Hey everybody,

Need to decide, sell a rifle or not, I need the money, but have other stuff too. I have a 264 win mag built on a mauser action. I've not really shot it that much, and not at all in years.

when I first bought it the barrel was 24", there was a burr in the chamber though, so I had them cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch off of it, rechamber it. the chamber was too tight so I just took it in and had them open it up a bit (it would chamber factory rounds but not reloads, neck was too tight).

my question is, will it perform well enough in a barrel that short? is it worth keeping and playing with? I was in love with the round, on paper, so bought it because of that. my "hotrod" of rifles if you will.

Thanks.

Red

If the accuracy is good, I'd keep it. There's a lot of BS about the .264 needing 26" barrels.

They kill just fine with a 22" barrel as well.

Besides, with all the folks thinking 26" is a mandatory number your bids will be quite diminished.

Let accuracy be your decision maker.

The 264 is a good cartridge with a 22" barrel; it's a great cartridge with a 26" barrel. Lou

Try the 160 grain bullets. A souped-up 6.5x55.

If you have both a .270 Win and a .264 Win Mag ... sell one of them. If only the .264 Win Mag, then do you have something to fill the gap between 6mm and .308 caliber? If you don't feel the need to have the gap filled ... sell it.

my linup right now is 06, 308 norma, 35 whelen ai, and 375h&h. something's gotta go. either I sell the 264 and try to get my 458 project finished, or sell the 458 project. or sell both and not worry about either. too many choices.

Thanks for the info guys. I think I have 140 grain bullets for it. I at least want to see how it shoots before I sell it, unless I sell it off for the action.

Red

I personally love 264s. I would have to keep it. You can load it up or down as you see fit with that barrel length. If it is accurate, KEEP IT. (Even with as much as I would like to buy it.)

Dago Red,

Very decent battery!

If Africa is in the future cards ... sell the .264 Win Mag or make it into a .458 Lott.

The .375 H&H is a good general purpose rifle for Africa. A .458 will give you a great second rifle for those trips and provide more comfort for dangerous game.

Keep the 264. If one really has to go, dump the 35. BUT - I think you could find room to store both.

I've never regretted any gun I've kept, but I sure have regretted selling some of the ones I've let go of.

I'd keep the .264.

My friend has a 264 M70 that had to cut 4 inches off the barrel in the 70's. Chronoed it and said he was getting 270 velocities with it. He recently purchased a replacement barrel and is going to get it installed. Still shot a lot of game with it.

I am curious with today's powders if anyone has done any testing with a 24" barrel vs a 26"? I notice a lot of the reloading data lists a 24' barrel. It would be interesting. What are we talking 50-100 FPS difference?

Yes,23.5 will work fine. I get 3150 from my 24" A 264WM has to be both fast and accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by CAelknuts:
I've never regretted any gun I've kept, but I sure have regretted selling some of the ones I've let go of.

I'd keep the .264.

+1

FWIW 23.50 inches is pretty much a standard continental European barrel length being 60 of their centimetres. They seem to cope!

Me? I'd sell the one you use AND ENJOY the least.

Or get rid of the '06 and the 35 Whelen and keep the Norma.

Or better actually to sell the rifle you'll take less of a monetary loss on when you sell.

I don't see anything that your 264 does that you Norma won't do better however! And with the right heavyweight bullet your Norma will give equal or greater velocity BUT BETTER TRAJECTORY AND SD as your 35 Whelen.