Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Will the 264 Win Mag enjoy any resurgence?

With the popularity of the various 6.5mm rounds and the great bullets currently available does anyone think the 264 Win Mag will ever enjoy any level of resurgence or is it just another dead cartridge? At minimum it would seem to be a good cartridge to rebarrel and existing 0.532" long action rifle to for something different or replacement of a shot out barrel.

I've noticed much of the loading data seems to be a bit frail and very few of the newest slow powders have been evaluated using it. I'd have to think it would be capable of some pretty impressive velocities using 140g bullets with Retumbo, IMR 7977, IMR 8133, RL33, etc.

I’m not sure it’ll ever be popular but I’ve liked mine for quite a few years. 140’s at 3200 are pretty easy to like. They fly well, don’t recoil much and seem to be on par with 160’s out of a 7 Mag at similar speeds.

I don't think so; To much kick for to little velocity gain..

Just had a new barrel put on, 264 WM. Got loads worked up, just gotta shoot them again and decide which I want to run.

Between that and a 260 Rem, I am covered in the 6.5 area.

Those who like it, like it.

IMO, the main factor against any resurgence, it's an old round, not the latest and greatest, no corporate powerhouse to pimp it and promote it.

It's as good as it ever was, new powders can make it even better. But, I stick to the above statement.

DF

I think it’s too close to the PRC round, as well as the upcoming Weatherby RPM

I've had three, a Sako, a late model M70, and a Sendero; probably won't get another unless I run across a good deal on a 'pre-'64 Westerner. So close to .270 ballistics, it's hard to to justify another .264 Magnum. But, I guess rifle lovers don't really need to justify anything...

i sure hope so because i got two Winchester pre-64`s in 264 Win.mags. that old cartridge was years ahead as was or is the 257 & 270 Weatherby Mags were. all 3 these cartridges were and still are great fast accurate cartridges that have light recoil !

I have a couple Sako’s in 264, a couple Sako’s in 7 mag. The 264’s seem to have less recoil than the 7 mags when shooting 140’s in both calibers. The 264’s have 26” barrels. I don’t know if that makes a difference.

"It makes a helluva noise; it packs a helluva wallop..."

I’ve used mine since 1986; it’s a killing machine and I don’t care if it’s popular.

I dont see many used ones for sale, but they sell fast when they do show up on gun racks.

Just ordered brass today. Havn't shot my 264 Schoenauer yet.

I remember that ad. One of the best for a cartridge/rifle.
I bought a used one about six months ago. Still working on loads.

It's very "over-bore" so not good for barrel life.

I’ve heard it’s not overbore if you can find slow enough powder.

DF

It still burns a lot of powder for the size hole in it.

Mine likes the 130 AB over Magnum for 3300 fps.

It is all about the size of the combustion chamber, and the shape of same is pretty irrelevant.

So if we compare actual powder capacity of the 264 to the 6.5 PRC, and the 6.5 Wea RPM, and the 6.5x68, and the 26 Nosler, and then compare them to actual powder capacity of the 6.5-06, and the 6.5 Remington mag, and the 6.5-284, and the 6.5 SAUM, it become painfully obvious that there is nothing really new under the sun. Just infinitely varying shades of grey.

And marketing hype!

I'm terrible at forecasting the future....but will give it a try:
1. It offers very little more than a .270 Winchester and cost more for ammo

2. It offers very little more than a .270 Winchester but seems to demand an additional four inches of barrel length to achieve it.

3. It's historic reputation as a barrel burner will deter some buyers.

4. If it ever was to be popular, it would have been so back in the early '60s

5. The magnum chambering wants some additional steel around it making it a wee bit heavier than a standard .270 or
.30-06 rifle.

6. While it's lighter bullets can be used for varminting, it's simply a bit too much for that purpose.

The list can be longer but we see the situation here.

I have one and it's not for sale.....personal reasons. That said, I'd never recommend it to anyone over a .270 Winchester!!!!!

That's a beauty!