Nosler proprietary cartridges

Nosler produces various high performance hollow point and soft point hunting bullets.

26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, and 30 Nosler

.22 cartridge

In January 2017 Nosler introduced the .22 Nosler. The 22 Nosler is a 22 (.224") caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler. The 22 Nosler is a SAAMI approved and standardized cartridge. It is the fifth cartridge designed by Nosler. It is claimed that the 22 Nosler delivers 25% more case capacity and is nearly 300 fps faster than a .223 Remington/ 5.56 NATO. This cartridge is designed to use the existing bolt face of an AR-15, and conversions to this caliber can be accomplished with a simple upper receiver swap. The case diameter and taper resemble those of the 6.8mm Remington SPC, so Nosler recommends using a magazine designed for that cartridge. While similar to the 6.8SPC in some regards, there is no parent case and the 22 Nosler cannot be formed from 6.8SPC brass.

Unlike the next four Nosler cartridges, all of which were designed earlier than the .22, this is the first Nosler cartridge to deviate from using the .404 Jeffery as the parent case.

.26 cartridge

The .26 Nosler (6.5×66mmRB) is a rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler and first announced in November 2013. It is the first cartridge designed by Nosler.^[1][2][3]

Background

The name 26 Nosler refers to the first two digits in the caliber (0.264") of the bullets that the cartridge fires and the name of the company which created it.

The 26 Nosler 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.

All four of Nosler's Cartridges the .26 Nosler, .28 Nosler, .30 Nosler, and .33 Nosler are based on the same .404 Jeffery parent case. While the 26 and 28 Nosler share the same cartridge case dimensions, the 30 Nosler has a slightly shorter length to the shoulder dimension than the 26 and 28,^[4] and the 33 Nosler has a shorter shoulder dimension yet than that of the 30 Nosler.^[5]

Performance

Nosler claimed that the .26 Nosler was the most powerful commercial 6.5mm cartridge in the world, however since the release of the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum in 2016 it is the 2nd most powerful 6.5mm cartridge.^[6][7] 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][7]

Barrel Life

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".^[8]

Specifications

The cartridge specifications have been submitted to SAAMI and a data sheet is currently available.^[1]

.28 Cartridge

The 28 Nosler is a 7mm (.284") caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler. Introduced in 2015 ^[9] and approved by SAAMI on January 19, 2015. It is the second cartridge designed by Nosler

Background

The name 28 Nosler refers to the first two digits in the caliber (0.284") of the bullets that the cartridge fires and the name of the company which created it.

The 28 Nosler is based on the 26 Nosler which was released in 2014. The 28 Nosler shares the same overall cartridge length (3.340") as the 26 Nosler which allows it to be chambered in standard-length action.^[10] This feature helps weight-conscious sportsmen to lighten their load before venturing into the backcountry. The cases’ overall length also aid in quick follow-up shots, since the bolt throw is shorter than on a magnum action.^[11]

All four of Nosler's Cartridges the 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, .30 Nosler, and the .33 Nosler are based on the same 404 Jeffrey parent case. While the 26 and 28 Nosler share the same cartridge case dimensions, the 30 Nosler has a slightly shorter length to the shoulder dimension than the 26 and 28,^[4] and the 33 Nosler has a shorter shoulder dimension yet than that of the 30 Nosler.^[12]

Design Considerations

The .28 Nosler is essentially a shortened version of the 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum. They share a maximum body diameter of 0.550 inch. Rebating the rim to 0.543 inch simplifies the production of rifle bolts since the rims of Holland & Holland-style belted magnums, such as the 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum, are the same diameter. Whereas the 7mm RUM case measures 2.387 inches long from head to body-shoulder juncture, that dimension on the .28 Nosler case is 2.166 inches. The dimension at that point on the Nosler case is 0.002 inch larger and that reduces its body taper by just a tad. Maximum case lengths are 2.850 and 2.590 inches respectively. Shoulder angles are 30 degrees for the Remington cartridge and a slightly sharper 35 degrees for the Nosler. Due to its greater length, the Remington case is about 25 percent more capacious than the Nosler.^[13]

Barrel Life

Since the .28 Nosler burns smaller powder charges than the 7mm RUM, barrel accuracy life is potentially a bit longer. How much longer depends on a number of things, including barrel quality and whether a barrel is pampered or abused by its owner.

