O.K. Action lenth is not an issue. Loading data is much more avalable for the 240 Weatherby. Which do you choose?

Oh yea, used mainly for white tail!

Factory or custom ?
.25/06 would be better and more practical than either IMHO .
Weatherby out of the 2 you list .
I have a .243 AI and like it .Also have a 7mm WSM but wouldn't touch a WSSM until they sort the bolt lift issue .

Between the 2 you listed, no doubt I'd go with the 240.

Now, if you let me play out of those lines I'd go 6/06 and never look back. That's what I did and have never had any questions about it.

Mark D

Hey Mark, he never asked about no sinkin 6-06 (LOL, sorry couldn't resist)!

Honestly, I agree about the 6mm-06... it's so easy to load for and brass so cheap and plentiful it's the route I'd go and I don't even like wildcats! The truth of the matter is the 240 Wby is hard to get ammo for and the 243 WSSM is a hard-chambering little round that has had very limited sales.

Me, I'd go with a 6mm-08

Where is your 6mm-06 data source? Isn't it basiclly the same as the 240?

Kimber, Mark will answer too, but yes, it's the same capacity as the 240 Wby and you can use the 240 Data. I'm not a wildcatter, but the 6-06 falls into the same category as the 338-06 (which I built in 1999). All you need is to run cheap and plentiful 25-06 brass in a forming die and trim... presto, 6-06 brass. It's so simple it's not like owning a wildcat that requires a lot of mumbo jumbo case forming. Magazine capacity is five instead of three and feeding is slippery compared to the WSSM (and even compared to the 240).

For me it's a no brainer... I'd go 6-06 if I wanted more than what the 6mm-08 gives.

I have a 243 wssm and love it!
I shooting 85 tsx @ 3400 into about 3/4 for 5 rounds @ 100.
It is a mod 70 fwt, alot of people say that they wount feed good but mine does!!!!

I will say that I want a faster 6mm but dont know witch one yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Bushchook:
but wouldn't touch a WSSM until they sort the bolt lift issue.

As an owner of two WSSM's(.223 and .25) and my Daughter in-law owns one(another .25 WSSM) along with over 20 other hunters/shooters that own one can you tell me What Bolt Lift Issue are you talking about? None of us have had any problems with our M70's is why I am asking. Lawdog

I am planning this for an Encore, so the bolt and capacity are not issues. If your going 6mm-06, why not an improved? I know you are adding some brass work, but????

An Encore in .240 Wby. or 243Wssm. Well true or not it has been mentioned the Wssm's develope more bolt thrust. If you are a handloader try the 24-06 or even better the .240 Hawk.

It is true, take a look at Match Grade Machine. Formarly VVG. They offer both chamberings.

[quote]Honestly, I agree about the 6mm-06... it's so easy to load for and brass so cheap and plentiful it's the route I'd go and I don't even like wildcats! The truth of the matter is the 240 Wby is hard to get ammo for and the 243 WSSM is a hard-chambering little round that has had very limited sales.[/quote

Brad just curious as to what corner store are you buying that 6-06 ammo at???

Lawdog Gary ,
The bolt lift issue was just something I've read in a couple of WSSM rifle reviews .
If you don't know anyone with the problem perhaps it's been sorted ?
May have been caused by a hot batch of Winnie factory ammo too . Have seen that before in a .270 WSM .

Answering the question directly,

240 Weatherby.
Weatherby brass costs are obvious to all people who know weatherby. That is some thing I am prepared to wear If i buy a weatherby as I did with my 270 &300 mags. They were not blast every weekend rifles. In fact over the course of 10yrs I think I used about 120 270mag and 80 300mag cases in reloading.And I sold those rifles with plenty barrel life remaining and the brass was still good. Does that sound expensive?.I dont regret it. Life is about xperiencing things for yourself.A few buck$ here or there in the course of a life dont really matter.
Enjoy your 240!

quote:

Brad just curious as to what corner store are you buying that 6-06 ammo at???

