I'm looking for a new load for my 264. I'm leaning toward a Nosler 130 grain Accubond, but I'm also curious about the 142 grain Accubond LR. My rifle is an old Model 70 Westerner with 26" barrel. The gun has shot real good groups with 120 grain Ballistic Tips, but I'm looking for a better bullet as I drew one of the best deer tags a guy can draw, the Arizona Strip and want to shoot a higher quality bullet.

What do those familiar with the 264 think about these bullets and any load suggestions?

If it shot 120 Ballistic Tips really well why not try the same load and 120 Accubonds?
I was told by Nosler they are identical on the exterior but bonded on the interior and should shoot very similar if loaded the same.
Did you experience any trouble shooting Deer with the Ballistic Tips?

When shooting hunting rifles at the range I find that it's frequently the rifle, it's bedding, guard screw tension etc. and not so much that one load is a lot better than the other.

Thus I bring a screw driver and bedding shims to the range and keep records.

For a deer bullet in a 6.5 mm caliber, my choice is the 120 Northfork. It works quite well for deer size critters.

I also use it in a 6.5 X 55

I run 125 partitions, and 130 barnes TSX in one of my 264"s. A old win 70 very accurate. Both loads work well on fallow deer.
The other 264 is a featherweight win and I run 120 ACP's ( aussie custom projectiles). Taken boars with them and worked well.
Cheers Mick

I've been running 140gr Accubonds in mine, mine's a switch barrel custom on a stainless FN Model 70.
I have used RE22, RE25, H1000 and Retumbo in mine, all work well, but RE25 or Retumbo gave the best accuracy.
The 130gr is a bit on the light side for large deer, but it works.

Cheers.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
If it shot 120 Ballistic Tips really well why not try the same load and 120 Accubonds?
I was told by Nosler they are identical on the exterior but bonded on the interior and should shoot very similar if loaded the same.
Did you experience any trouble shooting Deer with the Ballistic Tips?

Great advice...EXCEPT. Nosler doesn't make a 120 6.5mm Accubond.

quote:

The 130gr is a bit on the light side for large deer

Cheers.

Jack O'Conner would really be surprised to hear that.

The 130AB OR 125 partition out of a 264 is plenty for any deer.

IMR 7828 works well for me w/ the 140g NP.

The model 70 Westerner came with a 1/9" twist barrel and while some will stabilize a 140 grain bullet others will not. I was using a 26" Shilen stainless barrel on a custom FN Mauser chambered in 264Win with 1/9" twist and it wouldn't shoot 140 grain bullets. I had another rifle with 1/8" twist barrel and it would shoot the 140 as well as 160RN bullets. FWIW

P.S. Bullet construction, IMO, is more important than weight to a certain extent. If your rifle will shoot the 130AB bullet accurately that is what I recommend you use.

I just tried some 129 grain Accubond LR in mine. It is a Lilja 1:9 26" barrel and it seemed to like 59 grains of IMR 4831 better than anything else. As I recall it was between 1/2 and 3/4" groups at 100 yards.

I have not tried it on game.

Heres a pic of recovered TSX 130's out of boars, shoulder shot and recovered on oposite shoulder under the skin, fighting pad. Around 95kgs dressed. Tough projectile.
One on the left is a win factory 140 out of fallow pictured at 35m.
Barnes TTSX are also a option.
Cheers Mick
factory 140

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:

quote:

The 130gr is a bit on the light side for large deer

Cheers.

Jack O'Conner would really be surprised to hear that.

The 130AB OR 125 partition out of a 264 is plenty for any deer.

Who cares what Jack O'Connor WOULD think if he WERE alive?
He's never used an Accubond, TSX or any other controlled expansion bullet, other than perhaps Rem Core Lokts.
The reason why I use the 140gr Accubond is because of BETTER ranging ability and the fact it works far better then the 10gr difference would suggest.
I talk in real world experience, not some quoted antiquated theories made by a gun rag writer from yesteryear.

I have a little real world experience with the 264, also. My experience is that 125 Partitions and 130gr ABs offer plenty of penetration (as in lengthwise) on mature white tails and mule deer bucks. They also provide instant death. I'm sure the 140s work just as well, and their BCs would offer an advantage at 400-500 yds and more.

