Could someone tell me, which case is necked down to accept this caliber bullet? Is it the .338 WM case?

I am starting to get an itch for this cartridge, but have never seen or fired one.

Thank you

The easiest route is necking down a 7mm Remington Magnum - just half a mm difference. The .264WM is a fine cartridge, it just got a bad rep soon after it was introduced and never recovered.

It will do anything a .257 Weatherby will do plus shoot a much heavier bullet if required, making it more suitable for larger game. I own two .257s now, but wish I had not sold the .264 years ago.....


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I am pretty sure that the 264 and 338 debuted together. I may be wrong. The 458 came out in 1956 then I want to think the 338 and 264 came out in 1958 but it very may well be one of those in 1958 and the other in 1959.

The 264 Win Mag is essentially a necked down 338 Win Mag and vice versa. The 300 Win Mag has different shoulder location resulting in the shorter neck.

There are a lot of good (many unfired in fact) pre 64 Win 70 barrels in 264 Win mag laying around. It was used as a donor for bigger magnums. It was hard to reload to listed specs. It probably can achieve them a little better today with the larger selection of bullets and powders available today. The 270 did nearly the same thing cheaper was it's rap way back when, and the debut of the 7mm Rem Mag was the final nail in the coffin.

Brass is generally available from Midway and others. the 264 is cool. And a 125gr Partition or 130gr Accubond at 3300fps makes pretty good open counrty deer/antelope medicine!

Belted Magnum timeline:

.375 H&H - 1912
.300 H&H - 1925
.458 WM - 1956
.338 WM - 1958
.264 WM - 1958
7mm RM - 1962
.300 WM - 1963

You cann't make .264 WM cases out of .300 WM brass, the case is too long with out cutting. Necking down the 7mm RM case is the easiest option, but as noted .264 brass is not hard to find.

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Thanks for the replies everyone.
Unfortunately, I am not into reloading, so it's commercially loaded ammo for me, so I do not have to worry about altering cases. I did see on Midway that Nosler loads several different offering for this cartridge and on Graf's Privi loads an economical round for practice. I think I enjoy learning about the history of cartridges as much as I do shooting and hunting with them.

Thank you

Since you don't plan on reloading, I'd avoid buying a 264. The choices are very limited and don't take advantage of the cartridge. You'd be much better off with a 270 Winchester or a 7 Mag. I love my 264, but the factory offerings are really disappointment compared to those other two cartridges. If you want something more unusual, I'd go for a 270 Weatherby. That is loaded more to its potential in factory ammunition.

quote:

Since you don't plan on reloading, I'd avoid buying a 264

I love 264 mags.Duckboat is correct

quote:

Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:

Unfortunately, I am not into reloading...

That's just a dog-gone shame and actually borders on the sacrilegious on a forum named ACCURATERELOADING.

You must feel like sharkbait.

quote:

I am not into reloading...

then the .264 is probably not a good choice.

A .270 Winchester will serve you much better.

I completely agree with you gentlemen that the selection of factory ammo for the 264 is limited compared to other cartridges. But that doesn't seem to be a deterrent to Dthfrmbv. He seems to have an interest in the 264 for other reasons...like it's just different and interesting, perhaps.

And Nosler does seem to have a pretty good selection of ammo (albeit expensive). The 125gr Partition at 3200 fps is nothing to sneeze at!

quote:

Originally posted by DannyH:

quote:

Since you don't plan on reloading, I'd avoid buying a 264

I love 264 mags.Duckboat is correct

Don't even think about buying a .264 if you are going to shoot fuctory ammunition in it.

It is like a high-strung race horse and needs very special attention to get the optimal performance from it.

SC: what if I don't care about "optimal performance". What if I just want one...just because. Can I think about it then?

Go ahead and get it!! Even with the factory fodder it`ll not let you down. Easily available in Cabelas and most well stocked stores like BI-Mart, Walmart to mention the easiest to find. If they don`t carry it ASK!!! They will gladly add it to their next order.
Aloha, Mark

Hey, I wanted one as soon as I got into rifles and my stepfather was talking about it and described it as a Ferrari, is it too much power for most of what you'll do with it? sure. does it burn through fuel (powder) and tires (barrel) sure. but it's so damn cool. and looks great too IMO.



