264 win mag

DAB · 03-10-2003, 10:48 AM

Any one use the 264 Win Mag. If so what loads do you like best ?
DAB

ScottD · 03-10-2003, 01:10 PM

My brother used to have a .264 and he would load 140 gr Barnes and I think he loaded 160 gr Hornady's also. I believe he used H4831 but I'm not sure. I will email him and see if he can post here to let you know what he loaded.

Dirty E · 03-10-2003, 03:01 PM

yes I have tangled with the formidable 264. Mag, I ve tried many bullets but the only one I could get to hold together are the 140gr nosler partition, everything else would fall apart, Ive used H4831 with some success and this year I switched powders and had better success but I cant remember what it was, I'll look it up, I used to run mag primers and with this other load I switched to large rifle and also had better success, I shoot a model 70 and have had some problems with concistency, but when she's on or maybe when I'm on, 4 shot groups less then 1/2". I will get back to you on the exact loads when I get home. Dirty

Washington Hunter · 03-10-2003, 07:17 PM

I used to have a 264 Win. Mag. I had good luck with 140 grain Nosler Partitions and 140 grain Barnes X bullets. I used both H4831 and H450. With H450 I used 64.0 grains with the X bullet. Since they discontinued H450, I think I would try H870. You should get your best velocities with the slowest powders, and H870 is the slowest Hodgdon sells. My book shows 73.0 grains of H870 with a 140 grain bullet will give 3,163 fps with a 26 inch barrel.

TWB · 03-10-2003, 07:47 PM

DAB, interesting that you should mention the .264 win mag,does anyone still produce that calibar?

This will date me, but here is a short story about my .264. When I was in high school I went to buy my first new rifle. I went to buy a model 70 in 30.06. The salesman said that he had a close out on a 1963 .264. Not having much money I went for the .264 not realizing that I would have a pre-64 model 70. When Win. came out with the .264, Rem. countered with the 7MM Mag. The 7MM could take much heavier bullets, the rest is history, the .264 faded into the sunset and the 7MM became one of the most popular calibers ever.

The only problem with the .264 is that bullets much over 140gr. would not preform. Much heavier and they would topple. My .264 was a great shooting rifle, except for recoil, it is a feather weight model. It's a very flat shooting cal., and was very popular for antelope back then. I shot mine only on mule deer. Never reloaded for it,only shot factory amo, can you even get it anymore? Though I don't hunt big game anymore, I hang on to mine, it's a great little rifle. Good luck on your loads.

Jerry

Killertraylor · 03-10-2003, 07:50 PM

This is my second favorite cartridge (first is the .257 Weatherby and they are near ballistic equivalents). I have a pre-64 model 70 in .264 Win. and I shoot 125 gr. Nosler Partitions backed by 63.0 grains of H4831 with a Federal 215 primer and Winchester brass. I've made all 5 touch at 100 yards on more than one occasion which is rare for a partition. I've killed three muley bucks with it, two at more than 300 yards and the bullets passed all the way through but left a nasty wound channel. Interestingly, I shot a spike at 40 yards and the bullet mushroomed and stayed just under the skin on the opposite side. I get about 3250 fps from the above load. I was glad to see this load come back in some modern rifles, but I'll never let my pre-64 go. I also got the 120 gr. Ballistic tips to shoot excellent groups with the same load, but the bullets blew up in both deer I shot with them and I lost more meat than I should have.

tyeecoho · 03-10-2003, 07:50 PM

Had one a long time ago. Model 70, 28" BDL, 1:10 twist, with a thumbhole stock. Needed a bi-pod. Tried different loads, best results were with factory load 100 gr. boat tails. Dusted a lot of Wood Chucks at long range on the big farms in Maryland and Virginia. Sweet rifle, very quick. Barrels only lasted about 3000 rounds. Couldn't seem to find a powder that burned completely. Enjoy!

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 03-12-2003, 12:18 PM

I've got three of the .264's. Two are Model 70's made in 1959 that are 30 serial numbers apart. Found that hard to believe as I bought the first one in 1967 on the east coast and the 2nd one out here in the early 90's. The third one is the limited edition Rem 700 classic that was for 1986 only.

