Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 240 Weatherby or 25-06 Rem for Coyotes, Deer, Pronghorn ?

With better b c, copper 6mm bullets...LRX, CEB in the 88gr to 95gr weight, any testing with those or larger differential between the 240 Weatherby and the 25-06 Rem?

Almost an eight year old thread. I am just starting to work with a 6mm AI (not a 240 Wby. but close) and a 25-06. The six is twisted 1-8" and the 25 1-9" and I wish I had gone faster in both 1-7 or 1-7.5 in each. This would open up the window to try some of the 115s in 6mm and the heavier Hammer and Matrix bullets in the 25.

So far it looks like you would have to shoot past 5-600 yards to see much if any difference where the better BC of the 6mm would start to show. But the newer high BC 25 caliber bullets keep it in the running. If I do another I think it would be the 6mm-06 with a 1-7.5 twist. Have not used anything sleeker than the ELD-x 103 6mm and the 115 Berger 25 but it would take a longer range than I have available nearby to see any meaningful difference between the two. On game they both work well at typical ranges.

6.5 06 might be worth looking at.

That would be too practical.

No, couldn't find any.

I make do with Imperial Die Wax and muscle power.

DF

I miss Mark, he was still is a great contributor and a man of both knowledge and experience, but also had a polite and courteous exchange which drew the best out of people in adding a little more to their argument rather that the current format some seem to thrive on here.

To add to my respect for him and to provide additional information for those that really want to know more, here are some of my findings in my rifles, both of which had 26 inch barrels...........

PLEASE NOTE:
My .240 Weatherby was an original full sized 9 lug action with 26 inch Number 2 profiled barrel.
The .240 Weatherby is one of 2 Weatherby chamberings that does NOT have a freebore! (The other being the .416 Weatherby)

My .25/06 is a blue printed Model 70 action fitted with a custom Tobler Match Grade barrel, also 26 inches, Number 5 Profiled SS fluted barrel. It “IS FREE BORED” to accept full usage of the Model 70 Magazine OAL.

WARNING – My loads are my loads, they are reference material to provide interesting reading, comparison if you want it and can be considered MAXIMUM loads in “MY” custom barrel only.

Use your preferred starting loads and not those as quoted.

70gn Nosler Solid Base - 240 Wby
I found 3 powders that worked well being IMR 4831, 760 and AR 2209 which is H 4350 in the US.
57gn IMR 4831 produced 3876fps
53gn 760 yielded 3768fps
55gn of AR 2209 produced 3855

Let me highlight a few facts,
1. AR 2209 when originally produced was a little faster than IMR 4350 which it was designed to emulate. IT was eventually reformulated, grain sign changed and made slower so that the current powder is far lighter granulated that the chunky cut yellow hued original made at that time by Mulwex.
2. Win 760 has always varied a little in burn rate. 30 years ago is was slower than many batches today and I have commonly dropped around 2 grains on my loads from back then to achieve the same velocities. (Even with standard cartridges like the .30/06) Weather that was intentional or just a further example of variation I cannot say, but I was burning more than 30 pounds of powder a year testing loads, reviewing rifles and killing animals, so I noticed.
3. There was no such thing as temperature stability in my background as the continent is called the “Arid Country” for a reason, it is hot and dry with summer lasting 8-10 months by American standards so forget fluctuations relating to hunting under 0 degrees F, there is no such thing there.
With these caveats to digest and consider, work up from lower levels or follow your preferred reloading manuals.

75gn Barnes X - .25/06
Best powders tried included IMR 3031, AR 2206 (Similar to H 4895) AR 2209, H 4350 (Modern) 760 and IMR 4350.
50gn 3031 = 3574fps
50gn 2206 = 3705fps
57gn 2209 = 3831fps
58gn H 4350 = 3659fps (a good demonstration of how H 4350 has been made slower where more powder equals less velocity over earlier batched of AR 2209)
58gn 760 = 3770fps
59gn IMR 4350 = 3807

85gn Nosler Solid Base - 240 Wby
Surplus H 4831, IMR 4320, IMR 4064 and Rel 19
55gn H 4831 = 3330fps
48gn IMR 4320 = 3422fps
47gn IMR 4064 = 4365fps (Both 46gn and 47gn shot the best groups in my Weatherby Mark V 9 Lug.
53gn Rel 19 = 3378fps

85gn Nosler Ballistic Tip - .25/06
H 4350, 760, H 4320 and IMR 4350.
57gn H 4350 = 3562fps (Both this load and 56gn produced the best accuracy in my Model 70 (Custom Tobler Match Grade barrel)
55gn 760 = 3497fps
51gn IMR 4320 = 3402fps ( also a top performer for accuracy with best group @ .287”
57gn IMR 4350 = 3562fps (Another good load which is a compliment to the bullet which shot well)

