I am buying a rifle for my daughter and my better half to use for deer and groundhogs, was thinking a .240 Weatherby mag vs a .243 Is there any differences in reloading for weatherby cartridges other than the dies?
Reloading for Weatherby cartridges
- Thread starter Bloodtrailer
- Start date
Yes, you have to use a technique in loading them that doesn't shorten the cartridge after firing. Over use of a full length sizer will cause case head separations. It should be head spaced off the shoulder and not the belt. If you are using a Weatherby rifle you should know that they have a rather generous freebore. Longer bullets seem to work better than the shorter ones.
Thank you, maybe being new to this i should just stick with a .243
I didn't mean to imply that it was difficult, as you basically do the same thing with any rimless cartridge. The Weatherby's will have more recoil and higher velocities than the 243 but you will still want to use the full length sizer as little as you can to keep the cartridge close to chamber length on any cartridge in a bolt action rifle.
The 240 Weatherby will have twice the recoil energy of the 243 Win.
243 Win. (100 at 2960) 8.8 lbs/ft recoil energy
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3406) 17.9 lbs/ft recoil energy
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
I would think for your daughter the 243 would be better unless she is an experienced shooter used to the recoil.
As comparison to the .30-06
.30-06 Spfd. (150 at 2910) 17.6 lbs/ft recoil energy
243 Win. (100 at 2960) 8.8 lbs/ft recoil energy
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3406) 17.9 lbs/ft recoil energy
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
I would think for your daughter the 243 would be better unless she is an experienced shooter used to the recoil.
As comparison to the .30-06
.30-06 Spfd. (150 at 2910) 17.6 lbs/ft recoil energy
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If you are going to reload - almost any other common 6mm or, 257 Roberts or .25-06 or .250 Savage would probably be a more convenient and effective round for short people to use. I am personally not much of a fan of any belted magnum except when you need large heavy bullets. The .240 Wby is one of the worst to find brass for.
The .243 will get it's 2960 with a 24" barrel. The .240 Weatherby will get its 3406 with a 26" barrel. The .243 is much easier to get loaded ammo for and good brass. The Weatherby is proprietary. Brass is expensive and not easily obtainable.
I have never loaded the .240 but I do load for the .257, .270 and .300 Weatherby's. They are not any different than any other belted magnum. Just strive to keep from working the brass too much. They do eat a lot of powder though. Expensive to feed.
Joe
I have never loaded the .240 but I do load for the .257, .270 and .300 Weatherby's. They are not any different than any other belted magnum. Just strive to keep from working the brass too much. They do eat a lot of powder though. Expensive to feed.
Joe
First off, the 240 Weatherby has NO FREEBORE, it uses a normal throat like any other cartridge.
The radius-ed shoulder poses no problem, it simply requires a bump like any other shoulder and should be used to control head clearance after the first firing.
The ballistics are spectacular to say the least, very impressive and is miles faster than the 243, and mirrors the 6-06 in every aspect.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
Cheers.
The radius-ed shoulder poses no problem, it simply requires a bump like any other shoulder and should be used to control head clearance after the first firing.
The ballistics are spectacular to say the least, very impressive and is miles faster than the 243, and mirrors the 6-06 in every aspect.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
Cheers.
Wow, didnt realize the recoil was that much. You are correct, my daughter would be better off with a 243. She has her own 20 gauge and shoots my 5.56 AR with no problems at all, but i think .240 Weatherby may be a little much. Thanks for pointing that out
forget them both. for young kids and for girls I like the 7mm-08. this a good choice for kids. I have never liked the .243.
If you are willing to go off the beaten path a little for hunting guns and reload, I would suggest the 6.5 Creedmoor. Plenty of power for deer, and about 12 ft-lbs of recoil. Shorter case than the Remington 260 to leave room for the longer bullets. Savage chambers about 23 models in it now.
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There seems to be much talk about the 6.5 creedmoor right now. I just bought a Savage 300 win mag, must say that im actually impressed by the Savage. Bought the 11/111 trophy hunter XP, bought two boxes of Hornady superformance 180gr sst bullets. After sughting in the scope i managed to get a 3 shot group at 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards , and thats with me being a little trigger shy. I knew it was gonna have a bite but damn that thing kicks...great but pad, very soft and did not experience any soreness at all, muzzle jumps alot though. By no means would it ever be a long range precision rifle, but for hunting i dont think i could go wrong...comes with a 3x9 nikon scope, all for $494 before taxes...the group had two holes touching with the third a little to the right, i think that was me though to be honest but not entirely sure so i will say 3/4 " group, it was after about 20 rounds and i was a little beat up..lol
A factory chambered 240 WBY has .169 in terms of freebore. It is not a zero freebore.First off, the 240 Weatherby has NO FREEBORE, it uses a normal throat like any other cartridge.
The radius-ed shoulder poses no problem, it simply requires a bump like any other shoulder and should be used to control head clearance after the first firing.
The ballistics are spectacular to say the least, very impressive and is miles faster than the 243, and mirrors the 6-06 in every aspect.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
Cheers.
A gunsmith and great shooter, reloader wanted to see what he could get out of a 240 Weatherby. He built a custom barreled 240 with a long barrel. He built an identical 6mm Rem IMP. Both used the same bullets, brand and twist of barrels. He was trying to build the ultimate long range ground hog gun. The barrels were long, I am thinking he told me 36 inches. He was so sad when the 6mm REM out ran the 240.
A 243 with a 85 grain Sierra HPBT is a deer killing machine. I even know of 6 bears all killed with one shot and they didn't move. One was a nice one at 500 yards. It is all the gun she needs. Matt
A 243 with a 85 grain Sierra HPBT is a deer killing machine. I even know of 6 bears all killed with one shot and they didn't move. One was a nice one at 500 yards. It is all the gun she needs. Matt
I'm settled on the .243, now to figure out which MFG. savage 11/111, tika T3, weatherby vanguard.....
Bloodtrailer,
When buying a gun for someone else, especially a woman, you should allow them to pick it out. Any rifle you pick may be as good as it gets but they may not be comfortable with it or the colors are not what they would pick. If you want them to really enjoy the guns let them pick them out.
When buying a gun for someone else, especially a woman, you should allow them to pick it out. Any rifle you pick may be as good as it gets but they may not be comfortable with it or the colors are not what they would pick. If you want them to really enjoy the guns let them pick them out.
Good point, very good point
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