264 win mag

[Bill1225]

I have decided on build a long range hunting rig. I have been going through ideas 300 win , 300 wthy, etc etc and keep reading all the hype about 6.5 cal . I figured the 264 because I am a Winchester guy , but I also have read horror stories about the 264 barrel life , people saying " its just a loud 270" , doesn't achieve published velocities . on the other hand I understand the higher bc's and sd of the 6.5. Does anyone own a 264 and my main question is . Will it add any attributes to a hunting battery that already has a 270, 308 and 338 win?

 

[Art Eatman]

I did quite a bit of light-load plinking with my '06, but not all that much shooting with max-load hunting rounds. So, IMO, a rifle used for hunting doesn't have that many "barrel burners" shot through it to make barrel life a problem.

I guess I'd view the .264 as a .270 plus a hundred yards. Dunno about the .338.

 

[jmorris]

What is long range to you and what are you going to be killing with it?

 

[Llama Bob]

With heavy bullets it exceeds published velocities. I'm getting 2900 with the 160gr weldcore out of a 24" tube below SAAMI max pressure and with a temp stable powder (Retumbo).

It's by no means a loud .270 - faster twist, higher SD, and 15gr more case capacity. It's far harder hitting and somewhat higher recoil.

Barrel life is short, but for a hunting rig who cares? If I take 800 shots at big game, (even assuming a few sighters for every one field shot) I'm going to be a VERY happy .264 owner and more than willing to pay for the rebarrel.

 

[jdh]

My next rifle:
https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-sendero-sf-ii

In 264

 

[cheygriz]

If you can afford enough powder and bullets to burn a barrel, you can afford a new barrel every now and then.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Been waiting for this to pop up on THR.

I have a Swede (nice Sako...).
Drives me nuts that Creedmoor is everywhere (and I don’t have one!).
Why not up the ante and go WM: or WBY?

I wouldn’t worry about it. Many on this forum have said something like: If you have the cash get what you want because we all on this forum have more guns than we ‘need’. Two years ago I got a .375 HH. Talk about impractical. Now, if someone passed by with a .416 Rem....

Bottom line: get it. Enjoy it.

Greg

 

[Offfhand]

If you can afford enough powder and bullets to burn a barrel, you can afford a new barrel every now and then.

Truer words were never spoken. Here is a Pre-64 M-70 .264WM I had stocked by Al Bieson many, many years ago (Don't ask how many) and it has burned a lot powder over those years. If the barrel is burned out it doesn't show it on the targets... .

 

[TRX]

Will it add any attributes to a hunting battery that already has a 270, 308 and 338 win?

I'm a huge 6.5 fan, but... if you already have a .270, the 6.5s don't have a whole lot to offer, particularly if you're a hunter. The 6.5 has ballistic advantages, but the industry has a .270 bullet designed for any imaginable velocity and type of game, as well as a huge variety of loaded ammunition.

Of course few shooters have been unable to justify a new purchase somehow...

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
This thread interests me because I am contemplating acquiring another boot action rifle for my retirement shooting plans.
I am having some internal disputes with myself as to what caliber to acquire. I have been going back and forth between something in 6mm on up to .284 caliber.
Part of me thinks a .270 might be a good choice but then I do have a set of .264Win Mag dies that I used to load rounds for a friend years ago.
I already have rifles in .243, 7x57, .308 and .30/06 and 7mmMag. I also have a set of dies for my son's .270.
I am also intrigued by the .257Roberts.
I am conflicted about what provide more utility...rifle would be primarily a range rifle but might possibly be used for hunting whitetails and black bear.
I really don't have much experience with the accuracy potential of the .257Roberts or the .284. My limited experience with the .270 and .264WinMag show that they are capable of 1" groups at 100yds in a good rifle.
I don't have any experience with the various Weatherby Magnum calibers.
Any insight into which caliber might provide the best theoretical intrinsic accuracy in a good bolt action rifle?

 

[js8588]

My only issue with the 264 Win Mag is the 1:9 twist. 6.5s really work better with 1:8 twists to stabilize heavy for caliber projectiles.

I look at the new 6.5 PRC with great interest. Kind of a 264 Mag done right.