87gn Hornady SP – 240 Wby
AR 2209, Rel 19, 760, IMR 4831and Rel 22.
53gn 2209 = 3555fps
56gn Rel 19 = 3550fps
51gn 760 = 3578fps
54gn IMR 4831 = 3623fps
57gn Rel 22 = 3603fps

87gn Hornady SP = .25/06
H 414 and H 4350 used
56gn H 414 = 3619fps
56gn H 4350 = 3458fps

90gn Speer SP – 240 Wby
55gn H 4831 (Surplus) = 3305fps. (So good I stopped there)

100gn Nosler Partition, Hornady Interlock, Corelokt and Sierra Flat Base - .240 Wby
IMR 7828, IMR 4831, AR 2209, AR 2213 (H 4831),H 4831 (Current),H 4831 (Original) Rel 19 and Rel 22.
Best loads were……
100gn Hornady Interlock
54gn 7828 = 3257fps
53gn H 4831 = 3370fps ( I settled on 52gn for 3301fps)
48gn AR 2209 = 3154fps
100gn Nosler Partition
50gn AR 2209 = 3323fps (Best load)
52gn AR 2213 = 3304fps (Same as H 4381 current)
100gn Remington Corelokt
55gn H 4831 = 3333fps (So good I stopped there)
100gn Sierra Flat Base
55gn H 4831 = 3327fps
55gn Rel 19 = 3464fps MAX ( my best load used 54gn for 3417fps)
53gn Rel 22 = 3382fps

Now, some of you will wonder why I used less Reloder 22 than the Reloder 19 charges?
The reason is that I use a chronograph to work up loads. This means as long as the velocity is there, the pressure is there also. Watch for this as it can provide protection for you, your rifle and your brass from pushing things too far. Once the known and accepted top velocity is reached, if you are below recorded charges from any source, STOP. You have reached the velocity potential of the cartridge for that bullet and…….your powder batch.

100gn Barnes TTSX, Barnes XBT, Barnes TSX, Barnes TTSX, Nosler Ballistic Tip, Hornady Interlock, Nosler Partition - .25/06
Lets lump these in together because I achieved very similar performance with same loads suffice to say that powders used included Rel 17 and 22, Retumbo, H 4350 and IMR 4350, H 414 and 760 (Different batches) and WMR.

54gn H 414 = 3490fps
57gn WMR = 3369fps
54gn 760 = 3422fps
54gn IMR 4350 = 3348fps
54gn H 4350 = 3400fps
53gn Rel 17 = 3440fps
55gn Rel 22 = 3490fps

All else is .25/06 Data ( There was nothing heavier available in 6mm during my usage)

115gn Nosler Ballistic Tip – 25/06
53gn 760 = 3215fps
55gn H 4831 = 3097fps (I found this powder considerably slower than previous batches)
52gn IMR 4350 = 3086fps
51gn AR 2209 = 3114fps

115gn Barnes TSX – 25/06
51gn IMR 4350 = 3080fps
54gn AR 2213 = 3048fps
57gn Rel 25 = 3164fps (A very good contender in the .25/06)
57.5gn Retumbo = 3018fps
51gn 760 = 3173fps (Highest velocity I experience with this bullet in the .25/06)

117gn Hornady BT - .25/06
H 414, 760, H 4350, H 4831sc, Rel 17, 22, 26, and Retumbo
51gn H 414 = 3241fps (Very good accuracy in my rifle)
53gn H 4350 = 3220fps
51gn Rel 17 = 3214fps (Good accuracy)
57gn H 4831sc = 3165fps
53gn Rel 22 = 3267fps
57gn Rel 26 = 3189fps (Very Accurate with groups between .341” and .631”)
57gn Retumbo = 2966fps (Miserable and too slow by comparison) (Though the game won’t know)

120gn Speer SP - .25/06
52gn IMR 4350 = 3100fps
52gn AR 2209 = 3169fps

120gn Nosler Partition - .25/06
51gn H 414 = 3175fps
53gn H 4350 = 3167fps
51gn Rel 17 = 3224fps
57gn H 4831sc = 3148fps
57gn Retumbo = 3078fps
53gn Rel 22 = 3150fps (One of the better sub .5 MOA loads)
57gn Rel 26 = 3147fps (Consistent .5 MOA performer where 58 gn was also tried for 3212fps but groups opened up to MOA which is unacceptable in a heavy barreled rifle.

Hope you are entertained by this……

AG great information thanks for your contribution. Only problem I am still unresolved as to which is better, seems like more similarities than differences. In the 25-06 I am getting an honest 3,600 with R16 and 85 grain Lehieghs with a book load. It would be interesting to update the 240 Weatherby with the 103-115 grain bullets but I guess most are not twisted fast enough for anything over 105. Just starting to try R26 in the 6AI but I bet the 240 would do well with it too.

Tejano,
One thing seldom said, is that the .240 Weatherby case is more narrow than the standard '06 case. While the cartridges tend to get lumped together, they have a different volume, shoulder design and neck length.

