Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but for what your talking about, get a 270 win - and be able to buy ammo wherever you are, if you run out of handloads. Rugers are fine rifles.

I have two .264's; one a winchester and the newer one is a ruger. The ruger has a 24" barrel and I get 3220fps with rl 25 and 140 nosler partitions. I like it very much and would not hesitate to tell a buddy to buy one.

turfman

My 264 Win Super Grade does 3350 fps with RL 25 and 125 gr Nosler Partitions. It also breaks 3600 fps with the 100 gr Nosler Partitions. That said I do love the 257 Also. Your problem is that velocity will suffer with a 24" tube in either caliber!

http://www.groovebullets.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=48

makeminestainless: "264 - kicks like a mule?". C'mon, nothing below caliber .308 will kick like a mule. You have a 300 Weatherby and no bullet diameter below that will kick you around. Plain logic...

Just a suggestion but how bout a Wally World vanguard in 257 WBY for like $400. Then you can get an after market stock with full length bedding block $240? Pro trigger job for 50 or less and Voila! you've got a shooter and if you don't like it I 'll buy it from you. I already have a 257 custom Mark X. But, it's too purdy for ugly days. It will shoot ragged hole 5 shot groups with 3 different loads.