Thoughts on the status of the .264 Win Mag

[redneck2]

And, don’t forget this

The benefit of the .264 is super way cool looking, high tech, futuristic, performance adding, accuracy enhancing belt

If I were younger and wanted to build up a variety of rifles, I think I’d do one of every belted cartridge. You’d have some excellent firearms Perfect for anything on earth

 

[Chuck R.]

Usually something along the lines of “because I think it’s cool and I want one”

Well I rationalize my purchases by pretending I've done some analysis....

IF nothing else, it helps me get things by the wife.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm kind of curious as to why the .264WM?

Having just built a .260 Rem VS going with the 6.5C, I know there's always a rationale.

....... ive always had a soft spot for the belteds, and have wanted a 264 since highschool.
I also HAD one in my swap barrel build, but i got offered a ridiculous amount for it, so away it went.

That set up, even with it's short throat, would easily drive 140s to 3200. Theres enough capacity, especially with the longer throat im planning on using next time, to do interesting things with the 147+ bullets.

 

[redneck2]

That set up, even with it's short throat, would easily drive 140s to 3200. Theres enough capacity, especially with the longer throat im planning on using next time, to do interesting things with the 147+ bullets

That would be a screamer. The ONLY reason you could get that kind of performance would be the belt.

Well, I guess case powder capacity helps too

 

[LoonWulf]

I guess case powder capacity helps too

Only a little

 

[David Hoback]

I have ONE ROUND of .264 WM. It is my precious! Impressive looking thing.

But my greatest "Left at the range." find is this ; A full box of 338 WM 200 grain power points. Just left there, laying on the bench! A few years old, I would guess, judging from the box!

Rifle seeds? Maybe, but they're a bit too powerful for the whitetails around here. My arthritic shoulders probably wouldn't like them...

Anyhoo... somebody educate me! Aren't the 264 and the 338 related? Both a 458 necked down?

Yes, the 264, 338, 458 & even the 300 WinMag were all introduced in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s. The Parent Case for all of them is the 375 H&H Magnum.

 

[High Plains]

I doubt there will be a big rise in 264 Win Mag sales. It’s totally possible the increased sales, of any, reflect the same rise as other hunting rifles with the same capabilities. This doesn’t mean a 264 Win is up to the same heavy bullet speeds as the big, new .26 cal cartridges.
I don’t care if a case has a belt. If a handloader knows what they are doing, the loads will be tuned to what a barrel likes. The same things that help one kind of case help the other.
Winchester could do the market a favor and make their 264 Win with a 1:8 twist rate barrel.

 

[js8588]

I doubt there will be a big rise in 264 Win Mag sales. It’s totally possible the increased sales, of any, reflect the same rise as other hunting rifles with the same capabilities. This doesn’t mean a 264 Win is up to the same heavy bullet speeds as the big, new .26 cal cartridges.
I don’t care if a case has a belt. If a handloader knows what they are doing, the loads will be tuned to what a barrel likes. The same things that help one kind of case help the other.
Winchester could do the market a favor and make their 264 Win with a 1:8 twist rate barrel.

Ding ding ding. The problem with 264 Win Mag is the twist rate. Load it with high BC 160s (not the old round noses) in a 1:8 twist & the 270 Winchester & 7mm Rem Mag never get off the ground.

 

[David Hoback]

The highest BC .264 bullets are the new 150gr SMK’s. Most 160gr .264’s are round nose, or specific hunting bullets.

But we get what you are saying.

 

[js8588]

The highest BC .264 bullets are the new 150gr SMK’s. Most 160gr .264’s are round nose, or specific hunting bullets.

But we get what you are saying.

It's 2022. We have the technology.

 

[mshootnit]

Twist rate issues relate to changes not only in tech but also trends in usage. For example a 1970 user of a 264 Win mag did not have today's scopes or bullets. However in 1970, there were not as many users limited to target or range use.

 

[Archie]

I don't think the .264 WM will ever be more popular than in the past.
The 6.5-06 (pretty much like it sounds) has been around as a wildcat for longer than the .264 WM and does most everything the Magnum round does except for the extreme velocity.
The 6.5-08 (.260 Remington) is quite useful for North American hunting.
My primary gripe with any of the 'new' .264 caliber offerings is the slower twist rate which largely rule out the heavier bullets.

The .264 WM with slower powders is possibly of use to long range - over 600 yards - shooters. Which leaves me out.
I already have both a 6.5x55 Swede (or Scan or whatever) and a 7x57mm chambered Mauser. So I have no need for another similar use rifle. And I've never been impressed with the concept of 'new and improved'. Belted cases make me slightly bilious.

 

[CptnAwesome]

Resurgence... As much as I love the caliber,,, No. I did pull the trigger on one in 2019 though...

