Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .240 Wby. accuracy loads

I'm going to get some 90 gr. E-Tips.

The .240, as you know, has a .169" freebore. The HS 2000 LA action is full length with a long clip. The COAL to the leades with the 85 gr. TSX in this gun is 3.296". I loaded my first batch at 3.15" COAL with a .146" jump. With this action and clip, I believe one could jam long bullets into the leades and have enough bullet in the long .240 neck to make it work. I see no advantage in that, but this is not something one hears discussed with Weatherby's...

This combo could almost be treated like a non-freebore chamber with bullet jump handled like any other caliber.

DF

I might of missed it DF but did you run any of these loads over the clock? In particular the R17 load?

Thx
Dober

Not yet, Dober. I've got a chrono, just haven't set it up. I was trying to get an idea on which bullets were going to be performers. Barnes gives their top load of RL-17 at about the same vel. as the 54 gr. H-4831sc load that seems to be so popular, both at around 3,500+ fps. Their data is in a 24" gun, my HS is 26". With a high vel. load, especially with slow powder there could something extra. It will be interesting to see the difference with 2" extra barrel using a mid range powder like '17, although progressive burning, and a classic slow powder like H-4831sc.

I'll post result when I get them.

DF

Thanks!

DF,

Actually, the term "freebore" is quite flexible, since it basically just means a longer-than-average throat. The .240 has a very short throat compared to most other Weatherby rounds (as does the .416 Wby.). The throat of the .243 Winchester is actually a little longer than the .240's.

I'm moving this data from another thread. Should have put it here to begin with.



"I just got back from the range. The factory ammo (100 gr. SP) shoots 1 1/2" at best. So, correcting for runout, evidently, wasn't that critical.


Best loads this AM:

85 gr. TSX, 54 gr. H4831sc, Fed 210, 3.15" COAL, .610" three shot group at a hundred, around 3,500 fps.

85 gr. TSX, 50 gr. H414, Fed 210, 3.05" COAL, .76" at a hundred, approx. 3,500 fps.

90 gr. Scirocco, 52.6 gr. Vv N160, Fed 210, 3.07" COAL, .75" at a hundred, around 3,330 fps.


The 80 gr. TTSX is nearly, but not quite as accurate as the 85 gr. TSX (so far).


I havent' chrono'ed these load, waiting to find the ones the gun likes. These velocities are published data, mostly with 24" bbls. The HS has a 26" barrel.


A poster on the Fire mentioned H414 being his best powder for the .240, and it does seem to work. I had problems getting the Scirocco's to group, but this load did much better than the others. I also shortened the COAL.


Bullets yet to be tested, 100 gr. Grand Slam, 70 gr. and 95 gr. NBT, 90 gr. E-Tip, 85 gr. (old and new), 95 gr., and 100 gr. NPT, and 95 gr. SST."


DF

Bringing this site up to date with data reported elsewhere.

My latest range report has the 85 gr. NPT shooting a half inch, three shot group at 200 yds. I know that's only a three shot group which may not be sustainable with more rounds. This load is with the std. factory COAL of 3.1", Norma once fired brass using Fed 210 GM primers and 50 gr. Ramshot Big Game powder, each charge weighed. Bullets were seated with a Bonanza Benchrest seater and concentricity checked with a Sinclair gauge. Corrections were made with the Tru Tool to runouts of .003" or better. Book velocity is reported at 3,550 fps, not yet chrono'ed by me.

I love the way Ramshot powder burns and meters. It's good stuff, IMHO.

DF

Updating a 2+ yr. old thread.

My go to .240 load at the present time is the 100 gr. NPT at 3,255 fps over 57.5 gr. Ramshot Magnum and Fed 210 primers. It shoots around .5" at a hundred. Next batch of reloads, I'll try Fed 215's to see if those will tighten it up some. I've accumulated a bunch of blem 100 gr. NPT's and an 8# jug of Magnum. So, I should be good to go...

I've tried several combos, 85 gr. NPT's are super accurate at 3,500 fps. the 90 gr. Scenar was super accurate. I killed a WT doe last fall with the Scenar and it was WAY too explosive. I killed another with the 90 gr. SSII and felt it wasn't quite expansive enough, even at 3,400 fps. These were chest shot deer, no bones.

The 100 NPT should work about right. With a 225 yd. zero, it's dead on to over 250 yds, then 4", 9" 15" and 23" elevations at 300, 350, 400 and 450 yds. respectively. I'm not even going to do a turret with this one, just remember the numbers and go hunting.

Here's the HS SPL now wearing a McM Hunters Edge, losing 20 oz. from the HS SPL factory stock. It's really a much better handling rifle like this. Of course it's pillared, glassed, torqued and free floated. The 6500 2.5-16x42 seems to work well on this gun.

I may try this rig on NM Pronghorns in August, rather than my usual 6.5-284/140 gr. VLD combo.

DF