Real scoop on 264 win mag vs 26 Nolser

[scooterf79]

Hey guys....has anyone here done any side by side comparison with these 2? I know Nosler touts it as the hands down winner over the winny. Nosler's website is obviously biased toward it's own and shows about 250-300 fps difference in their loading data. Hodgdon shows about 100 fps difference. I know the over bore argument, brass price argument etc. I'm talking side by side comparison. I'm a bit intrigued by both of them so I'm just curious.
So....given the same barrel length, same bullet weight etc...how much actual difference is there between the 2?
Thanks!
Scooter

[SageRat Shooter]

:pop2:
Looking forward to this thread... Let it begin!!

[scope eye]

There is as much difference between a 26 Nosler and a 264 WinMag as there is between a Creedmoor and a 260 Remington.

Dean

[psharon97]

IMO, it comes down to the belted magnum. There are some special steps involved in loading for belted cartridges that you don't have to deal with for non-belted magnum. Otherwise, like Scope eye said, the functional difference is nill at best and can only be seen on paper.

[scooterf79]

There is as much difference between a 26 Nosler and a 264 WinMag as there is between a Creedmoor and a 260 Remington.

Dean
Thanks Deano! I didn't think there was much difference between them. Good to see you back around...umm your 50 cal and no brake story was great [emoji23] [emoji23] . If I come down would you do it again so I can see? Lol


IMO, it comes down to the belted magnum. There are some special steps involved in loading for belted cartridges that you don't have to deal with for non-belted magnum. Otherwise, like Scope eye said, the functional difference is nill at best and can only be seen on paper.
Thanks ps,
I've not had any problems with my belted mags, so that part is kind of a no issue for me. Sounds like Nosler is just blowing some smoke....

Thanks guys!
Scooter

[Zero333]

According to QUICKLOAD...

With 24" barrels... At 62,000 psi both Cartridges achieve almost the same velocities (26 Nos has 40fps edge) with 140 gr bullets.

264winmag, 140 Gameking, 3.340" coal, 74gr N-570 = 3,175 fps at 62,000 psi, 24" bbl.

26 Nosler, 140 Gameking, 3.340" coal. 82.5 gr N-570, 3,214 fps at 62,000 psi, 24" bbl.

26 Nosler, 140 Gameking, 3.340, coal, 94.1 gr N-570, 3,263 fps at 65,000 psi, 24" bbl.

The deal with the 26 Nosler is that it can be loaded to 65,000 psi instead of 62,300 like for the 264winmag.

[sharpshooter]

The Nosler uses 20 grs. more powder, and gains virtually nothing in speed. That just means the barrel will be gone in 500 rds, versus 800.

[bigedp51]

According to Jack O'Connor the .270 Winchester was the worlds best non-belted magnum.

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[psharon97]

Will the 6.5-284 give better barrel for around the same velocity?

[Zero333]

Roughly...

26 Nosler has 98gr H20 capacity

264winmag 83 H20

6.5-284 Norma 66 H20

Usually more powder does mean more velocity but there is always a maximum before any more powder hardly increases velocity.

What I mean is that a 50 BMG has a case that hold 250gr of powder because a bigger case with more powder would not produce higher velocities. The smaller the bore the smaller MAX capacity needed to reach full velocity potential.

I assume a 22 cal will not gain much velocity after some 55gr of powder.
A 6mm might work with 70gr max
6.5mm maybe around 85 gr
7mm around 95
30 cal around 110
and so on.

Roughly.

[scope eye]

I had a 300 winmag necked down to 6.5, and it was better than my 264 WM but not as much as I thought it would be unless I pushed it, on they other hand my 6.5-300 Rum does produce some good numbers whether I push it or not. I love those Sierra 107s they have almost a .500bc and just scream down range.LOL

Dean

[yorketransport]

The 26 Nosler won't show any significant improvement with 140gr bullets. Move up to the 160s and it will start to come out ahead.

I was able to get the 160gr Matrix VLD up to 3120 fps using US869 in a 30" barreled 264 Win Mag. The same bullet from a 30" 26 Nosler using US869 was about 100 fps faster at 3210. Both were shot using an OAL of 3.600". My experience has been that the extra case capacity really only helps when you get into the heavier bullets with slower powders. My 6.5 Badger (338 RUM improved) or the 6.5 RUM with the same case capacity can move the same 160gr bullet over 3300 fps easily from a 30" barrel. I actually run the 160 Matrix at 3340 fps using US869.

Shooting 140 class bullets takes away any advantage in the big 6.5mm cases IMO. I wouldn't shoot 120gr bullets in a 7 RUM for the same reason; a 7 Rem Mag would nearly match the performance using the same bullet but with less powder.

[scooterf79]

Thanks for all the info guys! I appreciate it. The 140s seem pretty mainstream so I'm sure that's why that's the main comparison.
Are those 160s hard to get ahold of?
Scooter

[darkker]

160-class are typically around frequently, The issue is the build velocity.
Most of those came around during the Carcano-type cartridges, so bump them up to warp 9 and things get awfully soft. Expect some serious splatters.

[scooterf79]

Darker,
what about those matrix bullets? Would they be ok in the 26? Seems like if you could get good spred out of them like he posted...that would be a dynamite LR round. Im just not familiar with them at all.
Thanks,
Scooter

[darkker]

Personally no real experience with them. From a hunting bullet standpoint, unless they tell you it was designed with the 26 Nosler in mind; expect it to just be a match bullet.

[scooterf79]

Ok, gotcha. Thanks for the info!
Scooter

[yorketransport]

The 160 Matrix bullets will easily hold up to anything the 26 Nosler can dish out. They expand well in my bullet testing media (wet leather) as long as it's been properly stabilized. I've tested them in the 6.5x47 Lapua, 264 Win Mag, 26 Nosler and the 6.5 Badger/RUM with excellent accuracy from all of them. However, the 160 Matrix didn't reliably expand unless it was fired with a SG of at least 1.5 as calculated using Berger's stability calculator.

With a 1-8" twist in a 26 Nosler I'd say the 160 Matrix would be one of the top bullets I'd look at if long range hunting was the goal. It's the only bullet I shoot in my 6.5 Badger for hunting or target shooting and I don't have any complaints. Of course I haven't taken any game with it so I really can't say for sure how it will perform on a deer or bear. I have shot it into my wet leather at 1000 yards and they expanded well.