 

[Bcwitt]

264 WM uses a lot more powder to get avery small performance gain over something like a 270Win. For Winchester, it would be like competing against themslves. They say a 264wm can burnout a throat in a single test session.

 

[DM~]

Im going to be building a new rifle in .264WM here in a bit, but i doubt it will ever be w common mainstream cartridge again.

All I can say to that is, why? lol

I hunted big game with the 264 Win. mag. for a time, and switching to a 7mm Rem. mag. was a big step UP, on performance, on big game.

I guess for deer, it doesn't matter much though...

DM

 

[wbm]

I hunted big game with the 264 Win. mag. for a time, and switching to a 7mm Rem. mag. was a big step UP, on performance, on big game.

+1

 

[.45Coltguy]

The "problem" with the .264 Win. Mag is the .270 Win and 7mm RM were in the way. And didn't move.

 

[WisBorn]

I think the 264 wm is a neat cartridge that has a little bit of following. It will never take off with any new life do to the new magnum cartridges that are available.
The 257 Weatherby and 7mm Rem Mag cover any nitch that the 264 wm may have covered.
But those that have used the 264 wm seem to stay loyal to it!

 

[Weflyfast]

I was going to build one a few years back....but decided if I was gonna burn up a .264 barrel I would go with a real overbore and went with the 26 Nosler-
I still have the 300 Win mag....338 Win mag....and the 458 Win Mag....maybe I should build one to finish the line up.....
.....ok you guys talked me into it....gonna build one in the fall.

 

[LoonWulf]

I was going to build one a few years back....but decided if I was gonna burn up a .264 barrel I would go with a real overbore and went with the 26 Nosler-
I still have the 300 Win mag....338 Win mag....and the 458 Win Mag....maybe I should build one to finish the line up.....
.....ok you guys talked me into it....gonna build one in the fall.

Yay Winchester friends!

Currently the only one I have is a 300, I haven't had a 338 yet either..... Suppose I need a remedy that as well.

 

[David Hoback]

So I’m not into Magnums anymore. But if I was, this would be the family of cases I’d choose. Although it would be a 7mm-300, or 7mm Practical. Came across this years ago, and decided at that point. If I ever did feel the need…say if I wanted to start 2000yd competition, it’d be this cartridge. Although I doubt it will ever be. I really enjoy intermediate high powers in .264”/6.5mm. And I sincerely enjoy my custom 260 Rem.

 

[LoonWulf]

All I can say to that is, why? lol

I hunted big game with the 264 Win. mag. for a time, and switching to a 7mm Rem. mag. was a big step UP, on performance, on big game.

I guess for deer, it doesn't matter much though...

DM

While i do agree.....
If practicality mattered to me all i would own is an AR in .223.....hey it rhymes, kinda....

Ive seen very little difference in on game performance from most of my rifles. MOST of what I shoot is 200lbs and under.

In function the only advantage i can see the .264 having over the 7mm is slightly higher velocity with a similar BC bullet, with marginally less recoil due to the 20gr less mass.
Or similar velocity and bullet weight, with a noticeable BC increase.

 

[DM~]

While i do agree.....
If practicality mattered to me all i would own is an AR in .223.....hey it rhymes, kinda....

Well, in my book, there's nothing wrong with owning something "just because you want it". lol

DM

 

[WisBorn]

I still think a switch barrel with 264, 300, 338, & 458 Winchester Magnums would be so cool!!! Maybe a Blaser if I win the Lottery.

The ultimate western setup. 264 for antelope. 300 for mule deer. 338 for elk. 458 for prairie dogs (can you get a grizzle tag anymore )

 

[Offfhand]

When Winchester announced their new .264 Win Mag it was billed as "The Westerner" it set my schooboy imagination aflame with visions of hunting the rolling plains where buffalo once roamed and sriking far distant game like bolts of thunder. And its dizzing ballistics placed it second only to my soaring esteme for the .257 Weatherby. I vowed to have one, but first there were mundane interruptions such as finishing grammer school, then college and dealing with other impediments. Along the way I discovered that despite my enchantment of the .264 WM it did not strike the marketplace like a blazing star, and never became a darling of gun writers. Instead it seems to have earned, and still retains, a steady and loyal following of hunters who know what it can do and know how to use it. Such as southern "beanfield" hunters who dote on the .264 WM and were gladdend when Remington offered it in their M-700 Sendaro. I can thank of no better mainstream caliber for long shoots at mule deer and pronghorn, which is what folks at Winchester had in mind when they named their new baby the Westener. I have sometimes given some thought to take this M-70 to Africa for plains game, but haven't yet. It was restocked by Al Bieson some 35 years ago, with a nice piece of wood and one of his fantastic checkering designs.