264WM Opinions

[spookgus]

Am I crazy? I have a custom 300WM that is 1/2MOA. I recently acquired a used model 700 in 300WM. I want to take the new used gun and have the action worked and fitted to a premium barrel chambered in 264WM. The Nosler manual shows that the 264WM is 200 fps faster with 140 grain bullets than the 6.5X284. Since this would be an occasional hunting rifle not a bench gun, I think I shouldn't have a problem with throat erosion. Yes, I reload.

[Elk-aholic]

That cartridge has a history of burning out barrels sometimes as little as a 1000rds. I was going to have a custom 264 built but after thinking about it I just bought a Weatherby Mk V in 257WBY Mag and have been happy  the 257 isn't as hard on barrels and performs almost the same.

[high country]

My rifle will push a 140 considerably faster then 2850, but that seems to be the magic speed for the bullets I have shot. You may have to shoot really far to make the speed pay. None the less, a 6.5 anything is a killing machine with the right bullet.

[sakoshooter]

Hell, go for it if that's what you really want. I've always liked the .264 myself. Yes, it has a reputation for throat erosion but it was also one of the faster rds of it's day. I'd bet that many of our hot n fast loads of today burn out throats just as fast. Heat is heat. A given temp/pressure in a 264 wouldn't be much different than the same temp/pressure in any other caliber - my thinkin.

[demontang]

yea look at the expected barrel life out of a 243 win, 22-250rem etc they all are around 1000rds. so I say go for it cause its a wicked round

[257 Wby Mag]

I can see the allure of a 264. I was talking to Travis from R-Bros about a month ago about building a super-light 264 after he finishes my edge. Trav's reccomndation was a 6.5-06 AI. He said they were getting close fps with alot less powder/recoil. Just a thunk.... Hopefully he will chime in. Later

[fremont]

The 264WM's historical overbore condition has diminished significantly since the advent of very slow powders.  Go for it IMHO.

[spookgus]

Thanks guys. The reason I'm considering the 264  is that I don't have a rifle in that bore diameter but I do have a long action with magnum bolt face(.540) that I think I want to re-barrel.

[AWS]

I say go for it, if you buckle under and go for something else you'll always wonder if you made the right decision.  If yougo with the 264 then you'll know iff it was right.

AWS

[257 Wby Mag]

Thanks guys. The reason I'm considering the 264  is that I don't have a rifle in that bore diameter but I do have a long action with magnum bolt face(.540) that I think I want to re-barrel.

Well hell ya, you've got the action, might as well. Post some pics up when you get er done..

[bearpaw]

It's a hell of a good caliber, I have an uncle that hunts everything with his, coyote, deer, bear, and killed about 20 elk with it. 

[Bigshooter]

I say go for it.  Someday I plan on building one for myself.

[rbros]

The 264WM is one of those "love/hate" cartridges.  It will drive a 140 upwards of 3300fps with H1000 or Retumbo, the problem is, its finicky as hell.  Changing the load .2gr will turn an accurate rifle into a piece of scrap metal.  Also, changing lots of powder generally causes another load development session.  I have built a few and rebarreled mine 2x trying to figure it out.  Barrels last 750-900rounds of full throttle loads.  Sometimes less. 

Suprisingly enough, the 6.5 STW will drive the 140's faster and hasn't been very finicky at all.  Not sure why the difference, as its even more overbore, but its way more forgiving.  The 6.5-06AI will get you within 75-100fps of a 264WM with 10gr less powder.  Mine ran 3250 with a 140, which was only 50fps less than my 264WM did, both with 27" barrels.  Less recoil, extremely accurate, very forgiving to load for. 

With my builds I breakin the rifles and test accuracy before the customer ever see's them.  I have standard loads that work with my reamers.  Generally each caliber that I do has 1 or 2 loads that I use for accuracy testing.  I have 9 for the 264WM.  When you find a load that shoots, she is a sweetheart and can take any game in the lower 48 easily.  When she doesn't shoot, you will be frustrated as hell!