I mentioned to a friend that I am looking to purchase a 338 Win Mag, mainly for hunting plainsgame and elk/moose/brown bear hunts in North America. He told me he is thinking of selling his Weatherby Accumark in 340 Weatherby. It has an accubrake. He bought it new about 3 years ago and has never shot it. He bought a Christensen Arms in 300 ultra mag and now thinks he doesn't need his 340.

Does anyone out there have experience with this rifle? How does the 340 WM compare to the 338 Win Mag? I'm guessing the recoil would be much higher with the 340.

Any input or advice would be appreciated.

The Accumark is an excellent rifle with a freefloated SS barrel, aluminum bedding block, adjustable trigger and a Pachmayr Decelerator all in a composite stalk. They aren't light at about 9 and 3/4 lbs if I recall. I know my 338-378 Accumark weighs about 10 and a quarter with a light scope mounted.

With the Accubrake it will be a piece of cake to shoot but you will want to be wearing good hearing protection. I've shot mine without the brake and it is spirited to say the least but then too it's a 378 based cartridge. I could shoot it without the brake in the field but I won't do an extended bench session without it. If your not particularly recoil sensitive, the 340 won't bother you without the brake but is is more stout then a 338 Win.

All that said, remember one thing, if you don't reload and don't have deeper pockets, Weatherby ammo is pricey. Right now for the factory 338-378 with 225 grain TSX bullets it's about $120 a box. A similar loading for the 340 would be $80 to $90 a box. If you reload, only the initial brass or ammo purchase is pricey.

There are those that love Weatherby rifles and those that hate them, not much in between. As to their cartridges, there a many that do like them. I personally like the rifles and cartridges but that's my opinion.

Ken....

What Heat said +1!!!!!!

The 340 Wby/Accumark combo is simply fantastic. In the field you will never notice the difference in recoil between the 338 and 340.

I shoot a Sporter Model Weatherby in .340 Wby and consider it a mainstay of my rifles for larger game. I also shoot a Weatherby Accumark in .257 Wby and the configuration of the rifle with its weight and Aluminum bedding block should make for a great combo. My old Sporter has been with me to Colorado many times for Elk and Mule Deer and to Alaska for Moose and Caribou. With a 240 grain North Fork bullet it is awesome at 3100 fps with RL-19 or RL-22 powders. Good shooting.

quote:

The 340 Wby/Accumark combo is simply fantastic. In the field you will never notice the difference in recoil between the 338 and 340.

I have fired a few examples of each,and the difference in recoil with rifles of similar weight, without brakes, is very easy to notice.

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Originally posted by 30378:
What Heat said +1!!!!!!

The 340 Wby/Accumark combo is simply fantastic. In the field you will never notice the difference in recoil between the 338 and 340.

+2!!!

And you can always re-chamber it to 338RUM and have the best of all worlds. In that, it eliminates the Wby freebore and the expensive brass.

Jokes aside, the 340 is better than the 338WM because of powder burn rates.

Try the 210TSX or TTSX and RE-22.............

I to have to agree I have the same Accumark in 340 with out a brake, and a 300 with a brake the main difference I notice shooting the two with out the brake on is that the 340 feels like a heavy push, and the 300 feels like a smack. Both are not a problem for hunting but of you go to the range I would want a extra jacket on if you plan on shooting 2 box's of 340 off. As for accuracy they are great 3 shots at 100 yards two touching third 3/8-1/2" off. If you get this rifle and are looking for some reloading data let me know and I can tell you what works for me. Have fun you will not go wrong Jim..

Accumark in 340 Roy is a great combo. I had one & sold it and now have a Hawkeye in 338 Win Mag and find the recoil in the 338 win mag if anything to be worse than the 340 Roy.

That may come down to stock design as the Roy stocks suit me very well.....

The .340 wby mag. will walk the dog in north america or any place in the world. She just plain kills what ever you point it at, without any questions.

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
What Heat said +1!!!!!!

The 340 Wby/Accumark combo is simply fantastic. In the field you will never notice the difference in recoil between the 338 and 340.