But I'd have to differ with your implication that 130 gr bulletS are marginal for deer. But fortunately we can still use what works for us. Cheers

BTW! The 130gr partitions were available back in the day. And JOC used them extensively. And the 130gr 270 has been a classic deer load for about 90 years. And it just works, even with antiquated cup and core bullets. Deer haven't gotten tougher.

Thanks for all the information. I forgot to include the 125 gr. Partition, as that is probably the bullet I'll go with if I don't shoot an accubond. I've never had any animal get away when shot with a partition.

For some reason, my old Westerner doesn't seem to shoot 140's as well as lighter bullets, though I've probably shot more 140 grain Core Lokt's out of it than anything else. For this hunt, I don't want to leave anything to chance as I've applied for way too many years, its a once in a lifetime tag, and the potential for a giant buck is too great to chance it to a bullet that I haven't had the best accuracy from at longer ranges.

The 125 PT won't let you down. It's a death ray in my 264 (3300fps with 7828).

Did you experience trouble killing Deer with the really accurate 120 grain Ballistic Tips?

I'd just use the 120 Ballistic-tips and be done with it. Its not going to bounce off a deer.

I would also go with the 125 Partition. You will measure the penetration in feet through flesh and the only bone I have ever had stop one was spine straight on after negotiating the neck, at distance. With the added velocity you will not realize a meaningful trajectory disadvantage to the higher BCs until you get out past 600. That said, your deer hunting. The 120 B-Tip is more than adequate...unless your buck is driving a tank. It could happen.

My favorite bullet for the 264 was the now discontinued 120gr Solid Base. It penetrated better than a most 140s. When the Solid Base was replaced by the Ballistic Tip, I tried it. But it was much too soft. I understand they have been toughen up, but I haven't tried the newer ones.

olarmy and I have the same results. I still have a few boxes of solidbase noslers I keep for hunting.
I have never counted how many deer,antelope and caribou I have shot with 120 solidbase bullets. They all died very nicely for me, and a 130 or 140 would do no better no matter how fancy they are.

Just got some 130 grain Accubonds that I'm going to try some loads for. I'll report back on what results I get. It'll be a few weeks but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how they shoot.

I've been shooting "Betty" (pre64 Mod70) for 42 years. She got ugly after so many trips so I restocked her and screwed on an new bbl. Still my favorite rifle.
The advice on 125 NPs and 130 Acubonds is spot on. Olearmy's comments about the 120 Solid base is also on the mark. I've also shot a fair number of the 140 Sierra BT which has also performed well for me but my current favorite is the 130 Acubond.
Since I can't find anymore H870, I tried all the powders I could find and ended up with a satisfactory load using WW 780. Betty has been to Africa and all over the US and never failed me yet.

Pancho,

If you're looking for some H870, here's a source:http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html

I have a 264 WM and am trying to find something that will give me decent velocity (3000fps or so) with the 140/142 Nosler AB/LRABs.

Thinking of getting some of this to try.

Try VN N570 with the 140's.......it gives me great velocities and accuracy in my 264's.

With the 130's try RL-25 or RL-33.

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:

Jack O'Conner would really be surprised to hear that.

The 130AB OR 125 partition out of a 264 is plenty for any deer.

Is it true that JO more often used a 130gn rather than 150gn for his elk hunting?

Even a light 100gn premium in .264win will totally flatten deer near or far.

Went out yesterday afternoon to play with the 264 some more. Found a good load of 74 gr RL33 with the 142 gr LRAB. 3-shot group measured .531.

quote:

quote:

The 130gr is a bit on the light side for large deer

Cheers.



Jack O'Conner would really be surprised to hear that.

The 130AB OR 125 partition out of a 264 is plenty for any deer.

a good 120 / 130 will kill any deer size game that walks... bullet placement is the key..

quote:

a good 120 / 130 will kill any deer size game that walks... bullet placement is the key..

While I've used the 120 Northfork with success, I'd not hesitate to use the 130 scirroco II even for elk......and yes.....as always, placement is the trump card.....no political reference intended!

I know this is not quite the same thing.I shot 120gr bts in my 260 for years.I tried the 100gr ttsx in it and will never shoot anything else.I can only imagine what it would do in a 264 mag.Had one stay in a deer this year.First time.Weighed 99.6gr.