The POINT is that neither the 240 Wby or the 243 WSSM is available at the "corner store" and since a specialty rifle like this is a handloading proposition anyway why not have the "best" designed, "fast 6mm"... that's the 6-06.

Brad

I don’t know about the best design idea!! I kind of think the 6mm-06AI is best but that’s my opinion and you have yours. The good thing about the 240 Wby. is that you can buy brass for it easily Midway, Mid South, and Cabelas they all have it just buy as much as you like and load up and go shooting. You might even get lucky and find some in a store I have seen it at Wally world, Bi-Mart and GI Joes. I have owned a 240 and was getting 100 gr Partitions out at 3450 not bad to say the least. It only had a 24-inch barrel and it really needed a 26-inch barrel to make it work. I traded it for a 7mm Wby.

I have a donor action right now and I’m thinking about another 6mm don’t know what it will be 6mm-06 6mm-06AI or the 240 I really can’t make up my mind on this but I can tell you it will have a least a 28 in barrel.

OK since I brought up this donor action maybe you guys can help me make up my mind on this as well.

The action is a standard bolt face nine locking lugs Mark V Weatherby they don’t make this action any more in the standard bolt face and I don’t want to open it up. Would you go with the 240 to keep it as much of as a Weatherby or would you turn it into a 6mm-06 or a 6mm-06AI???

If I wanted a fast 6mm, I'd also go 6-06 or .240 Gibbs route. At least you can get cheap brass when they quit building the WSSM in a few years.

quote:

Originally posted by Bushchook:
Lawdog Gary ,
The bolt lift issue was just something I've read in a couple of WSSM rifle reviews .
If you don't know anyone with the problem perhaps it's been sorted ?
May have been caused by a hot batch of Winnie factory ammo too . Have seen that before in a .270 WSM .

I believe that the review you are talking about was done on pre-delivery Brownings that were made up for writers to test. Browning doesn't chamber the WSSM in that model any more because there was a problem with the bolt and feeding. After owning both the .223 and .25 WSSM, both M70 Coyotes, I can say this. Winchester didn’t twist the truth about them. The .223 WSSM is the new Velocity King of factory loaded .224 centerfires. And the .25 WSSM does nearly equal the great .25-06. I am not telling anyone to get rid of their .22-250’s, .220 Swifts, etc., and purchase a .223 WSSM. What I am saying is if they are in the market for a high velocity .224 centerfire they would be foolish to not give the .223 WSSM a good look. Same goes for the other WSSM’s. Lawdog

of the two mentioned I'd pick the Weatherby.....but as so many have said....the 6-06 is the best choice of all.

I've been shooting a .243 superrockchucker (6-06 with 28 deg shoulder) and making brass from .25-06 is a snap and accuracy is great.

It'll shoot as fast or more than the Weatherby and has the best of all worlds.....about ammo.....where do you find the weatherby ammo anyway???

I'm with the guys here....go for the 6-06.

Am waiting for the eve whitetail hunt (with the 6 aught of course).

Thought I'd chime in a bit here.

In terms of forming brass, I've found it to be quite easy to use the fire form loads for most about everything. For rodents for sure and for yotes I would not fret it either.

When fire forming I get excellent accuracy and speed a plenty.

Brass, you can find 25/06 about most anywhere. Finding brass for the Wby is a thing you need to plan for (IE order it as most retails don't stock). As for the 243 WSSM I do believe that with time brass is gonna be quite tough to find. Not impossible but it will get tough.

The brass is cheaper that Wby.

It holds more rounds down than the super shorts.

It feeds like a dream.

It is a wonderful round and one that has served me very well for a long time.

My wife shot a fat wt buck the other night using the 95 TX. One shot at 197 yds and it was ready for the knife. She even drug it back to the truck!

I've got it and other goodies packed for a trip I leave on in the morn. I finally drew a mtn goat tag after 25 years of trying. Hope to give one the TX nap!

Gotta run guys.

Lastly as for speed I've found the 6/284 and the Wby to be quite close but they as a general rule are about 100 to 150 fps slower. No doubt not a big deal.

