More 264 Win Mag Questions

[hunter24605]

Still playing around with the 264 win mag and so far i'm pretty happy with what I'm getting from RL 22, RL 25 and Retumbo. But trying to squeeze all that's available out of the short 24" barrel, I looking at RL 33. The bullets I've been using are 129gr AccuBond LR and 130 gr Scirocco II. Searching the forums and results with RL 33 and 264 WM are all over the map, no real consensus...So I'm wondering if anybody has messed around with RL 33 in the 264 WM and those bullets? Any data is greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks

 

[JD338]

I'm thinking that RL33 will be too slow in the 24" barrel and you won't gain much if anything over RL25 and Retumbo. The 264 Win Mag is an impressive round.

JD338

 

[hunter24605]

Thanks...Poking around I found this:
http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27755

That info is for a 26" barrel..Man this 24" barrel is killing me! But all that I have seen so far with it, not a 4 legged critter that I'm likely to come across stands much of a chance. I'm giving the edge to the AccuBond over the scricco...Simply because the AB is a lot less picky in my rifle. The scircco took a lot of fine tuning to get it to group well, but when I did dial them in, they are phenomenally accurate..But while I'm still settling on a powder, I think I'll stick with the accubonds. Much less tuning and exceptional accuracy....I guess when it comes to hand loading the adage is: "If it aint broke, all the more reason to fix it"

Maybe somebody can do a QL comparing the 129 AB with 22,25,retumbo, and 33 with a 24" runway

 

[Tjay]

I load for two 264s. 1. a 1990s Win model 70 with a 24" barrel. 2. Ruger 77 with a lilja 27" barrel. Loads for these two rifle could not be more different. Here are some results with 129 Hornady interbonds and Barnes 127 LRX.

Rifle #1. 129 R-33 80 gr. 3230 fps.
127 R-33 73 gr. 2885 fps.

rifle #2. 127 R-33 71 gr. 3360 fps.
129 R-33 73 gr. 3339 fps.

My go to load in #2 is 120 gr. Barnes TTSX with 70.5 gr. R-33, Nosler case and Fed 215 for 3385 fps.

Go to for #1 is either 70gr. H1000 with 125 Nosler Partition, WW case and fed 215 for 3100 fps. or 80 gr. R-33 with 129 IB, Rem case and Fed 215 for 3230 fps.

Loads safe in #1 were way to hot for #2. Always start low and work up any loads recommended or used by others as these rifle vary a bunch.

 

[hunter24605]

Thanks! mine is a new model 70 featherweight

 

[Elkman]

Hunter you quoted ,

"If it ain't broke, all the more reason to fix it".

That also goes for velocity. Sometimes getting the last foot per second out of a particular cartridge is not worth the effort. It generally reduces barrel life, case life and can cause unnecessary case failures. Sometimes the goal is not worth the cost. just the ramblings of an old man.

 

[SJB358]

I run R25 in mine and it seems to work real well for about 3200 with 140 Ballistic Tips and Accubonds. Retumbo was excellent as well. I've got some 33 I'm going to try as well but 25 gets it done for me.

 

[TackDriver284]

Hunter, here are the 3 QL requests you asked for, hope it helps. RL 22 and RL 25 looks promising, I never have used the RL 33 so I cannot tell you about that one. Start low and work up. Good luck.

Cartridge : .264 Win. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 129, Nosler AccuBond LR 58943
Useable Case Capaci: 75.500 grain H2O = 4.902 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-22

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   74    52.00   2525    1827   31447  11905     92.6    1.608
-18.0   76    53.30   2588    1918   33542  12278     93.8    1.569
-16.0   78    54.60   2650    2012   35743  12636     94.9    1.530
-14.0   79    55.90   2713    2108   38073  12978     95.9    1.488
-12.0   81    57.20   2775    2205   40543  13303     96.8    1.443
-10.0   83    58.50   2837    2305   43160  13609     97.6    1.400
-08.0   85    59.80   2899    2407   45934  13894     98.3    1.359
-06.0   87    61.10   2960    2510   48874  14158     98.8    1.319
-04.0   89    62.40   3021    2615   51989  14398     99.3    1.281
-02.0   91    63.70   3082    2721   55291  14614     99.6    1.244  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   92    65.00   3142    2828   58793  14804     99.9    1.208  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   94    66.30   3202    2937   62507  14967    100.0    1.174  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   96    67.60   3261    3046   66448  15105    100.0    1.141  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0   98    68.90   3320    3157   70632  15236    100.0    1.109  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  100    70.20   3378    3268   75077  15364    100.0    1.079  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  102    71.50   3435    3380   79803  15487    100.0    1.049  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     92    65.00   3215    2960   64408  14554    100.0    1.159  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     92    65.00   3055    2673   53201  14870     98.6    1.265  ! Near Maximum !

