Picked up a .240Bee

R

Rigbymauser

Handloader
Nov 3, 2012
496
0
I am not really a "weatherbyman" but again I have nothing against them either, and I was fortunte to find a prime speciem Weatherby MK V Deluxe from 1983 in .240 9 lug action with a rare 26" inch barrel with ironrights + a canjar set-trigger.
Searching the "net" I saw on gunsinternational.com out of the over 400 Bees for sale, not one was in .240. There might have been one, but I didn´t see it.
It´s rare duck in the pond I have realized. I went "hunting" for brass here in Denmark for such a caliber, and I was able to locate most Weatherby calibers, but a .240 wasn´t there. However a gunshop called my back a day after stated they had found 5 boxes of Normas of the old type boxes. I got them for aprox us$1,25 a piece which isn´t bad at all, since newly manufated cases by Norma cost $us 3 a´piece.
240wea3jpg.jpg


Anyone else here shoots the .240Bee?.
 
Rigbymauser

Nice find, congratulations on the 240 Wby.
The 90 gr AB should be an awesome bullet for you.

JD338
 
I have the 240 in a Mk5 ultralight. I love the little guy. Works very well on antelope with a 80 gr TTSX.
 
Congratulations! That is a rare piece.

Cartridge : .240 Weath. Mag.
Bullet : .243, 90, Nosler BalTip 24090
Useable Case Capaci: 58.567 grain H2O = 3.803 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.100 inch = 78.74 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 64640 psi, or 445 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

156 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-25 109.2 58.6 3.80 3589 100.0 64640 12684 1.090 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 101.2 57.0 3.69 3588 100.0 64640 13225 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 103.0 56.8 3.68 3586 98.5 64640 13593 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 105.2 60.8 3.94 3581 99.2 64640 13292 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 105.6 60.9 3.94 3580 99.2 64640 13279 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 105.5 60.8 3.94 3580 99.3 64640 13257 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 107.6 56.4 3.66 3576 98.8 64640 13177 1.083 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 101.8 56.4 3.66 3576 98.8 64640 13177 1.083 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 103.2 59.2 3.84 3569 97.3 64640 13628 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 102.8 56.1 3.64 3561 98.7 64640 13059 1.081 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 103.3 56.4 3.65 3559 99.5 64640 13065 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 103.3 56.4 3.65 3559 99.5 64640 13065 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 103.3 56.4 3.65 3559 99.5 64640 13065 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder 33 110.0 65.3 4.23 3557 95.7 60999 14341 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 106.1 56.6 3.67 3557 99.5 64640 13077 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 110.0 62.6 4.06 3555 94.6 59759 14527 1.131 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 106.5 59.7 3.87 3547 99.0 64640 12827 1.081 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 110.0 59.4 3.85 3536 98.9 61515 13458 1.127 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 91.0 51.5 3.34 3529 100.0 64640 11769 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 104.6 56.0 3.63 3523 98.4 64640 12772 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 99.8 53.6 3.47 3519 99.4 64640 12444 1.086 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 106.4 58.6 3.79 3515 97.1 64640 12843 1.085 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 100.3 54.2 3.51 3515 99.4 64640 12500 1.094 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 90.6 51.7 3.35 3510 99.9 64640 12174 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 90.6 51.7 3.35 3510 99.9 64640 12174 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 101.0 54.5 3.53 3507 99.4 64640 12405 1.094 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 95.8 53.4 3.46 3506 100.0 64640 12071 1.100 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 98.3 53.1 3.44 3491 99.3 64640 12208 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 98.3 53.1 3.44 3491 99.3 64640 12208 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 95.2 53.1 3.44 3491 99.3 64640 12208 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 105.5 55.4 3.59 3486 98.1 64640 12327 1.091 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 101.4 55.4 3.59 3486 98.1 64640 12327 1.091 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 95.5 51.0 3.30 3485 100.0 64640 11600 1.104 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 92.8 51.2 3.32 3485 100.0 64640 11733 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 95.5 51.0 3.31 3485 100.0 64640 11597 1.104 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 97.3 52.2 3.39 3485 100.0 64640 11234 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 98.9 51.1 3.31 3478 100.0 64640 11561 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 110.0 58.7 3.81 3471 98.4 60311 12648 1.116 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 100.4 54.8 3.55 3469 99.8 64640 11925 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 96.0 52.6 3.41 3463 99.9 64640 11750 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 100.1 51.8 3.35 3462 100.0 64640 11339 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 99.2 52.8 3.42 3460 98.7 64640 11934 1.094 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 98.8 56.2 3.64 3456 99.4 64640 11840 1.100 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 98.0 51.8 3.35 3450 99.8 64640 11567 1.095 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 95.4 50.9 3.30 3450 99.9 64640 11580 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 96.2 51.7 3.35 3449 99.8 64640 11544 1.095 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 105.6 56.4 3.65 3449 99.7 64640 11629 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S071 109.3 55.8 3.62 3449 100.0 64640 11535 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 109.3 55.8 3.62 3449 100.0 64640 11535 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT ~approximation 90.6 49.3 3.20 3447 100.0 64640 11271 1.082 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 105.8 54.8 3.55 3437 98.6 64640 11686 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907 93.4 49.5 3.21 3434 99.8 64640 11451 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 98.0 51.2 3.32 3434 100.0 64640 10711 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 90.4 49.5 3.21 3433 99.8 64640 11443 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065 94.4 49.9 3.23 3425 100.0 64640 11148 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 90.6 48.4 3.14 3420 100.0 64640 10754 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT ~approximation 92.2 49.4 3.20 3419 100.0 64640 10949 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 90.9 48.0 3.11 3419 100.0 64640 10777 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon VARGET 90.2 47.1 3.05 3418 100.0 64640 10771 1.092 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S361 98.1 56.4 3.65 3417 98.1 64640 11648 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064 90.7 46.3 3.00 3409 100.0 64640 10587 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 110.0 59.7 3.87 3405 99.6 52708 13102 1.192
ADI AR 2218 110.0 63.3 4.10 3385 91.6 53250 14110 1.182
Accurate 2700 91.5 51.0 3.31 3377 99.7 64640 10809 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064 92.2 46.5 3.02 3373 100.0 64640 10207 1.139 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150 95.9 48.9 3.17 3365 100.0 64640 10145 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D100 110.0 63.9 4.14 3364 89.5 61806 12006 1.127 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 110.0 63.3 4.10 3332 86.7 56256 12538 1.162 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N135 92.3 45.2 2.93 3317 100.0 64640 9460 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N170 110.0 58.7 3.81 3279 91.5 54811 11993 1.202
Hodgdon H870 110.0 61.3 3.97 3269 92.7 47194 13248 1.266
Alliant Reloder-50 110.0 64.2 4.16 3227 89.4 45119 13495 1.312
 
