Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .26 Nosler with .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp bullet and 24 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 8133 Enduron, SNPE Vectan SP 13 and Vihtavuori 20N29.
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>> | 92% | 55,274 psi | 85% | 2838 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,710 psi | 87% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,798 psi | 89% | 2989 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,131 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,927 psi | 88% | 2910 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,217 psi | 86% | 2887 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,986 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,450 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 60% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon US 869 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,624 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,740 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 98% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,986 psi | 89% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D100 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,768 psi | 87% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot LRT | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,913 psi | 88% | 2913 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,176 psi | 62% | 1883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,233 psi | 90% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World 50 BMG | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,130 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 20N29 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,726 psi | 90% | 2894 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori 24N41 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,378 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,232 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,044 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,246 psi | 87% | 2917 fps | 99.4% |
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>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 59% | 2513 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,198 psi | 77% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 69% | 2743 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,428 psi | 75% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,314 psi | 77% | 2795 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,876 psi | 72% | 2717 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,723 psi | 84% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,056 psi | 83% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 45% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon US 869 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,083 psi | 80% | 2776 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,359 psi | 81% | 2700 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | 67 gr | 80% | 46,180 psi | 71% | 2680 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D100 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,663 psi | 79% | 2717 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,892 psi | 74% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot LRT | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,505 psi | 82% | 2851 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,443 psi | 47% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,636 psi | 84% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World 50 BMG | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,663 psi | 79% | 2717 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | 70 gr | 80% | 40,596 psi | 62% | 2536 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori 20N29 | 78.6 gr | 88% | 46,296 psi | 71% | 2674 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori 24N41 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,926 psi | 85% | 2825 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,983 psi | 83% | 2762 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,607 psi | 84% | 2844 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,837 psi | 81% | 2858 fps | 99% |
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 24 powders for .26 Nosler loaded with the .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,989 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,841 fps to 2,989 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 of the 24 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 160.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.0 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. IMR 8133 Enduron, SNPE Vectan SP 13, Vihtavuori 20N29 rank at the top here: for .26 Nosler with the .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp 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.