Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .264 and where to go next?

Greetings men

I have a .264 westerner, 26" factory stainless tube.

Current load is 61gr of RL22, with 130AB's.
That is book max and is giving me 3075fps, plus or minus 10.
No pressure signs as of yet.
It is also shooting groups which are sub 1" and I am not unhappy.

That said, I have to see if I can wring more out of her. I can always come back to this load and be reasonably happy with it.

I have tried no other powder and no other bullets at this point. I have 7828, Retumbo, RL25 and RL 33 on hand. Where should I go next to find more speed?

I've been playing with Retumbo, 25 & 33. Just loaded up some rounds this morning. 65.0 gr Retumbo and 66.7 gr RL-25 with the 130 NAB. There are right around 3,200 fps in a 25" bbl.

R-33 is your friend with the 264. It should drive the 130 close to 3300, at least it does in my 26" Krieger 264. I dont have my data book here with me or I would give you my starting data.
Bill

My 264 does 3300 with 125 partitions and 130ABs pushed by 7828.

Another vote for IMR 7828, 3250 with 130 ABs in my Sako with 26" tube. Tried RL-33 but 7828 a bit more accurate.

That's just fine, use it as it is!

Or look in Nosler #7. They got 3166 fps with a 24" bbl!

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it a lot.

I was quite excited about my rl22 load. Outstanding accuracy for me anyway.
I was less excited when ran it over the chrono.
I was even less excited when I found my .270 was pushing 130XFBs at 3050.

Is your chrono accurate?

We ran about four different loads across it and all seemed like about what we would have expected.

I had some .300H&H loads running 2880 or so.
A guy ran some 100gr .243 loads at 2950 or so.

The "chrono truth serum" usually leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

I have used US869, H1000, WC872, H50bmg, Reloader 25 and IMR7828.
I now have R-33 to work with. If you are looking to speed her up slow powders are the way to go. H1000 got me 3200+ with 125 Noslers in a 24" barrel.

Gosh, remember when our choice in a slow powder was either H4831, or H870. We truly live in the golden age for the handloading enthusiast.

I favored H1000 for a couple decades in my Win 70 264 with the 140 gr Sierra SPBT. The combination gave varmint rifle accuracy. But today, Magnum, Magpro, and Retumbo will all produce better velocities.

I am not bashful, nor do I spook easily. That stated, RL25 scared the crap out of me in the 264 with long bearing surface bullets (EX Nosler Partition). I would only use RL25 with bullets having a long ogive AND a boat tail in weights under 130 gr. Just cause for that fear has been discussed numerous times. The search function is your friend.

I have more recently switched to the 130 gr Accubond. The following results were obtained with said 130 AB and a 27 inch 3 groove 8 inch twist Pac-Nor barrel.
70 gr H1000 produced 3200 fps
71 gr Magnum produced 3300 fps
71 gr Retumbo produced 3250 fps
72 gr Retumbo produced 3350 fps

71 grs Magnum produced good groups and is the combination I chose to load for deer hunting. Unfortunately, I am unable to report upon the bullet's performance on game.

I recently stumbled across a can of US869 at Sportsman's and it followed me home. But I have not had opportunity to do load development with it yet. I would also expect stellar results from RL33, but have not tried it yet.

1.0 gr powder increase yielded 100 fps speed increase?

Wowza!

I'm seeing 30-50 fps/gr powder as typical in this chambering. Saw an 80 fps increase per grain w/ '33 but that was what I consider over max.

Thank you all so much.

Is anyone loading RL22 over 61gr?

I think you can't go wrong with 7828. I shoot the nosler partition 125's with at 3250 with no problem. They drive tacks too. I also have used the wc872 which is dirt cheap comparatively speaking, but with similar accuracy and velocity. Though it seems to burn dirtier.

Cartridge : .264 Win. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 75.520 grain H2O = 4.903 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62570 psi, or 431 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

