IN MARCH - 340 Weatherby Magnum

[JD338]

After using the above components I will work with 225gr Patition and AccuBond and also MRP powder with 210g, 215gr, 225gr and 250gr bullets.

Sounds like fun!
The 225 gr AB and PT bullets are very solid performers!

JD338

 

[bullet]

JD, the Partitions are marvelous, they are the real killers and I will have exit holes but more improtantly when the Partition hits bone it can wade through the tough stuff.

 

[JD338]

The 225 gr AB had a MV just over 3100 fps, the 225 gr PT was around 3075 fps and went .450".

JD338

 

[bullet]

I am excited about my the Custom 340Wby coming in March and also starting the load work getting it ready for next years hunts. It should be a ball. I will be able to extend my range with the 340Wby over my 338Win Mag plus will be able to maintain over 2,000 pounds of energy out to 600yds and that is with a 210 or 215gr bullet and the 250gr moving over 3000fps will be phenomenal even at 600yds.

I will be practicing at 400yds, 500yds, and 600yds for my long shots. I really am looking forward to all of this especially hunting next fall with the 340Wby. I will post pictures of the rifle when it comes in and I will also post results of my load work, pictures of targets and chrony readings.

Ain't life just great with a Weatherby, I am back in the saddle with a Mark V

 

[bullet]

Here is a quote from someone who shoots and hunts a lot - "I've shot four .340's. All of them liked the factory 250gr Nosler Partitions. Only one liked a 200gr load...it is poison on elk and buffalo with the 250 Partition, and crushes whitetails and mule deer. If there is a best all around cartridge the .340 is it."

I have a few friends that only shoot the 340Wby out west and they say, "if you want to use a 200-210gr bullet stick with the 300 magnums using the 200gr to 210gr bullets, but if you are going to use the 340Wby whether on whitetail, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, browns, bison or african plains game, you need to use what the 340Wby was designed to do and go with the 250gr bullet with the Partition as first pick if your rifle will shoot it. The 340Wby will hammer any of the above animals and put them down in short order and the ballistics are like shooting a 300Win mag with a 180gr bullet."

I have read for the last week and it does not matter what I read, who I contact by phone or email about the 340Wby, the consensus is to use the 250gr bullet in the 340Wby. So to save money and time I am going to use the 250gr Sierra, 250gr AccuBond, and 250gr Partition for my load work and not put myself through all of the other.

If I want to use a 210gr Partition with lots of energy to bag deer or other game I will use my 338Win mag or if I want to use 200gr, 208 or 210 bullets I will use the 300Wby. If I want to use a 225gr bullet and bag a deer or other game within 200yds I will use my 358Win.

But if I want to bag anything from 0-400yds without a bunch of hold over I will use the 340Wby pushing a 250gr bullet at 3000fps. Also, if I want to shoot the 250gr bullet farther I will have practice and know the clicks needed for adjustment to accomplish my desired shot. I think this is the most economical way and also the wise thing to do in light of an overwhelming consensus of those who actually hunt with the 340Wby.

 

[SJB358]

I think you are right on with the 250's and the 340 Mike. I am actually going to try some 250's out of my 338 and see what I can do with that. I figure a 250 at 2700 would be a pretty great load, and with the B&C reticle, I should be able to shoot out to 500 with it, with a little tweaking. I think the 250gr Partition will be a monster of a round for you and that 340! Good luck, looking forward to your load work. Scotty

 

[bullet]

To put things in perspective a 340Wby mag pushing a 250gr bullet at 3066fps which can be done with IMR7828 (a friend of mine is doing it without pressure signs) has more energy at 490yds than does a 30-06 at muzzle with a 180gr bullet. It has more energy at 340yds than does a 300Win mag at muzzle with a 180gr bullet and it has more energy at 300yds than does a 300Wby at muzzle with a 180gr bullet.

The 340Wby with a 250gr bullet will retain 2137ft pounds of energy at 600yds. I think the 340Wby can knock down just about what ever it wants to in North America from 10ft to 600yds. Of course this post is just for fun and not for a debate of all the specifics and variables that or possible with different bullet shapes and designs. Very impressive indeed.