AI-even though I do a fair amount of work with the AI's I've never had a interest in doing a 6/06 AI. I am sure it would work though and it would help the brass to stretch a bit less IMO.

Vaya Con Dios

Mark D

My buddy bought a .223 WSSM in the Stealth II rifle. It's a POS, period. He's tried all the factory ammo varieties, wouldn't shoot under 4" groups. He swapped scopes and mounts, thinking the rifle couldn't shoot that badly, IT DID. He tried all manner of handloads, still it's a POS. This, after nearly cleaning the thing to death, has left him severely depressed. Needless to say, he won't fall for the WSSM trap again. Hornady's #6 edition loading manual shoulda warned him, but he didn't read too closely. Of all the 6mms, I like the 6Remington the best, or maybe the 6BR, but they are for different purposes. Between the .240 or the 243WSSM, I'd have to go with the 6mm-06.........

Get a .243 win, run away from a WSSM! Wal-Mart can't give away the ammo for $6 a box!

Kimber222: None of my legion of close friends (nor do I!) own a 243 WSSM - so I can not comment directly on that one.
But I have have owned a full custom Rifle in caliber 240 Weatherby Magnum for 14 years now and it is simply a wonderful Rifle and an amazing performing cartridge ballistically and lethality wise (speed kills!).
My Rifle has a 27 1/2" Shilen Varmint contour stainless barrel. I have a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope on it and its an Antelope, Deer, Rock Chuck & Coyote killing machine!
A few folks tried to talk me out of the 240 Weatherby back when I was "making decisions" - I am glad I did not listen to them!
This Rifle is consistently and VERY pleasingly accurate!
Brass life is good and I only trim about every third or fourth firing.
Norma makes the brass now and with the many good Hunting and Varmint bullets to choose from these days I am sure you would find a bullet that would be accurate and do everything you want (you did not say to much about your useages - distances etc)!
My 240 is built on a Winchester pre-64 Model 70 action and it holds six rounds total and of course features all the safety attributes of the wonderful old Model 70 actions!
I would not hesitate to recommend it to you or anyone for long range shooting of medium size Big Game and Varmints.
Good luck with whichever you choose!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

quote:

Originally posted by ratwhacker:
My buddy bought a .223 WSSM in the Stealth II rifle. It's a POS, period. He's tried all the factory ammo varieties, wouldn't shoot under 4" groups. He swapped scopes and mounts, thinking the rifle couldn't shoot that badly, IT DID. He tried all manner of handloads, still it's a POS. This, after nearly cleaning the thing to death, has left him severely depressed. Needless to say, he won't fall for the WSSM trap again. Hornady's #6 edition loading manual shoulda warned him, but he didn't read too closely. Of all the 6mms, I like the 6Remington the best, or maybe the 6BR, but they are for different purposes. Between the .240 or the 243WSSM, I'd have to go with the 6mm-06.........

I don't think the problem was the cartridge. Blame the rifle. Most likely that Stealth II was a lemon and should have went back to the factory. I know way to many hunters/shooters that are getting excellent to fantastic accuracy with their WSSM rifles. Sorry your friend got burnt on his Winchester. Lawdog

I built a 240 wby mag on a Ruger Tang Safety with a 26 inch Douglas heavy sporter barrel. I love the caliber, and with 100 grain Nosler Partitions, it has harvested 3 wild pigs. People make way too much out of the brass issue. I have no trouble getting brass. I order it from Midway, I purchase it directly from Huntington's in Orland, CA, or other places like Sportsmans Warehouse, etc. I agree brass life is acceptable, and if you need to, you can purchase factory ammunition. I think it is simple, if you want a weatherby, brass, and such is not an issue. My 240 wby is "not" for sale, awesome flat shooting and hard hitting round. Speed and quality bullets equal a pleasant shooting, mild recoiling game getter from muley's on down. Love the 240 wby.

if it is a varmint rig.. I'd go with the WSSM....

If it is for a field hunting rifle.... I'd skip the Weatherby.. hard to get brass.. spendy brass etc....

