Best bullet WEIGHT for a 264 Winchester Magnum?

[264 WIN MAG]

For a long time I had been shooting 140gr. bullets through the 264 Mag. The last 140gr. bullets I was shooting from it was Nosler Partitions. Everything I shot dropped in it's tracks and I was greatly pleased with the downrange performance at 300 yards and more on deer sized game.

Someone recently talked us into using 120gr. bullets in the rifle. Despite having a ton of trouble finding a sweet spot for which there is no recommended starting point I don't think I am really pleased with the bullets themselves. I know since switching to the 120gr. TSX's it seems that every deer I shoot, no matter where I shoot it at, runs. With the 140gr. bullets I never had a deer run, 9 out of 10 times they would drop right where they stood.

If anyone has any opinions on 120gr. bullets vs. 140gr. bullets in this caliber, any help would be appreciated. Right about now I think I am regretting going with the 120gr. because from what I have recenlty read about this caliber it seems that you don't get any better than the 140gr.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Don Fischer]

In my 6.5's I use 129gr and 140gr bullet's. I had a friend years ago in Mont with a 264 win mag and he liked the light bullet's. I never saw him hunt with that rifle.  This guy that talked you into 120gr bullet's, what was his reasoning?

[Mikey]

264:  I believe the 140 is probably the best bullet weight for the 6.5mm bore at the velocities of the 264 mag.  I believe the 120s work better in slower moving 6.5mm cartridges.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[jvs]

Concensus in my area is that the Hornady 129gr Spire Point Interlock is a good one for 6.5/.264 handloads.   Powered by 54gr of IMR 4831.

If you reload, give them a try.   

On the other hand, if you are happy with the way the 140 gr has performed, why change?

[264 WIN MAG]

Well, the guy that was telling me about the 120gr. said he had used them and had great success with them.

I have finally just decided to go back to the 140gr....If it ain't broke...don't fix it.

From what I have been hearing from some people is that there were two models of the 264 mag. There was a 1 in 8 twist and a 1 in 9 twist. Apparently the 1 in 9, which mine is, loves the 140's more than anything else.

[Jaydub in Wi]

I've used 120 gr barnes x not tsx on 5 whitetails. Of the 5 , 2 dropped in their tracks while the others ran 25 to 50 yds. I'm going to 140 partitions, not because of performance issues,but I feel 140s work better with all the case capacity.Part of the reason for the switch is the fact that I'm out of those loads.I need to see how the noslers work in this rifle. With your good results with 140 , I would go back to them. good hunting

[jvs]

From what I have been hearing from some people is that there were two models of the 264 mag. There was a 1 in 8 twist and a 1 in 9 twist. Apparently the 1 in 9, which mine is, loves the 140's more than anything else.

The 1:9 twist is sometimes better suited for 129 gr.  It all depends on what your rifle likes best.  I do know for a fact that some 1:9 twist 6.5's like 129 gr bullets.  The Hornady 129 gr works exceptionally well in a 6.5 Rem Mag.  How much different a Rem Mag is different than a 264 Win Mag is something I don't know.  There are some other variables to consider.  Like Primer and Powder also.   

Your 264 Win Mag may like 140's better.  It should be a deadly combination for deer.

[264 WIN MAG]

Well, I made the switch back to the 140's. I went and shot on Sunday and they were shooting quite well. At 100 yards we were consistently putting up at least 1" groups in a 20-30MPH wind...not bad...

Jaydub,

don't get me wrong. I liked the performance of the 120gr. TSX. Every deer I shot with them I killed and I found, but on comparison the Nosler Partition 140gr. would stop them in their tracks 9 out of 10 times, whereas the TSX's would end with a little run (less than 50 yards), but I like to see them drop where they stand.

I believe the TSX is giving accurate performance over and over again as far as bullet expansion and penetration. I just like the end result with the Partition 140gr. better though. Not to mention the 140gr. Partition seems to shoot exceptionally well through my .264 Mag.

[Jaydub in Wi]

It's good to here of your good results with the 140 noslers. My next 264 load will be that bullet with H870.My 7mm rem and 270 wby need to get out also though

[264 WIN MAG]

Went back to the range yesterday in a lighter wind. Much better shooting conditions and the 264 put up about a .4" group with the 140gr. Partitions.

[nomosendero]

Went back to the range yesterday in a lighter wind. Much better shooting conditions and the 264 put up about a .4" group with the 140gr. Partitions.

What's not to like here?

[Luckyducker]

I had a FN Mauser action rebarreled to 264 this past summer and the smith put a Shilen barrel on it w/9" twist at my direction.  I didn't realize it wouldn't stabilize 140 grainers very well, so now I load and shoot 129s and it is putting them into .5" and I think it'll do better with some work.  The 140's will get about 1 1/4 -1 1/2".  I really wanted to shoot the heavier slugs in it and if I had looked at the Shilen barrel web site I would have known I needed a faster twist, oh well.