Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters How would you introduce the .264 Win Mag in 2012

After the recent thread about the .264 I am curious about its modern debut. How would you introduce the cartridge to today's shooters in a magazine add? reflex264

I'd think it would have to be to the long range crowd and packaged in a discussion of accuracy that the nebulous "something" caliber there couldn't already do. Probably tied to a ballistic factor that was "better" at distance than the standard load. Maybe tie it to a firearm model that was the rage.

I think the Weatherby title was the original seller, and the "ballistics from Weatherby just had to be good...didn't they, as Weatherby wouldn't back a lemon"? Performance in the market apparently didn't meet expectations.

I think the other factor is entry cost to the consumer, with a flat market, new purchases and expensive ammo don't move...I can't find 7mm-08 ammo local, but the $60 Weatherby boxes are stacked up. How do you market a $3 dollar a shot rifle, as a good return on investment? Have to be able to afford the rifle AND the ammo.

I think you'll see the same challenges in the archery realm today, the arrow speeds are capped at about 350 FPS, and the bows makers are stuggling to get a "new" bow into the market that is "really" different technology other than appearance. Just thought, and maybe not a great comparision, but it'll work for some readers.

"Power like a 7mm mag with recoil like a 257."

I can lie as well as anyone when I want to.

Today???? I'd invest the money spent on research, developement and marketing a new cartridge.....on improving and upgrading my existing rifles.....using "conventional" rounds.

Of course, since the "current" shooter seems to approve of such features as a Synthetic (plastic) stock (instead of searching for (and properly bedding) decent walnut), Matt finish (too cheap to actually polish the action/barrel) and optics with "magic" features (instead of actually learning the ballistics of a round and using them)......these "upgrades" might be in vain.

The current shooter typically has no knowlege, taste or appreciation for what makes a truely "great" rifle and the idea of a "new" magical round might just sell.....for a while. In the long run, it is the "great" rifle that will last....not the round being used.

Well... It seems that you just described about half the members of this August forum...

Would hafta be a catchy handle,smart advertising campaign as techno doesn't sell the masses..IMO

GH et.al. - I am honestly NOT prejudiced against any of the 6.5s. I am a new owner of the Swede.

However, IMSincereO - I don't think you can PR it into the public's mind. The 264 M has been around for a long time. The buying General Public, as has been stated, are not gun loonys and the round is a 'niche' round between 25-06 - 270W- 7mRm.

IMO, in the mind of the 'public gun buying sector', it is either too big for what they want OR it is too small.

I agree that with its high BCs it should make an excellent long range round. But how many 'hunters' know anything about BC or SD?

I can tell all-y'all the vast majority of deer hunters I've known KNOW NOTHING about ballistics, and that's too bad.

I'd open with a sequence of dramatic videos, puncutated by hard rock guitars in the background...sequences of water jugs exploding,and divets blown out of boulders at 1200 yards...the shooters would be camo-clad.Kestrals,Palm Pilots,and tripod mounted LRF's in abundance

As the coup de grace,I'd have some bull elk snuffed lifeless at some distance beyond 800 yards....the screen goes blank...and then in Gothic print with dragons in the background,the words encripted:

264 Winchester Magnum......Any Questions?

You are hired!!

jwall,

I quite agree with your assessment. For whatever reason, the GBP have ALWAYS turned their respective backs on about anything 6.5.

As far as the .264 goes, the damage is already done and I'd think irreversable. Speaking entirely for myself... I'm drawn to about anything that is off the mainstream of popularity... That must be why my three least favorite cartridges are the .30-06, .243 Win, and 7mm Mag!

Winchester obviously made a mistake in the .264 by inserting a 26 caliber bullet in it. If they'd put a .284 bullet in it, they'd likely have had a winner right from the get-go... (But I think it's too late for that now...)

BTW, it's whole lot easier to see what the right thing is after you already done the wrong thing... Or... at least when someone else has done the wrong thing...

GH

I think if I had to market the .264 today, I'd spread some money around Capitol Hill and get it adopted as a military sniper round. No military round has ever failed to sell well when offered in civvies.

I suspect the belt would have to disappear for the .264 to have a chance today. Maybe neck down the .375 Ruger case.

THEN go with Bob's rolling thunder commercial!

An ad with the picture with the muzzle of a Pre-64 Model 70 in sharp focus with the hunter out of focus in the background and caption it...."The .264 Magnum....it makes a helluva noise and packs a helluva wallop" or something along those lines.

Now, who woulda thought of that!?!

I quoted that ad in an article on the .264, and the copy editor changed helluva to "heckuva," apparently because she thought some people would be offended.

Let's market it...might catch on!

I'd put Donald Draper on it!

When the 264 was introduced it was pretty much limited to the model 70 as none of the other companies were quick to jump on board. It generally carried a premium price as many came with SS barrels as it was reported to eat barrels up rapidly. The fact that it was only marginally faster than a 270 w/o extra long barrels did not help with the gbp and finally there was that whole metric thing working against it. Actually I am surprised it has lasted as well as it has. In 2012 I probably would not bother as it still has those same issues. I know that th current trend is for the looneys to get all fired up at the perceived advantage of the published BC of 264 bullets but in the field it is just not noticeable enough for the gbp to justify the blast , long barrel and cost of shooting a 264 magnum.

Put Obama's '08 campaign people on it.
If they can sell HIM, they can sell anything!


Pete

.264 WM - Where's the 'metric thing'. I know it's the same but it was not listed as a 6.5.

Just an observation -- no problem.

Yes take Bob's appeal (?) for the commercial anyway + lose the belt.

Then make the case 'something like' the 300 S M and give it a new moniker. Something like super pooter but DROP 264 WM as well.

I speculate that IF you gave it identical ballistics to the 264 WM in the new wrapping, case & name, it could do well. Again IMO the GBP would never know the diff or the sameness of the cartridges.