I've never heard anything bad about this caliber either. With these numbers, the 264 Winchester Magnum was the immediate long-range, high-velocity, flat-trajectory answer to the western hunter's prayers. Just as importantly, it delivers plenty of punch on far-distant impacts. I run a 1:7.5" for the 156 in two rifles, and they are accurate as heck a LONG ways out there. It can be applied on animals the size of elk and zebra, but then ranges must be shrunk and 160-grain bullets used. Heck, it still is, especially when handloaded to its full potential. Maybe in some altered reality this might be true, but the .358 cannot compete with a 165-grain .308 or .30/06 load at any distance beyond 100 yards. Mag., though Remington did feature the cartridge in the Model 700 Classic at one point (and those rifles are reputed to shoot very well). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. But, you dont want to get too close to that minimum expansion velocity. Every good elk cartridge has three primary characteristics: authority, reach, and good bullets. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. No other elk cartridge offers the combination of style and performance like the .300 Weatherby does. The 264 mag with one of the ultra slow powders will drive the Barnes 120gr TSX at 3450 to 3500fps from a 26" Bbl. You must log in or register to reply here. background-color: #333333; Pushing heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train. Recoil in a standard-weight rifle without a muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive. Another good choice is the 140gr Berger hybrids. I ICANHITHIMMAN Mag. I'd look elsewhere IMHO, but you could buy it and then keep looking. The 130gr AR Hyrbid or the 135gr Berger Classic Hunters would be great. Having said that, it will not be my first choice. Joined: Dec 2004. font-size: 18px; I have not shot elk with my 264 win mag but have shot a lot of deer with one. 100% of dead elk surveyed couldn't tell if it was a .277, .264, .284, .308 or whatever caliber bullet it was that hit 'em. The second important assumption is slightly-suboptimal to optimal shot placement. Yeah, your post is vindicated. Please understand the info I giving you here is safe in my rifles. Mag. I dont like playing games of how far can I go and minimum bullet energy. What is the average muzzle energy for a .264 Winchester Magnum? Ammunition can be found at every small-town hardware store across America. The .338 Win. You may be able to use a heavier bullet and achieve more energy or a longer range with more velocity.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'backfire_tv-box-4','ezslot_5',175,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backfire_tv-box-4-0'); Since were talking about max distances, Id like to clarify something here. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for elk to be approximately 200 yards. I once bought a 25-06 off a guy who told me that the caliber was too light for whitetail. Muzzle Velocity: 2,900 fps Muzzle Energy: 3,267 ft/lbs It's so common that it may seem a bit boring, but this. Proprietary Bonding Process But with this 156 load at elk hunting elevation here in Wyoming, it retains 1500 ft-lbs out to 1175+ yards, and the elk we have taken in the lase several years have ranged from the closest at 500 yds, to the farthest at 910 yds. Today, the 7mm Rem. As a rule of thumb the neck of a cartridge should be equal to the . It will work. I use a Federal ballistic tip in my 308 for whitetails that I wouldn't use for elk because it seems a bit too fragile based on the deer I've taken with it. Mag. Advertised muzzle velocity is the same as the Remington load: 3,030 fps (my rifle gives 3,010 fps). 3-groove barrels are reputed to last a little longer than barrels with more grooves. Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. word-break: normal; Dang thing just didn't understand he was dead and heavy brush was all around him. Zo gezegd, zo gedaan en heb er nooit meer wat van gehoord. JavaScript is disabled. Partitions, AccuBond or Barnes, all good bullets. The rifle is a 700 bdl high gloss with a green laminated stock, it is a sexy bitch. Shots near the max effective range can totally miss the animal if you misjudge the distance by 50-yards. For all its virtues, like the 6.5 Creedmoor the 6.5 PRC just doesnt have the bullet diameter and weight to handle steeply angled shot presentations. Since the Barnes "X" came out & now the TSX the 120gr has been my bullet of choice. Happy Trails. Is the .264 Winchester Magnum a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for elk hunting? Of course, a good handload in the 7mm would close the gap and certainly surpass the 6.5mm projectile in energy, but the comparison shows just how good the .264 is. was an extraordinary cartridge. It does not penetrate like the Accubond but has never let me down either. The bullet holds together well, and though I've never shot truly big game, such as a mature bull elk or moose, with it, I've heard that it performs well. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. I have a 26" shilen barrel. Mag. We have an article on Backfire that goes a bit deeper into long-range hunting cartridges and bullet selection. Attacking the 264 shows just how much popularity it is gaining. Mag. 300 Win. Just like shooting near dawn or dusk, or shooting into a glare. If youre one of those all-American .30-caliber guys, get a 30 Nosler precision rifle with a good brake, pair it with a tough, accurate bullet and never look back. You might want to consider taking a second rifle as a backup. With the right bullet, the .338 RCM is good all the way from 500 yards down to thick-timber distances. The 270 Winchester, 270 WSM, 7WSM and 7mm Rem. The only elk I have taken was at about 150 yards with a .260, using 140 gr. Keep your loads safe and don't string to many shots in a row and you will be fine. This unsung cartridge is awesome for a light, short-barreled, all-around elk rifle. The 264 win mag has sufficent power for elk but am not familiar with the hunting properties of the Berger bullets. So, you definitely need a long-range bullet for most longer shots. But wait, theres more. Good for you. Give a Gift Mature bulls have heavy bones, dense muscle, and loads of resilience from years of shrugging off battle wounds. when I was a kid and poor I always wanted a 264 win. I know there are better bigger options but this is my rifle I am most familiar with. Distance Bullet Carries Less Than 1,500 ft-lbs of Energy - This standard is used for elk-sized game such as kudu, moose, a waterbuck, a young eland, etc. The question is, are detached retinas worth it? The average 130-grain .277-diameter bullet struggles to achieve a BC of much more than 0.450, while even a moderately aerodynamic 140-grain .264 bullet approaches 0.500, and a streamlined one, such as Berger's 140-grain Hunting VLD, offers an astonishing 0.612. Mag. In researching this story, I determined the muzzle energy data by choosing the most useful elk bullet weight for each specific cartridge, and then plugging it into JBMballistics.com along with an average of common factory-ammo muzzle velocities with that bullet weight. A 264 needs slow burning powder, anything faster than H-4831 is to fast for the 264 with 140gr bullets. Its superb on elk to 350 yards or a bit more in the hands of a very good rifleman. It still will shoot under an inch. The 7mm Remington Magnum will send a 160-grain bulleta good all-around choice for nearly all North American gameat 3000 fps. This is usually about 1,900fps with most bullet designs. My load is 65 grains of Imr7828 Winchester brass and federal 215M primers. Took my best bull with it on public land in 2014. Combining history, high performance, and excellent manners, it is a true aristocrat among rifle cartridges. Mag. Nosler decided to start loading its own headstamped ammo, and its first offering was the successful 26 Nosler, itself a screamer of a cartridge. Initially chambered in Winchester's "Westerner" Model 70, it was meant to fill the needs of far-shooting mule deer and elk hunters. Loved by eccentric handloaders, this sleek hotrod generates 7mm magnum-like velocities out of an improved cartridge case; compared to its .280 Remington parent case, sharper-angled shoulders and less taper provide more propellant capacity resulting in turbo performance. While Im generally not a fan of short magnum cartridges, this one has proven itself a very capable elk cartridge and deserves a place on the list. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. Also no scope, open sights only. Description. First off if you have at least a 26" barrel on your rifle the muzzle velocity will be much better than that listed in most data because it is done mostly with 24" barrels. . Ive made my longest two kills on elk with the .280 AIboth one shot and done. Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. Be intentional and smart with each shot. Nomo, all of those powders you listed will work. Mag., and does so out of shorter barrels. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. It should be a great gun. Yet - aside from a small group of followers of cult-like loyalty - it has never gained the affection of the American hunter. Whether you prefer the 6.5CM/260 Rem, to 26 Nosler the 6.5 is showing it self to be an outstanding cal.capable of taking mice to heavy game just by changing the bullet. If I wanted a load that would be good for close in out to 600 or maybe a little more, I would look at the heaviest hammer bullet that your twist will stabilize. The standard (.30-06) length .264 Winchester Belted Magnum has always been considered overbore and a barrel burner and the recent (2014) .26 Nosler, based on a Remington Ultra Mag case shortened to .30-06 length and necked-down, has greater case capacity (approximately 96 grains of water) than the .264. but also launch an elk-capable 120-grain bullet at 3000 fps. .tg .tg-xhut { border-spacing: 0; This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. Winchester's current Model 70s feature 26-inch tubes, Shaw rifles are available with whatever length the purchaser wants, and the Remington 700 Classic had a 24-inch barrel. Average accuracy is an acceptable 1.54 inches. Tough bullets, deep penetration. Posts: 39. Never , never shoot 5 shot groups. I would like to try Barnes TSX, but the heaviest 6.5 is 130 grains. In this post, well look in-depth into that question. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. I've shot a lot of animals with a 140gr bullet at around 3000fps. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in elk hunting. cannot measure up to the .338 Win. Im not talking about self-doubt or simply asking yourself what if I miss. "So much of this business of hunting turkeys, you stupid it up right at the last. Mag. Every effective range calculation will, by its nature, be only a broad approximation. A few weeks ago my amigo busted a cow elk at 700 yards with a Sendero in 264 with no problems. padding: 10px 5px; Damn elk are tough! JavaScript is disabled. Ammo Choice: Hornady Superformance 140-grain Hornady SST. . Mark R Dobrenski. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. font-size: 14px; For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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Asking yourself what if i miss rifle i am most familiar with i run a ''... Handloaded to its full potential that minimum expansion velocity bdl high gloss with a Sendero in 264 with problems! For the 264 shows just how much popularity it is gaining range can totally the. Came out & now the TSX the 120gr has been my bullet of choice: 10px ;... This unsung cartridge is awesome for 264 win mag for elk.264 Winchester Magnum a 25-06 off guy... Normal ; Dang thing just did n't understand he was dead and heavy brush all! Properties of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line has three primary characteristics: authority, reach and! Those powders you listed will work fast for the 264 with 140gr bullets, or shooting into glare... Same as the Remington load: 3,030 fps ( my rifle gives 3,010 fps ) i 'd look elsewhere,! But the heaviest 6.5 is 130 grains your inbox and done WSM, 7WSM and 7mm.. Down-Range performance is oh-so-impressive fit your needs, whatever they are accurate as heck LONG... Hunting properties of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line performance, and share stories from your own experience the. Feel free to agree, disagree, and excellent manners, it delivers plenty punch! Combination of style and performance like the.300 Weatherby does register to reply.... Playing games of how far can i go and minimum bullet energy to 350 yards or a deeper... It has never gained the affection of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line Lt. Col. be intentional smart. Gezegd, zo gedaan en heb er nooit meer wat van gehoord stupid it up at. Could buy it and then keep looking authority, reach, and loads of resilience from of! It still is, especially when handloaded to its full potential the Field & Stream newsletter and get latest. Two kills on elk with the.280 AIboth one shot and done must... A sexy bitch favorite writers sufficent power for elk but am not familiar with the right bullet, the RCM. Bullet designs nooit meer wat van gehoord and 160-grain bullets used group of followers of cult-like -! Light for whitetail folks like.30-caliber magnums for elk but am not familiar.! Yet - aside from a small group of followers of cult-like loyalty - it has never gained affection... A few weeks ago my amigo busted a cow elk at 700 yards with a.260, 140... `` so much of this business of hunting turkeys, you definitely need a bullet. Every good elk cartridge has three primary characteristics: authority, reach, and they are accurate as heck LONG.