Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles My best .264 Winchester Magnum load

This is the happy culmination of years of working with the .264. I got a good head start from some guys on other forums with proper powder choices. If you have any interest at all in getting a 264 WM, take what you read here and run with it.

It's common knowledge among loonys that the 264 WM is a different animal. Tough to load for and finnicky accuracy. Sub par velocities for a cartridge so overbore.

When it was developed, there really were no suitable powders available to let the cartridge reach its potential. Most who knew how to load for it used H-870 and surplus military powders like WC 872. I've used them as well as 7 others in testing. Most act too fast in the cartridge even though they are some of the slowest burning on the chart.

Best velocities were always had with WC 872, but I was never able to get the accuracy I knew could be had. I will say accuracy at long range was better than sight in groups

I debated on whether to really write this up because of the scarcity of the new powder I've found to be the "Holy Grail" in the chambering. I've got 15 pounds now and will probably be set for a while so I'm letting the Cat out of the Bag for good

Alliant RL 33 @ 77 grains
Fed 215M
Berger 140 VLD .060" off
Nosler or Winchester case
Thirty Two Hundred Fifty Feet Per Second
4.9 mils come up from a 200 yard zero

1000 yards




The Berger depth test allowed for pretty consistent 1/2 MOA groups at 100 yards

Wow, nice groups, what kind of rifle are you using, I have a Pre 64 M70 westerner and two of the longest shots that I have ever made on a game animal were taken with this rifle. Last game animal I shot with my 264 was a Nevada antelope, hoping to get a tag next season and will have an excuse to take the old M70 out hunting again. I have two boxes of 120 gr ttsx loaded up, can't wait to see how they perform on game.

Dang...... Veeeeery nice load work and shooting.

Thanks guys,

The load is holding up well. Shot 9 rounds today checking some goofy scope functioning issues. I "exercised" the knobs on my Mark 4 on the rifle. Ran them for their full travel up, down and L and R a few times then shot some 100 yard groups. I then shot a 200 yard group to check zero.

The cold bore shot hit my 1/2" dot at 200. Next 2 made yet another 1/2 MOA group...






The rifle is a Score High Gunsmithing rifle on a blueprinted Remington LA, Brux 1-8 twist light Palma, Score High Hunting Brake, Leupold Mark 4 LR ERT 6.5-20 FF TMR in Leupold dual dovetails, McMillan stock.

Here's and old pic...

Here is a reply from Stonecreek on AR:

At some point I will have to try that combo, Berger's and RL33 in my STW. This could be a cross caliber winning combination.

A friend is using RL 33 with the 168 VLD in the STW with phenomenal results

It does.

Awesome bro!

I have been following your posts for several weeks on your 264. I have also been shooting the 264 for several years but have leaned toward the 120/127TTXs. Have you tried lighter bullets with the R33? I just came into a couple pounds of R33 and before I reinvented the wheel with the R-33 I thought I would ask. I have been loafing the 127LRX along at 3200 with Retumbo, its is a devastating load. Used it on mule deer in Oct...very ugly..
Thanks,
Bill

No I haven't Bill, but I'd bet you'd get top velocities with it as well even with the lighter bullets. I always try to shoot the highest BC bullet I can get my hands on. This always means something heavier.

Keep us posted on your results with them.

I will give RL-33 a try in my new Winchester Extreme Weather 264. Thanks for the information.

Thanks, I will let you know about the lighter weight bullets.
Bill

WW cases, CCI-250s, 140 NPs and IMR-7828, a bit "warmer" than some manuals, but, NO issues, has given me an average of 3250 and sub.moa to 300M at my club range.

The rifle is a P-64 Westerner, bought in 98% original condition metal, bore and bubba'd factory stock some 16 years ago, then, nicely pillared into a std. fill Micky G&H handle, Leupy DDs and a Zeiss Conquest 4.5x14 Z-plex.

I have only taken it hunting twice as a "spare" to my usual deer rifles, P-64 fwts-.270Win. and Brno 21H-60mm bbl. .280Rems. rechambered from the original 7x57s.

I can no longer really shoot well enough to use the advantage of this rifle over the others, but, it IS fun to make tiny clusters at 300M on the range.

I hope to do some Coyote/Wolf shooting after Christmas and this plus my Ruger 77-II in .220 Swift are going to do the shooting.

This looks promising!

Just scored a pound of RL-33 last week.

Anyone runnin and gunnin the 140 A-Max?

They should work! I'd say to start at 72 grains and work up. I went to 78.5 grains in MY RIFLE with the VLD and had no obvious signs of pressure except groups opening up.

I'd bet you'd end up somewhere in the 75 grain area

I've been interested and following your working the .264 for a while now also.
Good stuff and thoughtful information, thanks for posting it up.

BD

I am getting 3260 with 68 gr Ramshot magnum with the 120 gr ttsx, do you think it's worth trying RL 33, how much more speed do you think I can get.

Over 3400 is my guess, although I've never worked with that bullet. Mono-metal and all.

I had chrono readings of over 3300 with the 140 VLD at the few last loads I shot during my Audette ladder

I'm getting 3470 fps with 130 tsx and 7828