A friend of mine (also USAF) just got orders to Alaska. He just bought a fibrmark (USA) Mark V. He wants one to two loads to use from caribou to brown bear. I never worked on this one before so any help would be appreciated! We got Wby brass a lot of different powders, and Fed 215 primers.

Waiting for your input for proper bullets to do the job. Thanx fellas!

I've never loaded for the 340, so can't give any specific recomendations. I have heard a few stories from guides that lead me to believe for brown bear, the 340 will perform more reliably if it is down loaded to 338 win mag levels, ie 250 gr @ 2700 fps. If you're launching 250's @ 2900-300 fps, you just might get less then ideal performance up close, even with the best of bullets.

For all other species, a good 225 or 250 gr bullet will flatten em well and good.

I took a .340 Wby to Alaska on a Moose hunt in 1999, working up some good loads. A 250 Grain Nosler Partition Gold bullet with 88 grains of RL-22 and the 215 primer. 38 string average 2923 fps. A 225 grain Barnes XLC bullet with 90 grains of RL-19, same primer, 16 string average 3098 fps. I am now shooting a 225, 240, and 250 grain North Fork bullet. With the 225 grain North fork I use 88 grains RL-19 and average about 3050 fps, the 240 grain North fork with 86 grains RL-19 at about 3000 fps, the 250 approx the same as the 240, all getting the 215 primer. The bullets mentioned here will perform up close at those speeds, or at least they have for me. I have taken Elk, Moose, and Mule Deer with these loads, any of them will do the job. Good shooting.

[ 10-29-2002, 22:33: Message edited by: phurley ]

phurley - I have never been able to achieve your velocities without excessive pressure signs, in the two 340's that I have owned. Do you use Weatherby brass with these loads that you listed?

Guy -- I use Norma only brass. You will notice the Partition Gold and XLC bullets are coated, that will make a difference in the pressure. The North Fork bullets are grooved on the rear shank, they also exhibit less pressures that nongrooved bullets. With the Swift A-Frames, the same loads showed pressure signs. I shoot two .340's. One is a Weatherby Sporter model, the other a Sako. I shoot the loads mentioned in both weekly. Good shooting.

phurley - thanks for the info. I saw that the Nosler and the XLC were coated bullets and I haven't used them yet. I was thinking that you were using W/W 375 H&H brass necked down to 340, to achieve your velocities. I've been using the Weatherby brass for a few years now and I get pressure signs before I can achieve the velocities that the cartridge is capable of. I'm considering trying the W/W brass again and the 250 grain Partition Gold.

thanks,