Cartridge : .264 Win. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 129, Nosler AccuBond LR 58943
Useable Case Capaci: 75.500 grain H2O = 4.902 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-25

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   76    52.80   2483    1766   28699  11870     95.3    1.652
-18.0   78    54.12   2546    1856   30597  12221     96.5    1.611
-16.0   80    55.44   2608    1949   32637  12550     97.4    1.571
-14.0   82    56.76   2671    2043   34804  12854     98.3    1.533
-12.0   84    58.08   2733    2139   37119  13130     98.9    1.494
-10.0   86    59.40   2795    2237   39589  13377     99.4    1.448
-08.0   88    60.72   2856    2336   42227  13593     99.8    1.405
-06.0   90    62.04   2917    2436   45046  13776    100.0    1.362
-04.0   92    63.36   2977    2538   48060  13928    100.0    1.322
-02.0   93    64.68   3036    2640   51283  14070    100.0    1.283
+00.0   95    66.00   3094    2743   54722  14209    100.0    1.245  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   97    67.32   3152    2846   58360  14344    100.0    1.209  ! Near Maximum !
+04.0   99    68.64   3210    2951   62224  14476    100.0    1.174  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  101    69.96   3266    3056   66336  14604    100.0    1.141  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  103    71.28   3323    3162   70713  14728    100.0    1.109  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  105    72.60   3379    3269   75375  14848    100.0    1.078  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     95    66.00   3163    2866   60723  13952    100.0    1.192  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     95    66.00   3009    2593   48842  14503     99.9    1.307

Cartridge : .264 Win. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 129, Nosler AccuBond LR 58943
Useable Case Capaci: 75.500 grain H2O = 4.902 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-33

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   81    60.80   2392    1639   26466  11984     80.3    1.714
-18.0   83    62.32   2463    1737   28395  12514     82.3    1.670
-16.0   85    63.84   2535    1841   30475  13038     84.2    1.626
-14.0   87    65.36   2609    1949   32739  13553     86.1    1.583
-12.0   89    66.88   2683    2062   35184  14055     87.9    1.540
-10.0   91    68.40   2758    2179   37835  14541     89.6    1.493
-08.0   93    69.92   2834    2301   40714  15008     91.2    1.441
-06.0   95    71.44   2911    2427   43840  15453     92.7    1.391
-04.0   97    72.96   2988    2558   47243  15872     94.0    1.342
-02.0   99    74.48   3066    2693   50951  16263     95.3    1.295
+00.0  101    76.00   3145    2832   54997  16621     96.4    1.249  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  103    77.52   3223    2976   59377  16944     97.4    1.205  ! Near Maximum !
+04.0  105    79.04   3302    3123   64123  17228     98.2    1.163  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  107    80.56   3381    3274   69286  17471     98.9    1.122  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  109    82.08   3460    3428   74912  17670     99.4    1.082  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  111    83.60   3538    3586   81054  17821     99.8    1.044  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    101    76.00   3258    3041   62027  16757     98.9    1.186  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    101    76.00   3014    2603   48365  16179     92.4    1.321

 

[OU812]

I"m running retumbo with 140 accubonds and speed is a little over 3100. My 264 does have a 26 inch barrel. What speed are you getting currently?

 

[SJB358]

I"m running retumbo with 140 accubonds and speed is a little over 3100. My 264 does have a 26 inch barrel. What speed are you getting currently?

Bill did you get to hunt with the 264 last year?

 

[OU812]

Scotty I did but did not get to pull the trigger on anything but paper, a foggy day got the best of me with the only nice buck I saw last season. With elk hunts in Idaho and here in Oregon I'm not sure how much time I will get this year unless something happens early.

Bill

 

[hunter24605]

Thanks Tack! I appreciate that a bunch!

