I used a 300 Weatherby back in '72 when hunting Pronghorn antelope and unfortunately the 150 grain Hornadys of the day were too much at a close range shot I had and destroyed the meat.

I just got my license for 2 antelope in SD, so am considering switching to Nosler 180 grain partitions for the 300 or to use a 240 Weatherby I've recently acquired with 100 grain Nosler partitions (brother couldn't hit anything with the 240 but a good barrel cleaning fixed it).

I know the 300 has reaching power, but not that well acquainted with the 240 for long ranges.

I'm starting to work up loads for them both and interested in the pros/cons of each, and any good handloads for the 240.

Both are 24" German Mark V's, and yes the pencil thin barrels warm up quick.

Any good 6 mm will work excellent on pronghorn sized game . If you handload, for the 240, I'd consider the 95 grain partition... because of something to do with load bearing surface the 95 can be loaded to another 150 fps velocity on so...

I would even pick the ballistic tips, which are available in any weight for that application from 80 grains , 90, 95 grains....

You don't need a premium bullet for pronghorn, look at them as long legged big coyotes...My personal pick of all the bullets I know of for long range, in 6mm, would be the 105 grain Speer SP......

I am leaving out the recoil part and am assuming you can shoot the 300 as accurate as the 240...
Many guys can't based on the recoil....For flat shooting I'd put my 6mm Remington against a 300 Weatherby any day....

Plenty of the locals in Montana and Wyoming take pronghorn with 22.250s and 223s all the time...

The 240 is a far bigger hitter than what a lot of antelope hunters are out there using... Sure guys also use a lot bigger stuff.. I have seen guys hunt everything with a 458 Mag, including pronghorn.... I know of guys who use 223s, with 52 grain Sierra Matchkings on them also....

Last one I shot was taken with a 223, and a 40 grain Ballistic tip....Several came running thru where we were going to thin out some prairie dogs, and that is what I had in my hands at the time....someone was running to grab their 270 before the antelope took off on us...something had them running in our direction... probably a coyote....

Good luck whatever you decide...
seafire

I agree with Seafire...use the 240 Wby. It's all you need for goats. To avoid meat damage use the heaviest sierra boattail you can find.....100 grain is good.

Didn't the German .240 Weatherbys' come with 1-12 twist barrels? If so the heavier bullets may not stabalize well. But you can still load up a 85gr. Partition ot 90gr. Scirroco if you want a more stout bullet.--Mike

a 90 grain Ballistic Tip or a dynamite bullet is the 90 grain Speer.. accurate, cheap and deadly...
My kinda combo...

cheers
seafire

If I were hunting for a trophy head then I would opt for the 300 and 180 or 200 gr. Noslers...flat shooting is not the problem..The antelopes habitat on the windy prarie is...hold over is easy, doping the wind is tough...

If any decent antelope buck is acceptable then about any rifle is acceptable...I have shot them with the 25-35 and 30-30 with iron sights and a host of other less than perfect calibers.

boomer,
The 300 Weatherby I have is a 1 in 12 twist but the 240 is 1 in 10 - I measured them to be sure.

I haven't had accuracy problems with 100 grain factory loads in the 240, but questioned using 180's in the 300. As I've started working up loads, I have not found any major problems with Nosler Partitions but am staying away from boat tail bullets just because of the freebore.

So far the 300 likes H4831SC and RL-22 using 165's and 180's. The IMR4831 and IMR7828 results I have so far are not as good, but I am not finished yet.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'd have to lean towards Atkinson's comment. Both will obviously kill an antelope way beyond most hunter's comfortable shooting distances.

I do not have enough experience out west with bucking wind and small (6mm or smaller) bullets, but I've hunted a few times and WY and Colorado sure have their share of it.

If you happen to be out and it's very windy, I'd go for the bigger rifle and a larger bullet with a high BC.

We'll be out in WY soon. We leave Sept. 23rd. One guy going has a 300 WM and a 243. He has used 200 grain A Frames for years in that rifle and that is the one he's bringing. His only concern was wind. Cross wind that is.

I'm taking a 270 with 130 Sciroccos, and another with 150 BTips. My brother is taking the 110 TSX.

But, where we'll be first, is ML/bow only. So we're taking those as well. The centerfires are for backup in case we do not have any luck in the private area.

I am a .240 Weatherby newbie. Bought the rifle and am just getting into the handloading part of the deal. So far I have been most impressed with the lack of perceived recoil,(I have arthritis in my neck, which lills the fun of heavy caliber rifles) and am really looking forward to the use of the .240 on deer and antelope. I am just wondering if it will be any more useful than a .257 Weatherby.
LLS

Yukon- I stand corrected. I thought I read that somewhere with the german Weatherbys.