I have one that sadly wears just a 23.5" barrel, but I got it that way and haven't dropped much $ on it, if I ever rebarrel it I'll put a 26 (I don't mind long barrels, like the way they balance when setup right, and will utilize that extra 2").

If you're happy with factory ammo get one. Most guys with 7 mags and other moderate kickers only shoot a few rounds a year and confine most of their time handling it to hunting season where they hopefully get to shoot a few rounds at game. so factory ammo should work just fine for you.


Red

quote:

Its Makes A Helluva Noise And Packs A Helluva Punch."

I remember that add from Winchester back in 1958 and wanted one badly.....I was 12 then!

I finally got one many years later and put one pronghorn on the wall with it.....435 yards....one shot!

I just hated the 26" barrel so said good bye to it.....

I just recently built a new one with a 23" barrel and love it. It was built to shoot the 120 Northfork as the primary big game bullet.

I'm looking for 3300 or so.....and don't care about the heavier bullets as it's strictly a deer/pronghorn/varmint rifle!

It won't do anything my .270 won't do and darn little my 6.5 X 55 won't do! I just wanted one.....

That said....I'd never have built one if I wasn't a handloader.

Athens Pawn Shop in Athens Texas has a pre-64 model 70 in .264. He calls it 60%, and he wants $800.00 for it. I didn't really look close because I don't have any extra cash.

quote:

He calls it 60%, and he wants $800.00 for it.

and at that rate, he'll have it for a helluva long time.

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:
SC: what if I don't care about "optimal performance". What if I just want one...just because. Can I think about it then?

"Just because" is always a sufficient reason to buy a gun! Think about it all you want. (Just don't think that you're going to enjoy a 140 grain pill streaking downrange at 3,200 fps, however.)

I too have been wanting a custom lefty rig in this caliber "just because".. It'd be my perfect coues rig.

Lefty Rem action, Leija or shilen barrel (fluted), jewell trigger set at a crisp 2.5lbs, Mcswirley stock at 50%green, 33%black, 33%tan, with a Ziess 4X14 with turretts to top it off.. Yea, that's what I want...

Everyone should own a .264

(Just don't think that you're going to enjoy a 140 grain pill streaking downrange at 3,200 fps, however.)

That's pretty obvious, if one can ready factory published MV's.

.264 commercial ammo will go down range and get the job done. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
.264 commercial ammo will go down range and get the job done. roger

Roger, that!

I recently bought a used Winchester Model 70 post 64 in 264 win mag for $300.00. The owner needed the dough and said he shot it 4 times and got a 4" group and the muzzle blast and recoil was "terrible".

Anyway, I bought it for a donor action but was surprised at the amount of gap between the factory new case shoulder and once fired



that is .037"!

Anyway, it is now a 375 Ruger.

I did own a pre-64 Model 70 in 264 win mag at one time. I don't think I found a powder slow enough to do it justice. Never had so much trouble finding a load up to then or since. It would do OK with 125 gr Nosler Partitions but only at about 3150 fps. Any more than that and the pressure signs would start showing up. Anyway, someone wanted that gun more than I wanted to keep it, so off it went.

Hell, I can hit 3150 fps with 125 gr bullets in my 6.5 rem mag and use less powder and faster powder and the barrel will probably last twice as long.

I'm having some frustrations with my .264

US-869 is the powder of choice for me as it is developing the velocity I think the 25" barrel I have is capable of. The barrel is a touch tight as well by 1/2 to 3/4 a thousandth, thus velocity is lower.

I'm getting safe max loads with the 130 grainers at about 3250 and 3200 with the 140's. My frustrations lie in that I have tried 2 or 3 bullets and can't find accuracy at that velocity. I have 3 others to try and have loaded a ladder with the Swift Scirroco ready to shoot. I hope it works; it's a well constructed bullet. Solid copper jacket. The owner of the company told me to jump them .050"..........

