264 Win Mag LR bullets

[lancetkenyon]

If Nosler says you should use a 1:8", you should listen to them.
I have loaded for a couple 1:9" .264WM. A 130 driven fast do just fine a long ways out, usually past 1k.
Try the 129 NABLR, 130 Berger (HVLD or Hyb), 130 TMK/TGK.

 

[264MHC]

Here's some real world experience. In my 9 twist 6.5x55 shooting at sea level I was never able to get good accuracy out of any bullet over about 1.35" long. Some of the shorther 140s worked like the Hornady 140 hpbt. The absolute best accuracy I saw was out of the 135 Berger Classic Hunter (1.325") at 2870. In my conditions that bullet has an sg of 1.4. In my opinion it has the highest BC (.303 g7) you can shoot in a 9 twist. The 130 VLDs are the same length but 5 grains lighter and therefore have a lower sg but still shot well, just not as well. The 129 ABLR is 1.37 long (even lower sg) and my accuracy was all over the place at 2+" in that gun. The next best option is the 130 AR Hybrid (.287 G7 1.29" long), and with the slightly heavier jacket may be a better option at .264 WM speeds. 3200-3300 should be possible in a 26" barrel and that load would be no slouch.

 

[Laguna Freak]

Thanks for the feedback fellas. I really appreciate your time to convey your counsel. Y'all are a tremendous help!

 

[lancetkenyon]

Also, a "minimum recommended twist" is not an "optimal twist rate".

 

[Laguna Freak]

Also, a "minimum recommended twist" is not an "optimal twist rate".

Nosler does not call it a "minimum". Their language tends to indicate optimum, IMO.

But your point is well taken.

 

[cdoubleu]

If you're trying to max out your BC, Higher twist rate means higher BC (1.8-2.0 are about right for fully maximizing BC). The advantage of lowest twist rate possible that short range bench rest shooters use for their game is outweighed by BC which has a more cumulative result out at range.

 

[HARPERC]

.........I am looking at a specific, potentially unique, rifle investment not a custom and I want to shoot the highest BC bullet I reasonably can. Which in my mind begs the question;.......

Not much that hasn't been done. High BC bullets are typically longer, and twist rates faster. The 6.5's caught a break using modern bullets as 1-8" twist are usual, so room for longer bullets was already done. Berger recommends a 1-8" twist for the 156 EOL. Which is as high a BC in common use.

I have a 1-6" twist 6.5, I wouldn't do less than 1-7", and probably a 1-6.5" to stabilize all bullets out there.

 

[del2les]

Remember, the 142 ABLR was designed for LR hunting, so even if your 1/9 twist stabilizes the ABLR at shorter ranges, it may destabilize at the LR. Personally, I use a minimum of 1/8 twist in my 6.5 anything.

 

[Quintus]

What are your thoughts on a 1:9 twist x 26" barrel spinning a 142 gr Accubond LR fast enough? Nosler recommends 1:8 twist for the ABLR but their load data test barrel is 24" x 1:9. Is the 0.082" longer than 140 Accubond going to be significant?

Fyi; I get 2 different ABLR SG's from Berger calculator (1.27) vs JBM calculator (1.633).

For this one you may actually have to shoot these to validate either way. Depending on the barrel maker, you may want to validate the twist rate too.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Here is what I am talking about. Berger used to put "optimal" twist rates on their boxes. Now they put "minimum". Like if you are shooting at 8000', 3300fps, and 85°F, minimum twist will work just fine.....but go down to 2000', 2750fps and 20°F, stabilty drops, meaning flight characteristics and BC drop too.
Same bullet, same part #, same BC. Look at "Optimal" vs "Minimum" twist rates in the old packaging and the new.
Opens up a lot more people that think they should use a certain bullet in their marginally twisted rifle.

I have a fair selection of bullets I have tested in a LOT of different rifles.

Check out the 142 NABLR vs 143 ELD-X
Pretty similar lengths.

And look what Hornady suggests for twist rate.

 

[Quintus]

Here is what I am talking about. Berger used to put "optimal" twist rates on their boxes. Now they put "minimum". Like if you are shooting at 8000', 3300fps, and 85°F, minimum twist will work just fine.....but go down to 2000', 2750fps and 20°F, stabilty drops, meaning flight characteristics and BC drop too.
Same bullet, same part #, same BC. Look at "Optimal" vs "Minimum" twist rates in the old packaging and the new.
Opens up a lot more people that think they should use a certain bullet in their marginally twisted rifle.
View attachment 206340
View attachment 206341
I have a fair selection of bullets I have tested in a LOT of different rifles.
View attachment 206342

Check out the 142 NABLR vs 143 ELD-X
Pretty similar lengths.
View attachment 206343

And look what Hornady suggests for twist rate.
View attachment 206344

I think you will just have to physically prove it and you can use the 142 as a base-line.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I think you will just have to physically prove it and you can use the 142 as a base-line.

All my fast 6.5s are 1:7.5" because I built them to shoot the heavies, so can't help you there. I would not shoot them in my daughter's 6.5 SLR 1:8" though. I run a 130 AR Hyb @ 2925 and they are stupid accurate.

I can tell you I never got adequate results with the 142 NABLR out of any 1:8" twist rifle I tried them in. 6.5 SS, 6.5 SAUM, even a 1:9" Rem Sendero @ 3150fps. Put a 129 NABLR in there @ 3230, and something magic happened. Night and day.

Try them. Not just at 100/200, but at 1000. They could stabilize fine for you. They might fall apart past 500. Only YOUR gun and conditions can tell you what will happen.

JBM Ballistics shows 1.501 SG @ sea level and 59* in a 1:9" twist @ 3150fps. 1.443" bullet w. .140" plastic tip (1.303" jacket length). That is on the cusp of marginal. You go up in elevation, GS increases.

Bison Ballistics shows 1.23 SG same inputs other than no input for plastic tip length, just overall bullet length. Go to 1.303", 1.63 SG.

Berger shows 1.23 GS too, same parameters, no plastic tip length. Go to 1.303" length, 1.66 SG.

Just many others giving you advice from past experience.

 

[Md reloader]

I"ve been through this. I have a Rem 700 Sendero. The bullet that did best for me was the 135 Berger Classic Hunter. I use RL 25 for 2975 fps and it has shot great to 1040 yds. I couldn't get anything else to stabilize. I don't push my rifles to the point where I get a hard bolt lift.

 

[dale guthormsen]

big bc's are nice.

But really, Shoot, know your dope and dial it in!