I"m running retumbo with 140 accubonds and speed is a little over 3100. My 264 does have a 26 inch barrel. What speed are you getting currently?

without pushing it hard, 22 and retumbo both run around 3090 with ABLR's with a slight speed advantage going to 22. The sciroccos are just a tad faster. I think there is a little more to be had from both powders. Right now I'm very pleased with the accuracy of both, so hopefully I can find the perfect balance of velocity and accuracy..I'll sacrifice a little speed to tighten the groups if need be.

 

[gerry]

I have had a 24" 264 WM and found that that length barrel can get plenty of speed. I ran the 130 gr Swift for a long time at 3200 fps easily with Retumbo, before the throat eroded that is Right now I'm experimenting with 155's and 156 gr bullets and matching and exceeding the speeds of Hodgdon's Retumbo data from a 26" barrel and the 160 gr Hornady. Mind you the Lapua Mega and Norma Oryx are not exactly the same as the Hornady but I don't think they are too different. I have started working with Magnum but don't have any speeds to report yet and will probably try IMR 7977 soon as well.

 

[hunter24605]

I have had a 24" 264 WM and found that that length barrel can get plenty of speed. I ran the 130 gr Swift for a long time at 3200 fps easily with Retumbo, before the throat eroded that is Right now I'm experimenting with 155's and 156 gr bullets and matching and exceeding the speeds of Hodgdon's Retumbo data from a 26" barrel and the 160 gr Hornady. Mind you the Lapua Mega and Norma Oryx are not exactly the same as the Hornady but I don't think they are too different. I have started working with Magnum but don't have any speeds to report yet and will probably try IMR 7977 soon as well.

Last summer Midway had 30-06 Norma USA Oryx boxed ammo marked WAY down and I ordered a box...WOW! very accurate out of a bone stock Savage 111 and the blackie in my avatar was 190 yards and took one square in the right shoulder and piled up dead within 10 feet...Didn't recover the bullet it exited about half way down the ribs with about a 1" exit wound and everything between the two holes was destroyed! The next two days a nice 9 point WT and a WT doe dropped in their tracks when the Orxy smacked them..Same thing, beautiful exit wound and destroyed insides.

 

[SJB358]

The Oryx is a heckuva good bullet from all I've seen as well. Sounds like it really put the hammer down for you!

 

[gerry]

I have had a 24" 264 WM and found that that length barrel can get plenty of speed. I ran the 130 gr Swift for a long time at 3200 fps easily with Retumbo, before the throat eroded that is Right now I'm experimenting with 155's and 156 gr bullets and matching and exceeding the speeds of Hodgdon's Retumbo data from a 26" barrel and the 160 gr Hornady. Mind you the Lapua Mega and Norma Oryx are not exactly the same as the Hornady but I don't think they are too different. I have started working with Magnum but don't have any speeds to report yet and will probably try IMR 7977 soon as well.

Last summer Midway had 30-06 Norma USA Oryx boxed ammo marked WAY down and I ordered a box...WOW! very accurate out of a bone stock Savage 111 and the blackie in my avatar was 190 yards and took one square in the right shoulder and piled up dead within 10 feet...Didn't recover the bullet it exited about half way down the ribs with about a 1" exit wound and everything between the two holes was destroyed! The next two days a nice 9 point WT and a WT doe dropped in their tracks when the Orxy smacked them..Same thing, beautiful exit wound and destroyed insides.

Sounds like excellent performance. I also have some 250 gr Oryx for a 35 Whelen that I need to load and I bet they will be similar to your 30-06 load.

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=33278

In case you didn't see it, here is one of those 156 gr bullets recovered from my friends first bear which was also his first big game animal. It did pretty good considering it is mostly a 6.5x55 bullet. I helped them butcher the meat and there wasn't too much meat damage.

 

[SJB358]

I just loaded some 250 Oryx's in the Newton. Pretty excited to see how they shoot. They were very accurate in my 264, 338 and 300.

 

[Ridgegoat90]

Sorry, I do not mean to hijack this thread, but I have a bit of brass for the 264 and tragically had to sell my build before I got to shoot it and wasnt given the chance to buy it back. I think I have about 150 pueces of brass or so, if any of you are interested. I will unload them cheap.

 

[SJB358]

What brand of brass is it?

 

[Ridgegoat90]

I will have to look here when I get a chance. I will get back to you.