Reloading

The 28 Nosler cartridge case can be formed by "necking-up" or expanding the neck of a 26 Nosler case to 7mm (.284") diameter.

.30 Cartridge

The 30 Nosler is a 30 (.308") caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler. Introduced in 2016, the 30 Nosler is a SAAMI approved and standardized cartridge. It is the third cartridge designed by Nosler

Background

The name 30 Nosler refers to the first two digits in the caliber (0.308") of the bullets that the cartridge fires and the name of the company which created it.

This is Nosler's third cartridge following its predecessors the 26 Nosler which was released in 2014 and the .28 Nosler which was released in 2015. The 30 Nosler shares the same overall cartridge length (3.340") as the 26 Nosler and the 28 Nosler which allows it to be chambered in standard-length action firearms.

All four of Nosler's Cartridges the 26 Nosler, .28 Nosler, 30 Nosler, and the .33 Nosler are based on the same 404 Jeffrey parent case. While the 26 and 28 Nosler share the same cartridge case dimensions, the 30 Nosler has a slightly shorter length to the shoulder dimension than the 26 and 28,^[4] and the 33 Nosler has a shorter shoulder dimension yet than that of the 30 Nosler.^[12]

The 30 Nosler was released in January 2016, later in October 2016, Nosler continued to add to the cartridge family by releasing the .33 Nosler and in January 2017 they introduced the 22 Nosler.^[14]

Performance

According to a recent Nosler publication the 30 Nosler surpasses the velocity of the .300 Weatherby Magnum, headspaces off of the shoulder like a .300 Remington Ultra Magnum and fits the same standard length action of a 300 Winchester Magnum.^[15]

.33 Cartridge

The 33 Nosler is a 33 (.338") caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge designed by Nosler. Introduced in 2016 (production release 2017), the 33 Nosler is a SAAMI approved and standardized cartridge. It is the fourth cartridge designed by Nosler.

Background

The name 33 Nosler refers to the first two digits in the caliber (0.338") of the bullets that the cartridge fires and the name of the company which created it.

The 33 Nosler is Nosler's fourth cartridge following its predecessors the 26 Nosler which was released in 2014, the .28 Nosler which was released in 2015, and the .30 Nosler which was released in 2016. The 33 Nosler shares the same overall cartridge length (3.340") as the 26 Nosler, the 28 Nosler, and the .30 Nosler which allows it to be chambered in standard-length action firearms.

All four of Nosler's Cartridges the 26 Nosler, .28 Nosler, .30 Nosler, and the 33 Nosler are based on the same 404 Jeffrey parent case. While the 26 and 28 Nosler share the same cartridge case dimensions, the 30 Nosler has a slightly shorter length to the shoulder dimension than the 26 and 28,^[4] and the 33 Nosler has a shorter shoulder dimension yet than that of the 30 Nosler.^[12]

Performance

According to a recent Nosler publication the 33 Nosler surpasses the velocity of the .338 Lapua Magnum by 25fps while burning 18% less powder.^[12] The 33 Nosler is built on the same action length as the .338 Winchester Magnum but launches projectiles at a higher velocity.^[16]

Availability

The 33 Nosler has not yet made its public release. It has been scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2017 with Nosler supplying ammunition and components.^[12] Nosler will also be offering rifles chambered in the 33 Nosler in its Liberty and Heritage lines.^[17][18]

See also

• .338 Winchester Magnum
• .338 Lapua Magnum
• 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
• 6.5 Creedmoor

References