26 Nosler vs 28 Nosler: Long Range Hunting Cartridges Perfected
26 Nosler vs 28 Nosler: Long Range Hunting Cartridges Perfected
The 26 Nosler and 28 Nosler are the first two entries in the Nosler cartridge line that were specifically designed for long range shooting and big game hunting.
Both rounds were developed to push the edges of the performance envelope and give shooters an incredibly flat shooting, hard-hitting round that could dominate the great outdoors and the F-class firing line simultaneously.
The 26 and 28 Nosler are nearly identical in external dimensions as well as ballistic performance with the primary difference between the two being the caliber of bullet they fire. Both rounds are extremely effective at harvesting big game like elk and moose as well as being excellent options for 1,000-yard target shooting.
This leads many shooters to question which Nosler cartridge is superior - the 26 or 28?
In this article, we will evaluate the 26 Nosler vs 28 Nosler to help you understand the differences between the two and give you a clearer understanding of which cartridge is best for your shooting and big game hunting needs.
What is the difference between the 26 Nosler and the 28 Nosler?
The difference between the 26 Nosler and the 28 Nosler is the 26 Nosler fires a 6.5mm or 0.264” diameter bullet while the 28 Nosler fires a 7mm or 0.284” diameter bullet. This means the 28 Nosler can fire heavier bullets and has a slightly longer effective range than the 26 Nosler.
Cartridge Specs
When evaluating centerfire cartridges, it’s a good idea to analyze the cartridge specs to gain more knowledge of each.
The 26 Nosler was the first cartridge released by the company in 2013. Following the 26’s success, the 28 Nosler was released two years later in 2015.
At the time of writing, there are currently six Nosler cartridges available on the market listed below in order of their release:
26 Nosler (2013)
28 Nosler (2015)
30 Nosler (2016)
33 Nosler (2016)
22 Nosler (2017)
27 Nosler (2020)
The 26 Nosler was developed using the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM) as a parent case while the 28 Nosler was developed using a shortened and necked down 404 Jeffery case.
Although both rounds descended from different parent cartridges, they have virtually identical external dimensions as their case length (2.59”) and overall length (3.34”) are exactly the same.
The decision on a 3.34” overall length was driven by the desire for both rounds to fit into a standard-length action. A standard or long-action is the same used by the 30-06 Springfield and is lighter than a magnum action like those used by the 300 PRC, 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, and 378 Weatherby Magnum.
Using a standard-length action means that the 26 and 28 Nosler will have a shorter bolt throw, allowing for faster follow-up shots, and be lighter than their magnum cartridge counterparts. Most sportsmen prefer a lightweight hunting rifle when venturing into heavy brush or on long stalks in the great outdoors.
Although the Nosler cartridges might fit into a standard action, they did not sacrifice anything in terms of stopping power as both cartridges have nearly identical case capacities. The 26 Nosler has a slightly higher capacity at 93.5 gr compared to 93 gr for the 28 Nosler.
For all intents and purposes, this difference is negligible, but it bears noting that you might be able to fit a small bit more powder in a 26 Nosler case if you are really pushing the muzzle velocity limits with your handloads.
To help simplify the manufacturing process, the 26 and 28 use a rebated rim design meaning their rim is narrower than their cartridge base. The rims on both rounds were narrowed to 0.534”, which is the same diameter as popular rounds like the 7mm Remington Magnum and 300 Win Mag.
Both Nosler rounds have the same maximum chamber pressure of 65,000 psi per SAAMI specs.
Although the 26 and 28 Nosler are virtually identical, the one glaring difference between them is the bullet diameter each cartridge fires.
The 26 Nosler was developed to fire extremely flat shooting 6.5mm projectiles like those made popular by the 6.5 Creedmoor. The “26” in the cartridge name comes from the first two digits of the bullet diameter, 0.264”. In contrast, the 28 Nosler fires wider 7mm projectiles or 0.284” and utilizes the same naming convention.
Bullet weights for the 26 Nosler range between 120 and 150 grains while the 28 Nosler can fire bullets ranging between 150 to 175 grains.
However, with case capacity being essentially equal, do the heavier projectiles of the 28 Nosler create excessive recoil for shooters to endure?
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