I have Fabrique Nationale .264 with 26" barrel and I've been trying Hornady spec. reload with no luck. (55gr of IMR4350, 140grHornady sst, with once fired winchester brass) shoots great with factory loaded 140gr winchesters.
.264 WM 26" won't group....
- Thread starter Joe Giwojna
- Start date
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
If a rifle doesn't shoot good after trying only one powder and charge weight with one bullet... it's total junk. Send me a PM and I'll give you my FFL dealer''s shipping address so I can take it off your hands.
Such a nice man, Ledd Slinger, you are an angel for offering to help with his problem.
On the other hand I would suggest a different bullet and start about 5% lower than the maximum listed charge and shoot three each in 0.5 grain jumps. A slower powder might help like Hodgdon H870 or IMR 4831. I think your load was just a bit too hot. Maybe work down from the 55 grain load in 0.5 grain increments shooting three at each step.
On the other hand I would suggest a different bullet and start about 5% lower than the maximum listed charge and shoot three each in 0.5 grain jumps. A slower powder might help like Hodgdon H870 or IMR 4831. I think your load was just a bit too hot. Maybe work down from the 55 grain load in 0.5 grain increments shooting three at each step.
Not to be outdone by LS, I'll pay for the shipping. My God man, think about the ozone while you're trying to get that thing to group!
Get you some Hodgdon Retumbo powder and some Nosler Accubond bullets. My 264 Win mag has a 9" twist Shilen barrel 27 3/4" barrel on a Rem. 700 action. Because of the 9" twist I went with the 130 gr Nosler Accubond and 66.5 grs Retumbo, CCI 250 primers in Winchester cases made from necking down 7mm Rem. mag in a full length 264 win mag sizing die. I load the bullet 10 thousands off the lands. I get sub moa accuracy and 3350 fps. Talk about a flat shooting drop a deer in it's tracks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay across a bean field set up. The Accubond bullet will hold together and exit even when shot through both shoulders on a deer as close as 25 yards at this high velocity and it reacted the same at a touch over 500 yards on another buck. It did the same on the other dozen of so deer shot at in between those yardages. All deer were DRT. I have only recovered one bullet. It was from a buck at 111 yards. Buck was almost facing me with a left shoulder toward me angle. Bullet entered front edge of left shoulder made soup of the vitals and when I was cutting up the meat I found the bullet in the right ham after I smashed the ball joint. Bullet was a text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs. I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with this load if I ever had the opportunity to hunt elk.
Another vote for the 130 accubonds.
We shoot'em and love'em.
Just like he said, deer don't like'em...lol
Kermit
We shoot'em and love'em.
Just like he said, deer don't like'em...lol
Kermit
I have a Browning Safari in .264 WM that is probably quite similar. I would like to tell you it shoots the lights out, but it never has. Your situation sounds more encouraging as you say it shoots well with factory ammo.
First, I would suggest that IMR4350 is too fast a powder, assuming this is a .264 WM that you have. I would suggest the standard powder for this cartridge is H4831, and I wouldn't be surprised if that is what is in the factory load. Another powder to consider which is a bit slower still is H1000. Hopefully Hornady has a load for those two powders. My standard load for a 140 grain Sierra Game King and 140 grain Nosler Partition has been 62 grains of H4831.
One thing to watch is the Hodgdon loads for this cartridge that are published on line. I am absolutely sure that Hodgdon has interchanged the loads for the 160 grain bullets and the 140 grain bullets. So for sure find an alternate reference point for loads.
Another thing to check is the twist in your barrel. My Browning Safari is 1:10", which is a bit too slow for these newer low drag bullets in the 140 grain range. If your twist is slow, you need to look for shorter style bullets. That Hornady 140 SST is a long bullet at 1.41" and probably needs as much as an 8 twist to fully stabilize it. If you post what twist you have, I may be able to help you with bullets that could work better. For example the Sierra 120 grain Pro Hunter is much shorter at close to 1" in length.
Way under loaded because the powder (H-4350) is too fast for this case. Hodgdon includes this in there suggested loads but that does not suggest that it is prudent for accuracy, velocity or powder position in the case.
This, besides the using powders that are too fast for the case/bullet combination. Run a rod down the bore to measure the twist before shooting any more. A 1:10" twist will shoot cup and core hunting bullets (Partitions) but not the SSTs or VLDs. My list states that the FN has a 1:9" twist but I'd check it anyway.
The testing I've done using 140 class bullets suggests strongly that you need powders such as:
Re-25
H-1000
VVN-570
All three fill the case without compression and perform up to the velocity standards of the cartridge. They are all efficient. VVN-570 yields the highest velocity, H-1000 burns the coolest so you might see an increase in barrel life and Re-25 yields good velocity but at a higher temperature.
Clean the barrel thoroughly then check it with a borescope to be assured that it is clean. Check the throat. Check the crown. Most of this is proven by the factory ammunition performance but it never hurts to look.
As always be sure to check all screws for proper tightness.
Regards.
1885Winman4590
Gold $$ Contributor
My best load, in terms of accuracy w/140 berger target vld is wirh hybrid 100v, velocity is slow at 2870 but accuracy is 3/4 inch at 300 yds.
Another good load has been max load of retumbo w/ that bullet, but accuracy falls off to 1.5 to 1.75".
I like the 100v load better, accuracy, powder consumption10 grains less, throat erosion less also I would guess.
Barrel is a 1 in 8 twist, shilen select match, 28" bull.
Another good load has been max load of retumbo w/ that bullet, but accuracy falls off to 1.5 to 1.75".
I like the 100v load better, accuracy, powder consumption10 grains less, throat erosion less also I would guess.
Barrel is a 1 in 8 twist, shilen select match, 28" bull.
I'm the first to question, especially since its age , what does the bore look like ? The 264 wm doesn't last long . Borescope it , then check loads known to work . Older rifles in 6.5 cal were not set on bore size , bullet size , I have been a 6.5 fan for more years than I care to mention and have many old boxes of bullets that are Dual diameter, .264 and .266 . Factory ammo I believe was also loaded with 2 diameter bullets .
You may be wise to slug the barrel also .
You may be wise to slug the barrel also .
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