Category: Randy’s Blog

ON TARGET: 30 NOSLER IS NOT BASED ON .404 JEFFERY

In the October 2016 issue of American Hunter, page 94, Ron Spomer, Field Editor states the 30 Nosler is based on the .404 Jeffery case.

I must emphatically state that the 30 Nosler is NOT based on the .404 Jeffery case.  It is based on the .300 RUM case.

.404 Norma and RWS cases measure .5405 at the head.  Rem. .300 Rum cases measure .5455 at the head.  They are different cases entirely because of this.  Furthermore, chambers for the .404 measure .545, the .300 RUM measure .550.  So you see, a RUM case won’t fit in a .404 chamber as it is .545 at the rear of the chamber at the same position on the head diameter.  Nosler cases measure .5457 head.

I think every writer on this subject has misstated this.

I am a Master Rifle builder with 50 years of experience, of which 33 years is experience building .404 Jeffery based rifles.

Many years ago someone tried to use 30-06 cases formed to 6.5×55.  There is a difference of .006 to .007 thousands. Information came out not to use 30-06 cases, but only 6.5×55 cases.  Given the information misstated in the article, would you writers say the 6.5×55 is based on the 06 case?

It seems someone inexperienced, as so many writers seem to be, measured an expanded to fit the chamber case at the expansion ring to come up with the .300 RUM cases to .5455 at the head and said it was based on the .5405 Jeffery case.

This error comes from lacking technical understanding of the differences from a diameter standpoint, or a case, chamber aspect dimensionally.

We appear to be at a point in history where few have a technical knowledge or the experience to grasp the subject material, as has consistently been the case here.

©Randy Selby 9-19-2016

26 Nosler Not Up to Standard of 6.5×55 Imp.

This case is way over-bore.  P. O. Ackley determined 50+ years ago that the 6.5×55 Imp. is the correct size case for the 6.5 caliber.

In my 45 years of custom rifle building in every caliber bears his observation to be true.  I’ve built 6.5x.300 Wby’s and found 400 rounds maximum accuracy from top quality Match barrels.  The Nosler case is nearly identical in capacity and it is not correct for anything below 7MM, of which I’ve built hundreds.  Using this new 26 Nosler cartridge is just asking for problems and will result in a short barrel life with such a large volume case in the 6.5 caliber.

A 6.5×55 Imp.,with the correct powders, will come within 150 to 200 fps. of the 26 Nosler with 35-40 grains less of powder and many times the barrel life.  Shooting the 26 Nosler is not cost effective, which plays a big factor in this day and age of high reloading costs.

In fact some eight years ago I shortened the 7MM Rem. Ultra Mag  and arrived at the same capacity case as the 26 Nosler in 7MM and my loads chronographed at 3447 with 140 gr bullet in 26” barrel  This should prove the point that this same case in 6.5 is too big.

Call Randy at 307-587-6152 if you are interested in more information or a rifle built in 6.5 x 55 Imp.

Feb. 15, 2014  © Randy’s Custom Rifles

Accuracy and properly bedded rifle action or just “bolt together to a bedding block?”

I read where someone says that they don’t need to bed their rifles using a bedding block.

First off, this has been stated by someone who is not an experienced rifle maker or accuracy specialist..

I have nearly 50 years of experience properly bedding rifles that I build for top accuracy.  I have the same number of years properly working up top accuracy loads for EACH individual rifle I build, not just each caliber, as some do.  In most of the rifles I build the rifles are shooting groups between .300 and .400 at 100 yards.  This cannot be duplicated with un-bedded rifles, by amateurs with little know-how in developing top accuracy loads.

RESULTS

In all of the years of working up loads and testing my own rifles, as well as those I build and those that come into the shop for tune ups and custom load work up, I have thousands of targets to prove that the rifles I build and work on are the most accurate rifles available.  I do this testing day after day, rifle after rifle by selecting top quality barrels, each to suit the caliber, coupled with a life time of accuracy testing thousands of rifles.  I use bench rest techniques that I have developed in this shop.

Only rifles that deliver this proven level of accuracy should be used at long range distances to ethically take big game.  Never use a generic load shot in one rifle, then expect it to work in another rifle of the same caliber.  Doing so shows inexperience and the chance of wounding game that suffer a long time before being put out of its misery or never being recovered is too great.

Inexperience and lack of years in the accuracy game does not provide top level accuracy.  One to one and a half inch groups is not acceptable for long range shooting.

Also, remember there is no one perfect load for any particular caliber, even rifles using the same make of barrels from the same lot run. They are all individual and need their own “diet” to shoot to top accuracy.

9-3-2016 © Randy’s Custom Rifles