.264 Win Mag Powder choices

[Visionz45]

Im going to take a stab at the .264 win mag. Ive reloaded for the 7mm rem mag and sold it. Im building a custom .264 on a mrc 1999 action with a stainless lilja 1x9(26"). Ive seen some really great loads and have tightened the selection. Im considering IMR 4831, 7828, RL 25, Retumbo. Id like to push the limit again with something new. Any loads w/velocities would be appretiated.

 

[Visionz45]

I forgot to add win 780, it looks good too.

 

[~z]

No direct info on the 264 but my 6.5/284 (similar) likes I4831sc and RL22
~z

 

[NCsmitty]

The 264 Win Mag is a laser in a bottle neck case. You'll have a great time shooting that round, regardless of the caveat about barrel life.

Here's some load data to add to your collection.

www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=38



NCsmitty

 

[USSR]

RL 22.

Don

 

[627PCFan]

Reloader 22. Dont overlook H1000. Retumbo might be a stretch-

 

[millertyme]

I've used 4831 and H870 for years but have recently tried 4350 for the 140gr Sptizer Boattails. I've been considering going with Retumbo, but I have so much H870 and I shoot my .264WM so little I'll never get through it all. I think Retumbo would split all the old cases I currently have, but on newer brass (some of my cases are 3-4 reloads deep now) might work out fine. With that long barrel and twist rate you should really get the most out of that calibre with Retumbo. The manuals have 140gr SP's max loads pushing past 3000fps and with the right rifle and loading you might get another 150-200fps.

 

[R.W.Dale]

You'll only get top performance with most bullet weights using some of the slowest propellants made


4831 is way too fast

look at h870, retumbo, RL25, or even find some pulldiwn IMR5010

 

[millertyme]

4831 is way too fast? Really? So for the last 12 years of my life and the 30 previous to that of my father's, all using 4831, and every manual since its inception listing it for use in the .264WM? Maybe slightly too fast to obtain optimal performance from heavier bullets, but will outshoot 4350 with 100 and 120gr projectiles. His barrel is long enough and has the right twist and depending on his choice of bullet, 4831 might be just right. But as for Retumbo, I don't think anything beats it in .264WM with any bullet weight.

 

[Kernel]

A Powley analysis shows that with 120 gr bullets powders in the range of H4831 and N560 are ideal. With 140 gr bullets the sweet spot moves to Reloader 22.

Ncsmitty ain’t kidding about being a laser. A 140 grainer, going 3160 fps, zeroed at 300 yds is 4” high at 175, 4” low at 350, and only 23” low at 500. At 500 yds it still has 1665 ft-lbs of energy. About what a .30-30 has at the muzzle.

Free recoil energy is 17.9 ft-lbs. A stout kick, but managable. Like a .30-06 shooting a 220 grainer at full throttle.

 

[JimKirk]

Then a 6.5-300 WSM would make a heck of a gun too?

Jimmy K

 

[Visionz45]

Thanks for in input! Im a fan of RL22 with my '06 and could centainly use that. Ive seen that win 780 shows fairly low pressure with imr-hodgdons max load (67 grs). My friend claims to be able to work up to 69 gr and get over 3300 with 130 sciroccos. Im sure he's approuching max PSI though no pressure signs seem to be present. Win 780 is supposed to be similar to 4831 burn rate wise though a ball powder, anyone know 780's burn rate??

 

[R.W.Dale]

4831 is way too fast? Really? So for the last 12 years of my life and the 30 previous to that of my father's, all using 4831,

that's the key

a lot of your 264 mag data is OLD from back when IMR4831 was IT for slow powders. This is why the cartridge garnered a reputation for not meeting published velocities and being hard on bbls. At the time there wans't a powder slow enough to take advantage of this much overbore. When you find data using NEWER propellants you'll note that pressures are lower and velocities are much higher than the same data manufacturers worked up in the 60's

In short the big 264 is a much better cartridge today because propellant technology has finally caught up with the cartridge

according to hodgon using 63.5g of retumbo instead of 55.2g of IMR4831 gets you another 120fps with 140g bullets

supposedly IMR5010 can get 140grainers over 3200fps compared to 4831's 2900

 

[NCsmitty]

anyone know 780's burn rate??

It's one step slower than H4831 and two steps faster than Rel-22, according to Hodgdon's burn rate chart at their site.

propellant technology has finally caught up with the cartridge

krochus has covered the bases there. Many cartridges are better today then when they were introduced because of propellant advances.



NCsmitty

 

[Visionz45]

Now im fairly confident that I can spin a 130 around 3300 fps. I love to get the 140's up to 3200 though that seems a bit more tough. Im also concerned with working something up during colder temps and having primers back out this summer.

 

[~z]

If you can get 140's up to 3200fps let me know how you did it (safely). That would keep that bullet supersonic out to about 100yds past a mile...very interesting!
~z

 

[USSR]

Visionz45,

Something to keep in mind. The .264WM is an extremely overbore cartridge. You use barnburning loads in it, and barrel life will be very short. A friend of mine spent a lot of $$$ having a custom 6.5-.284 built, which sends 140's out at just shy of 3,000fps. He pretty much burned out the throat during load development, and went back to using the 6.5x55 at more sane velocities for competition.

Don

 

[Wil Terry]

I still prefer the 120GR .264" bullets at 3400fps from my custom 264WINMAG.

 

[Visionz45]

I picked up a copy of Feb. 2005 Handloader magazine, Its supposed to have alot of info on new powders. Ramshot Magnum seemed to be the key with 140's. The 130 Scirrocos at 3300 also looks to be the cats meow w/this cartridge. Im going to chrono a few powders and see if I can replicate the articles velocities. Ill keep you posted. Thanks guys

 

[millertyme]

I'm with Wil Terry on this one. For my 120gr's I use H870 for my loadings. It hasn't been made for a few years, but you might be able to find it. I've thought about trying those 130gr Scirrocos. My uncle uses that type of bullet in his 300RUM and likes the perfomance. One of those at 3300fps would be amazing and would be pretty devastating on the antelope and mule deer around here.

 

[Visionz45]

Anyone know if you can get surplus h870 these days? I haven't seen any in a long time.

 

[aliveincc]

I got a load out of either handloader or rifle several years ago and it has worked very well. Haven't chronoed it, but shoots very well in a M70 Supergrade.
140 NP, 65g Imr 7828, Fed 215(shoots Horn 140 Interlocks to same poi)