205 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2218 106.3 78.8 5.11 3394 98.8 62570 16309 1.199 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 102.1 75.0 4.86 3359 98.3 62570 15924 1.226 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 80 105.1 79.4 5.15 3349 99.1 62570 15642 1.226 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-33 102.5 78.4 5.08 3342 98.6 62570 15701 1.230 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-50 108.4 81.6 5.29 3335 98.2 62570 16011 1.255 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870 108.3 77.9 5.04 3332 99.4 62570 15312 1.232 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 105.8 74.1 4.80 3319 100.0 62570 13882 1.218 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2225 105.8 74.1 4.80 3319 100.0 62570 13882 1.218 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 217 108.1 74.1 4.80 3317 100.0 62570 14284 1.243 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 93.8 66.7 4.32 3292 99.8 62570 14313 1.222 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP30 101.3 70.5 4.57 3288 100.0 62570 14206 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 101.3 70.5 4.57 3288 100.0 62570 14206 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 96.4 71.7 4.64 3287 100.0 62570 13972 1.224 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 96.3 71.6 4.64 3286 100.0 62570 13938 1.224 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 94.0 69.6 4.51 3285 99.3 62570 14500 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 98.0 66.3 4.30 3282 99.9 62570 13856 1.213 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 92.8 66.3 4.30 3282 99.9 62570 13856 1.213 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 91.9 66.8 4.33 3277 100.0 62570 13686 1.232 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 97.8 70.6 4.58 3273 100.0 62570 13554 1.208 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 93.9 66.1 4.28 3272 99.9 62570 13765 1.209 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 102.8 70.8 4.59 3271 100.0 62570 13516 1.208 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2217 102.8 70.8 4.59 3271 100.0 62570 13516 1.208 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 99.1 68.6 4.45 3268 100.0 62570 13168 1.226 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 94.1 66.2 4.29 3260 100.0 62570 13610 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 94.1 66.2 4.29 3260 100.0 62570 13610 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 94.1 66.2 4.29 3260 100.0 62570 13610 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 96.6 66.5 4.31 3259 100.0 62570 13637 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP15 96.6 66.5 4.31 3259 100.0 62570 13637 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 108.7 80.0 5.18 3258 91.7 62570 15435 1.263 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 105.1 77.9 5.05 3257 93.8 62570 14637 1.213 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 97.6 69.3 4.49 3246 99.2 62570 13760 1.209 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 95.5 66.0 4.28 3239 99.8 62570 13497 1.225 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon US 869 110.0 81.6 5.29 3237 93.7 62127 14629 1.232 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon 50BMG 110.0 77.7 5.04 3233 89.8 61417 14849 1.233 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 93.9 71.2 4.61 3233 100.0 62570 12967 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 91.2 63.1 4.09 3228 100.0 62570 13005 1.212 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 91.6 63.8 4.13 3225 100.0 62570 13052 1.219 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 92.3 64.3 4.16 3218 100.0 62570 12964 1.219 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 93.0 65.5 4.24 3211 99.7 62570 13090 1.216 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 96.8 65.5 4.24 3211 99.7 62570 13090 1.216 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N170 105.7 72.8 4.71 3202 97.2 62570 13708 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 91.0 62.5 4.05 3185 99.9 62570 12599 1.215 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 91.7 64.6 4.18 3180 100.0 62570 12405 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D100 102.7 76.9 4.99 3179 94.3 62570 13528 1.230 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 90.6 66.5 4.31 3177 100.0 62570 12442 1.227 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 96.7 66.6 4.31 3166 100.0 62570 12157 1.232 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 97.1 64.8 4.20 3166 99.9 62570 12370 1.220 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 8700 110.0 79.9 5.18 3165 96.9 56046 14157 1.282 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 13 110.0 78.2 5.07 3163 96.8 57496 14085 1.287 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 91.2 60.8 3.94 3155 100.0 62570 11747 1.241 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 20N29 110.0 82.4 5.34 3154 94.6 55997 14488 1.301 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 94.4 65.7 4.26 3154 100.0 62570 11986 1.259 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S071 99.8 65.7 4.26 3154 100.0 62570 11986 1.259 ! Near Maximum !

That is the results I got in Apr 2012. But I was only shooting one round at each charge weight to develop a velocity curve. I suggest that one could easily consider each shot + - 20 fps to include minimal shot to shot variations.

I started at 59 gr Retumbo at 2714 fps and worked to 73 gr at 3421 in one grain intervals with ample time for the barrel to cool between shots which included a bore scrub between each shot with "Witches Brew" as supplied by the barrel manufacturer. I shot the top half of the string a month later with very similar results.

Note: the velocity spread from 59 gr through 73 gr of powder does average about 50 fps/gr of additional powder. But the curve does get steeper on the top end.

H1000 produced a couple of pierced primers (CCI 250) when I passed 3250 fps with the 130 gr AB. I consider 3200 fps max with H1000.

I saw no such indications of high pressure with Retumbo or Magnum in any of the loads I shot. I consider 3300 fps as a maximum usable load with either of these powders in my rifle with the 27 inch barrel.

Note the H870 load shown in Fotis's post with a charge weight of 77.9 gr and velocity of 3332 fps.
My rifle showed stiff bolt lift at 75 gr and 3125 fps, and very stiff bolt lift at 77 gr and 3250 fps using my remaining 1/2 lb of H870.

One must beware lot to lot variations.

That's a fine, classic rifle and it sounds like she's performing fairly well. The .264 can be a bit finicky, if you know what I mean. When you find a combo that works as well as what you have, some would call it a day and go hunting.

If it wasn't such a classic rifle, I'd consider re-chambering to 26 Nosler, which should clean up a .264 chamber. JB is running 129 ABLR's at 3,400 in his Nosler test rifle. I think that round will push 140's to around 3,300. But, you don't have 8 twist for heavier bullets like the 160 Matrix. Nine twist may stabilize some 140's.

DF

Thanks men

I think a lot would call it a day and go forth. Like I said, I can always come back to this load. Might be that I can get 3200 out of it with better results. Who knows?

Some here on the Fire claim that .264 shooters don't use slow enough powder. One guy got great results with RL-33. It's made by NitroCheme, Switzerland, same bunch making RL-17, both powders having progressive burning properties.

I like Ramshot Magnum, which is a very dense, slow burner. You can get more powder into a case without compressing the load. I like that feature. Magnum is my best powder for 100 gr. NPT in the .240 and it's Noslers accuracy powder with the 129 ABLR in the 26 Nosler.

I'd give those two a serious workout. Who knows... Back when I was working with a .264, I didn't have access to those powders.

DF