Yes. Cutting your teeth on a well established caliber and then moving up seems like the best bet. And maybe later rechambering to a necked up version is also a pretty cool idea. From what I've gathered on this web site rechambering or even rebarreling is no sweat for a good 'smith.
.264 Win. Mag vs 26 Nosler
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Stgraves260
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FYI all the Nosler meaning the 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, even the 30 Nosler are all using the RUM cases. They are just cut and trimmed down shorter. So none of the Nosler will surpass any of the RUM. The 26 Nosler is not any better than the 264 Win Mag. It just cost more. It's 3 times the price to shoot and you get no more performance out of it. Buy it if you just want to say hay I got the new 26 Nosler hot rod. The 264 WM is just as fast and accurate and way less cheaper to shoot.
The 6.5 Sherman is no slouch. Mine will shoot a 140 Berger at 3339 fps out of a 28" Hart. I think I would go 264 win mag instead of the 26 Nosler. Only takes 64 gr of N570 to get these speeds in the Sherman. This was max in my rifle. Work up to this. Others are getting 3300 plus with R26 as well.
benchracer
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I own a .264 Win Mag and love it dearly. I believe that the .264 WM languished for so long, in part, because it was overbore enough that the powders necessary to take full advantage of its capacity did not exist for a long time. I believe it owes its recent renaissance to the introduction of improved powders and bullets.
That said, even the .264 WM is still overbore enough that it can be equalled or bettered in a lower capacity case of proper design.
When the 26 Nosler first came out, I remember being surprised to see reviews mentioning pressure excursions resulting from its extreme level of overbore. I believe the 26 Nosler is in the same position the .264 WM was in not so long ago: It is waiting for powder technology to catch up, in order to reach its full potential.
From a standard bolt face, the Sherman wildcats offer .264 WM performance, plus a little bit. If I were starting from a clean sheet of paper, that is the direction I would go.
Of course, the .264 WM is an easy route to 6.5 performance, though inefficient. I have often thought that I wouldn't personally want to go more overbore than that in a 6.5, though.
That said, even the .264 WM is still overbore enough that it can be equalled or bettered in a lower capacity case of proper design.
When the 26 Nosler first came out, I remember being surprised to see reviews mentioning pressure excursions resulting from its extreme level of overbore. I believe the 26 Nosler is in the same position the .264 WM was in not so long ago: It is waiting for powder technology to catch up, in order to reach its full potential.
From a standard bolt face, the Sherman wildcats offer .264 WM performance, plus a little bit. If I were starting from a clean sheet of paper, that is the direction I would go.
Of course, the .264 WM is an easy route to 6.5 performance, though inefficient. I have often thought that I wouldn't personally want to go more overbore than that in a 6.5, though.
LongBomber
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I have a 26 and it is fast, but finiky to load for. RL33 seems to be the powder for 130gr and under bullets, and us869 is the velocity king. It will push a 140 over 3300fps from a 26" barrel and have decent brass life doing it. I run the 127 LRX at 3545fps, I could get a touch more speed but then brass life would suffer.
I think the 6.5-284 is about the max case size in a 6.5, once you pass that barrel life is really going to suffer and velocity gains are very small. If I was going to do another hunting rifle the biggest I would go is the wsm case.
I think the 6.5-284 is about the max case size in a 6.5, once you pass that barrel life is really going to suffer and velocity gains are very small. If I was going to do another hunting rifle the biggest I would go is the wsm case.
benchracer
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BTW, I forgot to add that I believe heavier bullets and the twists to stabilize them would go a long way toward effectively utilizing the available case capacity in the larger 6.5's.
At present, RL-26, 140 class bullets, and an 8 twist can do the same thing from a .280 case that Retumbo and 140's can do from a magnum case.
I suspect something like RL-33, 160 class bullets, and the appropriate twist might go a long way toward optimizing the .264 WM/26 Nosler.
At present, RL-26, 140 class bullets, and an 8 twist can do the same thing from a .280 case that Retumbo and 140's can do from a magnum case.
I suspect something like RL-33, 160 class bullets, and the appropriate twist might go a long way toward optimizing the .264 WM/26 Nosler.
Cheaper to shoot, yes! As fast, not hardly! At 3380 fps with 140 VLDs (3500+ with 127 LRXs) and sub .3" groups, it's accurate and hits like "The Hammer of Thor" as I've heard someone say. I have a couple of 264 WMs that I love dearly and have been shooting them for over 40 years, but they don't keep up with the 26 Nosler. With less than 130 rounds fired during break in, load development and one hunting season, this barrel should last a long time as I'll only be firing a few shots each year sighting in and harvesting a few animals each season! Extremely Happy with caliber choice!
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Rich Coyle
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Some guys are using RL33 in .264's to get 3,300 feet per second. I'm rebarreling mine now, but it did 3,330's before the bolt got slightly sticky. I backed of to 3,275 for brass life.
walding1989
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My 264 win mag is runnin 3230fps with 140 grain bergers, retumbo powder, and 26" proof barrel. I could push it faster but accuracy is in the .2's so no need to. Also brass is cheaper, if for some reason you cant find .264 brass just buy 7mm mag brass and neck it down simple as that.
walter351
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I vote for the 264 Win mag as well. This will be my second custom 264 win mag and I can not be happier with the results I have had with this caliber. Super accurate, long range, and light recoil.
WildRose
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If you want to buy a dragster and run it you need a heck of a budget for replacing broken, worn out, and busted parts.
The higher the velocity the shorter the barrel life, higher the cost of loading, and of course recoil and muzzle blast.
The .264wm is more than adequate for anything that can be done with a 6.5 and you pay quite a premium to step up to the velocities attained by the 26 Nosler.
I would expect 200-300 rounds less or more from the 26 before burning out the barrel.
The higher the velocity the shorter the barrel life, higher the cost of loading, and of course recoil and muzzle blast.
The .264wm is more than adequate for anything that can be done with a 6.5 and you pay quite a premium to step up to the velocities attained by the 26 Nosler.
I would expect 200-300 rounds less or more from the 26 before burning out the barrel.
Bbear
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Like Rich Cole, I'm running RL-33 and the 142 LRAB in my 26", 1-9" twist factory barrel. Groups are in the upper .3-.4 range. MV=3250. I ran it up to 3320 but things got sticky.
As others have said, the 264 WM has several things going for it:
1) easier to find brass
2) easier to make brass
3) lower priced brass
4) longer barrel life (possibly, depends on how you shoot it and load it)
Shoot out the factory barrel and replace it with a longer one with a 1-8" twist and the heavier/longer bullets should do even better.
As others have said, the 264 WM has several things going for it:
1) easier to find brass
2) easier to make brass
3) lower priced brass
4) longer barrel life (possibly, depends on how you shoot it and load it)
Shoot out the factory barrel and replace it with a longer one with a 1-8" twist and the heavier/longer bullets should do even better.
Buzzsaw
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check into the 6.5 Weatherby while your at it. McWhorter Rifles, one of their favorites LR Calibers
Pdurry
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I am just getting my new custom 264 Win assembled. I am having the throat deepened to shoot the newer 6.5 bullets. Initial present chrono has the 130's and 140's at about 3200+, with a little over minimum load. Running a customized Savage action and Bartlien 31" heavy varmint barrel.
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