Another rifle I want but don't need. The .264 Win Mag.

[OleRedbeard]

I have a buddy due to age is getting rid of several rifles. One of which is a very nice Winchester M70 in 264 Win Mag. I have always had a soft spot for that cartridge and who doesn't have a soft spot for a old Winchester anyway, I digress... Nobody needs a reason to put another one in the safe so I have pretty much sold myself on buying it. Long story short... anybody using one? how do you like it?

 

[Steiny77]

"Buy the rifle. You can't shoot antelope with your 401k."
- Dave Ramsey

 

[deer_shooter]

I found an old left handed savage in 264 many years ago. Not buying it still bothers me. Do yourself a favor and jut go buy it!

 

[OleRedbeard]

"Buy the rifle. You can't shoot antelope with your 401k."
- Dave Ramsey

these are facts.

 

[elkduds]

Pre '64? How accurate? From the web:

2
December 3, 2012 - 9:37 am

After 40+ years of fooling with Pre-64 M70s I’ve learned a few things about performance of these rifles. Your problems with 264 Fwts are not unusual. This style/caliber is the only one in my experience that pretty consistently performs poorly. At the end of production, I think many M70s left the factyory without being test fired, something that ALWAYS occurred previously. Prior to 1963 they were all test fired and if they did not perform they did not leave the factory. I have seen other 264 Fwts with oversize bores or loose spots near the muzzle that destroyed accuracy.
Sadly, the last 30,000-40,000 M70s made had quality control problems not seen in earlier years. Thery also had inferior quality wood, machine checkering, mis-aligned proof marks, aluminum floorplates/trigger guards on Standard rifles, etc. They are no where near the quality of the earlier rifles.

 

[noharleyyet]

Wait, @OleRedbeard ...is it a pre64?

 

[brymoore]

One of my sons first rifle was a Win Model 70 extreme weather ss in 264 Win Mag.

He shot his first elk with it and a few mule deer and whitetails. It was a cool caliber to say he was shooting. No issues with the rifle or capability of the cartridge.

I shot a whitetail with it at some point.

Being young, his caliber interest changed and he sold the 264 for another rifle.

 

[TheTone]

I’ve got one in a special edition Remington cdl. Like others it was a cartridge I fell in love with when I was young and when I found this one I bought it. I haven’t shot it near as much as I should and basically got an okay load built and just called it good. I’ve shot a couple deer and pronghorn with it. Haven’t really carried it in a couple years and last year bought a 6.5prc that basically duplicated my needs.

That said if you have always wanted something like it why not.

 

[MTGamecock]

I have a buddy due to age is getting rid of several rifles. One of which is a very nice Winchester M70 in 264 Win Mag. I have always had a soft spot for that cartridge and who doesn't have a soft spot for a old Winchester anyway, I digress... Nobody needs a reason to put another one in the safe so I have pretty much sold myself on buying it. Long story short... anybody using one? how do you like it?

I inherited a pristine walnut Model 70 XTR in .264 win mag circa 1984. I can't speak to any of the issues @elkduds mentions, but none of that stuff matters to me anyway. I'm not going to hunt or compete with it. It's a beautiful flagship gun in a not-too-common caliber that makes for an interesting addition to the collection. Heck, I've got $400 black plastic guns I can hunt with just fine.

So, if you are comfortable with the price and it's a financially responsible decision to make for you, by all means, buy it.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Dad bought one when the 264 westerner came out in 59 for a sheep rifle, Killed quite a few with it, we lived near Fairbanks. When we moved to Oregon he used it on mule deer and elk. Only problem he had with the rifle was “picking a fight” with a big Brooks Range Grizzly while on a sheep hunt. Always said he shouldn’t have started that fight.

 

[BuzzH]

A late friend of mine, had matching Model 70's in a 300 Win. and a 264 Win he purchased at the same time. Sort of always thought he had about every base covered.

I've always liked the idea of a 264.

 

[idahojoe]

Absolutely buy it

 

[Deleted member 16864]

No flies on the 264 Win Mag.

 

[gonhunting247]

Buy it
I sure do love Model 70's. Even better for me is the featherweight models!
I don't have a .264, but I like the idea it!

 

[44hunter45]

I have a 2003 built stainless steel Ruger Mkii in .264WM with a 1-9 24" tube. It has taken down several elk and deer, as well as countless coyotes.

It is technically "shot out" with a badly alligatored throat and eroded lands. I shot it out chasing the holy grail of 3200 fps with a 140 grain pill. It can be done, but you pay a price.
I was planning to rebarrel it until I tried loading 118HHT Hammers in it. It is a 1/2 MOA rifle again. The 118HHT will break 3400 fps without cracking a sweat.

This is still a very viable cartridge, I have three 6.5mm chambered rifles. 6.5 Swede, this 264WM, and 6.5 WBY RPM. I'm toying with the idea of building a Grendel just for kicks.

I still grab the 264WM first. It shoots and it scores. It has road rash so I don't worry about another scratch on it.

 

[OleRedbeard]

Wait, @OleRedbeard ...is it a pre64?

No, not a pre 64. Most likely a late 60s model. He bought it after getting back from Vietnam early in 1970.

 

[sambo3006]

If you have the financial means, just buy it. It's a very cool cartridge and critters won't like it. I'm waiting on a .264 WM build myself.

 

[brockel]

120 grain nosler ballistic tip and IMR7828. Death by lightning.

 

[2rocky]

No, not a pre 64. Most likely a late 60s model. He bought it after getting back from Vietnam early in 1970.

My dad still shoots his Pre '64 .264 Win Mag with a 26" barrel....

It's killed a pile of CA blacktails, and a few Elk too.

He just turned 83... He's got a Wyoming Antelope, California Mule deer and Alberta Mule Deer tag this Fall....The Model 70 will be there for them all....

 

[OleRedbeard]

120 grain nosler ballistic tip and IMR7828. Death by lightning.

Now were talking!