History
Nosler introduced the 28 Nosler in 2015, the 7mm member of its beltless magnum family and the second to land after the 26 Nosler. Nosler wanted the flattest-shooting, hardest-hitting 7mm magnum that still fit a standard-length action. Heavy 7mm bullets leave faster than from a 7mm Remington Magnum or 7mm Weatherby, with no belt, headspacing cleanly on the shoulder.
The tradeoff is real. Heavily overbore, the 28 Nosler burns barrels faster than a 7mm PRC or 7mm Rem Mag, and burns more powder to do it. For the long-range hunter who wants the most 7mm reach available and accepts the shorter barrel life that comes with it, the 28 Nosler is worth that cost.
Lineage
Nosler's beltless magnum case traces back to the .404 Jeffery, the same lineage that underlies the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum family. It carries a large .534 inch head, headspaces on the shoulder, and necks down to a 7mm (.284 inch) bullet inside a standard-length action. The 26, 30, and 33 Nosler share the case; the 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm PRC, and 7mm RUM are what it competes against.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Case type | Rimless, bottlenecked (beltless magnum) |
| Bullet diameter | 7.22 mm (.284 in) |
| Neck diameter | 8.13 mm (.320 in) |
| Shoulder diameter | 13.40 mm (.528 in) |
| Rim diameter | 13.97 mm (.550 in) |
| Case length | 65.79 mm (2.590 in) |
| Overall length | 84.84 mm (3.340 in) |
| Case capacity | ~93 gr H2O (nominal; varies by brand) |
| Primer size | Large rifle magnum |
| Belted | No |
| Rifling twist | 1 in 9 in (SAAMI reference); 1 in 8 in (recommended, for heavy match) |
| Max pressure | 65,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Recommended barrel | 28 in, 1:8 twist |
Barrel Design
Being overbore dictates the barrel. A large powder charge sits behind a 7mm bore, so the cartridge keeps gaining velocity well down a long tube and punishes a short one. The length is where you collect the performance you are spending powder and barrel life to get. The slow powders the case runs need it to finish burning, which also tightens standard deviation on the match loads.
Twist should be 1:8 for the long-range mission. Nosler's SAAMI reference is 1:9, fine for the lighter hunting bullets, but the heavy 175 to 195 grain 7mm match bullets that justify a case this overbore want the faster rate to stay stable into the transonic range at distance.
The baseline I'd recommend is 28 inches and 1:8, enough to capture the velocity and stabilize the best bullets. Drop to 26 inches for a handier hunting rifle and you still have a very fast 7mm; shorter than that starts wasting the case. Plan on a new barrel sooner than you would on a milder 7mm. The tables below run at that 28 inch length.
Range Ammo Performance
Nosler · 160 gr Ballistic Tip $1.95/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3244 | -0.3 | 3738 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 3064 | 0.0 | 3335 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 2891 | -0.3 | 2969 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2725 | -0.7 | 2637 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 2564 | -1.3 | 2336 | 0.7 |
| 500 | 2409 | -1.9 | 2062 | 0.9 |
| 600 | 2260 | -2.7 | 1814 | 1.1 |
| 700 | 2116 | -3.4 | 1590 | 1.3 |
| 800 | 1977 | -4.3 | 1388 | 1.5 |
| 900 | 1844 | -5.3 | 1208 | 1.8 |
| 1000 | 1717 | -6.3 | 1048 | 2.0 |
| 1100 | 1598 | -7.5 | 907 | 2.3 |
| 1200 | 1487 | -8.8 | 785 | 2.6 |
| 1300 | 1384 | -10.2 | 681 | 2.9 |
| 1400 | 1292 | -11.8 | 593 | 3.3 |
| 1500 | 1212 | -13.6 | 522 | 3.7 |
| 1600 | 1145 | -15.5 | 466 | 4.0 |
| 1700 | 1090 | -17.7 | 422 | 4.4 |
| 1800 | 1045 | -20.1 | 388 | 4.8 |
| 1900 | 1007 | -22.7 | 360 | 5.2 |
| 2000 | 974 | -25.6 | 337 | 5.7 |
| 2100 | 945 | -28.7 | 317 | 6.1 |
| 2200 | 919 | -32.0 | 300 | 6.5 |
| 2300 | 895 | -35.5 | 284 | 6.9 |
| 2400 | 872 | -39.2 | 270 | 7.3 |
Muzzle velocity 3244 fps is estimated at 28 in from the 26 in factory figure of 3200 fps at about 22 fps per inch. Expect your own barrel to read a little differently. Velocity is color coded green supersonic, yellow transonic, red subsonic; treat transonic and subsonic rows as approximate.
Match Ammo Performance
Nosler Match Grade · 185 gr RDF $2.95/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2994 | -0.3 | 3682 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 2868 | 0.0 | 3377 | 0.1 |
| 200 | 2744 | -0.3 | 3092 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2623 | -0.9 | 2825 | 0.4 |
| 400 | 2505 | -1.5 | 2577 | 0.6 |
| 500 | 2390 | -2.2 | 2346 | 0.7 |
| 600 | 2278 | -2.9 | 2131 | 0.9 |
| 700 | 2169 | -3.8 | 1933 | 1.1 |
| 800 | 2064 | -4.6 | 1749 | 1.3 |
| 900 | 1961 | -5.5 | 1579 | 1.4 |
| 1000 | 1861 | -6.5 | 1422 | 1.6 |
| 1100 | 1763 | -7.6 | 1276 | 1.9 |
| 1200 | 1667 | -8.8 | 1142 | 2.1 |
| 1300 | 1574 | -10.0 | 1018 | 2.3 |
| 1400 | 1483 | -11.4 | 903 | 2.6 |
| 1500 | 1394 | -12.9 | 799 | 2.9 |
| 1600 | 1309 | -14.5 | 704 | 3.2 |
| 1700 | 1227 | -16.2 | 618 | 3.5 |
| 1800 | 1149 | -18.2 | 542 | 3.8 |
| 1900 | 1092 | -20.3 | 489 | 4.2 |
| 2000 | 1058 | -22.6 | 460 | 4.6 |
| 2100 | 1032 | -25.1 | 437 | 4.9 |
| 2200 | 1009 | -27.8 | 418 | 5.3 |
| 2300 | 987 | -30.7 | 400 | 5.7 |
| 2400 | 967 | -33.8 | 384 | 6.0 |
Muzzle velocity 2994 fps is estimated at 28 in from the 26 in factory figure of 2950 fps at about 22 fps per inch. Expect your own barrel to read a little differently. Velocity is color coded green supersonic, yellow transonic, red subsonic; treat transonic and subsonic rows as approximate.
Trajectory
FAQ
What barrel length and twist should I run?
Run a long barrel, 28 inches for the long-range role, because this overbore case needs length to perform. Pair it with a 1:8 twist to stabilize the heavy 7mm match bullets; the 1:9 reference twist is really for lighter hunting bullets.
How hard is it on barrels?
Harder than a 7mm PRC or 7mm Rem Mag. The large powder charge behind a 7mm bore erodes the throat faster, so competitive or high-volume shooters should budget for barrel replacement as part of running the cartridge.
How does it compare to the 7mm PRC?
The 28 Nosler is faster, the 7mm PRC is more efficient and easier on barrels. The PRC reaches most of the same downrange performance with less powder, less recoil, and longer barrel life; the 28 Nosler wins on raw velocity for those who want it.
What is the 28 Nosler good for?
Long-range hunting, where maximum 7mm velocity and flat trajectory matter and barrel life is an accepted cost. A specialist's magnum, not a generalist.