The .264 Winchester Magnum had one of the most unfortunate timing stories in American cartridge history. Winchester introduced it in 1959 in the Model 70 Westerner, pitching it as a flat-shooting, hard-hitting western cartridge for deer, pronghorn, and elk. It was — and still is. Then the 7mm Remington Magnum arrived in 1962, offered more bullet weight options, fit more easily into factory rifles, and promptly buried the .264 in the market. Most hunters moved on and never looked back.

That is their loss. For reloaders willing to put in the work, the .264 Win Mag loaded with modern 6.5mm projectiles is a legitimate 500-yard elk cartridge that shoots flat, retains energy well at distance, and fits in any standard long-action Mauser-pattern bolt gun. Here is how to get the most out of it.

The Cartridge: What You Are Working With

The .264 Winchester Magnum is a belted magnum cartridge based on the .375 H&H case family, necked down to accept .264-inch (6.5mm) bullets. It operates at 54,000 PSI and works in standard long-action rifles with a 3.340-inch SAAMI overall length. Bore diameter is the same as every modern 6.5mm cartridge — 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.5-284 — which means you have access to the entire range of modern high-BC 6.5mm projectiles.

Velocity potential with 140-grain bullets runs 3,000 to 3,150 fps from a 26-inch barrel, which exceeds the 6.5 PRC and decisively outpaces the Creedmoor. That comes with a tradeoff: the .264 Win Mag is hard on barrels, particularly with maximum loads, and throat erosion accelerates when you push it hard. Manage your load density and you can get 1,500 to 2,000 rounds of acceptable accuracy from a quality barrel. Abuse it and you will see 800.

Brass and Primer Selection

Winchester brass is the original and still widely available. Nosler brass is a premium option with more consistent weight and primer pocket uniformity. Weatherby and Norma brass also exist but may require neck turning to fit tighter chambers.

The belt on belted magnums causes headspacing issues if you are not careful. After the first firing, your brass will headspace from the belt regardless of shoulder. Full-length sizing is required for reliable feeding. Use a carbide or titanium nitride coated sizing die and set the shoulder back 0.001 to 0.002 inch on each cycle. Trim to SAAMI trim length of 2.490 inches and check after every firing — case growth is real with this cartridge.

For primers, use a large rifle magnum primer. Federal 215M (Gold Medal Match) and CCI 250 are both proven. The magnum primer ensures complete powder ignition given the large case capacity — do not substitute standard large rifle primers and expect consistent velocity.

Powder Selection

The .264 Win Mag has significant case capacity and performs best with slow-burning powders. The following have proven track records:

• Hodgdon H4831SC: The workhorse for this cartridge. Excellent temperature stability (critical for hunting loads), consistent ignition, and peak velocities with 140-grain bullets in the 3,050–3,100 fps range from a 26-inch barrel. Start load: 59.0 gr. Maximum: 63.0–64.0 gr. (verify against current Hodgdon data).
• IMR 4831: Slightly faster than H4831SC, often giving 50–75 fps more velocity at the same charge weight. Less temperature stable than the SC variant — worth noting if you are hunting in extreme cold or heat. Good accuracy node typically found 1.5 to 2.0 grains below maximum.
• Hodgdon Retumbo: Excellent choice for maximum velocity with heavier 140–143 grain bullets. Works particularly well with the Berger 140gr Hybrid and Nosler 140gr RDF. Expect 3,080–3,150 fps. Temperature sensitivity is moderate.
• Alliant Reloder 22: Classic magnum powder, excellent with 130–140 grain bullets. Good ignition consistency and competitive velocity. Often shows excellent accuracy with Partition-style bullets.

Bullet Selection for Elk

With the full library of modern 6.5mm projectiles available, bullet selection is the fun part. For elk specifically — which require controlled expansion and deep penetration — the following are worth your time:

• Nosler 140gr Partition: The elk standard. Dual-core design ensures the rear section retains weight even when the front cup blows out. Consistently achieves 60–70% weight retention at impact velocities exceeding 2,800 fps. BC of approximately 0.490 G1 — respectable but not elite.
• Federal Trophy Bonded Tip 140gr: Bonded construction, polymer tip, excellent terminal performance at higher impact velocities. Works well for shots inside 400 yards where impact velocity is still above 2,600 fps.
• Hornady ELD-X 143gr: The highest BC option on this list (G1 0.625). Designed to expand reliably at long-range impact velocities as low as 1,600 fps. At .264 Win Mag velocities, you will have reliable expansion past 500 yards. Excellent all-around elk bullet for open-country Oregon units.
• Berger 140gr Hybrid Hunter: For precision-minded reloaders who also want hunting performance. Exceptionally high BC (G1 0.610), reliable expansion at hunting distances, and competitive with the ELD-X at extended range. Requires a 1:8 twist barrel to stabilize — confirm your barrel twist before purchasing.

A Starting Load Ladder

This is for reference only — always verify against a current reloading manual before loading. Start 10% below maximum and work up in 0.5-grain increments, watching for pressure signs:

• Nosler 140gr Partition / H4831SC: Start 59.0 gr, max ~63.0 gr | ~3,050 fps at max from 26-inch barrel
• Hornady 143gr ELD-X / Retumbo: Start 60.0 gr, max ~64.5 gr | ~3,080 fps at max from 26-inch barrel
• Berger 140gr Hybrid / Reloder 22: Start 59.5 gr, max ~62.5 gr | ~3,020 fps at max from 26-inch barrel

Pressure signs to watch: flattened primers, ejector marks, stiff bolt lift, and cratered primers. The .264 Win Mag runs close to maximum pressure in factory loads — do not push past published maximums.

COAL and Seating Depth

The .264 Win Mag's SAAMI maximum overall length is 3.340 inches. Most factory chambers are cut with enough freebore to run the Hornady 143gr ELD-X at 3.320 to 3.335 inches (near the lands), which typically shows the best accuracy. Measure your specific rifle's lands with a comparator and experiment with 0.010 to 0.020 inch off the lands as a starting point for hunting loads.

Field Performance and Oregon Applications

The .264 Win Mag shines in the same scenarios where the modern 6.5 PRC excels — open-country western hunting where shots can be 200 to 450 yards, where a flat trajectory matters, and where the bullet needs to do serious work on a quartering-away bull elk. Oregon units like Chesnimnus, Starkey, and Beatys Butte are exactly the terrain this cartridge was designed for.

It is not a close-range timber gun. It is a ridge-to-ridge, glass-and-stalk cartridge that rewards precision shooting and careful load development. If you have a Model 70 Westerner or a custom Remington 700 in .264 collecting dust because factory ammo is scarce, dust it off. With modern components and an afternoon at the reloading bench, you have something genuinely special.