Cartridge Report for 26 Nosler
Because this was my first hunting trip to Africa, I asked the outfitter what rifle to bring and was advised to bring a deer rifle I was comfortable shooting. My current deer rifles are chamber in 260 and 26 Nosler. The 260 is a Desert Tech rifle (
https://deserttech.com/html/product_overview.php?product_id=2&load=product_overview), which I love to shoot and is incredibly accurate. Although it a bolt action, I worried that it might attract unnecessary attention as it looks a little like an AR15. So I brought my 26 Nosler, which is a traditional-looking bolt action rifle.
Here is a report on how the 26 Nosler cartridge performed. I used Nosler 140 grain ABLR (accubond long range) bullets. [MV ≈ 3300 fps ME ≈ 2400 ft lbs] I brought 129 grain ABLRs with 100-150 fps higher MVs but didn't use them on the trip.
Shots ranged from 75 to just under 200 yards. Area hunted Limpopo near Botswana and Zimbabwe borders. Lots of bushy vegetation.
Impala 1. First animal shot. Hit in chest behind shoulder (classic America deer placement), quartering slightly away. Ran less than 50 yards. Bullet found on opposite side just under the skin.
Zebra. Shot as PH advised in shoulder at “sergeant strips.” Ran about 100 yards, circled briefly and feel over dead. Shoulders broken, lots of lung blood. No exit wound.
Waterbuck. Shot in shoulder. Animal ran 75 yards and fell. The waterbuck then struggled to its feet as the PH’s Jack Russell approached. Shot again and it immediately went down. Shoulders broken with no exit wound.
Kudu. Shot in shoulder. Ran less than 50 yards. We found it dead minutes later. Shoulder broken, lots of lung blood, no exit wound.
Impala 2. Shot in the crease behind just shoulder as the animal was moving. Ran at least 100 yards at high speed after being hit. We could observe this animal well as the area was open with trees rather than brush. Impala fell over dead at the end of the run. Small exit wound which can be seen in the photo.
Warthog. Shot just above and slightly behind shoulder. DRT, fell over immediately and didn’t even twitch. Shoulder intact but heart severely damaged. No exit wound.
The bullets we recovered retained most of their weight. I didn't get a chance to load and bring Barnes 127 grain LRX (long range version of triple shock); I suspect these would have performed well too.
Whitetails here seem to expire more quickly with this round than the African game. The PH didn't seem concerned that most of the animals ran a little bit before going down. Overall, I was happy with how the rifle and cartridge performed. The trip was great -- one of the most enjoyable hunts ever.
All of the game meat was fantastic to eat. Had to request that it be cooked rare to medium rare as the local preference seemed to be medium well or beyond.
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- Possibly the only civilised thing about me... 26 Nosler sounds quite a performer and a great time hunting to boot
