Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 240 Weatherby.... Alternatives to Reloader 22 ????

I've been attempting to tune a 240 Weatherby build and had it in mind that Reloader 22 in the 51-53 grain realm was the goto powder. Slugs have been Sierra and Nosler 95 and 100 grain. To date I've generated mostly nice patterns.

I'm ready to try some different propellents. Can anyone offer some alternative brand and grain suggestions that have worked well for them? Thank you and Happy New Year.

1Minute-
My experience with RL22 in several rifles has been similar, all the speed I could want without the precision to utilize it effectively.

These days I usually end up going to '19 and giving up a bit of velocity in exchange for sweet accuracy. However, in my .257 Wby IMR7828 gives me both speed and accuracy so it would make the short list were I working with a .240.

Good luck!

When looking for a substitute for R22, IMR7828 is usually my go-to.

Good Luck

loder

Besides IMR7828, try RL-25 and H4831 - with magnum primers of course. Too, I find that the long Weatherby throats sometimes do not cotton to boattail bullets, shooting better with flat bases.


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1minute, you might try the new Winchester Supreme 780. Its a slow burning ball powder, at least as slow as H4831. It seems similar to the discontinued H450.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I did a run around town and could not find any IMR 7828. I do have about 10 lbs of H4831 that's been on the shelf for a while, so I will give that a try tomorrow. Happy New Year to all.

I have found Imr 7828 SSC or regular to be quite a viable replacement for my most cherished RL 22 loads which have all been retired. In fact, I just worked up yet another RL 22 replacement load today for my 300 Wsm with 7828 SSC.

Flat base bullets are a Wby's friend.

Found some IMR 7828 too. So I'll head to the range with several workups as soon as our inversion clears. Thanks again.

Looking out the window here, you're about to swap the inversion for accumilation!

In my 6/06's I've had best luck with the heavies using R22/R25/7828 and H4831.

Dober

H4350

284-I take that to mean that you've worked with H4350 in a 240Wby, 6/06 or 6/284?

Dober

A couple of powders I've had really good luck with in the .240 are Ramshot Magnum and Norma MRP (Magnum Rifle Powder). Neither is exactly common, but they really work well. In fact I believe MRP is what Norma loads in the Weatherby factory ammo with 100-grain bullets, and that ammo typical shoots extremely well.

I'll have to try some Magnum in my 24/06 one of these days. It's a picky bugger of a barrel, it's only really liked H4831 so far.

Dober

Whoa there.
The .240 Weatherby is one of 2 Weatherby cartridges (the other being the .416) that does not have freebore.

Secondly, the case head size in '06 and the body width less than an '06 so these very slow powders are not necessarily the best option.

Take a look at my loads worked up in an original 9 lug Mark V with 26 inch barrel.

.240 Weatherby Magnum

Bullet Load Powder O. A. L. Velocity Energy Comments
70gn Nosler SB 56gn IMR 4831 3868
57gn IMR 4831 3876
52gn WIN 760 3719
53gn WIN 760 3768
54gn AR 2209 3775
55gn AR 2209 3855

85gn Nosler SB 55gn H 4831 3330 Original H 4831 .5 MOA - best load
47gn IMR 4320 3371
48gn IMR 4320 3422 MAX
46gn IMR 4064 3384 .5 MOA
47gn IMR 4064 3465 2267 .5 MOA top velocity
52gn Rel 19 3303
53gn Rel 19 3378

87 gn Hornady SP 52gn AR 2209 3496
53gn AR 2209 3555 MAX
55gn Rel 19 3469
56gn Rel 19 3550
50gn WIN 760 3457
51gn WIN 760 3578
53gn IMR 4831 3584
54gn IMR 4831 3623 2536 MAX
56gn Rel 22 3565
57gn Rel 22 3603 MAX

90gn Speer SP 55gn H 4831 3305 Original H 4831

100gn Hornady SP 54gn IMR 7828 3257 .75 MOA
51gn IMR 4831 3277
52gn IMR 4831 3301 Top load
53gn IMR 4831 3470 MAX
48gn AR 2209 3154 Mild

100gn Nosler Part 49gn AR 2209 3258
50gn AR 2209 3323 Top Load
51gn AR 2213 3282
52gn AR 2213 3304

100gn Core Lokt 55gn H 4831 3333 Original H 4831

100gn Sierra FB 53gn H 4831 3162 Mild Load
55gn H 4831 3327 Top Load
54gn Rel 19 3417 Best 100gn Load
55gn Rel 19 3464 MAX
52gn Rel 22 3270
53gn Rel 22 3382 Good Load Factory Specs



John

Are you sure about 240 wby's not having any freebore? I had a 240 wby built and My smith specifically told me he was going to use weatherby specs on freebore so that someone would not get hurt if they tried to shoot Weatherby ammo. I know when I re load, I can never "kiss" the lands with that rifle. You may want to re think that statement on 240 wby's. Not a poke, just speaking from experience.

I know this thread is a month old, but I just ran across it. I too have a 240 Roy that is one stubborn tool. I'm loading 85 grain TSX's in mine and had been getting 2" groups with IMR 4831, regardless of seating depth or charge weight and 1.75" groups with H4350 with the same conditions. One afternoon, after repeatedly banging my head on my bench, I looked over and noticed a couple of pounds of H414. I figured, what do I have to lose! I settled on a COAL of 3.095" and loaded away. Results? Sub-Moa groups with every charge weight I tried. I don't have a chrony so I can't vouch for velocity, but judging by the milder recoil I'd say it's not as spiffy as the 4350 and 4831. But, it shoots VERY, VERY well in my rifle. I've since bought a pound of RL19 to try. If it doesn't workout then H414 will be my powder for this rifle.

BTW, my rifle is a factory Mk V and it is most definitely free-bored.

An update... Still playing with mine (95 grain Noslers), and it seems to be coming around with 53 grains of IMR 7828 at about 0.85 moa. I've assembled some plus minus loads and am just waiting for a nice range day. I didn't make any inroads with 4831, which is sad, because I have a good bit on hand.

I haven't chronied anything yet, but will as soon as I settle on a final load.

Might try N165 also if 7828 and RL22 have worked well for you. In my .243 WSSM, whose case capacity isn't much less than the .240 Weatherby, IMR 4350 shot really well with 85 grain Partitions and TSXs

I am working with a Mark V .240 that Ed Weatherby had custom built, and gave it to a friend who later had to sell it for expenses. My friend has it. 24" barrel and it is free bored. I tried 85 Barnes TSX bullets seated 3.10 per Barnes loading data. Worked up from 51.0 grains to 55 grains of ReL 22, 1.25 to 2.2" three shot groups at 100 yards. Today I shot 55 grains with the 3.10" seated bullets and then the same but seated 3.225" (the magazine will take 3.3" bullets, which is where the throat is). Velocities for 4 shots were 3522 fps, 27 fps spread, and 3542 fps/46 for the longer seating with 1.3" group. With I-4831 groups were the same, 52.5 grains got 3502/71. With 51.0 grains and the 3.10 seating, H414 went 3514/39/2.5", H-4350 went 3475/40/2.5" and Accurate Arms 2700 went 3510/40/1.4". Think I need to bed the pressure point of the barrel better. Will try the 2700 and ReL 22 with the 3.225 seating.