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264 win mag reloading

Hi Everyone....I need some suggestions what powder I should try in a .264 Win Mag....I just had one made with a Bertlein Barrel.....I've heard people say, use a slow burning powder, for it's easier on the barrel....Not sure what bullet I'll use yet...More then likely Hornady ELD-X....I prefer Barnes, but I want a heavier bullet then what they offer...Any help getting me started will be greatly appreciated....
 
Hi Everyone....I need some suggestions what powder I should try in a .264 Win Mag....I just had one made with a Bertlein Barrel.....I've heard people say, use a slow burning powder, for it's easier on the barrel....Not sure what bullet I'll use yet...More then likely Hornady ELD-X....I prefer Barnes, but I want a heavier bullet then what they offer...Any help getting me started will be greatly appreciated....

Try a reloading manual or powder website.
 
I have a 5r bartlien barreled 264 and I shoot retumbo in it with good results.
Fwiw I had copper fouling issues with Hornady eldx bullets in this barrel. I switched to Nosler accubonds and all is good.
 
It all depends on what your intended purpose will be with the rifle. Retumbo is a great powder and one that I use in my 264 Win mag. As with any of the over bore mags they need to be treated kindly if you what them to last a while. They are not going to last long if you sit down and blast away and heat it up and shoot it hot. Each barrel with any caliber has a accuracy life but if you don't treat them right they don't last as long as they could. If you will be using the rifle as a hunting rifle I suggest that you choose your bullet wisely. You did not say what barrel length you got on your rifle but if it is under 26" you waisted your money in my experience. I have a 27 3/4" on my rifle which is all the smith could get out of the 28" blank. With the velocity that you can achieve with the 26+" barrels if you get a shot on game at under 100 yards or so bullet construction is paramount. Cup and core bullets can really blow up and not penetrate. I use the 130 Nosler Accubond for this reason because I get average 3350 fps. I have shot deer as close as 25 yards and as far as a touch over 500 yards so far. This bullet has reacted the same no matter the range. It flies really good and expands and does a number on the vitals but holds together and keeps on trucking through and exits with about a quarter size hole and deer are bang flop dead.
 
It all depends on what your intended purpose will be with the rifle. Retumbo is a great powder and one that I use in my 264 Win mag. As with any of the over bore mags they need to be treated kindly if you what them to last a while. They are not going to last long if you sit down and blast away and heat it up and shoot it hot. Each barrel with any caliber has a accuracy life but if you don't treat them right they don't last as long as they could. If you will be using the rifle as a hunting rifle I suggest that you choose your bullet wisely. You did not say what barrel length you got on your rifle but if it is under 26" you waisted your money in my experience. I have a 27 3/4" on my rifle which is all the smith could get out of the 28" blank. With the velocity that you can achieve with the 26+" barrels if you get a shot on game at under 100 yards or so bullet construction is paramount. Cup and core bullets can really blow up and not penetrate. I use the 130 Nosler Accubond for this reason because I get average 3350 fps. I have shot deer as close as 25 yards and as far as a touch over 500 yards so far. This bullet has reacted the same no matter the range. It flies really good and expands and does a number on the vitals but holds together and keeps on trucking through and exits with about a quarter size hole and deer are bang flop dead.
How much retumbo are you loading to get 3350? My barrel is 27 3/4 as well and I am at 3210 with the 130 accubond and 67gr of retumbo.
 
It all depends on what your intended purpose will be with the rifle. Retumbo is a great powder and one that I use in my 264 Win mag. As with any of the over bore mags they need to be treated kindly if you what them to last a while. They are not going to last long if you sit down and blast away and heat it up and shoot it hot. Each barrel with any caliber has a accuracy life but if you don't treat them right they don't last as long as they could. If you will be using the rifle as a hunting rifle I suggest that you choose your bullet wisely. You did not say what barrel length you got on your rifle but if it is under 26" you waisted your money in my experience. I have a 27 3/4" on my rifle which is all the smith could get out of the 28" blank. With the velocity that you can achieve with the 26+" barrels if you get a shot on game at under 100 yards or so bullet construction is paramount. Cup and core bullets can really blow up and not penetrate. I use the 130 Nosler Accubond for this reason because I get average 3350 fps. I have shot deer as close as 25 yards and as far as a touch over 500 yards so far. This bullet has reacted the same no matter the range. It flies really good and expands and does a number on the vitals but holds together and keeps on trucking through and exits with about a quarter size hole and deer are bang flop dead.


Thanks, I do have a 26 inch barrel...I'm going to try accubonds…...Someone else recommended those also..
 
