Loading for the .264 Win Mag.

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Mike Webb

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I'm looking to start loading for a .264 Win. Mag. and was going to go with the 140 grain Nosler partition for everything as I have had great luck with Partitions in the past.
As far as powders go Retumbo gets great reviews for overbore cases but some complain of inconsistent velocities. I have read RL25 is great in the .264 and very accurate as well.
Any of you guys feed a .264? If so what are your recommendations for powder/primer combos? I have a good supply of WW new cases to use. Anyone have any pet loads with the 140 gr. Nosler?
My rifle has a 26 inch barrel and 1 in 8 inch twist so should shoot the heavier longer 140 grain bullets well. Any help is appreciated.
 
RL22 was the most accurate powder tested by Nosler with 140 grain starting at 55.0 for the most accurate load at 2712 fps and rising to 55.0 grains for 2929.
The highest velocity came with 57.5 grains of RL19 at 3021.
There were no listings for Retumbo nor RL25.
With slow powders and over 50 grains, I would used Magnum rifle primers the 4350's and 4831's are also options with velocities exceeding RL22.
From the Sierra Manual:
Accuracy Load: IMR-4350/ 55.5grs. 2900fps/ 2615ft. lbs.
Hunting Load: H4831 / 62.0grs. 3000fps/ 2798ft. lbs.
Sierra did not load any of the RL Powders.
When helping a friend this past summer we used IMR4350 for 120 (deer loads) and 140's for Moose.
All loads were producing 2" groups at 200 m.
 
Hey, thanks a lot for the feedback. You hear a lot of stories about 3200 to 3350 fps with 140 grain bullets but these guys must be running at 60,000 + pressure. I am looking for 3000-3100 fps and good accuracy and the most accurate loads are rarely the fastest.
 
You can safely reach 3100 fps in a 264 Win Mag with a 140 gr bullet, but the powders mentioned thus far are too fast. I have used US869 to good effect in several magnum rifle cartridges (including a 6.5-300 Win Mag) and it gave both the highest MV, and excellent accuracy. Those who claim that US869 is "not an accurate powder" are almost always just repeating what others have said.
 
I used to use H870 in my 264 with 140 Parts and a CCI 250 or Fed 215, so everything Andy says rings true with my experience. With H870 discontinued, I worked with RL 25 in my 257 Wby and got fantastic velocities and accuracy, you might want to give this a try. I haven't played with my 264 in many years but when I get back to it I will be trying Retumbo, RL 25 and possibly 33 if I can acquire some, US 869 and that slow VV powder who's number I can never remember, but it's in the same burn rate area as the rest.
I have not found Retumbo to be particularly temp sensitive............YMMV
 
I use H870 in my pair of 264 rifles with 120gr to 140 gr bullets. I stocked up a few years ago and have 5lbs sitting in the powder locker. After that's gone i will have to start over.
 
dead meat said:
I use H870 in my pair of 264 rifles with 120gr to 140 gr bullets. I stocked up a few years ago and have 5lbs sitting in the powder locker. After that's gone i will have to start over.
Click to expand...

I have only 2 lbs of H870 left, and one pound each of H570 and H5010 - all useful slow powders.

There are probably no discontinued powders more missed than H450 and H870...........
 
I have owned several 264 Win Mags over the years, and never had any problems reaching 3100-3150 with 140 grain Partitions, even in 24" tubes.

I found that the best powders were the ones that burned slooowww, like H870, H5010 [my favorite in the 264] Retumbo, Ramshot Magnum, Vihtavuori N170.
H1000 and RL 25 belong in the group as well. I also had good success with a powder from Higginson's that is NLA, WC867.

My pet 264 was built on an early 700 Action, and had a 27" Pac-Nor 3 groove on it in a 9" twist. I had it throated specifically so I could seat the 140P with it's base even with the juncture of the neck/shoulder of that 264 case, leaving .015" of clearance to the lands.

With 76 grains of H5010, it clocked 3270, and would shoot under ¾ moa right out to 600 M on a quiet day. Game animals shot inside of 300M usually dropped like lightening had struck.

I remember one nice Bull Elk near Sparwood that I spotted laying down on a power line strip. Problem was, I could only see his head and antlers, the rest was obscured by a little "hump" in the terrain between me and him. He was just about 400 yards away, so I had no illusions about trying anything fancy. I just sat and waited, and waited.

After about 1½ hours, He stood up, took a pee, and finally turned broadside. I sent a 140 Partition from that 264 on it's way. As I recovered from the recoil, there was nothing to be seen where he had been, so I assumed that he had bolted for the timber. I forced myself to wait the mandatory 20 minutes or so, and headed up to where I had seen him.

As I cleared the little hump in the terrain, there he was, laying basically in his tracks, deader than Moses. That 140 went between two ribs and through the lungs, cut all the plumbing off the top of his heart, and exited out the far side of his ribcage, taking part of a rib with it.

To say I was pleased would be an understatement. But, then, that was more common than not with the 264 Win Mag. Doesn't do anything a 7mm Mag or a big 30 can't do, but is surprisingly effective for the smaller diameter.

Regards, Dave.
 
I have been shooting the 264 for years, my powder choice is H1000, my bullet is the Sierra 140 SBT backed by a Fed 215 or WLRM primer,
chronographed velocities average 3190 fps and accuracy is consistently below 1" at 100yds, this is from a 26" barrel.
There are actually many more powder choices today than there used to be in days gone by, there are more overbore factory cartridges
today than ever before, of coarse none of them carry the barrel burner stigma that the 264 has to burden.
Cheers
bb
 
Another powder that works very well in 264 is IMR 7828 and it is usually available. I tried quite a few powders in my 264 for experimental reasons and 7828 always was accuracy/speed winner with 130/140 grain bullets.
 
back40sniper said:
Another powder that works very well in 264 is IMR 7828 and it is usually available. I tried quite a few powders in my 264 for experimental reasons and 7828 always was accuracy/speed winner with 130/140 grain bullets.
Click to expand...

Charlie, I found IMR 7828 to be the best up to 125 gn bullets, best velocity and superb accuracy, but H 870 out shone it with 140s in my rifle.............YMMV
 
I'm using 120 NBTs and H1000 in mine for 3300 fps. It also works with 140 and 160 grain bullets, but I succumbed to the allure of those occasional 1 inchish 500 yard groups. Oh, sure I know that I should be concentrating on higher BC bullets but these ones make grin and thats what toys are for.

 
back40sniper said:
Another powder that works very well in 264 is IMR 7828 and it is usually available. I tried quite a few powders in my 264 for experimental reasons and 7828 always was accuracy/speed winner with 130/140 grain bullets.
Click to expand...

This is my experience as well(I believe 63 gr 7828 pushing a 140 Sierra Gameking at 3100 out of a very early 4 digit serial # Remington 700 with a 24" barrel). I have never tested other powders as I can't believe getting any better results than what I'm getting.
 
I use N570 and 140 gr Bergers and I get 3270fps out of my 26inch Remington Sendaro. Nice one hole groups at 100yrds, seams to work fine and no pressure signs with this gun - I can not shoot in my winchester.
 
Hello Mike, been shooting 264 win mag a long time. My favorite powder is Ramshot magnum after lots of playing. Then US869. With a 26inch barrel I get 3240fps with a Berger 140 hunting VLD.

sbe what is your C.O.A.L. ??? Thanks.
 
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