I am strongly considering turing my 700 BDL in .270 into a .240 WBY Mag. What brand of barrel, length and twist rate should I consider? What bullet weight would work best for coyote, antelope and deer, along with a good bit of paper and steel.

I'm going to have a 6mm-06 built primarily as a semi-lightweight deer killer, which is basically the same thing as the 240 Wby. I went to PacNor and talked to the guy who makes them. I left after I ordered a 24" finished length, #1 contour, 10" twist for primarily the TTSX and up to 100gr Partitions, in a 3-groove.
YMMV, but that's what I'm doing.

The brand is easy....Brux. As for length and twist, Ken should be able to answer those questions. Pac nor would be at the bottom of my list for barrel manufacturers. Either go Brux, Kreiger, Rock, Hart.

When i had my Ruger 77 SS barreled to the 240 Wby , I went with a 25 inch barrel. I use the 95 gr Hornady SST and every deer i have shot was DRT and haven't recovered a bullet all complete pass through.

Don't go too short, too light, or too slow. Bullets from 80-115 grain are all good for those purposes. A 1-9 will work to around 105 grains. A purpose built rifle for 107-115 grain bullets should be a lot faster 1-8 to 8.5" but it will still shoot most of 85 grain and above bullets fine. It might be too much for the light thin jacketed varmint bullets.

Pick the bullet range and gunsmith and see what he recommends.

Lose the belt,keep the capacity and go 6-06.

1-9" and think 105'Max.............

Some good information here. I am torn on the .240 vs .6-06. The downside to the 6.06 is having all the calibers around it. I hate for an accident with a wrong sized round ending up in a gun. Having brass that isnt clearly labeled on the bottom is concerning to me.

That looks like a real nice set up!

Go 6-06AI and live a little.

I've a 25",with a 23.5" in the works............

I'm still having strong thoughs on a 6-06AI with #2 24" tube. Once I gather another action that is probably the direction I'm heading.

A great cartridge. Regardless of choice, I suspect you will enjoy it. I have a build on a Yugo 24/47 action (Pacnor) and it runs 5 rds (95 grain Nosler Ballistic tips) into about 0.56 inch groups. Reloader 22 simply would not work for me. IMR 7828 though was like a laying on of the hands.

I wouldn't be afeared to Faux Ti one at 23"..............

Well if thats a concern for you, seeings your in Wyoming, send an action to Z-hat and have a 240 Hawk built(6/06AI..more less)you wont pay much more for stamped brass for it VS. the weatherby.

No need to wish him any further haywire,than he was outta the gate..................

Who is Z-hat? A forum member?

Unless for some odd reason or another you wish to shoot factory ammo I'd go 6/06. I'm on my 2nd barrel, and have been around 3 or 4 others that friends run. I totally dig the round!

I've had mine @ 25", friends have been between 24-27". And as Stick mentioned I wouldn't be afraid to go 23". Thought a time or two about shortening my 25" to 23" mainly to fit my scabbard a bit better. I'd build the length for balance and feel more so than anything else..

Friends have done 12 twists, I've gone 10 twice and the next time I retube I'll go 9. I have a love affair with the Schneider 4 weight cut to 25".

4 me, the big 6's is incredibly fun and there isn't much I wouldn't point it at with 95 TSX's or 85 TSX's.

Dober

Gunsmith in Montana. Fred Zeglin (sp?) I believe. Specializes in (maybe not the right word, but you get the idea) Hawk cartridges.

Search for it, but I think it's www.z-hat.com .

Wyoming wasn't it?

Dober

You can go to www.qualitycartridge.com and get headstamped 6mm-06 brass. Midway carries it also, and you don't have to wait for a return phone call to order it. It's spendier than Weatherby brass, but adds a nice touch to owning one.
I understand any concern about having cartridges that aren't headstamped correctly.

I use Rem Nickle (25/06)brass to form my 6/06 cases, I don't use nickle for any of the other 06 based rounds. Helps a bit..

Dober

Thats a good plan Mark. I have very little nickel brass, so I could begin working with that.

If you build one you'll love it, I have more than a fair bit of 24/06 data so pm me your phone # and I'll give you a call.

Fair ways back I guided for 7-J out of Sundance, loved that country!!


Dober

I built my 240 wby on a Rem 700 BDL stainless 30,06.

The barrel is a 26" lilja, I believe 10 twist.
I shoot coyotes with 70 grain ballistic tips and antelope with 90 and 95 grain ballistic tips.
Best not plan on saving the coyote hides.