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Like a Redding Ultra Mag?

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Seems I remember reading something about actually cracking std. FL sizing dies. I can see how such a sizing step would put a lot of stress on a die not made for that task. The CH4D die is pretty stout and seems up to the job. Don't try this if you don't have a Rockchucker, Redding Big Boss or equivalent press.

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Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
I contacted CH4D and got a .240 Wby case sizing die. It uses a shell holder without the slot, essentially a flat platform to push the case into the die. A rod is used to tap the case out. It take a lot of pressure to swage a 25-06 case into a .240 case, as the belt is formed by squeezing the case body. There is usually a ring of sheered brass to be pealed off the newly formed belt.


Ken Howell notes (in his excellent Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges) pretty much the same thing:

"This case definately needs the RCBS belt-forming die to swage a belt into .25-06, .270, .280, or .30-06 brass, and form dies."

My guess is that the two dies Mr. Howell mentions probably cost ~ $150 dollars. .240 Roy brass is something like $2 per hull, right? So if you are wanting more than 75 cases, then the dies and forming process pans out economically.

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Unless I just had to have a 240 for some reason, I'd go 6mm-06 and dispense with the belt.

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The CH4D die is in the $70+ range. I think .240 Wby cases are more like $1.50. I don't plan on buying any more Norma/Wby .240 Wby. brass. All of my future .240 Wby. cases will have W/W .25-06 on the headstamp.

Can't confirm, but I've read that W/W brass is harder than Norma/Wby. and the primer pockets last longer. That was more of a discussion with the 7mm RM to .257 Wby. conversions. I guess it depends on how hard one drives those rounds and the pressure needed to get there. I'm not one to push the envelope, so it probably won't be a major issue.

Just reporting... smile

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Originally Posted by mathman
Unless I just had to have a 240 for some reason, I'd go 6mm-06 and dispense with the belt.


Can't argue with that.

With a "from the ground up" custom build, I'd have done just that. I got this rifle used and at a good price. So, I dance with the one what brung me to the party... laugh

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I read that during the development of this round, Roy Weatherby had a die made, probably a lot like this one, to size '06 cases to create the belt. He went with the '06 head size for obvious reasons and the final SAAMI .240 case dimensions reflect just how much set back the case body needed to create a belt that looked like the rest of the Wby. family.

The .257 Wby, with the powders available at that time, was considered somewhat "overbore", what ever that term actually means. It appears to me that with his new 6mm round, he wanted a smaller case and the '06 was the logical answer.

IMHO, this was purely a cosmetic ploy so that the new round would look like the rest of the Wby. family and not a "redheaded stepchild". For Roy, belts were his trademark, whether needed or not! And, it's common knowledge that one can't use the word, "magnum" without the round having a belt... smile

The .240 Wby. is a squeezed down 6mm-06 with slightly less powder capacity, thanks to the "squeezing". Other than proprietary marketing, I see so purpose served by the belt, other than to sell super expensive brass. Ole Roy wasn't a fool... shocked

IMHO, of course.

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Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 01/05/12.
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Thanks to all who replied to my post. Very interesting stuff, for sure.


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I guess it is no surprise that some folks will simply tell you to use your 223 or 30-06. The practicality of such is tremendous. Then again, what do you learn and how does that sustain one's appetite for loonyism? Like casting bullets or handloading itself, a lot of the fun is in the process. If you can already shoot reasonably well, it really makes little fiscal sense to handload since a mere handful of cartridges are going to last a long, long time in bringing home the bacon. (Practice with your 22s, for Pete's sake, if practice you must!) That reminds me, I need to get to work making prepping cases for my 22-7.62x39 PPC Ruger Mini-22/30 Rifle. The thing is far superior to the Mini-14. wink


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Start with .280 Rem brass and the shoulder will be fully formed when it comes out of the forming die. Neck to .25 cal as an intermediate step.

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mathman,

You can also just go .25-06 and dispense with the belt--though you won't be shooting those magical .243-diameter bullets.


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I always enjoyed George Nonte's enthusiasm and explanations for simple case conversions like making Hornet cases out of .505 Gibbs cases with a little lathe work and running through a few different dies. smile wink


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Dirtfarmer,

I appreciate your report. You gave all of us a lot of good information.

And you make me appreciate my 6mm-284 all the more.