 

[SJB358]

Mike, what is a NO Muzzle brake? I have tried to Google it and I am not turning up anything? ?Does the N O stand for something? Just wondering. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Does the N O stand for something?

Scotty,

I'm pretty certain Mike meant to say that he was not putting a muzzle brake on the rifle. I reread his tag lines and that is my take on it.

 

[bullet]

Does the N O stand for something?

Scotty,

I'm pretty certain Mike meant to say that he was not putting a muzzle brake on the rifle. I reread his tag lines and that is my take on it.

Doc is right, no muzzle brake.

 

[SJB358]

Man, don't I look dumb this morning! Sorry about that Mike, I thought you had the skinny on a new Muzzle Break company! Scotty

 

[JD338]

In the fast 338's, the 250 gr bullets really perform. :wink:

JD338

 

[bullet]

In the fast 338's, the 250 gr bullets really perform. :wink:

JD338

Yes, that seems to be the consensus of those I personally know who hunt with the 340Wby. Also, the BDC on the Buckmaster 4.5-14x40mm SF correspond perfectly with the 340Wby and 250gr bullet moving 2950-3050fps and that is the scope I have and will begin with.

 

[bullet]

Man look at this: IT IS BIG!!!!!

Yes, I am surely going to get around 3000fps with a 250gr bullet. :shock:

From left to right
358Win, 30-06, 338Win Mag, 340Wby

 

[JD338]

I shoot the poor mans Weatherby, 338 RUM.

Looking forward to you getting the rifle and sharing your range results.
Now if Nosler would offer a 300 gr BT or AB, they would really get their share of the long range crowd. :wink:

JD338

 

[Richracer1]

In the fast 338's, the 250 gr bullets really perform. :wink:

JD338

Yes, that seems to be the consensus of those I personally know who hunt with the 340Wby. Also, the BDC on the Buckmaster 4.5-14x40mm SF correspond perfectly with the 340Wby and 250gr bullet moving 2950-3050fps and that is the scope I have and will begin with.

WOW, those are 338RUM velocities. I'm getting almost 3000fps with 101gn of Retumbo and the 250AB. I'm certain if my 338RUM had a 27-28" barrel to fully burn all that Retumbo, my velocity would go up a little.

Bullet, I'll be looking forward to your loading report for this rifle.

 

[SJB358]

That sounds like a great combo bullet. I would also like to see some bigger AccuBond, BT's or Partitions for the bigger 338's. I think they would really harness all that powder space and hold up well for a long time.. Scotty

 

[bullet]

The 338Rum is not really an improvement over the 340Wby. The 338Rum has 104.6grs case capacity while the 340Wby only has 93.5grs case capacity. Yet the 338Rum in muzzle velocity comparisons across the spectrum of 200gr, 210gr, 225gr and 250gr premium factory ammo contrasted with Weatherby ammo for the 340Wby with same weight bullets - the 340Wby had a combined velocity of all four weights of 317fps faster than the 338Rum that uses 10.5% more powder.

I have two friends right now that have hunted for just over 15 years with the 340Wby and hand load their hunting rounds getting over 3000fps using a Mark V. And one gets 3066fps using 90grains of IMR7828 and no pressure signs of flattened primers, exaggerated base expansion or hard ejection.

Here is another comparison of a different nature:
http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/bcompare.cgi

 

[SJB358]

That is great performance. I think they are both pretty awesome rounds. I would like to see them loaded heavy, and see what they do. That 340 is a biggun for sure, but it would seem the UM is a little less expensive to load for with less expensive cases. I guess it would all come out in the end. Some folks like Fords, some Chevy's and some Dodges! Can't wait to see what you get out of it. Scotty

 

[bullet]

That is great performance. I think they are both pretty awesome rounds. I would like to see them loaded heavy, and see what they do. That 340 is a biggun for sure, but it would seem the UM is a little less expensive to load for with less expensive cases. I guess it would all come out in the end. Some folks like Fords, some Chevy's and some Dodges! Can't wait to see what you get out of it. Scotty

You are right, the only difference in performance levels between the two comes down to preference when you choose between the 340Wby and 338Rum. Now the 338/378Wby is another story.