[Tang]

I've traded my 300 RUM, for a Ruger M77 MkII .264 Win Mag. Will look great with my other three Rugers. I have a boat paddle stock waiting to go on it.

So, this will become my dedicated Whitetail rifle. 130gr Accubond about perfect for deer ?

 

[M1Garand]

They are in the 270

Did you get $$ in addition to the rifle and hopefully what you were looking for? The 130 AB in the 264 should be a great load, Nosler # 6 has 5 powders pushing it at least 3100 fps. Congrats on the pickup.

 

[mattsbox99]

How can you make a decision like that without consulting us first!

Oh well, its a Ruger, I don't believe you could have gone wrong!

 

[Cheezywan]

Real nice rifle. I wish you well with it.

Couldn't help but notice that one of your mower blades is a little out of balance.

Cheezywan

 

[zb338]

Go with the 140 if you can get it to shoot accurately. Use a strongly
constructed bullets because those .264s really rail. I used to shoot
woodchucks and crows with mine using 120 grain bullets and what
it did to them was kinda scary. You have to use good bullets because of
the velocity the bullets have a tendency to blow up.
Zeke

 

[EWestbrook]

What a great caliber that I've wanted for a long time. What's the barrel length? I will own a .264 one day but it will be built on a Savage action with a 26" barrel.

I too would agree with the 140 grain recommendation for bullet weight.

I hope you really enjoy it brother.

 

[Tang]

How can you make a decision like that without consulting us first!

Oh well, its a Ruger, I don't believe you could have gone wrong!

Matt, I knew you would approve ! Now, next on my list is the Ruger M77 MkII in .350 Rem Mag, and then on to a .458 Win Mag in a Tang Safety M77.

 

[Tang]

They are in the 270

Did you get $$ in addition to the rifle and hopefully what you were looking for? The 130 AB in the 264 should be a great load, Nosler # 6 has 5 powders pushing it at least 3100 fps. Congrats on the pickup.

Yes, I got cash and reloading supplies as boot.

 

[Tang]

What a great caliber that I've wanted for a long time. What's the barrel length? I will own a .264 one day but it will be built on a Savage action with a 26" barrel.

I too would agree with the 140 grain recommendation for bullet weight.

I hope you really enjoy it brother.

The Ruger's only had a 24" barrel. The .264 needs a 26", but Im not complaining one bit. I've wanted this paticular rifle for a long time. I was thinking 130gr in the .264, and 140's in the 7mm Rem Mag.

 

[StretchNM]

It's going to be hard to be accurate without a scope....... D)

Is that a fluted barrel? Probably just a delusion I'm seeing....

 

[gunslinger264]

I have had a .264 for over 35 years , shot a lot of game ........deer , elk , couple hundred woodchucks,etc
Just put a Greybull Scope on it and put it in a whole other class ! I shot a paper plate with it at 800 yards and can do it again ! What a machine !! I have shot every bullet going , 140 Sierra BT , but just changed to Hornady 140 SST........sub 1MOA on a good day .........keep it clean !
Earl

 

[Tang]

Stretch, it isnt fluted, it will look just like this as soon as it arrives

Ok guys, here are the bullets im considering. Help me decide so I can have them here before the gun.


Hornady 129gr SST's - (.485BC/.264SD) - $26.99/100
Hornady 140gr SST's (.520BC/.287SD)- $26.99/100
Sierra 140gr Gamekings (.489BC/.287SD) - $25.19/100
Nosler Accubond 130gr (.488BC/.266SD) - $21.29/50
Nosler Accubond 140gr (.509BC/.287SD) - $25.99/50
Nosler Partition 140gr (.490BC/.289SD) - $27.89/50


I'm really thinking the 129gr SST's. I love Hornady bullets, especially for accuracy. Then pushed up to 3200, these should be like laser beam deer death.

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><CAPTION>Ballistics Table in Yards</CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>.264 Win Mag Hornady SST 129 gr., .485 B.C.</TD><TD align=right>www.hornady.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE border=2 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR><TD>Range (yards)</TD><TD align=middle>Muzzle</TD><TD align=middle>50</TD><TD align=middle>100</TD><TD align=middle>200</TD><TD align=middle>300</TD><TD align=middle>400</TD><TD align=middle>500</TD></TR><TR><TD>Velocity (fps)</TD><TD align=middle>3200 <TD align=middle>3096 <TD align=middle>2995 <TD align=middle>2800 <TD align=middle>2613 <TD align=middle>2433 <TD align=middle>2261</TD><TR><TD>Energy (ft.-lb.)</TD><TD align=middle>2933 <TD align=middle>2746 <TD align=middle>2570 <TD align=middle>2245 <TD align=middle>1955 <TD align=middle>1696 <TD align=middle>1464</TD><TR><TD>Trajectory (200 yd. zero)</TD><TD align=middle>-1.5 <TD align=middle>0.3 <TD align=middle>1.2 <TD align=middle>0.0 <TD align=middle>-5.6 <TD align=middle>-16.3 <TD align=middle>-32.8</TD><TR><TD>Come Up in MOA</TD><TD align=middle>-1.5 <TD align=middle>-0.6 <TD align=middle>-1.1 <TD align=middle>0.0 <TD align=middle>1.8 <TD align=middle>3.9 <TD align=middle>6.3</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


I think my big question is this; I'm used to thinking about my 300 or 338, and knowing I can crush through a shoulder and put them down. Is that something that needs to be avoided with the smaller bullets ? You guy's should be proud though, as my bullets are getting smaller. Also, does anyone know the rate of twist on the M77 MkII .264's ?

