got a model 70 classic in trade, nice wood, like new rifle with 26" barrel.
loaded up a few test loads starting at 56gr of imr4831 going up to 63.5 gr with hornady 129gr bullets. my manuals show max at about 60gr, but at 63.5 i am not seeing anything that shows pressure to me. primers are not flattened, bolt lift is normal. fired cases look the same from 56gr all the way to 63.5. at 63.5 i am in the range of 3200 fps or slightly above.
my issue is that the most accurate load i have found is way down at 58gr with 60gr second best. below 58 they are quite poor, above 60gr they are even worse. with most of my guns i just load for accuracy and wherever i find it is good enough. but when i hear 264 win mag i think FAST, at 58gr my chronograph shows about 3000fps. the reality is that even at 3250, trajectory is only about 2" different at 400 yards. not enough to matter in the real world, but energy is over 3000 vs 2700.
an old speer manual i have lists max charge far higher than i am at now, and velocities that are stunning. a 120gr bullet at 3500fps.
i think i know the answer is to load 58gr and try for the best accuracy i can get. but a part of me wants to see what i can get out of it for speed, and hope that maybe i find accuracy at the top end of speed.
brass will live longer at 58gr, so will the barrel.
loaded up a few test loads starting at 56gr of imr4831 going up to 63.5 gr with hornady 129gr bullets. my manuals show max at about 60gr, but at 63.5 i am not seeing anything that shows pressure to me. primers are not flattened, bolt lift is normal. fired cases look the same from 56gr all the way to 63.5. at 63.5 i am in the range of 3200 fps or slightly above.
my issue is that the most accurate load i have found is way down at 58gr with 60gr second best. below 58 they are quite poor, above 60gr they are even worse. with most of my guns i just load for accuracy and wherever i find it is good enough. but when i hear 264 win mag i think FAST, at 58gr my chronograph shows about 3000fps. the reality is that even at 3250, trajectory is only about 2" different at 400 yards. not enough to matter in the real world, but energy is over 3000 vs 2700.
an old speer manual i have lists max charge far higher than i am at now, and velocities that are stunning. a 120gr bullet at 3500fps.
i think i know the answer is to load 58gr and try for the best accuracy i can get. but a part of me wants to see what i can get out of it for speed, and hope that maybe i find accuracy at the top end of speed.
brass will live longer at 58gr, so will the barrel.