Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Powder for 264 with 120's

I have in the past loaded 120's in the 264 to about 3000 fps with 4350 or H4831.

I am now looking to build a coyote load with the 120 A-max at 3400 fps or as close as I can get with a 27 inch Pac-Nor barrel.

I have these powders in the cabinet: RL 15, H414, H100V, RL 17, IMR 4831, Magpro, Retumbo, RL 25, RL 33, H 869, and a bit of H 870.

My older manuals suggest IMR 4831, but they were published before the newer powders were introduced. And most of my previous research has been geared toward top loads with 140's.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Some of those powders are too fast burning for the 264 WM. Of that list IMR 4831, Magpro, Retumbo, RL 25, RL 33, H 869 and H 870 would be the best. I used Retumbo in mine and it became my go to powder, there are other good powders too.

Idaho_Shooter,

I would start with RL33 for the 140.

My .264 loves IMR 4831 with 120 gr Ballistic Tips and 125 gr Partitions. If I was gonna try another powder, it would be Retumbo. It was super accurate in my old .300 RUM.

Try Ramshot Magnum.

i'd try retumbo

Ed

That seems to be a popular combo with some experienced LR .264 WM shooters.

I just got some Vv N-570, reportedly good for the 26 Nosler/142 LRAB. It's about the burn rate of the old, revered H-870, pretty close to RL-33.

If I was loading for the .264, I'd get some of both and try them. Powder Valley had N-570 last week, haven't checked current availability. It's a coarse stick powder, doesn't work well in a powder measure. I had to remove the powder measure drop tube to keep N-570 from stacking up. I dump a load in my scale pan and adjust the weight.

The Vv 500 series is high energy, nitroglycerine enhanced, lots of power/mass. N-570 is the newest and slowest of that series. Pushing 140's at 3,350 in my 26 Nos., the load isn't compressed; this powder is dense per unit of energy, which should make it ideal for the .264 WM.

DF

I had better luck with H1000 over Retumbo with lighter bullets.

I have a couple hundred 130AB loaded up with Magnum right now at 3300 FPS. But that jug is empty, and I need to find a use for some of this other stuff.

With the Winchester barrel, the rifle did really well with H1000 and 140's, but I have not worked up any 140's since I got a great deal on about 500 130 AB through SPS before components became impossible to find.

I bought some 120 A-max last week for the 260 and thought I would also work up a load for the 264 to make the 130 AB last a little longer.

It looks like I will give IMR 4831 a try. And if it does not want to run fast enough, I'll give Magpro a shot.

7828

120 NBT 69/RL25 3385 fps

I shoot the 139-140's but I bet I could make a 120 go at least 3500 fps....

my 264 likes 4831

Thanks, that would definitely put a dent in a dog.

Rl 25 scared the heck out of me years ago when it was first introduced. I tried it with several 140's in the 264. It behaved erratically, especially with long bearing surface bullets. RL 25 got really wonky with the 140 Nosler Partition. The can on my shelf is still labeled as "NEW".

That said, it did behave better in the 7mm STW. And I bet it would work well with a long ogive boat tail 120 in 6.5 mm.

I bet I can guess with what powder, too!

So far, I have tried RE25, H1000 and Retumbo, all 3 have performed adequately with both 130 and 140 Accubonds, but the standout in my rifle has been RE25.
I am trying Win Supreme 780 in the near future, so will post results as they come to hand.
Can someone suggest some start loads with H50BMG, this is the only slow slow powder available here.

Cheers.