The one I shot (the first one), my loads were 120 Sierra or 120/125 grain Nosler(s) and 62 grains of H4831. My other good load was the 140 Sierra and 61 grains of H4831. All 4 loads grouped good. I eventually discarded the 120 grain Sierra and Nosler as both were too destructive on deer... the Sierra really so. I settled on the 125 Nosler Partition and it would poke through a couple of feet of deer. The 140 Sierra shot good, but I never used it on game. Sierra's are usually soft bullets.

I bought a used .264 barrel as the previous owner described it as a "tackdriver". It didn't shoot the same for me, even with his loads. Unless he shot large tacks.....

I had to replace the original barrel as I shot the throat out in it, hence the replacement barrel. Original barrel had about 1.25 inches of "free bore" from me getting it too hot during load testing. Did find out during that "testing" that it is possible to drive a 125 Nosler Partion at 3550 fps. Later found out it's not accurate.... nor safe. Pressure is too high.

DAB · 03-12-2003, 07:31 PM

DAB here again,
Question on the 264.win mag., I am trying to figure out if I have a pre 64 or not .. The rifle I have is a Win. MDL 70 with a 26 inch barrel, and it has a 3rd screw ( through stock into barrel) just under the rear sight and that part of the barrel is larger and the rear sight is mounted here. Serial Number is 481497. Is there some where I can check it by the serial number.
I have a box of 140 Gr. Noz. Part.that I am going to try. Thanks for your posts.. Looking foreward for other info.
DAB

norms gone fishing too · 03-12-2003, 07:46 PM

The year of manufacture for serial number 481497 is 1959.
http://armscollectors.com/sn/windates.htm

doublel · 03-12-2003, 08:00 PM

DAB; You have a pre-64 mod 70 as they ended the 1963 year with sn#581,471. Just tried to call you but the phone is busy.

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 03-13-2003, 08:42 AM

Watch out for your bullet seating depth in your loads as the old barrels were designed for a "two diameter bullet". I think the Noslers aren't that style of bullet and may be pushed up onto the lands unless seated deep in the cases. It was aggravating to unload the gun at the end of the day and pull out only the case and spill powder in the magazine. And.... have to tap a bullet out of the throat.

The Speer bullets back then were "two diameter bullets" and were designed for the .264.

Oh... I might not have said it, but you have the old barrel. Prepare a dummy load, smoke the bullet and insert it in the chamber. Check for land engraving on the bullet.

I had my original barrel rethroated back in 1970 or so and almost forgot about the short lands and two diameter bullets.

winterkill · 03-13-2003, 05:35 PM

Don't let anyone tell you it is too small for elk. I know someone who owns one and I have seen his .264 take down quite a few elk. I think he uses 160 grain.
Ian

DAB · 03-13-2003, 06:41 PM

ZEN,
Smokeing the bullet? I tried but burnt my lip

I use a black felt pen to start with then I go to the smoked bullet. You would be suprised at how many reloaders dont use this.
I load for a few diferent rifles and have a box full of dummy loads that all have been checked out in this manner. One of these days I'll get my cronagraph out and see what the FPS. is on my loads, it is a pain to set up at the range unless no one else is shooting then it's not bad.
Thanks for the INFO.
DAB

DAB · 03-13-2003, 06:46 PM

N-G-F-T,

Thanks for the address, and thanks for looking up the date of manufacture

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] YaHOO
I got a pre 64

DAB

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 03-14-2003, 08:51 AM

A rule of thumb I use with chronographs..... don't use the chronograph on a load unless you can stand the answer.

I thought my .264 loads were really zipping out..... until I used a chronie. Boy was I sure disappointed with the results. I was much happier before with the "guessing" what the velocity was. The reloading books I used were a little overly optimistic.

One thing I have found out using a chronie. I shoot a 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip out of my 7mm Mauser. I can just about get the same performance from that as I could with a 140 grain out of the .264. And.... the 7mm Mauser is 2 pounds lighter.

DAB · 03-17-2003, 07:54 PM

Thanks all for all the posts
Glad to see some of us know a good CAl when we find it

DAB