About 8 months ago, I got a bug up my butt, to have a rifle built...I've always wanted a 264 win mag. ever since they came out when I was a teen...Through the years I've bought darn near every caliber, but the 264...Now that I'm 76, I decided it's time to get a 264...I didn't know anything about having one built, so I started asking questions on this site....I got a lot of suggestions from you guys.....Some I used, some I didn't, but I appreciated all of them....I finally have the 264 in my hands....I bought a Bartlein CM 26in barrel, mated to a trued 700 Rem action...I fitted it to a H&S stock which I had bedded....Then I got a trigger tech trigger....I used DNZ scope mount and fitted it with a Swaro Z5 4/12-18 scope....I haven't been able to try it out yet....I live in the desert of N.M. and we're still in the 100's
264 Win Mag
- Thread starter desertbandit
- Start date
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Did you get a spare barrel?
LOL, Like I said, I'm 76,,,That's up to my boys, LOL
Fairly recent write-up by Spomer on this...
https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/can-264-winchester-magnum-rise-from-dead/
Like he sez, the 6.5 craze recently might give this new life. Looks to be a BCH faster/flatter than the new 6.5 PRC...
Why not?
https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/can-264-winchester-magnum-rise-from-dead/
Like he sez, the 6.5 craze recently might give this new life. Looks to be a BCH faster/flatter than the new 6.5 PRC...
Why not?
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
I was around when the 264 was conceived, and remember quite well the enthusiasm that the Gun Magazines had for it......until the actual Rifle hit production.
It seems Winchester was publishing some performance numbers that were garnered in test barrels that were quite a bit longer than any person would carry in field. When the actual production Rifles hit the market. Shooters were sorely disappointed in how so much powder being burned could result in rather unremarkable gains in performance.
The rifle was crucified in the Gun Mags.
Waiting in the wings was Remington, with their soon to be released 7 mm Rem Mag, which for all general purposes was a 264 necked up to 7mm. A slick ad campaign centered around real world ballistics caught the shooting public’s, and the Gun Magazine editors eye, and the 7mm Rem Mag became one of the most popular chambering ever conceived while the 264 Win Mag almost became a forgotten cartridge.
Back several years ago when the 6.5 craze hit the long range crowd. I figured if Remington had just brought out the 7mm Magnum, everybody would be necking it down to 6.5 and declaring it the best thing since smokeless powder and boxer primers.
And what they would have would be a 264 Winchester Magnum.
But Winchester Got their revenge when Remington introduced the 244 Remington with slow twist barrels designed to be the ultimate production Varmint Rifle. The public wanted a 6mm Deer Rifle.
So Winchester simply necked down the 308 to .243 and offered rifles with twist rates that would stabilize heavier and longer 6mm bullets.
The public, and the Gun Magazine editors loved it.
Remington tried to recover by renaming the 244, calling it the 6mm Remington, and offering Rifles With twist rates to shoot the heavier and longer bullets.
But it was too late. The 243 ruled, while the 244/6mm Remington just about died.
It seems Winchester was publishing some performance numbers that were garnered in test barrels that were quite a bit longer than any person would carry in field. When the actual production Rifles hit the market. Shooters were sorely disappointed in how so much powder being burned could result in rather unremarkable gains in performance.
The rifle was crucified in the Gun Mags.
Waiting in the wings was Remington, with their soon to be released 7 mm Rem Mag, which for all general purposes was a 264 necked up to 7mm. A slick ad campaign centered around real world ballistics caught the shooting public’s, and the Gun Magazine editors eye, and the 7mm Rem Mag became one of the most popular chambering ever conceived while the 264 Win Mag almost became a forgotten cartridge.
Back several years ago when the 6.5 craze hit the long range crowd. I figured if Remington had just brought out the 7mm Magnum, everybody would be necking it down to 6.5 and declaring it the best thing since smokeless powder and boxer primers.
And what they would have would be a 264 Winchester Magnum.
But Winchester Got their revenge when Remington introduced the 244 Remington with slow twist barrels designed to be the ultimate production Varmint Rifle. The public wanted a 6mm Deer Rifle.
So Winchester simply necked down the 308 to .243 and offered rifles with twist rates that would stabilize heavier and longer 6mm bullets.
The public, and the Gun Magazine editors loved it.
Remington tried to recover by renaming the 244, calling it the 6mm Remington, and offering Rifles With twist rates to shoot the heavier and longer bullets.
But it was too late. The 243 ruled, while the 244/6mm Remington just about died.
Been shooting 264 for years. Kills like lightning! 130 accubonds around 3250 if you can get there, usually theres a great node about that speed. H4831sc is a great powder with less throat erosion than people claim.Got a buddy with over 1200rds down his 264 with no measurable erosion and no loss of accuracy. My personal will put 3 shots into a .30 caliber hole without enlarging. 3 inch high zero at 100 yds still holding in the hair at 550yds on a Tennessee size whitetail. Thats with 27 inches of barrel and a 8 twist! All that with the recoil of a 270. Beautiful Thing My Friend! Enjoy!
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
ive got a 257 Wby reamer and a 6.5 barrel so i gotta decide- should i buy a 257 barrel and have a 257 Wby or a 264 reamer and have a 264 Win mag-- Mabie Both
Good Luck with your 264 -
My UNCLE had a 264 built on an old Enfield rifle. He loved it and was very successful in harvesting Elk out to 600 yards in Utah. This was in the ‘60s, and he was using drop tables taped to his buttstock even then.
My dad was a big bore fan and used his 375 H&H Mag for rabbits and deer. You can only imagine how much he ribbed my UNCLE about his “needle bore”!
I followed my dad’s example for a long time, until I discovered the joy of needle bores!
