New beaner

Arguing with a man about his favorite rifle is like arguing with a women about her favorite frying pan! We all use what we prefer for various reasons but none will feel pleasant on impact! I'm blessed because my whole family loves to hunt and cook! Funny thing is none of us are over weight! The luck of the draw I reckon!
 
264 Mag use to be considered one of Winchester's hard on the shoulder barrel burner cartridges. But with today's steel's and Cryogenics available. I would think that labeling no longer applies. Well ~~maybe the hard on the shoulder part still does. Then again if you can endure a heavy recoil why not take a look at the kicking'ness baddest boys on the block >Rem Ultra Mags.
 
Why not one of those 6.5 cartridges, that don't eat barrels, that'll shoot flatter than any .308?
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The only reason I would suggest it in this situation is that the OP does not reload. For good, accurate factory fodder nothing tops the choices the 308 Winchester gives us.
 
It sounds like you have talked yourself into a .264 WM.
Since your gunsmith of choice will load ammo to suit it, that does away with my only objection.
At "4 or 5 boxes a year" a barrel will last you 6 or 7 years at Bart's level of shooting.
 
If you want a 264 Mag, then that's what you need to buy. If you wear out the barrel, get a new barrel. I'm with you in being not excited about the 308. Sitting on the edge of that bean field and waiting for the big buck is way more fun if you have your laser beam 264 with you. Sitting there with a 308 doesn't even sound interesting.
 
Dirty Harry said it best; a mans got to know his limitations! And I'm not mathew quigly! I like fast and flat but I believe I am going to go with the 300 wsm! I already have one in a browning abolt! May as well try it out with a bit heavier platform! Not sure about what barrel length to use for it???
 
If you like the 300wsm, you'll love the 7mm version. The lighter bullets you were talking about using in the 300, will give better ballistics in the 7mm. To get the max from a .308" bullet, you have to go very heavy and that will not be comfortable from a hunting weight rifle.

The folks that suggested cartridges like the 260rem are giving good advice.
 
I'm sure the 260 is a great round as I am fixin to get one in a sako for my daughter! Hav'nt purchased it yet only because its a 2 hour drive from home and been very busy! I'm n no hurry to get this new rifle only because there is still ducks flying down here in louisiana! Keep the opinions coming I may change my mind again! Or hopefully somebody will talk me back into the 264 lol
 
Go .260 REM. Same bullets as the .264 WINMAG only slower so you get more barrel life and less recoil. I built one last year, well its technically still in progress. Need to bed the action and it will really be done.
 
I would agree with Bart saying a .243 Win, or .308Win or similar would be ideal. Non-barrel burners, factory ammo available, tame recoil. I wen't the .308 route myself, figured if I ever get the time behind the trigger to shoot out the barrel, than I will look for a more exotic cartridge, .308 is fine for me to get my skills up.
 
I must admit I too love my 300 WSM and when we get the steel plates out it definitely holds its own against all the 243 's and 308's.
But the 264 was the long range king, at least when my mates 7mmSTW stayed in the safe. And it's the only rifle that I've used that has knocked a sika stag off it's feet with a behind the shoulder shot. Accounted for its self very well in Africa as well, so much so that it ended up staying there. The suppressor took most of that supposed recoil out of it but a good pair of earmuffs helped as it was more boom than wallop. The good old boomer seems to be having a bit of a renaissance at the moment with more factory loads available than ever.
But what about the new 26 nosler? There you have a real speed freak that will shoot all those slow, boring, efficient creedmores out the sky.
If you are only using a few boxes of factory ammo a year then go for what you want as it's going to take years to burn the throat out and think of all the fun you'll have! Just don't let it get too hot!
 
One thing you don't need is a boring 308. Even my grandson won't hunt with his 308. He grabs my 260 every time. Get something with a little more style. If you go to the deer camp with a new rifle and somebody asks what it is, and you say "308", they'll grunt and say "Oh". But if you say it's a 264, folks will walk over for a look.
 
More corn bread is alway better! just ask john coffe! Thanks for answering the original questions and not just arguing about barrel burners! My cousin and hunting partner bought the 7stw in a mark v accumark the week after I bought a 300 weatherby in the same rifle! I love the rifles and both cartridges but its hard to find the stw bullets if u don't reload! I love my 308's but not what I'm looking for! Oh btw I'm definately a SEC man but I'm enjoying watching nick saban sweat 2nite! The 264 definately perks interest in people that don't mind a lil recoil! So now it's narrowed down to 264 wm or 300 wsm!
 
If you go to the deer camp with a new rifle and somebody asks what it is, and you say "308", they'll grunt and say "Oh". But if you say it's a 264, folks will walk over for a look.
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That's what happened when I took my .264 to deer camp. Of course it's 6.5x50 Arisaka. Everyone else had 308's and 30-06's that can be seen at any place that sells rifles.
 
Of course it's 6.5x50 Arisaka. Everyone else had 308's and 30-06's that can be seen at any place that sells rifles.
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FWIW, there were 4 Arisaka's at the Big Box Store today, one of which was a 6.5 ..... and it was right next to 96 Swede ......
 
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