That is a great find. Congratulations. I did a workup on a 240 WBY last summer. It was quite nice.
 
Thanks guys.

I admit here in writing that I hadn´t really much interest in anything else below .270Wea. I just bought the gun just for the looks(and it was a steal). I have later realized the potential of this little cartridge. It came out in 1968( my birth year) and i wondered ofcouse if Gun Digests had an artical in that time. I have the intire collection of GD here and looking through the editions of 1968 and upwards and the 1969 GD have a nice 5-6 page artical about weatherbys new back then, .240 Magnum. Later I have found 3 more articals in PDF on the internet. It´s a fast little sucker for sure. 90grainers @+3500 ft/sec and 70grainer + 3900 ft/sec. I have actually grown quit found of its ballistics. Shooting free-range springboks on the open grasveld in Vrystat SA, they will never know what hit them. I see a +400m potential in this caliber and yet a very light recoil. I hope my oldest son can use it( his 12 now). The more I get to search about this caliber, the more i wondered why I haven´t paid it any attention sooner.
240wea.jpg
 
Rigbymauser":2frpjnzx said:
Anyone else here shoots the .240Bee?.
Click to expand...

Not yet, but one of these days I am going to pick up a Vanguard 2 in the .240.
 
That is a very handsome rifle! Love the dark streaks in the stock.

I don't shoot the .240, but have always been interested in it. Have long used a 6mm Remington, which is a notch below the .240 in velocity - and it's been a great varmint, predator and deer cartridge.

The 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip is my favorite 6mm hunting bullet.

Regards, Guy
 
Where were these rifles made in 1968? I had a twin to yours that I'm not sure of the year it was built, but said made in Germany on the barrel. Some collector of German Weatherbys offered me way too much money for it back in the mid 80's and it was gone! Never could get mine to shoot the kind of groups I expected, but I hadn't been reloading for very long at that point.
 
That sure is a pretty rifle and I've always been fond of the 240 Weatherby and all that I have read about it but then again we know how much of a 6mm Remington fan I am so it should not be too surprising!! :oops: :oops: I've always liked the 100 gr. Partition in my 6mm Remington and have even taken one elk with it and my son shot his first elk with a 6mm. The Partition sure would be a great bullet, but then so would the 90 gr. E-tip and the 90 gr. AccuBond. As stated Guy likes the 95 gr. Ballistic tip in his and has had great luck with that combination.

I did quite a bit of bullet testing in water jugs last summer and was really impressed with the way the 90 gr. AccuBond performed. It would be worth a hard look if your rifle likes them. Do you know what kind of optics you are going to put on it? Nice find!
David
 
Thanks for sharing David.

With those numbers the 6mm Rem bite the Bee in the rear on a good day. Ballisticwise we might tal about a quarter of an inch difference. A hairspread on paper really..
Overhere we have the 6x62Freres or the 5,6x61 Vom Hofe which duplicate the Weatherby. Really the 6mmRem is almost a copy of the old 6x57Mauser which Mauser also did. However Remington made it digestable for the guntrade.

Optics. I have thought of Leupold new VX6 2-12x42 or Zeiss 2,5-10x48. For the moment I am looking for dies. I have thought of Redding delux set with a necksize die added.
240wea-1.jpg

240wea2-1.jpg
 
Finding dies may be an issue but Redding makes a high quality die that should work for the .240 Weatherby just fine. I used Redding with my .340 and they worked great. I prefer Forster dies when I can get them but I do not believe that Forster makes dies for the .240 Weatherby.
 
Charlie, I believe that Forster makes dies for most Weatherbys not based on the .378 case.
 
I just checked, Forster does make dies for the .240 Weatherby. I like their dies on the Weatherby because they get both shoulder radii formed perfectly, just the way they came from the factory
 
I have to admit something... I've sort of planned my future purchases around chamberings that Forster makes dies for and Lapua/Norma make brass for. :oops:
 
BK":h1m48c8m said:
I have to admit something... I've sort of planned my future purchases around chamberings that Forster makes dies for and Lapua/Norma make brass for. :oops:
Click to expand...

Not a bad plan. You've certainly named by favourite dies and my favourite brass.
 
Nice rifle, congratulations. We do have a 240 ( my grandfather does anyway ) but it is a safe queen.

Charlie, this will probably not surprise you. Aleena has a 244 H & H. I have not shoot it but I have looked up the ballistics on that thing and it is a barn burner. She says they dont use it, it is just part of her H & H collection. She always says if she did use it she could only get 10 or 15 shoots before replacing the barrel. LOL
 
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