Gonna resort to the SST or the Berger "hunting" if it doesn't show promise!

quote:

that is .037"!

Belted magnum chambers are famous for being "generous". I prefer the word "sloppy".

Had you kept that barrel and used rimless loading techniques you might have gotten some pretty decent accuracy out of it. VERY slow powders are the key with this cartridge. I've been loading it for over 40 years and have had great success, but it requires some work.

Has anybody had any experience with the 130 gr Scirroco?

Rick, none with the Scirroco, but I get excellent results with the 129 Hornady and the 125 Partition. Then again, I am not trying to be a speed demon with it. I use I4831, Re22 and 25 with good results. I might get higher velovities with the slower powder, but the accuracy suffered a LOT.

Thanks Larry!

rcamuglia,

I have had good luck with the 130 Scirroco. Pushing it with 67 grains of Retumbo for 3223 fps and under an inch. Just got back from the range and 69 grains of Retumbo behind a 120 GMX got me 1 inch and 3396 fps going to load some more of that one and make sure it continues, may use that load in the fall.

8mmwapiti

My load of choice is a 120 TSX. If you really want to optimize performance out of a 264 you realy do need teh longer barrel. Teh shorter barels will keep it from living up to it's full potential.

I optimized mine as a pronghorn rifle.

No one has mentioned the fact that the original bullet for the .264 was the Winchester dual-diameter usually in 140gr.
I loved mine, but I had a supply of the Winchester. When I loaded the next-favorite, the Sierra 140gr boat-tail, It was so far down into the case I thought it was going to get lost. At the time, I was afraid to "spoil" the pre-64 Westerner by rethroating it. That wouldn't happen today. I keep thinking about building another, this time with a throat for the Sierra bullet to be quite a bit farther out. The magazine was plenty long as the front of the Winchester was seated out.
With a 26" barrel, and the longer throat there is plenty of room to burn those slow powders that weren't available when I got rid of mine.
I used all my H570, and couldn't get more. H870 or now AA8700, would do almost as well. 3200fps was well within the scope of possible, and accuracy was fine. Three-shot groups, of course...A big bunch of coal started with the hottest Magnum primer I could find makes a Lot of heat, especially for a sporter.
Recently, I've spent a little more time around some long-range shooters, and several are using .264's with the throats that I wish I'd tried.
I'm mildly surprised how they shoot at 600, 900 and 1000yds! I may not shoot that far, but race cars are where the technology for our modern cars come from.
Have fun,
Gene

US-869 is the powder for me in the .264...

rc, You earlier said you were frustrated with US869, and now you say US869 is the powder for you. Would you care to elaborate?

In the 7mm RUM I had no luck with accuracy with the US-869; good velocity though, therefore, frustration!

I've had no accuracy luck with it in the .264 either even after trying 6 different bullets. I had no accuracy with a factory load either. The barrel has been sent back. I think it's a barrel problem but will give a report on findings when all is said and done.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamuglia:
I've had no accuracy luck with it in the .264 either even after trying 6 different bullets. ...

Hey R, Used to be that the fine folks at Hornady made a good many 2-diameter Bullets, and they made some in 0.264", which might have been 129gr, 140gr, and maybe 160gr.

The 2-diameter design is Land Diameter ahead of the Cannelure and Bore Diameter aft. That centers the Bullet in the Bore, reduces Friction and still allows proper obturation.

No idea if they are still 2-diameter or not, but Hornady should be able to tell you if you want to try some.

The 264WinMag "always" has been an obstinate cartridge to reload.

cmonguys - US869 recipes please! I'm almost out of H870.

I throated my M70 XTR 264 to seat a 120 way out. A healthy dose of 7828 gives great accuracy and I still only get 3250 fps! ( it's a very slow barrel) The damn thing is so lucky I could never stop using it, my best shots at some of my best heads have come with that rifle.

Pancho,

In MY RIFLE, I have maxed out at about 81 grains of US-869 with the 140.

If you need H870, call Thunderbird Cartridge Co. in Pheonix AZ. They have "T"870....