Lindcott Armory 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
- .404 Jeffery
- 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
- 102 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 600 yd
- Max range
- 3000 yd
- Recoil
- 20–28 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady Match ELD-M 142 gr, 3,300 fps, BC 0.368 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 3299 | 3432 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 3166 | 3159 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 3034 | 2901 | -2.0″ | -0.9 |
| 300 yd | 2905 | 2660 | -7.7″ | -2.5 |
| 400 yd | 2779 | 2435 | -17.6″ | -4.2 |
| 500 yd | 2656 | 2224 | -32.0″ | -6.1 |
| 600 yd | 2536 | 2027 | -51.3″ | -8.2 |
| 700 yd | 2418 | 1843 | -76.0″ | -10.4 |
| 800 yd | 2303 | 1672 | -106.7″ | -12.7 |
| 900 yd | 2192 | 1515 | -144.0″ | -15.3 |
| 1000 yd | 2083 | 1368 | -188.5″ | -18.0 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open .26 Nosler ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
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 | 6.58 | 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
In production — 37 active loads across 11 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 37 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes | LRX BT 127gr | 127 | LRX BT | 3,425 | 3,307 | 0.238 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X | 129 | ELD-X | 3,400 | 3,311 | 0.278 G7 |
| Barnes | LRX | 127 | LRX BT | 3,400 | 3,259 | 0.238 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter | 129 | ELD-X | 3,400 | 3,311 | 0.278 G7 |
| Lapua | Scenar-L 136gr OTM | 136 | Scenar-L | 3,350 | 3,388 | 0.293 G7 |
| Hornady | Match ELD-M | 142 | ELD-M | 3,300 | 3,433 | 0.368 G7 |
| HSM | Trophy Gold 140gr OTM | 140 | OTM | 3,300 | 3,385 | 0.315 G7 |
| Berger | Hunting | 140 | VLD Hunting | 3,300 | 3,385 | 0.315 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X 143gr | 143 | ELD-X | 3,300 | 3,457 | 0.320 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter | 143 | ELD-X | 3,300 | 3,457 | 0.320 G7 |
| Berger | Hybrid OTM 140gr | 140 | Hybrid OTM | 3,300 | 3,385 | 0.315 G7 |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade AccuBond LR | 142 | AccuBond LR | 3,300 | 3,433 | 0.315 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X | 143 | ELD-X | 3,300 | 3,457 | 0.320 G7 |
| Nosler | Match Grade RDF OTM 140gr | 140 | RDF OTM | 3,300 | 3,385 | 0.315 G7 |
| Nosler | Match Grade RDF | 140 | RDF HPBT | 3,300 | 3,385 | 0.640 G1 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
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
12 models in the database chamber .26 Nosler. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The first of Nosler's rebated-rim magnum family, introduced in 2014. Built on a modified .404 Jeffery case 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 .404 Jeffery 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
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 →