I have a .240 weatherby classic and will soon acquire a .257 ultralight. I will be taking both hunting in December with Capt. Clark Purvis.

what should I use? The .240 has barely over an inch with the cheapest weatherby branded ammo lodes with spire points. I know the difference between softs and solids but the nuances between accubonds, partitions, the gmx hornady, and spire point are what is confusing.

I really just need to get through this year. I have a ton of brand new reloading equipment I haven't been able to deal with for two years now. I hope I can deal with it in 2018.

Anyone with any experience with factory weatherby ammo in these two calibers?

Colin

I have a .257 Wby in a deluxe. The load I've settled on is the 120 grain partition. Reason being there's alway the chance that it might be a close range shot. From what I've heard (and now seen) some of the lighter and softer bullets can get pretty destructive. I would think the 100 gr. Barnes TSX would do as well for my purposes. Hope this helps.

If you plan on using the 240 on deer I would strongly suggest you opt for the Partitions. I handload the 95 Partition in both my 240's and they just work! I can't say that for some other bullets I've shot in the 240.

Colin,

I have no experience with the 240 Weatherby but my best hunting buddy really wants one.

We do have lots of experience with the 257 though.

We have been required to use lead free is some areas and therefore have had some good success with both 90 gr. Hornady GMX and 100 gr. Barnes TTSX. Pick one or the other, or both, they are both great bullets in this cartridge.

On the conventional bullet front Swift 100 gr. Scirocco II has delivered, as those above, sterling accuracy with outstanding terminal performance.

All three loads with H-4831, and at the upper end of recommended charges.

Good luck with your two Weatherbys.

Thank you for the replies. My concern is that the shooting scenario could be as close as 100-150 yards and the bullets blowing up.

I need to figure out how to post pictures of the .240. It has a beautiful American classic style stock without the Monte Carlo comb and I have never seen another like it.

Colin, I have a box Weatherby factory ammunition in 240 Wby caliber with the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet. If $25 will do it, I'll put it aside with the 257.

Jon

The .257 bullets that I have the most experience with that are offered as factory loads are the 115 Ballistic tip and 110 Accubond. Both are hard hitting fast opening bullets that are good for short to long range hunting. So is the 120 Partition, though my rifles never seemed to shoot them.

Are you doing that NC whitetail hunt? If so post your experience.

Yes, I will be hunting with Capt. Clark Purvis and his Roanoke River Outfitters. My deer hunting and shooting mentor from Billings, Mt will be with us. I'll look into the 115's.

Colin,
The 240 and 257 Wby is fast, fast, fast, use a premium bullet on anything etable..I like the 100 gr. Nosler partition or accubond in the .240 Wby and the 120 gr. Nosler or Accubond in the 257 WBy. the Monolithics are probably as good btw, I just havn't had real good luck with them, but millions have!!

My dad got a Mark V 257 years ago with the 1-12" barrel and as I recall various sources warned against using long bullets (120 gr) in it claiming insufficient stability. As a result he used 100 grain factory Hornadys and Noslers. Both shot accurately and he used the Noslers on deer so there was no problem with bullet performance.
My cousin got a newer Mark V in 240. He lives in a shotgun only state, so his hunting opportunities are limited, but when he does go out of state, he takes 100 grain Noslers and finds they work well on Colorado mule deer.

I used the old 90gr Barnes X in my first .240W over 54gr R19, BR2 primer, Weatherby cases. I used the Barnes 100 TSX in the .257 Weatherby, but forget the powder...though I want to say it was H4350.? I have a church member who has used the 240W and 95 Partition for decades here in Utah. From muleys to big elk, it has been "poison". I shot exotics with that 100TSX and in another .257W I used the Nosler 115 Partition. Great rounds...with tough bullets.

The .240 with factory loads you can't beat the 100 grain Partition. I load the 85gr TSX and 90 grain Sciroccos with very good success. the .257 is fine with TTSX, Partitions, Accubonds, or 115gr Ballistic tips. the first generation of b-tips could get a little messy, but the 115s of the last 10 years hold up fine. Understand, with the .257 you will have some blood shot meat if you hit a shoulder at 100 yards with any bullet.

Yeah. The OP’s hunt was in December, so he already made his bullet choice. I hope he was successful and gives us a report.


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