It all depends on what your intended purpose will be with the rifle. Retumbo is a great powder and one that I use in my 264 Win mag. As with any of the over bore mags they need to be treated kindly if you what them to last a while. They are not going to last long if you sit down and blast away and heat it up and shoot it hot. Each barrel with any caliber has a accuracy life but if you don't treat them right they don't last as long as they could. If you will be using the rifle as a hunting rifle I suggest that you choose your bullet wisely. You did not say what barrel length you got on your rifle but if it is under 26" you waisted your money in my experience. I have a 27 3/4" on my rifle which is all the smith could get out of the 28" blank. With the velocity that you can achieve with the 26+" barrels if you get a shot on game at under 100 yards or so bullet construction is paramount. Cup and core bullets can really blow up and not penetrate. I use the 130 Nosler Accubond for this reason because I get average 3350 fps. I have shot deer as close as 25 yards and as far as a touch over 500 yards so far. This bullet has reacted the same no matter the range. It flies really good and expands and does a number on the vitals but holds together and keeps on trucking through and exits with about a quarter size hole and deer are bang flop dead.
It all depends on what your intended purpose will be with the rifle. Retumbo is a great powder and one that I use in my 264 Win mag. As with any of the over bore mags they need to be treated kindly if you what them to last a while. They are not going to last long if you sit down and blast away and heat it up and shoot it hot. Each barrel with any caliber has a accuracy life but if you don't treat them right they don't last as long as they could. If you will be using the rifle as a hunting rifle I suggest that you choose your bullet wisely. You did not say what barrel length you got on your rifle but if it is under 26" you waisted your money in my experience. I have a 27 3/4" on my rifle which is all the smith could get out of the 28" blank. With the velocity that you can achieve with the 26+" barrels if you get a shot on game at under 100 yards or so bullet construction is paramount. Cup and core bullets can really blow up and not penetrate. I use the 130 Nosler Accubond for this reason because I get average 3350 fps. I have shot deer as close as 25 yards and as far as a touch over 500 yards so far. This bullet has reacted the same no matter the range. It flies really good and expands and does a number on the vitals but holds together and keeps on trucking through and exits with about a quarter size hole and deer are bang flop dead.

It's strictly a hunting rifle...At my age (75), I'm not to worried about burning it up...I don't even know why I'm doing this, except from the time they came out when I was a teen, I always wanted one....When I finally got money in my pocket, where I could afford some rifles, I bought everything but the 264.....Never to late I guess, LOL
 
I've got an 8 twist shilen select match. I bought an 8 pounder of retumbo thinking that's going yo be the one.Wrong! Ended up using 54.7 of Hybrid 100v. Generally it wiil give sub one inch groups w/ 140 berger hunting vld @ 300 yds with velocities at around 2970. I use mostly remington brass. Mostly the old green and orange box brass
 
I've got an 8 twist shilen select match. I bought an 8 pounder of retumbo thinking that's going yo be the one.Wrong! Ended up using 54.7 of Hybrid 100v. Generally it wiil give sub one inch groups w/ 140 berger hunting vld @ 300 yds with velocities at around 2970. I use mostly remington brass. Mostly the old green and orange box brass

Thanks, I can't find any retumbo anyways...I'll keep that in mind...
 
It's strictly a hunting rifle...At my age (75), I'm not to worried about burning it up...I don't even know why I'm doing this, except from the time they came out when I was a teen, I always wanted one....When I finally got money in my pocket, where I could afford some rifles, I bought everything but the 264.....Never to late I guess, LOL

I'm glad you finally succumbed to the draw of the .264 Win. Mag. It can be an exceptional cartridge when you finally get past all the bad press it received initially from the poor choices in powder availability. No longer is it relegated to being a barrel burner since we have a few excellent powders to use which allow for a longer, more productive life. Better stainless steel helps, too!

More then likely Hornady ELD-X....I prefer Barnes, but I want a heavier bullet then what they offer

I first started loading the 140 gr. Nosler Partition for my hunting load. These shot accurately in most rifles. Then I had to try the 140 gr. AMAX since they worked well in my .240 WBY. Skipping ahead some, I worked my way through the Berger variations which were all O.K up to the 156 gr. Hunter which I had great hopes for but unfortunately only yielded indifferent results. This could change depending on some trials with land design. Right now I'm running my favorite 130 gr. VLDs which show great accuracy and enough energy out to 1,000 yards for deer.

The real challenge was trying to find a decent solid for those folks stuck in California under the jack boots of the Demoncraps. Well, I'm glad to say that the fine folks at Cutting Edge have found a solution for some of us anyway. It's the CEB 140 gr. MTH. This bullet performs well on game and is accurate in the rifles I've tested. While the cost is more than the standard cup and core bullets, this is a hunting bullet so the frequency of use is substantially less than if you wanted to shoot targets and compete.

Now, the good news is that if Retumbo works for you then you need to try Norma 217 which is currently available through several suppliers. In my tests it runs fairly close to the Retumbo data but you will have to run your own tests to be sure of your outcomes. The pair of VVN-570 and 170 can be advantageous, using the high energy powder for some hunting loads then dialing it down by using the cooler version for shooting some targets or plinking.

Enjoy the process!:D
 
How much retumbo are you loading to get 3350? My barrel is 27 3/4 as well and I am at 3210 with the 130 accubond and 67gr of retumbo.

I am loading 66.5 grs Retumbo and using a CCI250 primer in Winchester once fired 7mm Rem mag cases sized in a full length 264 Win mag sizer. My barrel has a really tight chamber. Cases don't need much sizing. Barrel is a Shilen CM 9" twist. Velocity has been taken a number of times and it averages 3350 fps on my Bata Master chronograph 10 feet from the muzzle.
 
Winchester brass, 3rd reload, never resized
140 gr Sierra Match HPBT, 0.010" off lands
61.5 gr Hodgdon H-1000
Remington 9 1/2 M primers
Mean Radius - 0.27" @ 100 yards
20 shots

"Accuracy over velocity"

Unfortunately, a disclaimer: This works for me, maybe not for you. Your discretion.

1962 Browning Safari with FN's version of large ring Mauser 98. Action trued and re-barreled with 26" Krieger 1/8 twist, action and barrel bedded to within 1/2 " of end of stock forearm.
Smithing by Mark Penrod.
Dies by Neil Jones
 
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