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Nosler has announced with deep sadness the passing of its Chairman, Robert “Bob” Nosler, on September 2 at the age of 79.

Bob was the son of company founder John A. Nosler and dedicated his life to advancing the innovation and values on which the Oregon-based manufacturer was built. After serving in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service aboard the USS Nathan Hale during the Vietnam War, he returned to the family business as its sixth employee. Over the years he held a succession of leadership roles, including Production Manager, Vice President, President and CEO, before becoming Chairman.

During more than four decades at the helm, Bob guided the company through significant growth and diversification. He was instrumental in the development of the Nosler cartridge family, the expansion of its premium ammunition lines, and the evolution of bullets that succeeded the iconic Partition. One of his most important milestones was restoring the company to complete family ownership in 1988, ensuring its independence and long-term vision. Under his leadership, Nosler became a modern, full-line manufacturer of bullets, brass, ammunition, rifles and proprietary cartridges.

His influence extended beyond the business. Bob served on the NRA Board of Directors beginning in 2012 and, together with his wife Joan, was named the NRA’s “Corporate Executive of the Year” in 2016. He supported numerous conservation and Second Amendment organisations, including The Camp-Fire Club of America, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association, Friends of NRA, and the NRA Whittington Center. In later years, he also turned to writing, publishing three fiction novels.

Bob was widely admired as a hands-on leader who valued “management by walking around,” preferring time on the production floor with employees to long hours in the office. He was known for his quiet confidence, his commitment to American manufacturing, and his belief that every Nosler product should uphold the trust of hunters and shooters.

“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 carrying forward the principles that Bob championed. His legacy will continue to be seen in the products trusted by hunters, sportsmen, law enforcement and military professionals worldwide.

Bob Nosler is survived by his wife, family, and the global community of shooters and hunters who have relied on the brand he helped shape.