Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 264WM question

I have read several posts here by very knowledgeable members regarding the 264WM being difficult to get shoot the way they wanted them to. I didn't want to hijack the other threads so I started this to ask: What makes this particular round so hard to get to shoot?

I have a rifle that I decided to re-barrel in 264WM. This was before I started reading about the problems getting them to shoot. Now I am unsure about my decision.

Any comments welcome.

GK

The quality of Winchester brass can make things more challenging some of the stuff I had was awful. Thankfully there are other choices in brass if W-W comes out with another bad batch. Other than that no problems I can think of.

i have only loaded for one 264mag it is a switch barrel 700 rem. with a stock rem. barrel i have shot 120gr nbt 130 bergervld and 140gr.bullets of various types the all shot under m.o.a. with no particuler effort. the bergers shot way under a m.o.a.

Ed

I've had a M700 BDL in 264 Win Mag for 35 years.

I don't think it's particularly hard to get to shoot well, nor is it very picky.

However, a few years ago, it started to not behave like I expected, and I got concerned that it was starting to go south with a shot out barrel. After playing around with it for a bit, including cleaning it, I sat down and REALLY cleaned it. Sure enough, it settled right back downn.

Being the stereotypical "overbore" cartridge, I could see where a guy could let it get fouled a bit too much, which isn't going to be any good for accuracy.

Just a thought...

I have one and have another getting put together and have not found problems getting a good load. You will enjoy your new rifle.

I've been shooting a 264 since the middle 70's..never thought they were finicky,picky or hard to get to shoot anymore than some other chamberings.

The design of the cartridge dates back to a stepped-bullet style - ergo the throat is a bit short when compared to other rounds. The .264 seems to have a less-than-normal array of bullet weights to work with. Most have found that the .264 favors weights from 120-140 gr. As to throat, that can be lengthened easily during a re-barrel.

Part of the 'finicky' issue though, comes from owners who seem to insist on hot-rodding this round to the max.. I've heard tales of 140 gr bullets nearing 3400 fps - and many times the best accuracy from any round is when it's loaded to max or LESS, according to the books. Last, and this is important for all rifles but especially 'magnum' chamberings - do NOT let that barrel get hot.. Warm, ok - hot, NO-NO..

FWIW, the .264WM is my favorite round to use - and it's my go-to rifle on deer hunts; first one outta the safe.. I've built a couple for members here and IIRC they've been very happy with the results..

My factory tube shot the first load i tried right at .5 moa.... hope yours turns out to be a shooter.

When i built my 264 it shot the first load i tried right at 1/2 inch , the 120 gr BT with Rel 22 , this is my deer hunting load and the only one i have used in it. Never saw a need to try another.

No problems with mine, and I did have mine custom throated for a little more room seating full diameter bullets:

The only problem with mine, the barrel is 22 inches long. I don't get the listed velocities. Still kills just fine. I have taken quite a few of coyotes. My longest shot was about 350 yards.

Thanks for all the comments. I think I will move forward with the 264WM.

Next question: 24" or 26" barrel?

GK

If you are going to go with something like that, you need a 26", at least, imo. My 6.5-06AI is 28" and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Since you're building, and get to make the rules, this one's easy.

26".

No doubt...26" Pac-Nor on mine and wouldn't have it any other way.

well it depends on how you define accuracy. if MOA is all you care about the 264 will do that. but what if its half MOA and you want to see that everytime and better yet is you expect that kind of accuracy to remain at distances beyond 300 yards. after playing with 2 264's I wouldn't do it again. another factor is most of the heavy VLD bullets that people like to shoot IMO aren't suited to the speeds of the 264. the 264 is great if 3000-3100 is what you run a 140 at, but you could do that with a 6.5-284

26

A top-notch barrel, properly fitted should do that.. As with any chambering, the selection of bullet styles can be critical. Not according to the books.. The latest edition of the Nosler reloading manual lists a top speed of about 2950 for a 140 grain bullet.. (It's the only manual I have that lists the 6.5-284).

While the Hornady manual shows the .264WM can reach 3200 with a 140 while still using a 24" barrel..