Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Load data for 240 Weatherby using Nosler 100 gr Patition? JB?

I’ve had really good luck with RL-25. The buck was killed with 100 gr Hornady BTSP @ 3250, the cow was killed with factory 85 gr TSX. I was able to duplicate the velocity with the same bullet and RL-25 though. My hand loads with the 85 TSX is shooting 3510 FPS. Both loads consistently shoot MOA.





Todd

I’ve never used RL-23 in my .240. If no data, I’d check data on rounds that used RL-22 and RL-23, see how close they were. I start low, go slow with equivalent data. I’d guess they’d be pretty close, but that’s just a guess. A chrono would be handy.

Surely someone has .240 data with RL-23.

DF

I’d say that load works.

Nice.

DF

Have mentioned before that flattened primers aren't necessarily a sign of more pressure--one reason they're an unreliable "pressure sign."

Anybody interested in why that's so can read my MARCH Column: "Primer Flattening," posted on this forum above the current threads--which I originally posted in 2019.

Why is it that guys ask for the magic load, when every rifle is different? The online data, or an old load manual is where I look first. You are always going to have to work up, so why not just consult the guys that make the bullet first? Working up a great load really isn't that hard to do.

This right here is proof you didn't even look at the online data that muskegman posted a link for. The max velocity using RL22 is 3,352 fps. That's also with a 24" tube. Is there a reason you chose not to use the online data?

I've had very good luck with R 26 and the 95 gr. ballistic tip fast and accurate.

Yep, same for me. RL-26 was definitely the magic pixie dust..especially when combined with the 95 gr NBT. By far provided the most velocity(by 100-150fps) and accuracy over any other powder I tried.

Would one of you using RL-26 share your recipe? It’s another powder I can’t find any data for.

I love RL-26 and have a big jug. It’s my fav 7RM powder with 160’s. Never tried it in my .240.

I did try some in my .257R. I remember unburned granules left in the chamber such that I couldn’t chamber a round.

I’m thinking one would get a more complete burn with the .240, especially with heavies.

I’m sticking with MRP in the .240, RL-26 in the 7RM.

DF

DF, I’d try that MRP load if I could find any of that powder. I’m about ready to load H4831 but I know I’m leaving some speed on the table. It’s why I’ve hoped to find some data for either RL-23 or 26.

"Leaving speed on the table" seems to be the theme of this thread--which of course tends to be the notion of many older handloaders ("Boomers"?) who still firmly believe another 100 fps of muzzle velocity matters a lot in the field--even with bullets with what we might call "average" ballistic coefficients.

Then there's also the question of "sourcing" .240 brass. Weatherby stuff is very good, but expensive and scarce.

All of which is why my present ".240" is a 6mm-06 with a 1-8 twist. It has more powder room than the .240 and can handle higher-BC bullets.

But whatever....

Give the 100 gr TTSX a try. Its Deadly

How can a bullet that never existed be deadly?

My question as well....

If I was building from scratch, it would be a 6-06 with 8 twist.

But when traded for, you use what ya got. I got a CH4D die to form .240 cases from .25-06 brass. It takes a good press and some muscle power to squeeze down the .25-06 case body to form the famous Wby belt. But it works. Firing completes the double radius shoulder.

I use Winchester brass, which I’ve heard lasts longer than softer Wby/Norma brass, primer pockets last longer with hot loads. I don’t max them out, go for accuracy over speed. So I can’t testify Winchester primer pockets last longer. Urban legend?

Good brass for less money. It needs to be virgin brass. Fired brass has been worked and is hardened somewhat. And that takes a LOT more force to form those cases, enough difference that I won’t use anything but virgin brass.

DF

I have generally found "soft" Norma brass to be untrue for at least the past 20 years or so. No doubt at least some of it was soft at one time, but haven't experienced that recently--if 20+ years is recently.

One example is the 9.3x62 Norma brass purchased after buying my first CZ 550 in 2002. It's been loaded repeatedly to at least 60,000 PSI, and often fired for various articles, or in tropical heat when hunting. Have not encountered any loose primer pockets--or hard extraction.

Another example is the Norma brass used in my 6mm PPC benchrest rifle. As with many bench rifles, the primary load I used for years is somewhat warm, a grain or so over the maximum listed. That brass has also been fired quite a bit, partly while continuing to experiment with various powders and bullets for the ultimate in tiny groups, and partly because the rifle's also been used for prairie dog shooting. Primer pockets are still tight.

Also never encountered any problems with factory Weatherby/Norma brass during that period, and have owned, hunted with and experimented considerably with handloads not just in .240 Weatherby but other Weatherby Magnums including the .257 (two rifles), .270 (also two rifles), 7mm Weatherby and .300 (three rifles). All the brass kept working just fine.

My current go to load is 56.5 gr of RL-26, 95 Gr NBT, F210M and Weatherby brass. It's a rather warm load averaging 3350fps, but it's where I happened to find the best accuracy. Gun is a Vanguard Wilderness with a 24" barrel.

Agree with Df, here. I built a 6-06 off a Rem 700 action and an 8 twist, 26" Brux barrel. Probably the most accurate gun I've ever owned. Berger 105 Hybrids at 3300 generate some amazing ballistic numbers...and kills! Super easy to load for as well...25-06 brass with one pass through a 6-06 sizer is all it took to make brass. Like a dummy though, I sold it. Jeez! Once I wear out the barrel on my 240, I'll rechamber to a 6-06.

I have to disagree here BTDT, I have done 6-06 and 6-284. both shot well but barrel life was short.
Best I have found is 6mmAI 1-7.5"twist Bartlein, shoots close speed wise and barrel life is better. only problem might be finding brass these days