28 Nosler Cartridge Guide
Introduced by Nosler in 2015, the 28 Nosler was designed to deliver very high velocity from modern 7mm bullets while still fitting a long-action rifle. It is a large-capacity, beltless magnum that is at its best with the heavier, high-BC 7mm bullets used for long-range hunting and shooting.
The 28 Nosler has enough case capacity to push 180-grain bullets well over 3100 fps in many 26-inch barrels, while documented 195-grain Berger loads on Long Range Only generally fall in the upper 2900s to low 3000s depending on barrel, chamber, brass and powder. That performance comes with a tradeoff: the 28 Nosler is hard on barrels and should be treated as a high-performance hunting cartridge rather than an inexpensive high-volume practice round.
This is a guide. Everything listed here is for information purposes only. The load data below was submitted by experienced Long Range Only members for their individual rifles and is not pressure-tested load-manual data. Component lots, brass capacity, chambers, throats and barrels vary. Always start low and work up carefully while watching for pressure. A charge that is safe in one rifle may not be safe in another. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
28 Nosler Design
The 28 Nosler uses a large-diameter beltless case with a rebated rim and a 35-degree shoulder. SAAMI maximum cartridge overall length is 3.340 inches and maximum case length is 2.590 inches. That standard overall length works with factory ammunition, but it is restrictive when the cartridge is loaded with long 180- to 195-grain bullets.
This is one area where a custom 28 Nosler can have a real advantage. Many of the best heavy-bullet loads documented on Long Range Only use cartridge overall lengths from roughly 3.59 to 3.71 inches. A longer throat combined with adequate magazine length allows the heavy bullets to be seated farther out of the powder column and lets the cartridge make better use of its capacity.
Bullets and Twist Rate
The 28 Nosler makes the most sense with high-BC bullets. The 175- to 180-grain class works very well and gives excellent velocity. The Berger 195 EOL is also one of the most commonly documented bullets in the Long Range Only 28 Nosler data.
For a new rifle intended to use 180- to 195-grain bullets, a 1:8 twist is a very common choice. Several of the best documented LRO loads were fired through 1:8 barrels. Factory rifles with slower twists may still shoot lighter bullets very well, but the bullet you plan to use should be considered before choosing the barrel.
Powder Selection
The powders repeated most often in the Long Range Only 28 Nosler data are H1000, Retumbo, Vihtavuori N570, Reloder 33 and IMR 8133. There is no single powder that will be best in every rifle. Chamber dimensions, throat length, brass capacity, barrel length and the individual barrel can move both pressure and velocity substantially.
With the 180-grain class, H1000 and Retumbo show up repeatedly. With the 195 Berger, N570, Retumbo and RL33 are commonly referenced. The important part is not chasing somebody else’s velocity. Find the pressure limit in your rifle, back away from it, and let the rifle tell you where it wants to shoot.
Long Range Only Reference Loads
The following are real loads submitted by Long Range Only members for individual rifles. They are included as reference points only. They are not recommended starting charges.
Brass and Primers
Nosler and ADG brass show up repeatedly in the LRO data, with Bertram also represented. Brass capacity matters with a cartridge this large. Changing brass brands can change pressure even when every other component remains the same.
Large rifle magnum primers are the norm in the documented loads. Federal 215M and Winchester large rifle magnum primers both appear repeatedly. As always, changing primer type can change pressure and should be treated as a component change requiring the load to be rechecked.
Barrel Life
Barrel life is the major tradeoff with the 28 Nosler. It burns a large amount of slow powder through a 7mm bore. Long Range Only members with first-hand experience have reported barrels beginning to lose top accuracy in the several-hundred-round range, while others have gone considerably farther. Around 500–700 rounds is a reasonable expectation discussed often on LRO, but there are examples on both sides of that number.
How the rifle is used matters. Long, hot strings of fire are harder on the throat than a hunting rifle that is allowed to cool between shots. If the goal is to shoot several thousand practice rounds per year, the 28 Nosler is not the logical tool. If the goal is a high-performance long-range hunting rifle, the barrel-life tradeoff can be easier to justify.
Hunting Performance
The 28 Nosler combines high velocity with bullets that have excellent ballistic coefficients. That makes it a very capable long-range hunting cartridge when the rifle, bullet and shooter are matched to the application.
LRO members have documented successful use of the 175 ELD-X, 180 Berger and 195 Berger on deer, elk and moose. As with any high-velocity magnum, impact velocity and shot placement matter. At closer distances, heavy 7mm bullets can create substantial tissue damage. At extended distances, the retained velocity and BC of the heavier bullets are where the cartridge earns its reputation.
Conclusion
The 28 Nosler is not a cartridge I would choose because I wanted inexpensive practice or long barrel life. That is not what it does best. It is a high-performance 7mm magnum capable of pushing 180- to 195-grain bullets at velocities that smaller 7mm cartridges cannot match without giving something up.
For a dedicated long-range hunting rifle, especially one built with enough throat and magazine length to use the heavy bullets correctly, the 28 Nosler still has a lot to offer. The key is to accept the tradeoffs, keep the rifle out of unnecessary hot shot strings, and tune the load for accuracy and consistency instead of chasing the highest velocity another rifle produced.
28 Nosler Accuracy Loads
Ryan Furman
Long Range Only
