How'd you feel about a 20" 264????
One company did make them.....
.........I think you should get the rifle you like, in the cartridge you like, in the barrel length you like, and worry about the other small incidentals later.
Many put velocity as a top priority vs the few including me, who prefer the better handling, shorter OAL rifles that give up only a small percentage of velocity.
Many will tell you that having a 20" tubed or less 264 Win, any WSM, any magnum etc, defeats the purpose of having those cartridges! Imo; hogwash!!
Are they then saying, that when a small percentage of velocity is lost (estimating 4% or less between a 20" barreled 264 Win vs a 26"), that one is more likely to be less successful on a hunt given the same shooting distances? Be less accurate? Is that 4% and less extra velocity cushion, going to make a difference in the killing power on game in the field? In all reality, the answer is,,,,no!
But, there are compromises in everything. A shorter OAL rifle gives better handling, carrying ease, manuverability, generally less rifle weight, but comes with more recoil, while at the same time, more noise from a shorter barrel by a more pronounced muzzle blast along with increased night-time muzzle flash. As with everything, there are trade-offs! Gains in certain areas, while having dis-advantages in other areas.
Think of it this way as I do. On a hunt, one can carry a rifle for hours, but doing the actual shooting takes only a split second. For that difference in time (hours vs split seconds), I`ll take more noise or more blast and flash, in return for a lighter, better handling, shorter and easier to carry rifle.
My Walker Game Ears work great in the field and my ear muffs work great at the range. Regardless of barrel length, good hearing protection in the field or on the range should always be worn anyway, which imo, really makes any increased noise issue an extremely mute point.