I crossed that bridge and my solution was a 6mm Remington.... LONG action...

I can seat the bullets waaaaay out there... only a 6mm/06 will out run it, with substantially more powder....I think the 6mm Rem is about the max powder capacity in 6mm bore without being overbore....which gives you faster burnt out barrels... faster declining accuracy.. more recoil...

Brass is plentiful.. affordable....and the round is very very accurate.... H 414 and RL 19 are my powders of choice....

cheers
seafire

Guys above are rapping on the WSSMs for accuracy.. or lack thereof...

That is to be blamed on factory barrels.. evidently QC sucks....

however, after market barrels are showing that it is a very very accurate case... in any of its caliber offerings....

240wby, it has stood the test of time.


cheers cc

I agree, I toiled over the brass issue before I decided to go with a 240 wby. If you sell the rifle, people will buy it. Of all the rounds I have played with over the years, the weatherby's impress me the most.

The other great thing about shooting a weatherby cartridge is all the tight wads dont shoot them, so you have something unique and different in hunting camp.

And finally, any reloader who toils over brass evidently forgot about the advantage of "reloading your own brass"....Hello!

quote:

Originally posted by AggieDog:
I agree, I toiled over the brass issue before I decided to go with a 240 wby. If you sell the rifle, people will buy it. Of all the rounds I have played with over the years, the weatherby's impress me the most.

The other great thing about shooting a weatherby cartridge is all the tight wads dont shoot them, so you have something unique and different in hunting camp.

And finally, any reloader who toils over brass evidently forgot about the advantage of "reloading your own brass"....Hello!

I totally agree with what 'AggieDog' had to say. And to all those that cry about Weatherby brass being expensive, the last .240 Weatherby brass I bought cost me $20.73(including shipping) for 107 rounds of once fired brass. Got them off Ebay, where i get a lot of my brass. I know I am not the only one buying brass off Ebay or I wouldn't have had to pay that much. Lawdog

quote:

great thing about shooting a weatherby cartridge is all the tight wads dont shoot them

That certainly would be me!

Proud of it also! Especially when a 6mm Rem or 6/06 can do the same job and be a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient ( the 6mm Rem) or do the same thing.. the 6/06....

I saw a guy who hit the lottery so was buying all sorts of expensive toys... he bought a Weatherby in every caliber they made.....

The 240W. was the worst for accuracy... He also couldn't sell it for a fraction of what he had paid for it...

quote:

I saw a guy who hit the lottery so was buying all sorts of expensive toys... he bought a Weatherby in every caliber they made.....

The 240W. was the worst for accuracy... He also couldn't sell it for a fraction of what he had paid for it...

Lawdog

LOL, with ya Gary. Until you spend time in the field shooting with a 240 wby, or a 6mm-06 I can see why someone would think the little 6mmRem is close.......LOL!

SeafireB17G: Negative on the 6mm Remington and the 240 Weatherby being close. I have a Ruger #1-B (26" barrel) in 6mm Remington that allows me to seat bullets wherever I want. The 240 Weatherby is pleasingly more proficient in the field than the 6mm Remington (which is one of my all-time favorite cartridges by the way).
I also have a full custom 6mm Remington Ackley Improved Rifle and the 240 Weatherby with judicious handloads outperforms that cartridge also.
I have only seen a couple of other 240 Weatherby's performing at ranges I have shot at over the decades - and I paid particular attention to those Rifles accuracy wise. None of them shot poorly and one shot extremely well! As does mine! The other 240's I observed were all factory Rifles.
According to my loading log my last range session with my custom 240 Weatherby to verify sight in produced one group on that day. It was a 5 shot group at 100 yards with mirage and light winds noted in my log. The 5 shot 100 yard group measured .440" (with Leupold 6.5x20 scope).
I really like the 240 Weatherby!
Never had anything to do with the 6mm/06 as of yet.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

quote:

Originally posted by Lawdog_Gary:

quote:

I saw a guy who hit the lottery so was buying all sorts of expensive toys... he bought a Weatherby in every caliber they made.....