 

[Gordon]

If you are building a .264WM go 1-8" twist for the VLD heavies. The 1-9" commonly used works for most everything else very well. The 127 grain Barnes copper bullets are very deadly on antelope and sheep as far as you should shoot at them, which is up to 900 yards
Also consider a 26" or 27" barrel for .264WM , good things happen with it above 24"
Al that said ; since early 2000s my go to deer and less than elk gun is a .270 WSM in a stainless New Haven made Classic 3.5-10x Leupold in Deadnutz Reaper one piece mount . I used to shoot only 150 grain Nosler Partitions in it in Africa and Alaska, Montana and Idaho. One shot one kill out to 500 yards or less. Now I only shoot Oregon and California in my old age and use 130 grain Barnes TSX lead free . The .264 is a flatter shooter with the favorite 140 grain Sierra boattail Game kings I used with H870 powder and I have a 6-24+x scope on my Westerner and a 4.5-15x on my Feather weight .264, for me it is a more specialized platform and not a "go to " general hunting weapon which used to be for me a .308 Win locally or .300 Weatherby in Africa or Alaska .

 

[labnoti]

How well do the long-ogive ELD bullets fit in the .264 WM? It seems like the shoulder is pushed a lot farther back on more modern cartridges. If a very long .264 bullet is seated so that the case neck is on the caliber diameter, will the cartridge still fit in the magazine and chamber?

 

[cheygriz]

If a range and deer/black bear rifle, take a hard look at the .257 Roberts and the 6MM Remington.

I really don't know if there is such a thing as "an inherently accurate" calibre, but if there is, the 6MM Remington is it.

Now that .257 Roberts "+P" ammo is available, that old timer is nipping on the heels of the .25-06.

 

[Llama Bob]

I really don't know if there is such a thing as "an inherently accurate" calibre, but if there is, the 6MM Remington is it.

Headspacing on a steep shoulder is the opposite of inherent accuracy.

 

[mshootnit]

I really like 270 WSM. That would be an awesome long range gun

 

[cheygriz]

My heavy barrel 6MM keeps them in 3/8 MOA.

 

[LRDGCO]

You don't want to have to dig out some old rifle that if it was made Monday morning by the chap with the hangover won't hit a barn. .264 Win Mag is pretty much obsolete. And today's rifles are generally more accurate than those made in the 1960s.

If you're a Winchester guy, you need look no further than the 270. There are some old fans of the .264 Win Mag who make outrageous claims about velocities achieved and alleged "inherent accuracy" and such nonsense. It's so great, it's virtually dead. Meanwhile, the 270 Win plugs along giving 150 grs at 3000 fps and now enjoys an excellent selection of bullets. Virtually every rifle on the planet is chambered in .270 and while the partisans will make much of the vast difference between 6.5 and 6.8 mm, quoting dubious ballistic coefficients made up by marketing departments, those of us that can do math can tell you that 0.3 mm is nothing and doesn't matter an iota to a shot animal.

.264 Win Mag was a gimmick whose day is done.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I didn’t see this in any of the replies I skimmed through, but if you have a .270 Winchester and are just hankerin’ for something different, why not re-chamber it to .270 Weatherby?

Sam

 

[cheygriz]

If you have a .270, just enjoy one of the all time great hunting cartridges.

 

[old heeler]

I have decided on build a long range hunting rig. I have been going through ideas 300 win , 300 wthy, etc etc and keep reading all the hype about 6.5 cal . I figured the 264 because I am a Winchester guy , but I also have read horror stories about the 264 barrel life , people saying " its just a loud 270" , doesn't achieve published velocities . on the other hand I understand the higher bc's and sd of the 6.5. Does anyone own a 264 and my main question is . Will it add any attributes to a hunting battery that already has a 270, 308 and 338 win?

If your shooting 338 mag you can neck that case down for 264mag or 7mag. Fred Huntington RCBS necked down 338mag for his wildcat 30-338mag.

I have couple 30-338mag's. Long time ago I had 264mag build used Hart 1/9 twist barrel @ 26 " and was just used for hunting here in Co. I was mid 3000fps with 140gr Partition. For me since I'm not shooting factory rifle, I have to like case before I build so that I'm just add to my existing hunting rifle.

 

[Keyfer 55]

I built 6.5 A Square brass is easy to form and find the ballistics are on the heels of the 264 Win.Mag and it holds 1 more round in the magazine.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Truer words were never spoken. Here is a Pre-64 M-70 .264WM I had stocked by Al Bieson many, many years ago (Don't ask how many) and it has burned a lot powder over those years. If the barrel is burned out it doesn't show it on the targets... .View attachment 818424 View attachment 818425

Is that sporting a vx3L

 

[Offfhand]

Is that sporting a vx3L

You have a sharp eye, it's a VX-L, here's a better view:..

 

[stillquietvoice]

Thanks just picked one up yesterday.
Will be the first Leopold I actually get to use.