Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .264 win mag with.22” barrel?

Is it a bad idea to buy a .264 win mag with a 22” barrel?

I know 26” is ideal for this cartridge.

But I see a rifle I like (Winchester 70) with a 22” barrel.

Also, I like 6.5mm. I have a 6.5x55 that is great.

A happy medium for what I do, which is:


Appalachian mountains whitetail deer
Ranges less than 150 yards
Bullet weights 100-140 gr
MV 2500-2900

Never had a .264 mag.

If you think this is an ok idea, what are some bullets / loads you suggest for my use?

Thank you.

It will be a fire breather

125gr Nosler partition with either Retumbo or Magpro, win case, win primer.

I have one, a FN , which I fell for. I would visit it on the rack, finally she said, "One day you'll come and it would be gone." I bought it that day. It had never been fired, the bolt was for a 30-06. It had to be opened up. It's a Mauser so no big deal.

In their 26" form, they will do 3200fps with a 140 . Mine got rebarreled to 24". I get 3150fps with a 140 and Magnum. I would say I'm at Max.Greydog throated "normal", I haven't had any of the 264 issues. Where I hunt had an infestation of pine beetle, so to salvage the wood, they had some big clearcuts. The 264 was at home. Now the replanted clearcuts are Christmas tree sized. I use a Savage with a custom 260 barrel mostly now. I also have a 6.5-06, a 6.5RM and a couple of 6.5x55 .

Okay so you are really curious about a round, here’s a free and I do mean free tip. GRT lets you play with just about everything, seating depth, case capacity, barrel length etc.

264 mag, 129 SST and I just picked H4895 for chits and giggles

22 inch



24”



26”



It predicts ~120 fps loss from 26-22

Then use an online drop calculator but for your use I don’t see any issues.

No big loss really. Most are chopping them down to 22 nowadays anyhow. I have a 26 and 24 and they both work great. I wouldn’t be scared of e 22 either if I found the right one.

All of the posts have been helpful. Thank you all for the input.

Seems like maybe I lose 120-150 fps going from 26” to 22”. Probably more than your average noise and muzzle blast too. Not ideal, but maybe workable.

If I keep the loads mild (something like a 125 gr partition at around 2800 MV) could maybe be a reasonable 150 yd whitetail (<200 lbs) rig. What am I missing? Or am I better advised to go with something more like a 25-06 or .270 if I can find something I like? The pre-64 model 70 platform in .264 with factory (I believe ) 22” barrel, which I do not (yet) have, does have some appeal to me.

mucho muzzle blast, shoot at dusk blind for five minutes, Ha!

mucho muzzle blast, shoot at dusk blind for five minutes, Ha! your 6.5 x 55 will kill just as dead, but nothing wrong adding another to the collection.

Somebody once called a 22” 264 win mag “a loud 270”

A 24" 264 isn't much better.

26” barrels are damn sure long, pair of early 264’s, rifle with white line spacer is a 3 digit gun




keyboard test software free

I personally would not have a 22” .264. Mine would be 26”.

Shorter would have a different chamber.

DF

I've heard that many times. Can't remember who's said it here though. Maybe Bobin?

JOC started that I think.

Yep, based on everyone’s good input I am gonna pass on the 22” .264. The M70 is tempting, but probably not a great move.

You should buy it if you like it. Barrel length is not a big deal. Just a slight loss of velocity

At the ranges you’re shooting, it’s meaningless

The .264 WM is awesome. I assume you handload and will not have issues

The noise and blast would kill the deal for me more than loss of a few fps.

DF

I'd cut it to 18" and thread it for a suppressor.

Better be a good one. That suppressor would get a pounding from blast and pressure.

That would help with my criticism of noise and blast.

I can think of better suppressed combos....

DF