Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .26 Nosler with .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S bullet and 21 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2218, Alliant Reloder-50 and IMR 8133 Enduron.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 8700 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,378 psi | 90% | 3205 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,376 psi | 87% | 3179 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,130 psi | 88% | 3307 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,319 psi | 88% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,653 psi | 89% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,377 psi | 88% | 3248 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,493 psi | 88% | 3232 fps | 97.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,609 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 98.1% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,798 psi | 90% | 3225 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,348 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,942 psi | 88% | 3284 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,928 psi | 60% | 2093 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,508 psi | 90% | 3238 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 3219 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,205 psi | 62% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,943 psi | 89% | 3271 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,813 psi | 90% | 3258 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,609 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,610 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,407 psi | 90% | 3248 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,507 psi | 87% | 3258 fps | 97.4% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 8700 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,559 psi | 76% | 3041 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,124 psi | 74% | 3022 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 75.3 gr | 82% | 46,064 psi | 71% | 3058 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 72% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,549 psi | 84% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,675 psi | 75% | 3077 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | 76.4 gr | 82% | 49,153 psi | 76% | 3068 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,636 psi | 84% | 3107 fps | 97.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,040 psi | 82% | 3120 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,227 psi | 79% | 3084 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,954 psi | 83% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 46% | 1877 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | 67.4 gr | 80% | 45,498 psi | 70% | 2982 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,847 psi | 72% | 3022 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 47% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,853 psi | 84% | 3219 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,721 psi | 81% | 3146 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,632 psi | 76% | 3012 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,852 psi | 81% | 3041 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,446 psi | 81% | 3133 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,691 psi | 78% | 3140 fps | 96.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 21 powders for .26 Nosler loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,307 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,093 fps to 3,307 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 of the 21 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. ADI AR 2218, Alliant Reloder-50, IMR 8133 Enduron rank at the top here: for .26 Nosler with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.