In this month’s issue of Shooting Times and 2 other mags, I saw ads for two new cartridge offerings from Nosler–the 22 Nosler and the 33 Nosler. Anyone else notice these?
These join Nosler’s 26, 28, and 30 Nosler offerings that started appearing about 5 years ago.
There is no information that I can find on the 22 Nosler on the company website, but the 33 Nosler is obviously positioned to follow the Nosler formula of improving on the ballistics of similar chamberings, but in a standard length action, thus avoiding the weight, expense, and bolt travel distance increases of a magnum action. Nosler is clearly targeting the .338 Lapua and other established .33 magnums with this offering.
I have to think Nosler is already rolling production on the 33 Nosler in their line of rifles.
The 22 Nosler’s purpose and direction is a little unclear. The ads mention “swapping out your AR upper”. To me, that indicates that Nosler is getting into the AR upper game or they plan to partner with an AR maker to make 22 Nosler uppers? Very mysterious.
This is a very interesting development, but also it puts Nosler in an area where they are trying to succeed where others have failed. Trying to develop a “hot” .223 cartridge with .22-250-like velocities (or even faster), but in a cartridge case that can be handled by AR magazines and uppers is an interesting direction. All of this, however, must be done without creating a .223 WSSM-like mistake of having the cartridge be too hot for barrels to handle AND being too expensive to be shot in any quantity. When you’re competing against a cheap round like the .223/5.56 and your target market likes to shoot a lot, it doesn’t tend to sit well to produce a chambering that cost $30 a box and burns up barrels rapidly in the process.
I have to assume a big SHOT Show rollout is planned. Will be interesting to hear and read the first tests come out on these cartridge designs.
Grouse