My dad was a big bore fan and used his 375 H&H Mag for rabbits and deer. You can only imagine how much he ribbed my UNCLE about his “needle bore”!
I followed my dad’s example for a long time, until I discovered the joy of needle bores!
I have barreled a few over the years, without exception all of them shot their best groups when resizing and measuring headspace at the shoulder as opposed to slamming them thru a sizer die and counting on the belt.
Dusty is not exaggerating when he asked about a spare barrel. If you are only 76 you could go thru a couple if you are not careful to allow it to cool down in between shots. One good hot sunny 95 degree day at the range with too many rounds too close together and she is cooked. My nephew did it in under 100 rounds. Best of luck and good shooting sir!!!
Dusty is not exaggerating when he asked about a spare barrel. If you are only 76 you could go thru a couple if you are not careful to allow it to cool down in between shots. One good hot sunny 95 degree day at the range with too many rounds too close together and she is cooked. My nephew did it in under 100 rounds. Best of luck and good shooting sir!!!
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Ive seen 75rds and be gone.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
What does a 26 Nosler get? 50?
Good question sir. I'd say about all the barrel burners, it really just depends upon how many rounds are fired after they get too hot and how close together the timing of the shots. I have a 243 that has had several hundred rounds thru it and the throat is fine, but I never once let the barrel get hot.
My hat’s off to anyone who roasts the bore in any hunting rifle, regardless of the chambering. Let’s say a person owns a crazy overbore gun with an estimated life of 200 shots. Even if 100 shots are used up in load development, that leaves 100 rounds used for downing game. If 2 shots per animal are used that means the gun has successfully downed 50 deer, elk, antelope, whatever. Not bad.
I have had 6 264 Winchester mags By running H1000 which is a cool burning powder and not over heating the barrel I’m getting good barrel life. The 2 I’m running now have Bartlein 1-8” twist 1st one has 600 rounds though it using Berger 156 grain. Just checked it with my Hawkeye bore scope the lands look good no fire cracking yet. The one I just finished building has the new Bartlein Carbon rapped barrel shoots the 156 berger very well and is really lightweight. So if you run a cool burning powder Like H1000 or N165 they will last you a long time. Its a wonderful round hope you enjoy it as much as I have mine.
Part 2
1970 I was 6 years old. Bill our friend came by the farm said he was going Elk hunting and wanted to show my Dad his new gun it was a Winchester Model 70 264 westerner. Man that sounded really cool to me. About that time a crow landed on a tree way out there. Dad said Bill I bet u can’t hit that crow. Bill shot offhand and vaporized the crow. Right there I decided when I grow up and get big I’m going to have a 264 Winchester. 1st one 4wheeler wreck bent the barrel. 2nd one didn’t shoot very well. 3rd one shot really well Elk hunting in Colorado horse slipped on switchback bent barrel #2. 4th one burnt the barrel out around 450 rounds then learned about powder burn temp. 5th and 6th are doing well.
1970 I was 6 years old. Bill our friend came by the farm said he was going Elk hunting and wanted to show my Dad his new gun it was a Winchester Model 70 264 westerner. Man that sounded really cool to me. About that time a crow landed on a tree way out there. Dad said Bill I bet u can’t hit that crow. Bill shot offhand and vaporized the crow. Right there I decided when I grow up and get big I’m going to have a 264 Winchester. 1st one 4wheeler wreck bent the barrel. 2nd one didn’t shoot very well. 3rd one shot really well Elk hunting in Colorado horse slipped on switchback bent barrel #2. 4th one burnt the barrel out around 450 rounds then learned about powder burn temp. 5th and 6th are doing well.
Between the desert heat and powder shortage, I haven't been able to play with it much...I did buy a box of Rem. 140gr core-lokts, shot 3 rounds 5/8in group...I am impressed..
I too have had a craving for a .264wm for years, but I already had several fast 6.5s.
Finally I had JGS make me a reamer for the Berger 156.
The rifle is being built by Clayton at West Texas Ordnance and should be ready in October. I went with a SwitchLug with 2 Bartlein #3s with 1:7.5 twist, finished @ 26" + Holland brake.
As an after thought, I added 2 barrels chambered for a long action 7mm Sherman Max. One barrel 1:8 twist, other in 1:9, 26" Bartlein #3.
I went with a BDL setup on a Kelbly's nitrided Atlas Tactical, Jewell HVR, in a Manners EH-1, midnight camo.
I went a bit lighter than my standard 3B contour, but at my age, lighter is better. It should make a nice rifle. I'll be sizing down ADG 7 mag brass, then turning for .004" clearance, if all goes well. I have a lot of Retumbo, H-1000 and VV 565, so good to go.
Finally I had JGS make me a reamer for the Berger 156.
The rifle is being built by Clayton at West Texas Ordnance and should be ready in October. I went with a SwitchLug with 2 Bartlein #3s with 1:7.5 twist, finished @ 26" + Holland brake.
As an after thought, I added 2 barrels chambered for a long action 7mm Sherman Max. One barrel 1:8 twist, other in 1:9, 26" Bartlein #3.
I went with a BDL setup on a Kelbly's nitrided Atlas Tactical, Jewell HVR, in a Manners EH-1, midnight camo.
I went a bit lighter than my standard 3B contour, but at my age, lighter is better. It should make a nice rifle. I'll be sizing down ADG 7 mag brass, then turning for .004" clearance, if all goes well. I have a lot of Retumbo, H-1000 and VV 565, so good to go.
I've probably shot 50# + of Retumbo over the years in 7STWs, 7mags and a couple of 6.5 l/a wildcats. I've found it be cleaner than most, in my experience with 26-28" barrels. I'll keep my eyes open though. Thanks for the heads-up.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.