By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Robert “Bob” Nosler, a giant in the firearms and ammunition reloading field, passed away Sept. 2 at the age of 79, leaving a legacy of excellence and innovation.
Nosler was well-known among his peers as a man who enjoyed meeting with consumers at trade shows and at National Rifle Association conventions. In an interview with this reporter, he once described the art of reloading ammunition as working with recipes, the effort to create loaded ammunition best suited to a shooter’s or hunter’s individual needs.
An announcement by the Nosler company published Thursday at The Outdoor Wire, noted, “Bob dedicated his life to carrying forward the innovation and spirit that defined Nosler from its beginning, a company founded by his father, John A. Nosler. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy and serving in the Submarine Service aboard the USS Nathan Hale during the Vietnam War, Bob returned home to Oregon to join the family business as its sixth employee. From the production floor to the executive office, he immersed himself in every aspect of operations, rising through the ranks as Production Manager, Vice President, President, and CEO before becoming Chairman.
”During his four decades of leadership, Bob guided the company through significant expansions and innovations. He championed the development of the Nosler cartridge family, the expansion of premium ammunition lines, and the successors to the legendary Partition bullet. Among his proudest achievements was returning the company to complete family ownership in 1988. Bob’s vision helped transform Nosler into a modern, full-line manufacturer of bullets, brass, ammunition, rifles, and proprietary cartridges.
“Bob’s influence extended far beyond the company. He served on the NRA Board of Directors for several years beginning in 2012, and he and his wife, Joan, were honored as the NRA’s “Corporate Executives of the Year” in 2016. He was also a member and generous supporter of conservation and Second Amendment organizations including The Camp-Fire Club of America, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association, Friends of NRA, and the NRA Whittington Center. In recent years, Bob took up writing, authoring and publishing three fiction novels.”
“Those who knew Bob best remember him for his character above all else. A hands-on leader, he believed in “management by walking around,” often found speaking with front-line employees on the production floor rather than sitting behind his desk. He was admired for his quiet confidence, his commitment to American manufacturing, and his belief that every product should uphold the trust of hunters and shooters who rely on them. Bob encouraged his employees to give their all at work, and then go home and give the same to their families.
“Bob was more than a leader of this company—he was a mentor, a friend, and the living connection between the foundation laid by our grandfather and the future we continue to build today,” said John R. Nosler, President. “We will honor his legacy by staying true to the principles he lived by—innovation with purpose, craftsmanship without compromise, and a deep respect for the hunting tradition.”
Nosler remains a family-owned company, committed to advancing the products and values Bob helped shape. His influence will continue to be felt in every product that bears the Nosler name.
Bob is survived by his wife, family, and the generations of hunters and shooters who trusted in the products he worked tirelessly to create. His leadership and presence will be deeply missed as the third generation of the Nosler family carries forward his legacy.