95yukon: I have been using a custom 240 Weatherby on Antelope, Deer and Coyotes since 1990 (15 years).
I have used several different bullets during that time. For Antelope I now use the wonderful Sierra 85 gr. HP/BT. I have taken Antelope with this bullet (and others) out past 400 yards several times.
At those longer ranges I always am patient and wait for the Antelope to turn broadside and aim for the heart/lung area. No meat is lost with this shot and a quick bleed out and death is also accomplished!
I highly recommend the 240 Weatherby on Antelope and High Plains Deer!
I have never used the 300 Weatherby Magnum on Antelope but did go through a 300 Winchester Magnum "phase" for Anteloping!
I no longer use the 300 Winchester Magnum on Antelope either!
Check the wind drift (deflection) charts on the peppy little 85 gr. bullets from the 240 Weatherby out at 400 yards and see for yourself "what it is"!
Good luck with whichever you choose!
By the way my 240 Weatherby has a Hart 27" heavy stainless barrel. If you need some load info I can provide it to you but again it will be the 27" barrelled variety.
Long live the 240 Weatherby!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy,

I'd be interested in seeing your loads. I've got a lot of experience using the 300, and it performs well with wind, etc. However, my first experience with the 240 on Mule deer last year was great. I was using 100 grain factory loads (spires) and had license for 2, both were clean kills at about 175 yards. I've just never pushed it out to 400 yards, so will look into the trajectories. Got a lot of empty brass and ready to fill them now. Just never cared for the light barrels on these, would rather have the weight and been looking at Lilja barrels. Thanks for the info.

I have a custom 240 built on a Mod 70 push feed action.
Using 75 gn Barnes X of several years ago I found it killed wild boar like they had been electrocuted.

quote:

Originally posted by sierra2:
I am a .240 Weatherby newbie. Bought the rifle and am just getting into the handloading part of the deal. So far I have been most impressed with the lack of perceived recoil,(I have arthritis in my neck, which lills the fun of heavy caliber rifles) and am really looking forward to the use of the .240 on deer and antelope. I am just wondering if it will be any more useful than a .257 Weatherby.
LLS

Sierra:

The 257 Weatherby will have a lot of statisitics that will be higher than a 6mm of any type...However as far as terminal performance...I really don't see any difference...(Pointing out deer, not Elk here for the Trolls).

What you will see is the decrease in recoil and the increase in barrel life..

I shoot a 6mm Remington.. and I know several people who have 6/06s and they don't get anything more than I get out of the 6mm Rem...

My 6mm Rem is on a long action, so I can seat bullets long.. so it does offer more than a short action 6mm...To me a 6mm on a short action is only worthwhile if you are strictly shooting short varmint bullets... Even at 75 grains, I can seat those out far enough to make a real difference in velocity ( like 3650 -3750 fps) over a 243...

I always respect Ray Atkinson's opinions.. but for a lot of guys the 300 Mags are not that shootable for the average guy...For guys who shoot a 100 rounds a month or more out of them.. their recoil is no big deal....If I was concerned about wind then I'd move up to a 270 long before a 300 Mag...

cheers and good shooting
seafire

95Yukon-i'd be for taking your 240, it will do you just fine.

I've been a 6/06 proponent for years and a big 6 will do you just fine.

Lots of good bullets available, and it isn't exactly rocket science to find one that will work on lopes.

Over the years my favorites have been

70 NBT
95 NBT
85 TX

You'll have zero issues using a big 6 on lopes at about any distance.

Good luck and I hope you have fun!

MD

If your first shot is on the money either is a good choice. However out in Antelope country distances, wind, weird terrain (no trees) what ever your excuse might be for a miss, then the 300 comes in quite handy in spotting your missed shot. Those 6mm can be very hard to spot a miss at long distance. The 300 really throws the sand or sage dust. Making your second shot a whole lot easier.

quote:

Originally posted by 95yukon:
I used a 300 Weatherby back in '72 when hunting Pronghorn antelope and unfortunately the 150 grain Hornadys of the day were too much at a close range shot I had and destroyed the meat.

I'd bet you a 20 dollar bill that you wouldnt have that problem with a Barnes bullet. Not that Im a fan, but it would be one way to settle your delima if you could get them to shoot.

Personally I would go for the 240 with some 100 gn bt's and aim for the lungs.