264 Mod 70 Feather weight?

[dbro822]

Hi all, Thinking of a new rifle for deer and maybe elk and I have a extreme fondness for Winchester feather weights. Looking on the Winchester web site I see they are offering the FW in 264. I already have a heavy elk gun covered(7mm stw and 300wby) and was thinking of something a little different, a little lighter in the recoil area and the 264 is one that has always intrigued me. I will some day end up with with a few FW when my father decides to pass on his collection and I would rather not buy a caliber I will some day have in the safe(22-250, 243, 270, and a pre 64 30-06, post 64 but pre us repeating arms 308). Any thoughts on the 264 with a 24" barrel?

 

[Art Eatman]

I figure it's a great cartridge for a handloader. I once had a 1966 version, 26" barrel, and it was a tack-driver.

 

[Gordon]

I have had a pre 64 26" barrel model 70 .264 many years and it is a little light on elk IMHO. The .270 Winchester does 90% of what it does and maybe with 150 grain bullets a little more. You need premium bullets to make it perform well, which a .270 doesn't absolutely need. Ammo is not $20 a box like a .270.
It is the top of the heap for an antelope or goat rifle IMHO and is amazingly flat with the right load. It likes the long barrels and 24" is bare minimum to take advantage of huge loads of really slow powders that allow the velocities you expect it to have. With a case stuffed full of H870 or equal it gets 3200 FPS with 139 grain
bullets which is better than I expected BUT I can easily duplicate that with my .270 WSM with less powder and a shorter barrel !
A very neat niche gun for antelopes sheep and goats and mule deer and carabou but not the hot set up for an all around caliber IMHO. I been around it for 40 years BTW. A .270 WSM would be better in that platform IMHO and is my go to deer rifle/elk rifle these days.

 

[Halal Pork]

I haven't fired a .264 Win Mag before but if you're interested in lighter recoil, you might consider a couple other cartridges. If you like the idea of .264 bullets, you might consider 6.5x55 but you would have to look for a used Model 70 FW as I don't think they make it anymore. As far as current production Model 70 FW rifles in a "different" caliber, you might consider the .257 Roberts. Not trying to throw a wrench in the works. If someone who has fired a Model 70 FW in .264 Win Mag comes on here and says it is a pussycat, I will stand corrected.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I love my 264. Its probably my favorite long range deer gun. I wont try to justify it by saying its better then my 257wby or a 7 rem mag. It isnt but its just as good. Thing i like is it just has a cool factor that to me about no other rifle has. that and the fact that its about pole axed every deer ive shot with it.

 

[Speedgoat]

You'll like the new FN Winchesters. I just got a M70 in 300 Win Mag the Alaskan series. I am thinking seriousley about either a Featherweight or a Sporter in .264 Win Mag, I saw one that Cabelas had with the 'dog knot' rear sight ramp on the barrel and a hooded front sight that one was really sharp looking. I am not sure what it is, maybe I just like saying .264, but for some darned reason I want one. But my new Winchester M70 is truley top notch.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I find that, the longer I shoot and the more calibers I try, the more I like the unusual ones. I've really enjoyed the 6.5x55 SE and 7x57 and I just love my 2010 vintage Win M70 EW. I almost went for a M70 Featherweight in .257 Roberts last week...maybe I'll take a drive out to Cabela's and pick up a .264 Mag M70 Sporter. If it's good enough for Craig Boddington, it's more than good enough for me.

FH

PS-that's why I got a .375 H&H...just because I could and it's a cool caliber!

 

[Gordon]

I have and have used both and if I was buying one of those good new Featherweights I'd buy this one in a heartbeat ! AND I have one of the last Winchester Conn. built Stainless .270 WSM and I know how great that caliber is with the available super premium bullets- a game reaping lazer weapon for sure!
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/itemdetail.asp?id=535109264

Just sayin.........

 

[Speedgoat]

Here's the Cabelas model I was talking about. Sure is a pretty looker. Gordon I saw you mention having what I call a 'End of the New Haven Era' Winchesters. Are you happy with it? I have a 03 or 04 vintage M70 .300 WSM synthetic piece and never really liked it. Comparing it to my new FN Winchester is like apples to oranges on what I'd call it overall worksmanship. I'm wondering if I ended up getting one of those 'flukes' of the last of the New Haven factory that I've heard about.

Anyways heres the Link I forgot, I'd be fine without the Cabelas engraving and 'dolling up' though.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Gun-...103792680&WTz_l=SEO;cat103792680;cat103589280

 

[Gordon]

Well I have shown picture of my Stainless Ultimate Classic Shadow .270 WSM that went with me to Africa and is my current go to up thru Elk gun. I collect pre 64s and it is more than compareable except a slightly rougher finish on small internal parts how ever the action is like glass and the trigger was old school Model 70 tuneable to very nice. I was gonna put it in a Brown Precision stock but dang if that butt ugly rubber insert stock has held up to being dragged around pretty well and it grips wonderfully for me when I need it ! I did fiberglass bed it and relieve everything. It is a sub MOA gun which my pre 64 Westerner .264 is NOT

 

[dbro822]

Thanks for all the replies, Gordon I have heard many great things about the 270wsm, but a lot like speedgoat a early 300wsm put bad taste in my mouth for the wsm line, for some reason my hands just seem to work a long action easier. Ammo prices makes the 264 looks like buying another set of dies would be a must, and with all the new bullets out there I think a 264 would work for elk, may not ideal for big bulls but around here I can only seem to draw that tag about every five years, but I do get a spike tag every year.

 

[Gordon]

Here is my good old 1960 Westerner .264 Mag with it's old school Leupold AO 3.5-10x scope . I ditched the not so reliable Redfield Mounting system with the old Redfield Accu Trac that was on it from the 70s for a much better Warne Maxima QD mount system when I sanded down the scarred stock from decades of hunting ) rubbed in pure Tung oil and full length compression fiberglass bedded it a couple years ago. It certainly is a wonderful antelope rifle I 'll give you that!

BTW I think I know what you mean about the .300 WSM : My business partner, who went on safari with me to Africa in 2007 took a .300WSM while I took the .270 WSM . His was in a non Winchester produced Feather weight and it seemed to perform at a lesser level on the smaller than wildebeast game, requiring multiple shots on the same game as similar hits by my .270WSM took one. I was using 150 grain Federal with Nosler Partition and he used 180 grain Federal with Nosler Partitions and his gun kicked a lot more than mine too. Also his gun would bind up once in a while which mine never has , feeding slicker than snot with those necked down .270 WSM rockets.
Getting back to the .264Mag I have had real good luck with 130 grain Barnes TSX bullets and a compressed load of Hogdon H870 and a Federal 215 primer.