Winchester Rifle 70 Sporter 264 Magnum Bolt Action 535108229

The 264 Winchester Magnum was introduced in 1958 in a 26-inch-barreled version of the beloved Winchester Model 70 called the "Westerner." It was a companion introduction to the 338 Winchester Magnum in the Model 70 "Alaskan." Initial reception to the 264 was spectacular, but its star began to fade as shooters realized original factory loads weren't quite as fast as claimed, and throat erosion (in 1958 barrel steel) was rapid. Remington's 1962 introduction of the more powerful 7mm Remington Magnum put another nail in the 264's coffin and it has essentially lingered ever since. This is probably unfair. With a 140-grain 6.5mm bullet at 3030 feet per second it is flat-shooting and effective, with relatively little recoil. It is as designed: A fine cartridge for western hunting! Although a serious comeback is unlikely, the current upsurge of interest in virtually all 6.5mm cartridges is benefitting the 264, with more new rifles and loads available than in many years. — Craig Boddington