You may be right. I've never shot a .338 in the field but I can definitely tell the difference b/w a .338 and my .340 at the range.

Come on, I was waiting for someone to say they hated the recoil of their Weatherby, .300, .340, or .375 so I could offer to relieve them of their discomfort. SOme one must have one they need to unload for a reasonable price!

Yes, I'm dreaming!

I used an Accumark in 340 Wby for several years in BC on Black Bear hunts. The effect of the 340 on a Blackie is dramatic. You'll be glad you got it.

My son shoots a 340 Accumark but without the break. Recoil is very manageable and with heavier bullets in the 250 grain range it is an absolute hammer. It is about as flat as the 300 but significantly more retained energy. Sight it to be 2” high at 100 and then just hold on hair about as far as you can see. We don’t like muzzle breaks but I would expect that with the break the recoil would be very easy to handle…just wear double hearing protection. They are a bit heavy but the Krieger barrel is very smooth and easy to clean. We reload for it but surprisingly some of the most acute ammo are the Weatherby factory loads. Brass is a bit pricey but if you don’t hot rod too much it will last ok. Good enough for anything under dangerous game.

Safe shooting,

Paul

I had an Accumark in 338-378, but always wished I had bought it in 340 because of the lighter barrel contor, and I didn't believe the extra velocity was worth the extra recoil and cost; however, the 340's recoil is still stout.

I happily ended up with one of original Fiberclass in 340. I really like the #2 barrel contour and OEM McMIllan stock. When/if I ever wear out the 340 barrel, it will become a 375 Wby.

Lou

I have a 338 RUM which is similar to the 340 Wby. Both are true long range hammers. I pole axed a 5 pt bull elk at 350 yds. Black bear, mule deer and WT deer hit the ground hard!
My M700 LSS is not braked or ported and the recoil is manageable, even from prone.
This little WT buck was the first animal to be taken with the Nosler 250 gr AB. The exit wound seen here is the size of a quarter.

JD338

quote:

Originally posted:
it is spirited to say the least but then too it's a 378 based cartridge....

I'm sorry, but I don't believe that is correct, is it?

The .340 Wby is based on a case with .375 H&H head and belt size.

The .378 Wby is based on cases with a .416 Rigby case head size, and with a belt added.

Si?

(That's the way mine were IIRC anyway....)

quote:

I'm sorry, but I don't believe that is correct, is it?

Yes, it is correct. The poster to whom you are referring is speaking about his own personal Weatherby, chambered to .338-378.


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I saw a 2 year old 338-378 accumark go for $1000 last winter; I missed it. Divorce sale, probably would have had bad vibes anyway.

I have a 30-378 and luv it; looking to buy a new accumark sooner or later. My one buddy has 3 accumarks, good shooters too.

quote:

Originally posted by Buano:
Come on, I was waiting for someone to say they hated the recoil of their Weatherby, .300, .340, or .375 so I could offer to relieve them of their discomfort. SOme one must have one they need to unload for a reasonable price!

Yes, I'm dreaming!

sure you could have my MkV eurosporter chambered in .300 wby for couple hundred dollars.
too bad there is too much work involved selling a rifle to another country.

the rifle is great and looks pretty, but its heavy and kicks hard.
action length and rifle weight prevents me from changing the barrel to something useful.
had it been a 7-7,5lb .223/6,5x55/.308, i would never sell it.

its kind of unsellable since ammo is 150$/20rds.
maybe if i really dump the price some handloader will take it.

quote:

Originally posted by TX Nimrod:

quote:

I'm sorry, but I don't believe that is correct, is it?

Yes, it is correct. The poster to whom you are referring is speaking about his own personal Weatherby, chambered to .338-378.


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Sorry, I missed that. Thought he was referring to the topic of the thread...the .340 Wby.

On another topic than the .340 WM, if a person really wants to experience some recoil in a Mk V, they should try the .475 A&M! It is the .460 Wby necked up to .475" diameter, and using (sometimes) 600 gr. bullets.

Feeds and shoots accurately enough, but the recoil is a genuine KODIAK BEAR-slap when loaded anywhere near max.