28 Nosler

Salchi Papa · 2026-02-12T03:30:52-0800

So in the recent months I did some long range hunting on the farm. First time shooting anything this far. 2 deer one at 580yds heart shot dropped her where she stood and the 2nd at 680 yds through some trees at the top of the field another heart shot but she ran about 80yds before she dropped. Used a 7WSM for both shots. Gun belonged to a friend and I was very impressed with it for obvious reasons. So I’ve been looking at 7WSM and 270wsm for a build but since I own a 7mag and 2-270’s I’m not gaining much. So I did some reading and looking through reloading books and have become pretty interested in 28Nosler but other than the typical hype on the internet I know not a lot about it. Anyone used it for LR hunting and what is the performance? Barrel life? I do reload and will for the 28 Nosler but I will still need to obtain brass. I have found some but wouldn’t mind shooting some factory loads to get a baseline for reloading.

salmonchaser · 2026-02-12T04:55:40-0800

Well I only know one, a buddy picked one up five or so years ago. Damn thing is a death ray. I think he’s shooting 175 gr bullets leaving me to help pack elk he has shot on the other side of our canyon. I sat with him once on a 355 bull. 551 yards, steep up hill, no wind. At the shot the bull flinched, backed up a little, turned 180, backed up a little and then tumbled down the hill. Don’t know what the fuss is all about, damn rifle didn’t keep the bull from tumbling down the hill

xphunter · 2026-02-12T06:28:49-0800

The 28 will definitely have a shorter throat life than the other cartridges you mentioned, but everything has it positives and negatives.
A shorter barrel life is not a problem on a hunting rifle in my opinion.
How many rounds a year would you likely shoot it, once your initial load development and drop confirmations are done?
Even the 7STW, 7mm Dakota, and the 7mmx300 Win Mag, and 7mm-300 PRC will have a longer throat life than the 28.

Shorter barrel life is not a negative for a hunting rig in my opinion.

JD338 · 2026-02-12T06:54:17-0800

xphunter said:
The 28 will definitely have a shorter throat life than the other cartridges you mentioned, but everything has it positives and negatives.
A shorter barrel life is not a problem on a hunting rifle in my opinion.
How many rounds a year would you likely shoot it, once your initial load development and drop confirmations are done?
Even the 7STW, 7mm Dakota, and the 7mmx300 Win Mag, and 7mm-300 PRC will have a longer throat life than the 28.

Shorter barrel life is not a negative for a hunting rig in my opinion.

I agree. Not a big deal to get a new barrel.
Sun rise, sun burn, sun set, repeat.

JD338

Salchi Papa · 2026-02-12T06:57:50-0800

xphunter said:
The 28 will definitely have a shorter throat life than the other cartridges you mentioned, but everything has it positives and negatives.
A shorter barrel life is not a problem on a hunting rifle in my opinion.
How many rounds a year would you likely shoot it, once your initial load development and drop confirmations are done?
Even the 7STW, 7mm Dakota, and the 7mmx300 Win Mag, and 7mm-300 PRC will have a longer throat life than the 28.

Shorter barrel life is not a negative for a hunting rig in my opinion.

I agree. Past the round count of load development it will be only a few rounds annually since this will be a hunting rifle only. Even LR hunting I may not do that every year it just depends on how much crops are lost in that field. This year they ate 1/2acre of sweet corn and 6 acres of feed corn the field is 80 acres. I do not do DMAP tags for agriculture but there is usually 4 of us hunting that field.