240 wby or 257wby

The 257 is the better all around hunting and shooting choice.
I settled for the 25/06 as I don't usually shoot past 400 yards at coyotes. However I took one just the other week at 552 yards. Dropped in his tracks. Either wby could do that as well but the 257 allows up to 125 gr bullets and 75 gr pills for violent destruction of varmints
 
galamb said:
Here's the description from Terminal Ballistics Research (to give credit):

Introduced in 1968 for the Weatherby Mark V rifle, the .240 Weatherby was yet another addition to Roy Weatherby’s ‘worlds fastest’ family of cartridges. The .240 Weatherby still retains its status as the worlds fastest commercially available 6mm, mostly because it is very difficult to drive 6mm projectiles any faster due to case to bore expansion ratio limitations. In fact, it was because of these limitations that Weatherby chose the .30-06 cartridge case as the parent case design for the .240. No other Weatherby cartridge utilizes such a small case. The .240 is essentially the .30-06 necked down to 6mm (.243”) with a belt added (for a ‘magnum’ appearance) and a double radius improved shoulder.


See Right there is the STUPIDITY of some Gun writers ! Necked down from 30 cal to 243 cal + Add a belt + Add a Double Radius shoulder and Also change the diameter of the case at the shoulder and the base in front of the belt too - and Also ! change the overall lenght of the cartridge too ! Oh yea just like a 30-06 case all right !d:h: ;) RJ
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remington jim said:
galamb said:
Here's the description from Terminal Ballistics Research (to give credit):

Introduced in 1968 for the Weatherby Mark V rifle, the .240 Weatherby was yet another addition to Roy Weatherby’s ‘worlds fastest’ family of cartridges. The .240 Weatherby still retains its status as the worlds fastest commercially available 6mm, mostly because it is very difficult to drive 6mm projectiles any faster due to case to bore expansion ratio limitations. In fact, it was because of these limitations that Weatherby chose the .30-06 cartridge case as the parent case design for the .240. No other Weatherby cartridge utilizes such a small case. The .240 is essentially the .30-06 necked down to 6mm (.243”) with a belt added (for a ‘magnum’ appearance) and a double radius improved shoulder.


See Right there is the STUPIDITY of some Gun writers ! Necked down from 30 cal to 243 cal + Add a belt + Add a Double Radius shoulder and Also change the diameter of the case at the shoulder and Also change the overall lenght of the cartridge too ! Oh yea just like a 30-06 case all right !d:h: ;) RJ
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RJ , but it says so right there in black and white...
So it must be true ;)
Rob
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I shoot a .240Wby in a MkV Ultra lightweight. The rifle/cartridge combination has been a superb performer on big bodied WT and Mule deer out to 450yds. As mentioned by others the effect on game has been devastating. All were 1 shot DRT kills.
The gun has become my first choice in deer rifles relegating many bigger magnum chambered firearms to languish in the safe during hunting season. Accuracy has been excellent with both 85gr. TSX's and 95gr. Ballistic tips.
 
FLHTCUI said:
remington jim said:
RJ , but it says so right there in black and white...
So it must be true ;)
Rob
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Yup right they are - EH :( i guess EVERY cartridge made is built off some other one even if they VARY night and day difference - its like Black & White - nearly the same color if thats what you want to believe ! Cheers ;) RJ
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Easy. Mine are rcbs, but redding and CH also list them. You can order them from most bigger suppliers.
I bought mine used for $50 delivered.
 
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Well elk and moose tip over at near 400 yards with a 120gr bullet from a 25-06 so. Back to the question the .257 WB can be made from 7 Rem mag brass and the .240 can't as it has a .473 base so expensive WB brass if you go with that one. A buddy shoots a Cooper 25-06 AI and moose were no problem at extended range.Harold
 
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Warning: Thread Hijack in Progress...

All this talk of the .240 Weatherby got me thinking about something I'd read long ago. I'll quote directly:

"Like all Weatherby cartridges, the .240 case is belted, but if you are of a mind to do so you can make .240 cases, belt and all, by running .30/06 ( or .270 ) cases into a.240 sizing die." Jim Carmichel, Book of The Rifle.

Now I've never owned a .240, and I've never tried this, but Carmichel was a pretty astute gun guy and I tend to pay attention to what he says. He makes it sound pretty simple, so is there anyone out there that's actually tried this, and can confirm or deny that it's as easy as it sounds?

Btw, the .240 Weatherby bears a suspicious resemblance to the .240 H&H, aka, .240 Apex, from 1920 or thereabouts.
 
tuffteddyb said:
I have studied the cartridge some and from what I gather the 240WBY outperforms the 25/06
from 100 gr bullets and up, and the 240WBY on the lighter bullets better.
I want it to take game from gophers to mulies, MAYBE!! a black bear if a opportunity presents itself.
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Where are you located? That has a big bearing on what you should buy. If you're in wide open Nunavut or Saskatchewan or Alberta I would buy the 257 Weatherby. But if you want to fool around in the Mountains there is always the Weatherby Ultra Lightweight which I thought was (maybe used to be) available in 240 Weatherby (Cabela's website only lists it in 30-06, 257 Wby, 270 Wby300 WM and 300 Wby). John Barsness wrote about it in this month's Sports Afield and apparently his wife quite likes hers. 5.75 lbs for the 240 version, 6.75 lbs for the 257 or 270 Wby which makes for a pretty nice all up rig. The 270 Weatherby might be one of the most underrated choices in the Weatherby lineup. That would be my choice of all the Weatherby "Short" magnums.
 
I love my .257 Weatherby Magnum. I have no rational reason for having one but it's just... Better. I don't even shoot very far when hunting, but its the first gun I reach for.
 
I wouldn't even consider a 240 Wby, but have had 3 or 4 6mm-284s. Easy to make cases for and out performs the 240 Bee, but not in the same league as the 257 Bee, it is a big step up in performance. I have had several of these, and they have all been super accurate and with RL 25 powder they exceed all expectations.
 
If you do decide on the .257 Weatherby, don't buy ammunition for it, as I have wll over 100 rounds of factory ammo in unopened boxes. you can have them for a song.
Sold my ultralight as it was too long-barreled for the kind of hunting I do and wasn't using it
tuffteddyb said:
Just always wanted to try a Wby cartridge.
The 240 has really peaked my interest , mainly because it looks so cool!lol
Or should I just go with a 25/06?
So all opinions appreciated , and why you think so's are great too!!
Thanxs
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The .257 Weatherby is pretty much the poster child for the hyper-speed, banjo string trajectory, frangible bullet, spectatular killer of open country deer sized game school of thought. It was Roy's favorite cartridge, and its a sure bet he could use anything he wanted.
 
I like the 257wby, but if I was to own another one, it would be a custom, with a 26" barrel. I have owned two Mark V rifles, and I have no desire to ever own another one.
 
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