The 240W. was the worst for accuracy... He also couldn't sell it for a fraction of what he had paid for it...

Lawdog

Law Dog;

Call it BS my friend...

But remember.. this is Oregon....

The average guy is not cash rich compared to California....and then when they are.. they won't spend it like they do in California...

heck this is a 30/30 hunt society mentality around here!

As far as Aggie Dog... well impress me with your 240 Velocities.... you talking about store bought or home grown stuff?...........

I reload.... and a long action based 6mm, might surprise you....

47.5 grains of H 414 for instance and a 75 grain HP gives me an MV in the 3650 to 3700 fps velocity range.... the Weatherby might beat that handloaded... but how much more powder is it going to take? ( which is going to burn the throat out on your weatherbys faster than it does on my 6mm Rem.!!!)

46 grains of Rl 19 with a 115 grain Berger Match bullet, in a 6mm Rem, ( long action!) will give me 3250 fps....

44 grains of H 414 and a 105 grain Speer SP will also chronograph at 3250 fps in a 24 inch barrel....

your handloaded weatherby may beat those.. but not by much... and when they do.. how much real point blank range are you acutally gaining? 10 yds.. for 10 plus grains of powder?

YOu know, unless someone has worked with the 6mm Rem, in the field... they just might be dumb enough to think that all that Weatherby marketing hype is right.. and it will beat the 6mm Remington when handloaded.....

you NO Califoria guys enjoy your 240 Weatherbys.. .this southern Oregon guy will enjoy his 6mm Remingtons...

heck you two boys are always welcome to come ground squirrel shooting up here this coming spring as my guests..and bring your weatherbys.. it will be my pleasure to allow you the opporunity to show me what you think I am missing!

happy thanksgiving down your way!

seafire

SeaFire, I'll give you my data on my 240 wby. 26 inch Douglas barrel, on a Ruger Tang Safety:

90 gr XFB, IMR 4350, 51 gr, 3500 fps

95 gr TSX, RL-22, 54grs, 3400 fps

Neither are at max load.

Arent you an expert or have done alot with the 260 Rem? I could use your expertise on that cartridge as I just purchased a Styer in 260 Rem.

I know of 3 wild hogs who really dis-liked my 240 wby.

Seafire/B17g: I OWN an Oehler chronograph - OKAY! So you may as well save your ink on this one!
No, the 240 Weatherby is probably not the "first pick" for high volume duty in Ground Squirrel or Prairie Dog colonies!
Nor either is a hot loaded 6mm Remington, in my opinion and experience.
But for Deer, Antelope, Coyote, Rock Chuck and other long range quarry the 240 beats the 6mm Remington "hands down" and I have been shooting my 240 for quite some time now - no problemos so far!
And let me make this item more plain for everyone - than my previous posts have done.
When I was considering getting into my custom 240 Weatherby I heard many folks berate the "design" of the Weatherby cases and how that design (radiused shoulders and necks of the Weatherby's) make accuracy improbable or impossible with Rifles in those Weatherby calibers!
I found that "wives tale" NOT to be the case!
Again Seafire/B17G - I have a cheerleaders uniform in my camo closet that has "Go 6mm Remington" stitched on the front AND on the back! BUT - I know MR. 240 Weatherby and the 6mm Remington is NO 240 Weatherby!
Long live the 240 Weatherby!
Long live the 6mm Remington!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Varmintguy, I got into a few of the weatherby cartridges when I started getting kind of bored with standared cartridges. I love all of them, so dont get the wrong impression. But I have found the weatherby's to be alot of fun, and the highest velocity, and energy in their respective class. It is what it is. Most people wont look at weatherby because of ammo cost, rifle cost, brass cost. For all of those people who are speed freaks ie, believe in high velocity, you have really limited yourself by not giving a weatherby a chance. I purchased a vanguard 257 wby mag last year, and even with a 24 inch barrel, it is a screamer, and a tack driver. All for 500 bucks, and it is stainless steel.

Both my 240 and 257 wby's are the flattest shooting rifles I have in my inventory.