Edit: Now I'm starting to doubt myself. Did I make a mistake ?

 

[M1Garand]

I was going to say the 140 AB but didn't think they made them in .264" but see they do, that should work well. I love the Hornady's too and always had good accuracy with them, but if you're pushing a 129 grn upwards of 3200 fps, keep in mind the SST's are a cup and core bullet. I'd say try the interbonds, but I've never been able to get them to shoot well in a couple of calibers, I've always had the ABs shoot much better.

 

[big dan]

120 or 130gr tsx! i shoot them (the 130's) in my 6.5x55AI at 3050fps and it punches out itty bitty groups with 'em. while i have not taken game with this bullet a couple seasons back i neck shot a doe at about 100yds with my 25/06AI and a 100gr tsx @ 3550ish fps and was very impressed with the bullets behavior on game!

 

[broom_jm]

Tang,

I'm proud of you for picking up on a truly salient point: Small, very fast bullets, smacking solid shoulder bones, makes for less-than-ideal terminal performance. Long tracking jobs and extensive meat damage will result. Your choices are to go with a heavier, well-constructed bullet, like the 140AB, or be very careful to place your shot behind the shoulder! If you compare the long-range ballistics of various bullets, you will find that the .264WM doesn't lose much trajectory when shooting the heavier 140gr bullets, but the increase in SD will be much appreciated, should your POI be a few inches forward of where you intended.

Whether you go with 130's or 140's, you're .013" smaller and maybe a couple hundred feet-per-second faster than a .270 Win, so you've got almost the perfect deer rifle!

 

[zb338]

Bigg dan,
I had a .264 that shot 120 grain bullets very well. It was a Sako. It was wondeful
on varmints. I took it to Wyoming for a Mule Deer and Antelope hunt, and the 120's fell
flat on their face. They exploded like little bombs. The 140s wouldn't shoot in that rifle
and I ended up selling it. I bought a .338 and never looked back. I also had to buy a
varmint rifle. So I needed two rifles to make up for the one I sold. I'm not knocking the
.264 it just needs a strongly constructed bullet for big game. They weren't that available
back in the day.
Zeke

 

[Tang]

Jim, I've matured a little. If I wanted to smash through the shoulder, a 250gr Partition from the .338 Win Mag would do it effortlessly. I think the 140gr Accubond will be my bullet of choice.

This will be the smallest rifle I've ever hunting with. I know it is truly an odd ball, and doesnt have the largest fan base, but Im really excited about getting started with it. Seems a far stretch trading a gun that pushes 200gr bullets over 3100, for one that can barely push 140 to 3100.

Quickload says 64.5gr of RL22, is pushing the 140 Accubond to 3081. That's right up around max pressure. But 72gr of Retumbo shows 3113, with 2000psi Less. Hornady 160gr RN, 2942 with 69gr of Retumbo.

So is recoil going to be non-exsistent compared to what I'm used to ? Also, I think since all 4 of my rifles are the same, that shooting the lighter reoiling one, will make me even more efficient with the 338.

Sorry for rambling, Im one happy kiddie.

Also, which scope should I put on it ? I have three choices. Bushnell Trophy 6-18x40, Simmons Aetec 3.8-12x44, or I can pull my Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10x44 off of the .338. My wife laid claims on the 7mm Rem Mag and the Leupold 3-9x40.

Tang,

I'm proud of you for picking up on a truly salient point: Small, very fast bullets, smacking solid shoulder bones, makes for less-than-ideal terminal performance. Long tracking jobs and extensive meat damage will result. Your choices are to go with a heavier, well-constructed bullet, like the 140AB, or be very careful to place your shot behind the shoulder! If you compare the long-range ballistics of various bullets, you will find that the .264WM doesn't lose much trajectory when shooting the heavier 140gr bullets, but the increase in SD will be much appreciated, should your POI be a few inches forward of where you intended.

Whether you go with 130's or 140's, you're .013" smaller and maybe a couple hundred feet-per-second faster than a .270 Win, so you've got almost the perfect deer rifle!

 

[Rugerfan0374]

Tang,

There is a little trick I learned using my 270 Weatherby, pushing 130 grain Hornady SST'S or Barnes at 3375 to 3425. Don't shoot them square in the shoulder. Shoot them behind the shoulder, that 129 grain bullet pushing 3200 feet per secod shouldn't be any different.

Usually I aim about an 1 inch behind the shoulder and let her rip. Yes I know this is in a perfect world, and that in some cases it doesn't work.

 

[Tang]

I know the .264 is really below the 7mm Rem Mag in performance, but I've just wanted one for so long (but you know that dont you Rugerfan). Now if my wife starts giving me ****, because her deer rifle is bigger than mine, Im going to get thumper back out of the safe

 

[Rugerfan0374]

Thats funny. I think once you get that thing dialed in and shooting good groups, you will do just fine with it.

I just got one thing to say to you: YOU SUCK !!!!!

Although once my barrel comes in and I get my Savage Model 110 264 all set up, then we can compare notes. Only 11 more weeks to wait.