Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Your Favorite .264WM Deer Bullet/Speed?

Before I had a 260 reamed to the aforementioned 6.5/284, I made an Exotics hunt with the 129sp. It was a last minute opportunity and I just worked up an accurate load, barrel was still in the white. I took an Axis Buck in hard antler and a full blood Mouflon. Both ran a bit, both took finishing shots and wound channels were pretty small. I felt they were a tough bullet for 260 speed. I never tried them in the 6.5/284, but I would if I had went after elk. Now, it might have been that particular Lot of bullets, but I always felt they would do better at faster speeds. It is one I would try in this Remington 264WM later. For me, only the early SSTs were the only "soft" Hornady's I ever shot. From 270W to 9.3x62, good strong bullets.

I use the 130AB in mine, a pre64 westerner with ss barrel. 3250 or so? Its been super good for me, no reason to look elsewhere. I use RL33 but 7828 was good also. I'm sure I could make Staball HD work as well. Its a darn good rifle.

R33 has been scarce around here for quite some time! I do have some 7828 and a few others that will work. I am looking forward to getting this thing to the range. I spoke with the Gunsmith last night and he should have my two elk rifles (bit of tweaking) ready some time next week. I can drop it off with him then. I can't abide that J-Bolt Shroud , so a FP Asmbly replacement's gotta be ordered. It also has to have a twisted off scope base screw removed. I'll get it all sorted out, got my dies and some ammo today. Once those two thing are done I may shoot it like it is until this summer, then tweak it.

130 Accubonds and 147 ELDM’s is all I’ve loaded in mine and my sons. Powders have been 7828ssc, 8133 and Retumbo. My buddy has had good things happen with VV n570.

That N570 has been rare also! I do have a small amount of N560, plenty of 7828, 4350,4831,Hunter and Magnum. I'm sure I have some others way in the back of the shelves, ha But no Retumbo, R33/23/26 but ok with R16/17. I have an Amorous, almost "fleshly" desire to try these 118 HHT Hammers, ha.

I have killed deer with a pile of .264 cartridges, from the 264MS to the 264WSM.
My favorite was likely thr 264 WSM and the 6.5/303 Brit., although o also like thx 6.5x55.
Most of the bullets I used were 140 Game Kings, which were awesome on the long range stuff.
Cat

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the 264MS? Thanks,,,

140 gr Sierra GK It’s a lighting bolt on deer

I just got the box of Lapua Scenar L 120gr OTM in today/ Man, they look like miniature "Rockets". I had also ordered a box of ammo loaded with the Nosler 140 RDF (?) in 1x fired Winchester Cases. When I bought the rifle the guy gave me a mixed box of Hornady ammo/fired brass with the 140 Interlock. So I will have some brass to start out with. I still have Fed 215M Primers from the "Clinton Primer Scare", almost 30yrs ago, lol.

6.5x54 Manlicker [Mannlicher Schoenauer]

The only 6.5’s I’d be interested in owning again - 264 WM and 6.5-06 (AI).

I’m not sure which. Since I have 25-06, 270, & 7mm RM…

I had a 6.5 Rem Mag and used the Nosler 130 gr AB at 3050 fps.
Only shot 1 buck with it but it was DRT.

thanks!

Tweaking the question a bit- I know the monos work up close and on elk, but have any of you gentlemen used a cup n core up close or especially on elk? Reason is I like any rifle I have to be "elk capable".

A rancher friend has a Colt .264. He only shoots Rem 140 factory loads. He has been killing his elk with it for 50 years. Maybe the only reason people need a tssx or what ever is the don't know where to put a killing shot.

When I had this rifle built we were hunting large tilled acreage and a couple of sections of CRP in Missouri.
Needed something fast and flat.
McGowen put the barrel up on their website for $65.00
It's a #5 contour w 6 flutes that someone had ordered and paid for and then never collected it from them.

I sent them an action and had them fit and chamber the barrel.
It's a nail driver w the 130 Accubonds.
Myself, my son and one of my buddies have all killed deer w it and only one of them have taken another step.
That was a nine point I shot through the lungs at 350 yards and he made it 30 yards before cartwheeling to a stop.

Sounds like you got a great deal on a great barrel! I have read, for decades, how accurate the McGowan barrels are too. It also sounds like that 130 Accubond is a real killer.

I absolutely believe that the bullet chosen should be determined by the cartridge used. My 6.5x55 does a great job with 129gr bullet's but my 25-06 drives them a bit to fast. Ends up with more damage to the animal and could ruin a bunch of meat you'd rather eat! I don't use monolithic bullet's so don't know a lot about weight with them. But as I understand it, a lot of them retain 100% bullet weight or close to it. Seems to me there would be a lot less destruction with a 130gr mono bullet. But a 130gr cup and core driven at 264 Wim Mag velocity might just get torn up and destroy a lot more than you might want. In my 6.5x06 I use 140gr cup and core bullet's and the few deer I've shot with it, it worked fine. My 6.5x55 works alright with a 129gr bullet but I think a 140gr would be better even there. If I had an 8" twist in my 6.5x06, I'd step up a bit in bullet weight. As a younger man I liked velocity but growing older I started seeing where velocity is really not your friend when choosing bullet's. Heavier bullets won't be driven nearly as fast as lighter bullet's and will hold together better and ruin less meat! I think a really good deer cartridge would be something like a 6.5x52 with a 160gr bullet! That said I'm still looking for a load that will work for me in my 260 with 129gr bullet's. Just can't find components! Well powder!

First year with my 6.5x06 I used it on elk. One shot one elk with a 140gr Hornady interloc. have done two more since with it. heavier bullet pulls down velocity letting the bullet hold together better!

Thanks Uncle Don! I have used a wad of Monos and or Partitions through the years. But as mentioned, I think I have shot "more" Hornady than any C&C. I am zeroing in on the 118gr HHT tipped Hammers for game and the Scenar 120 for practice. I am also a big believer in Barnes TTSX, so I have that option. If I decide to try a heavier bullet,(and I may, all depending) I think I would skip the 130s and just go straight to the 140 Hornady. I have alot of game killing experience with the Nosler 120 BT and the 125 PT out of that 6.5/284, so been there/done that, ha. I'm all about the experience, and I will surely not die of hunger if I pass on a tough shot, ha. I really look at this .264 WM as my "Prairie Rifle" on mule deer/antelope does. Its also a great spare elk rifle.