I've been wishing for a lightweight, bolt deer sort of rifle for a while. Had my choices (on paper) narrowed down to the Kimber 84M Montana or the Weatherby Ultra-Lightweight. Well...today I got to put fingerprints on both. From my inspection and handling, the Webby wins, hands down. But I'd like to hear some input......maybe from guys who own one.

I cannot comment on the guns as I've never owned either.....but the .240 Waetherby....that's different...

1. It's marginally more than the .243 or 6mm Rem and not much!

2. Brass is costlier than either of the above mentioned rounds

If it were me I'd have a look at the 6mm-06 as it's nearly identical to the 240 Wby and very easy to make from .25-06 brass.

But then one misses the best optin of all....the standard 25-06.....a very excelent commercial round that does everything the .240 Wby does and more!

The Weatherby is a gorgeous piece, I'd opt for it in .25-06 or .257 Wby myself. Depends if you want the lighter 24" barreled Standard Mark V action or slightly heavier 26" barreled Magnum Mark V action. Think it's a one pound difference (5.75 for the .25-06 or 6.75 for the .257 Roy).

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyB:
Depends if you want the lighter 24" barreled Standard Mark V action or slightly heavier 26" barreled Magnum Mark V action. Think it's a one pound difference (5.75 for the .25-06 or 6.75 for the .257 Roy).

I want to stick with the standard long action and save the weight.

I guess I was semi-vaguely aware that the 25-Oh was ballistically similar to the 6-Roy. Then I ran a couple rough loads (90 gr. .244 @ 3250 -VS- 100 gr. .257 @ 3300) and realized how little difference there really is.........less than 3" difference in drop at 700 yards!!! Kinda silly from an economics standpoint to buy the .240 .........unless I just wanted to be different. wonder how much difference there'd be in felt recoil between the 25-Oh and the .240 in the same rifle?? I don't care. But the gun will be also used by women & children.

quote:

wonder how much difference there'd be in felt recoil between the 25-Oh and the .240 in the same rifle??

None

I had a Weatherby Ultralight and spend hundreds of dollars in ammo and every gunsmith trick I could think of without success until I switched to a Shilen match select barrel and now it shoots 1/2" at 200 yards. I believe that skinny barrel on the Ultralight is just that, too skinny.

But now it is my favorite rifle, although it cost a ton of money and frustration to get there.

quote:

Originally posted by Strut10:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyB:
Depends if you want the lighter 24" barreled Standard Mark V action or slightly heavier 26" barreled Magnum Mark V action. Think it's a one pound difference (5.75 for the .25-06 or 6.75 for the .257 Roy).

I want to stick with the standard long action and save the weight.

I guess I was semi-vaguely aware that the 25-Oh was ballistically similar to the 6-Roy. Then I ran a couple rough loads (90 gr. .244 @ 3250 -VS- 100 gr. .257 @ 3300) and realized how little difference there really is.........less than 3" difference in drop at 700 yards!!! Kinda silly from an economics standpoint to buy the .240 .........unless I just wanted to be different. wonder how much difference there'd be in felt recoil between the 25-Oh and the .240 in the same rifle?? I don't care. But the gun will be also used by women & children.

You won't notice any real difference in recoil, similar powder capacities and bullet weights and all that. .25-06 is great for women and children as well and whacks deer with authority. As for the accuracy, they're all covered by Weatherby's accuracy guarantee so if it won't shoot, just send it in. I think you'll be quite happy with it!

I like em, theres a .240wm ordinary lighweight (cheaper than the UL)ive been eyeing off for some time. When I get it I wont be worried about cost of brass.
Heres what a 240wm/25-06 class of rifle can do with good bullets... http://www.gsgroup.co.za/galStagNZ.html

I have a .257 WBY and a .240 WBY; recoil is lighter in the .240 (of course, the bullet is lighter too). I bought the .240 strictly to have THE romping stomping #1 6mm, and have yet to take it out and shoot a whitetail. Accuracy is superb, at least as good as any I've seen out of a .243, and I just sold my Steyr .25-06. Would I enjoy a .240 WBY? Of course!

LLS

Strut10,

I prefer the Kimbers. They are made in the USA and not some foreign country. I have four Kimbers and they are superb.

The three position M70 type safeties and the CRF alone set them apart from the other gun.

aren't all new Mark V's made in USA?

Go with the Ultra Lightweight in 25-06. Ammo is available almost everywhere and the 25 caliber comes into its own with 115 to 120 grain bullets. Brass is way cheaper in the 25-06.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:
Strut10,

I prefer the Kimbers. They are made in the USA and not some foreign country. I have four Kimbers and they are superb.

The three position M70 type safeties and the CRF alone set them apart from the other gun.

99.........

Before I went to the gunshop I was pretty much set on the Kimber. On paper, it seemed to be the clear winner. But in my hands it felt like a 4x4 deckpost. Something about the shape of the forend and the balance was just bad. I was really disappointed. I also have a rough time with the dove-gray "primer" colored stock. The Kimber was the first gun I handled........so I had not yet been influenced by the Weatherby. The gun just disagrees with me. And I was all set to become a Kimber owner.

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
Go with the Ultra Lightweight in 25-06. Ammo is available almost everywhere and the 25 caliber comes into its own with 115 to 120 grain bullets. Brass is way cheaper in the 25-06.

Just waitin' for the income tax refund.

The .240 is different, thats for sure! If you want the Weatherby (which it seems like you do) then get it, order dies and splurge on 1-200 pieces of brass and be done with it. With that much brass you should be set for life.

I own a .240 UL. I wanted a .243 UL ,but it was sold Just the .240 was left. I pondered for a few seconds , thinking it is a Weatherby and it should have a Weatherby cartridge. So I bought it knowing I would kick myself if I didn't buy it.I have never looked back. It shoots all weights of bullets under moa from 55gr. to 100gr. with many of them cloverleifing, with one exception(Barnes bullets). They are groupingabout 2 1/2". When myfriend groans or complains that light wippy barrels are cause for poor accuracy I remind him of the groups he has shot with my .240 and say "tell that to Weatherby!"
I have not shot any game with it yet. It extends the range of the .243, which I have used on game. The last moose I shot with a .243 (100gr. Nosler partition) was at 450+ measured yards, that's when I would have liked to have had a .240 even though the .243 did the job quit well.

quote:

Originally posted by Mighty Joe:
I had a Weatherby Ultralight and spend hundreds of dollars in ammo and every gunsmith trick I could think of without success until I switched to a Shilen match select barrel and now it shoots 1/2" at 200 yards. I believe that skinny barrel on the Ultralight is just that, too skinny.

But now it is my favorite rifle, although it cost a ton of money and frustration to get there.

I have a Weatherby ultralight in 338-06 and its shoots great. I have no issues wringing<1' out of it with several different loads and bullet weights.

the Ultra-lightweight only comes in non magnum calibers.

The Ultra light comes in magnum calibers and 338-06/

The difference is about 1 pound between the two. The ULW is at 5 1/2 pounds and the UL is at 6 1/2 pounds.

Oh yeah, I would mirror others opinion that I would go with the 25-06 if I were going to use it for deer/antelope size game. you can go up to a 120 grain bullet which I find more suitable for that purpose.

I longed over an Ultra Lightweight in .25-06 for the longest time. A major store was going out of business and I could have had it for about $400 below the going rate. Made a mistake passing on that one.

Well fellers..........it seems I'm about to make a 25-06 UL mine. Did the ballistic comparison deal against the .240 and saw some light.

Thanks to all for the input.