Rifle · SAAMI
.26 Nosler
Nosler's 6.5mm magnum: extremely fast, flat-shooting long-range hunting cartridge in a standard-length magnum action..
- Caliber
- 0.2645″ · 6.718 mm
- Introduced
- 2014
- Case
- Rebated
- Parent
- .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2014
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Nosler, Inc.
- Manufacturer
- Nosler
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 100.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 600 yd
- Max range
- 6550 yd
- Recoil
- 20–28 ft·lb
Introduced by Nosler
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .26 Nosler. Parent case: .300 Remington Ultra Magnum.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 6.72 | 0.264 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.54 | 0.297 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.40 | 0.528 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 35° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 13.97 | 0.550 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.56 | 0.534 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.27 | 0.050 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 6.59 | 0.259 | ≈ |
| Case length | 65.79 | 2.590 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 84.84 | 3.340 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .26 Nosler is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
4 reloading powders listed for .26 Nosler, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .26 Nosler
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The first of Nosler's rebated-rim magnum family, introduced in 2014. Built on a shortened .300 Remington Ultra Magnum case (itself derived from the .404 Jeffery) to avoid belt-related accuracy issues while maximizing powder capacity. At introduction, it was the fastest 6.5mm cartridge commercially available, pushing a 129-grain bullet over 3,400 fps. Part of Nosler's strategy to own the premium hunting rifle market with proprietary cartridges that required Nosler-branded rifles and ammunition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .26 Nosler use?
- .26 Nosler typically uses a 1:8 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .26 Nosler?
- .26 Nosler uses a 0.2645″ (6.718 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .26 Nosler still in production?
- .26 Nosler is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .26 Nosler used for?
- .26 Nosler is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is .26 Nosler based on?
- .26 Nosler is derived from the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum case.
- What are the best powders for .26 Nosler?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .26 Nosler include N165, Reloader 23, Reloader 26, IMR 7977.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) — ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 – 2015 (Centerfire Rifle) — Velocity & Pressure / Cartridge & Chamber Drawings · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 26 Nosler 129gr AccuBond Long Range Trophy Grade Ammunition (Part #60110) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 26 Nosler 150gr AccuBond Long Range Trophy Grade Ammunition (Part #61052) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 6.5mm 129gr AccuBond Long Range bullet (100ct) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 26 Nosler 142gr AccuBond Long Range Trophy Grade Ammunition (Part #60122) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Nosler — 6.5mm 142gr AccuBond Long Range bullet (100ct, Part #58922) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 6.5mm 150gr AccuBond Long Range bullet (100ct, Part #58930) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 6.5mm 140gr AccuBond bullet (50ct, Part #57873) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Nosler — 26 Nosler 140gr AccuBond Trophy Grade Ammunition (Part #60014) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 37 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
