.340 Weatherby - any load suggestion?

J

Jeff/1911

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Hi Guys,

Anybody have a "pet" load for the .340 Weatherby they'd care to share?

I'm going to begin loading for a Weatherby Accumark chambered in this calibre...:)

Thanks for any guidance you can offer - Jeff/1911.
 
Hey Jeff,

Have you any reloading books with this caliber listed?

I have a book here with about 800 loads for the 340.

What bullets are you leaning towards, grain wise and shape?

I'm happy shooting the 250's right now but might switch up to the 230g Fail Safes or 225SST's, the 250's carry a bit more recoil I understand, but no longer notice since this is the only round that I have shot out my barrel, so it would be interesting to see if I notice a difference when I shoot a 225.

Also what powder are you thinking about using, or do you know yet?

Have a look at this web page (below), but do use caution if you decide to use this info.
I started at 83.5g of RL22 now up to 85g with the 250g so far so good.
The factory ammo I started with is the Hornady loaded ammo from Weatherby out of Whole sale sports $58.00 a box, at 100M the three shoot groups overlap one another (.750) I blame the Gaillard hand lapped barrel for these quality groupings.:D I should have used this cannon in the RTCC monthly targets;)

http://www.reloadersnest.com/query_pw.asp?CaliberID=72&Powder=Alliant%20Reloader%2022
 
My 340 accumark liked 225 gr Hornady S.P. with IMR 4831. Can't remember the exact load but got it from the Hornady reloading manual.
The best group I got at 300 yds was 2.5"
 
Jeff/1911 said:
Thanks a lot, guys!

BR, I was thinking it might be fun to work up one using the 210 grain Nosler Partition...

Jeff.
Click to expand...

I would think the 210's would scream out of the muzzle for sure, but not as good for way down the range (700+ yards), that's why I started working with the 250's long range hard impacts and even harder short range impacts.
None the less I'm having a blast with this caliber/rifle.
I'm very glad I don't have a brake on this beast, it must be super loud.

PM'd you Jeff
 
If I were loading for a 340 Wby, Id pick up some 225 grain Accubonds or 210 grain TSX, and stuff the cases full of H1000 or RL25
 
I was wondering how well the 210 would hold it's energy...I can't imagine trying any hunting shots at much over 300 yards myself - so maybe this isn't such an issue.
 
I use the 210s a lot in my 338 WM, but in the 340 I go to 250s, although I have flirted with 225s somewhat. I'm not at home, but I have a load with the 250's (using RL22) that gives me 2940 fps and very good accuracy with Speer Grand Slams. That's only 20 fps or so behind my 338 Lapua with the same bullet weight, it's a good killer, a little hard on the shoulder though. You'll be glad you have the brake (I don't, but I'm considering it). - dan
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that I avoid Nosler Partitions with the 340 Wby. The tissue damage is incredible. You could push a fencepost though the hole that is made.

Thats why I like the Hornady - kills just as dead without turning half the animal to mush.
 
Karl said:
One thing I forgot to mention is that I avoid Nosler Partitions with the 340 Wby. The tissue damage is incredible. You could push a fencepost though the hole that is made.

Thats why I like the Hornady - kills just as dead without turning half the animal to mush.
Click to expand...

I really like Hornady bullets and have had great success hunting with them over the years...good to hear. - Jeff.
 
dan belisle said:
I use the 210s a lot in my 338 WM, but in the 340 I go to 250s, although I have flirted with 225s somewhat. I'm not at home, but I have a load with the 250's (using RL22) that gives me 2940 fps and very good accuracy with Speer Grand Slams. That's only 20 fps or so behind my 338 Lapua with the same bullet weight, it's a good killer, a little hard on the shoulder though. You'll be glad you have the brake (I don't, but I'm considering it). - dan
Click to expand...

I also REALLY like Speer Grand Slams for the bigger game...Dan, I'd really like to try that recipe in my rifle. :)

Have any of you fellows used Sierra Game Kings in this calibre? I just bought a box of 215's today (thinking they wouldbe a good close weight to the 210 grain Partitions I was planning to use)...

Jeff.
 
Jeff/1911 said:
Have any of you fellows used Sierra Game Kings in this calibre? I just bought a box of 215's today (thinking they would be a good close weight to the 210 grain Partitions I was planning to use)...Jeff.
Click to expand...

Not yet, I have a box of Sierra GameKing 250g Spitzer Boatails sitting on the desk next to the G5 here, I am rather interested to see how they fly compared with the Hornadys.
I have loaded some using the 250g Hornady Interlocks, they fly nice, the Factory ammo I am using currently is loaded using the same bullets, have some idea as to hard these will hit, but that is yet to be seen, the day will come, no rush.

Keep us posted with how these 215g bullets handle for ya, I would be interested to know.

It has crossed my mind to maybe fiddle around with a 185g for the Island deer, Well actually, ...huumm??????:bangHead:still??????????......ah, why bother, what ever the 185g can do, the 250g will do just fine.

If I were to lighten up it would be to the 225g-230g range.
 
I tend to agree...I'm thinking, what's the point going to anything much lighter than a 250 grain bullet when the trajectory with these is so flat. They will have more retained energy than the lighter ones as you mentioned, and if used at closer range will likely open less "explosively" and likely damage less meat on game animals shot at these ranges. I think this is the direction in which I should go.
 
Now don't let me sway you from your choice on the 215's. It's your choice.

Have you got a ballistics table in a book like Hornadys Vol. 2 of the set. or something like this, I have seen somewhere on the web before on a bullet manufacturers website a ballistics program, just enter the Velocity, bullet weight, distance of scope zero, any wind effects, bullet dimensions, etc..

Check it out the 215's in the ballistics, they might be just the the ticket for your intended purpose for the rifle, first off less recoil than the 250's as I have been told. (simple physics).

Sorry I cant remember what the site was, just google around a bit. Should pop up somewhere.
 
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