I did have the opportunity to chronograph a 6mm/06 rifle that frequented the range about the same time as my .240 and it did have a genuine 100+fps advantage over my .240 Wby at that time with the available powders we had back in the 80's.

Because I had exposure to a lot of cartridges, when the gun laws tightened to the point of gun registration in the mid 90's that also included adding serial numbers to barrels and also registering them, I chose the .25/06 because it suited so many Aussie target animals and would cover decent range shooting across the many flat country areas as well as ridge to ridge shooting I did.

So would the .240 Wby, but as stated previously, there were no bullets over 100 grains available to us in 6mm so the '06 did offer an extra 20 grains for larger animals like red stags, large billies and the pigs we commonly hunted. Another point was that Barnes was relatively new when this decision was made and after hunting a couple of states here in the US by that time, I realized the value of the .25/06 for pronghorn and mule deer which I by then a;so had experience with.

Almost 25 years later, the only thing I have changed is to move the 6.5-20 Leupold off the .25/06 and onto a 7mm Remington and fit a standard 3-9 Leupold so the rifle is more suited for whitetail hunting. The 6 power bottom end didn't work for me in the woods.

[quote=Big_Redhead]I never heard of such a thing, forming belted cases from non-belted. Sounds hokey to me.

You obviously have not read any of Acley's writing's. Cheers NC

Thanks again AussieGunwriter. The only thing that has kept me from getting a 240 was the Mk V seemed overly robust for the little 240 and too heavy. Now that light weight LH rifles are an option it's appeal has grown but if I ever go up from the 6AI which is unlikely it will probably be a 6-06.

I’ve been testing loads in 2 different 6-06’s this week. The rifle I did most of the testing with shot these two loads the best. These rifles both have 27” 1-14 twist barrels. I got a deal on the slow twist barrels(thats a whole nother story) I was hoping to get 85 partitions shooting out of these so I could use them for deer if I wanted. Anyway these two loads were a solid 1/2”. I had to use WLRM primers with the H414 or I would get hangfires at low temperature.

85 grain partition with 55 grains of H4831 (3450 fps)

70 grain ballistic tip with 53 grains of H414 (3750 fps)

The other rifle I haven’t shot as much yet, but it shoots H380 and 70g varmegeddons.

Also, current .240's are no longer chambered in the 9 lug Mark V. I believe they are only available in the smaller 6 lug Mk V and Vanguard.

AussieGunwtiter, typo? 47gn IMR 4064 = 4365fps (Both 46gn and 47gn shot the best groups in my Weatherby Mark V 9 Lug.

KF,

Yep, typo.......no warranty expressed or implied.

Mine is aRem 700 in 6mm-284. Reloading data is pretty much interchangeable with 240 Wea,

I also am on my second 25-06.

There is really not a nickle's worth of difference between the two cartridges, unless you are hunting elk. Then If I had no other choices, I would choose the 120 gr bullet from the 25-06.

I think that is the sensible cut off point. The OP mentioned a list of game up to deer and pronghorn, which are taken by the plain old .243 Winchester every year.

The newest shining light in 100grains is the Barnes TTSX which would likely negate the need for heavier bullets in .257 caliber and make the 120's moot. Accuracy for same is always spoken of so maybe there isn't a real need for heavier unless you revert to Dober and I discussing that "sometimes", both of us preferred a lead core bullet.

Go with a 6.5-06

I have used both, (plus a 6mm/284) and I would say 25-06. Now, the 240W is certainly a 'cutie" and a wicked killer too. I have a church member who uses two rifles for the past 40+ years; a Mark V 240W and a 70's model 1895 (straight stock) Marlin 45-70 (saddle gun). He uses nothing but the Nosler 95 partition and the Hornady 350RN in each, respectively. He and one of his sons have killed many mule deer and elk, some of those elk were really big bulls! He has killed more with the 240w than the 45-70. He also killed a humongous mule deer buck (5x5) at almost 500yds a couple years ago. Myself, I feel the 25-06 is more versatile. I also used the 257W and while it is a great round, I feel the 25-06 is just as good.

Thanks for this as I am fighting the urge for both a 240 and a 257 Weatherby which I currently don't have in the stable. The 25-06 is perfection for deer.

It's not for the faint of heart, takes some effort.

You gotta be a hard core Loony...

Reportedly Roy Weatherby formed early .240 brass just that way. Of course, his new round had to have the signature belt to be a Wby...

If I was building one from scratch, I'd go 6-06, maybe now, a 6 PRC, not a .240 Wby. I traded for mine.

The 6 CM shooters seem to like that one. Those rounds I mention above are of the same or very similar powder capacity with the .240.

I wish my .240 was faster than 10 twist. If I built a big 6, it would be 7 or 8 twist. Mine won't shoot 105's, etc. Tops out with 100 gr. NPTs which it loves.

DF