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Originally Posted by j0s4
Start with .280 Rem brass and the shoulder will be fully formed when it comes out of the forming die. Neck to .25 cal as an intermediate step.


Good info. Thanks.

Now, if I end up with .240 Wby. brass, headstamped .25-06 and .280 don't you think I'd eventually get confused...? crazy

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Originally Posted by Idaho_Shooter

And you make me appreciate my 6mm-284 all the more.


10-4, that...!

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bea175

I know this is an old thread but I have wanted to ask you a question. Was your rifle originally a 240 or did it start as something else? I hav an older M77 in 270 that I want to change to a 240 WBY. Please feel free to add any info you have regarding this, it would be greatly appreciated.

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Here are cell phone photos (not the best quality) of a factory Norma .240 Wby. case on the right, and one formed from a W/W .25-06 case on the left, using the CH4D die. The shoulder isn't fully filled out on the one made from the .25-06 case. The belt isn't quite as smooth as the factory round, but actually looks pretty good, IMHO, considering how it was made. New formed brass chambers without problem.

BTW, I found a good hunting load for my .240 Wby., HS Precision SPL. It's the 85 gr. NPT at around 3,500 fps with 50 gr. Big Game, Fed 210 primer. Mule Deer (JB) has written that NPT's sometime shoot better with faster powder. I had used 52.5 gr. Hunter (Barnes accuracy load) for .4" groups at a hundred with the 80 gr. TTSX. Big Game is faster burning than Hunter.

This load shot a 1/2" three shot group at 200 yds. yesterday at my deer camp range. That's the best group I've ever shot with this gun. A Nosler Partition is not the bullet I would predict to be the most accurate. With 10 twist this gun seems to favor bullets in the 80-95 gr. range, not so much, 100 gr.

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I wouldn't have thought of using Big Game, but obviously it works!

By the way, 100-grain Nosler Partitions in Weatherby factory loads regualrly shot in the 5/8" range in my rifle. The buys at Nosler tell me their test standards are the same for Partitions as any of their other bullets. I suspect one of the reasons some people don't get good accuracy out of Partitions is they don't expect it, so don't take the time to try different stuff, whether seating depth or different powders.


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Originally Posted by j0s4
Start with .280 Rem brass and the shoulder will be fully formed when it comes out of the forming die. Neck to .25 cal as an intermediate step.


I'm hesitant to go that route. In my zeal to form .257 Wby cases from 7mm Rem Mag brass, I got into accuracy inconsistency problems, to the degree I abandoned the .257 Wby. and rebarreled my Mark V to a match chambered 7mm Rem Mag, #2 Brux at 24".

Safariman ended up with the take off .257 Wby. bbl. On relating this story, Mark said he had been there, done that. He told me that 7mm Rem Mag brass formed into .257 Wby. brass has excessive neck wall thickness and if the necks aren't turned, inconsistent accuracy results. He said that problem is eliminated by using .264 Win Mag brass. I turn 6.5 and .224 necks but am not looking for more neck turning if I can avoid it.

So, given that, I think the less forming, the better. Using .25-06 vs. .280 parent cases forming the .240 Wby. may well be similar to using .264 WM vs. 7mm RM, forming the .257 Wby. .240 neck wall thickness looks OK with brass formed from .25-06.

YMMV, let me know.

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Originally Posted by Mule Deer
I wouldn't have thought of using Big Game, but obviously it works!

By the way, 100-grain Nosler Partitions in Weatherby factory loads regualrly shot in the 5/8" range in my rifle. The buys at Nosler tell me their test standards are the same for Partitions as any of their other bullets. I suspect one of the reasons some people don't get good accuracy out of Partitions is they don't expect it, so don't take the time to try different stuff, whether seating depth or different powders.


I was surprised at the group, not expecting it. It's only a three shot, but I'll shoot some more to make sure it's not a fluke.

I've got good results with the 90 gr. SSII's. .7" at a hundred. For now, I think I'm going to give the 85 gr. NPT's a run. I use a 250 yd. zero, and am approx. 1.5" hi at both 100 and 200 yds. At 300, 350 and 400 yds., I just have to remember 3", 6", and 12" drop, respectively. This combo produces 1,000 ft. pounds of energy out to 375 yds., so it's not an ultra long range deer load.

DF

Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 01/22/12.
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