Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Best twist for a 264 win

Having a 264 win made what is the best twist if i were to shot 130 or 140 grainers out of it and how long of barrel 25,26, or27 what will give me the results.

thanks for your input

1:8" Twist is good for any weight and length, the Nosler 125 grain Partition bullet at 2,800 fps and above has a Stability Factor of 2.367 in the 1:8" twist, where anything over 1.5 is stable (Miller Formula).

I barrel all my long action magnum capacity rifles with 26" barrels.

Remember that Winchester loaded the original .264 Winchester magnum with a dual diameter bullet that was bore diameter just ahead of the canelure, so it could be seated out and still work in the magazine and standard throat. Select the bullet you wish to use, then make up a couple of dummy cartridges that place the bullet out where they will work through the magazine, but stay out of the powder space as much as possible. Then have the chamber throated by your gunsmith to fit that OAL. A slightly longer throat is better than one too short. Same if you plan to use factory ammo, select the heaviest weight bullet and have the chamber verified for that combination.

If you want to shoot conventional profile 130 and 140 grain, then a 1 in 9 will work. Low drag will need 1 in 8 to be safe, and 1 in 8.5 will be cutting it close, but will probably work for low drag, at least in warmer weather. The .264 needs barrel length. I would say 26" minimum, and 28" if you can manage it.

Just do a 1/8 and fret not length.

I have a 30"er

Factory standard in the US has been 9", while it is 7.87" (200 mm) in Europe for heavier bullets. I have a 9" twist on my 6.5-'06 and I have been up to 165 gr semi-spitzer before stability issues came up (160 RN was OK). For hunting I use 24" or so barrels, but I expect you would do well with 26" for your .264 WM. If it is target use, you can easily go longer.

jim

i've run .264 barrels in 1:9", 1:8.5", and 1:8"

1:8" is where it's at.

I have a 6.5 WSM wildcat which is roughly a WSM version of the .264 win mag, it's got a 1:8.5 twist and shoots everything I've put through it well. Barrel length is 24". Longer is better for velocity on overbore cartridges but I've come to the decision that I just don't like toting anything in the hunting woods longer than 25". If it's a target rifle then make it as long as you want to. If it's for hunting I'd chop it at 25" and call it good, you can get plenty of velocity out of a 25" .264 win mag.

Thanks guys

I have not looked at what bullets r out there. I will hunt mostly deer

I have shot a lot of Hornady Spire Points over the years, but most recently I tried the 130 gr Berger VLD. There are definitely multiple choices for deer-sized game.

jim

In my experience, 1-9 will stabilize almost everything in a 264 mag. It will stabilize most everything but the 140 VLDs at 260 Rem velocities. 1-8.5 will stabilize any bullet I have ever tried (Berger, Sierra, Amax, Accubond et al).

No need for an 8 twist in anything but maybe a very small capacity case like a 6.5x45.

Have 1in8 twist in 6.5-284 works great in all bullets, wouldn't have any other. Rebarreling m70 win 264 to a 1in8,was a 1in9. first 264 change in twist was unbelieveable. all 26 cal builds will be 1in8 from now on. The 264 win mag still lives,they should bring it back

Thanks for the info

1-10!!! Goo9d for 200+ accuracy and it keeps the pressures down! Let the fur fly!!!
Aloha, Mark

Don't take Mark lightly here fellas, he's been around the 6.5's for awhile.