version called the .30 Nosler and a 33 caliber version called the .33 Nosler.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "SAAMI New Cartridge and Chamber Acceptance Announcement: 26 Nosler" (PDF). Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "26 Nosler". Nosler. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 "26 Nosler ballistic data comparison charts" (PDF). Nosler. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 Hawks, Chuck. "The .26 Nosler - First Look". Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 "Nosler® unveils world's most powerful 6.5mm commercial cartridge: The 26 Nosler". Nosler. Retrieved 3 September 2014.