Hey guys, I thought I was completed w/ all my load development work for this year's upcoming deer season (except for a troublesome 250 Savage Contender, but that's another story... ) until one of my friends asked a few days ago if I could work up a load for his adult daughter to use deer hunting this year. I've previously developed a 257 Roberts youth load his grandson's used w/ good success. Since he does a lot of favors for me as well, my immediate answer to him was, "Sure. I'd be glad to!" He wants her to use a previously unshot 264 WM. (His choice, not mine.) The deer are small and shots will probably be fairly short, 100-150 yards. We've settled on a 120 gr bullet @ ~2600 fps. I already have available the 120 gr Speer/Sierra SP's, 120 gr NBT, and 129 gr Hornady SP. Thought I'd shoot whichever is most accurate. Does your experience exclude one of these bullets? I'm really unsure what to do as far as choice of powder. I've run a search on the internet, but found no info on the 264 WM and very little on the 7 RM (from handloads.com forum). I found some work by Seafire on the 338 WM/Blue Dot on the AR forum. The Hodgdon "Youth Load" site shows some recipes for the 7 RM, but not the 264 WM. My latest Hodgdon loading data doesn't show any info at all for H4895 in the 264 WM. Looks like I'll need to make some educated guesses here on where to start. Do any of y'all have any personal experiences you can share w/ me? Will also send an email to Hodgdon asking for "Youth Load" data for 264 WM/H4895. Thanks for your help. Gary T.

Well I've used 4198 in the past.
My antique Speer book shows 21-23grs of 4198 with a 120 for 1760-1932.

Loadtech shows 4198 loads 21 to 38.5 for 1700-2610.

Loadtech shows 4895 from 43.5-48.3 for 2400-2600 pressure is 40-45000.

The only reduced load for a .264 I ever tried was with 4198 and that was about a hundred years ago. As a result, I don't remember the amount of powder that I used, but I do remember that the consistency and accuracy were very satisfactory.

I would suggest that you look at an IMR or DuPont powder guide (pre-Hodgdon). They list maximum loads (as defined by a pre-determined C.U.P. level) for each caliber with virtually all rifle powders, even those that are far too fast for the caliber. You can start by reducing the 4198 maximum by about 20% and go from there.

Another powder that might work fairly well would be 4895. Take the same approach.

Any of the 120 grain bullets would be fine, but if you don't mind springing for a little more expense, the 100 grain Nosler Partition would give you minimum weight and recoil and excellent terminal ballistics. I don't know why Nosler chose to produce and market this bullet as its uses seem limited, but it would be tailor-made for a low-recoiling deer load.

I think Stonecreek is on the right track with the 100 gr NP. Another consideration is the 125 gr NP. I've had excellent performance and accuracy with this bullet out of my 264. I'd load it with a moderate (starting) ld of a slower burning powder than those suggested. Probably H4831 or something similiar.

Hey guys,
Work has kept me very busy lately, but thought I'd check in as I finally got a chance to work some on the 264 Win Mag "youth load." All loads use virgin W/W 264 WM brass (w/ primer pockets uniformed and flash holes deburred), Rem 9 1/2 primers (didn't have any W/W primers available), and Hornady 129 gr SP bullet, seated 0.035" off the lands; barrel is 26" long. My first trip to the range featured 4 powders as follows (one shot w/ each charge):
IMR 4759
34.0 gr = 2534 fps ??
34.5 gr = 2484 fps
35.0 gr = 2505 fps

Blue Dot
26.0 gr = 2145 fps
27.0 gr = 2258 fps
28.0 gr = 2313 fps

H4895
40.0 gr = 2526 fps
41.0 gr = 2613 fps
42.0 gr = 2609 fps ??

IMR 4198
37.0 gr = 2510 fps
38.0 gr = 2583 fps
39.0 gr = 2640 fps

Not surprisingly, the Blue Dot load was very pleasant.

I decided to develop one practice load (using Blue Dot) and 2 potential hunting loads (using H4895 and IMR 4198. Here are the results of the second range trip. 3 shot groups at 50 yds w/ 6X scope, but not focused to my eyes. Trigger is also very hard at 6.5#. The BD load uses Fed 210 primer (to help differentiate it from the hunting loads using Rem 9 1/2 primers).

Blue Dot 28.0 gr = avg 2348 fps; 0.54"
H4895 41.0 gr = avg 2553 fps; 0.88"
IMR 4198 39.0 gr = 2640 fps; 0.68"

I'm going to let the lady and her shooting tell me which of the two hunting loads SHE likes to shoot the best. H4895 has a little more blast to it than does IMR 4198, although still very manageable. Will adjust the trigger to ~4#, as well. I think this project will work out very well. Thanks for your help. BTW, Hodgdon nevery responded to my request for load suggestions for H4895. Gary T.