History
Nosler introduced the .30 Nosler in 2016 as the .30 caliber entry in its beltless magnum family. The brief was familiar for the line: beat the .300 Winchester Magnum decisively, reach toward .300 RUM and .30-378 velocity, and do it from a standard-length action on a beltless case that headspaces on its shoulder. It hits those marks, driving heavy bullets fast and flat.
That velocity has a downside. The case is overbore, so it burns powder and barrel life freely, and that cost only makes sense for a long-range hunter who wants maximum .30 caliber reach in a standard action.
Lineage
It shares the beltless Nosler magnum case with the 26, 28, and 33 Nosler, all of them descended from the .404 Jeffery. The shoulder-headspaced case carries a .534 inch head and necks down to push a .308 inch (7.82mm) bullet from a standard-length action. Rivals run from the .300 Winchester Magnum it was built to beat up through the .300 PRC, the .300 RUM, and the .30-378 Weatherby.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Case type | Rimless, bottlenecked (beltless magnum) |
| Bullet diameter | 7.82 mm (.308 in) |
| Neck diameter | 8.74 mm (.344 in) |
| Shoulder diameter | 13.41 mm (.528 in) |
| Rim diameter | 13.97 mm (.550 in) |
| Case length | 64.92 mm (2.556 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 10 in (SAAMI reference); 1 in 9 in (recommended, for heavy match) |
| Max pressure | 65,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Recommended barrel | 32 in, 1:9 twist |
Barrel Design
The large powder charge sits behind a .308 inch bore, so the .30 Nosler keeps building velocity far down a long tube and wastes a short one. For the long-range and ELR work this site is built around, that argues for length, and the baseline here is 32 inches. The slow powders need that much barrel to finish burning, which also pulls standard deviation down on the match loads.
Twist should be 1:9 for the heavy bullets that make the cartridge worthwhile. Nosler's SAAMI reference is 1:10, fine for 180 to 200 grain hunting bullets. Move up to the 210 to 230 grain match bullets that exploit the case and you want the 1:9 to hold them stable into the transonic range at distance.
A 26 inch barrel still beats a .300 Win Mag and makes a handier hunting rifle, a reasonable step down if you do not need the last of the velocity. Either way, plan on shorter barrel life than a milder .30 magnum. The tables below are computed at the 32 inch baseline.
Range Ammo Performance
Nosler · 180 gr E-Tip $2.74/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3232 | -0.3 | 4175 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 3050 | 0.0 | 3717 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 2875 | -0.3 | 3303 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2707 | -0.7 | 2928 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 2544 | -1.3 | 2587 | 0.7 |
| 500 | 2388 | -2.0 | 2279 | 0.9 |
| 600 | 2237 | -2.7 | 2000 | 1.1 |
| 700 | 2091 | -3.5 | 1748 | 1.3 |
| 800 | 1951 | -4.4 | 1522 | 1.5 |
| 900 | 1818 | -5.3 | 1320 | 1.8 |
| 1000 | 1691 | -6.4 | 1142 | 2.1 |
| 1100 | 1571 | -7.6 | 987 | 2.4 |
| 1200 | 1460 | -8.9 | 852 | 2.7 |
| 1300 | 1359 | -10.4 | 738 | 3.0 |
| 1400 | 1269 | -12.1 | 643 | 3.4 |
| 1500 | 1191 | -13.9 | 567 | 3.8 |
| 1600 | 1127 | -15.9 | 507 | 4.2 |
| 1700 | 1074 | -18.2 | 461 | 4.6 |
| 1800 | 1031 | -20.7 | 425 | 5.0 |
| 1900 | 995 | -23.4 | 396 | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 963 | -26.3 | 371 | 5.8 |
| 2100 | 935 | -29.5 | 349 | 6.2 |
| 2200 | 909 | -32.9 | 330 | 6.6 |
| 2300 | 885 | -36.5 | 313 | 7.0 |
| 2400 | 863 | -40.3 | 298 | 7.5 |
Muzzle velocity 3232 fps is estimated at 32 in from the 26 in factory figure of 3100 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 · 190 gr Custom Competition $3.51/rd
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Elevation (mil) | Energy (ft-lb) | Windage (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3182 | -0.3 | 4271 | 0.3 |
| 100 | 3004 | 0.0 | 3807 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 2833 | -0.3 | 3386 | 0.3 |
| 300 | 2669 | -0.8 | 3004 | 0.5 |
| 400 | 2510 | -1.4 | 2658 | 0.7 |
| 500 | 2357 | -2.0 | 2343 | 0.9 |
| 600 | 2209 | -2.8 | 2058 | 1.1 |
| 700 | 2066 | -3.6 | 1801 | 1.3 |
| 800 | 1929 | -4.5 | 1570 | 1.6 |
| 900 | 1798 | -5.5 | 1364 | 1.8 |
| 1000 | 1674 | -6.6 | 1182 | 2.1 |
| 1100 | 1557 | -7.8 | 1022 | 2.4 |
| 1200 | 1448 | -9.2 | 885 | 2.7 |
| 1300 | 1350 | -10.7 | 768 | 3.1 |
| 1400 | 1262 | -12.4 | 672 | 3.4 |
| 1500 | 1186 | -14.2 | 593 | 3.8 |
| 1600 | 1123 | -16.3 | 532 | 4.2 |
| 1700 | 1072 | -18.6 | 485 | 4.6 |
| 1800 | 1030 | -21.1 | 448 | 5.0 |
| 1900 | 994 | -23.8 | 417 | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 963 | -26.8 | 391 | 5.9 |
| 2100 | 935 | -30.0 | 369 | 6.3 |
| 2200 | 909 | -33.4 | 349 | 6.7 |
| 2300 | 886 | -37.0 | 331 | 7.1 |
| 2400 | 864 | -40.9 | 315 | 7.5 |
Muzzle velocity 3182 fps is estimated at 32 in from the 26 in factory figure of 3050 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?
For ELR, run a long 32 inch barrel and a 1:9 twist so the overbore case delivers its velocity and stabilizes heavy 210 to 230 grain match bullets. A 26 inch barrel still outruns a .300 Win Mag for a handier hunting rifle, paired with a 1:10 for lighter bullets.
How does it compare to the .300 Win Mag?
The .30 Nosler is meaningfully faster, beltless, and headspaces on its shoulder, which helps precision. The .300 Win Mag answers with universal availability, milder recoil, and far longer barrel life. The Nosler is the performance choice; the Winchester is the practical one.
How does it compare to the .300 PRC?
The two are close in performance. The .300 PRC is the standardized, factory-deep, slightly more efficient option; the .30 Nosler edges it on raw velocity and fits a standard-length action. Both want a long barrel and a fast twist for heavy bullets.
What is the .30 Nosler good for?
Long-range and ELR hunting where maximum .30 caliber velocity and flat trajectory matter and barrel life is an accepted cost. It is a specialist's magnum.