What would be the longest ethical kill range for elk and mule deer. My brother in law has one that he reloads for now. He uses a light for deer in Wisconsin where he lives. He want to change the scope for longer range hunting out west. He had a 3x9 with no drop marks and wants to change to dial up. He has a buddy that has a range that can go up to 800yds. He does not want to get a scope that is to much or not enough to do the job! What would be the max range of the 340 Weatherby for elk and mule deer.
340 Weatherby?
- Thread starter Cuda
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A factory 340wby will realistically do 6-700yds comfortably, perhaps further with high BC hand loads. I have two friends who shoot the 340wby for elk here in Az, but the unit they hunt has juniper trees on 3' centers so usually only 100yds max. They're both using the Berger 250gr bullets and have shot well out to 500yds, but haven't tried farther. The scope needs to be tough and with the dial up features will be in the $1000+ range. As for scope power, that will bring a ton of opinions. Your friend needs to physically look through his choices and decide which he is most comfortable using. Good luck
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
The .340 Weatherby is a good cartridge.
What will determine "range" will depend greatly on the rest of the set ups potential.
Good optics as has been stated.
Spending time on that 800 yard range will clear up some of that.
The workhorse of all of it is the bullet, terminal velocity matters. Rough numbers on a common bullet, and load, the 250 grain Accubond velocity is right at the 1800 fps the manufacturer recommends as minimum for expansion at 700 yards.
Variables exist, other bullets, with different BC's and physical properties, may stretch that.
The 600-700 yard limit as has been stated is a good one to start with.
What will determine "range" will depend greatly on the rest of the set ups potential.
Good optics as has been stated.
Spending time on that 800 yard range will clear up some of that.
The workhorse of all of it is the bullet, terminal velocity matters. Rough numbers on a common bullet, and load, the 250 grain Accubond velocity is right at the 1800 fps the manufacturer recommends as minimum for expansion at 700 yards.
Variables exist, other bullets, with different BC's and physical properties, may stretch that.
The 600-700 yard limit as has been stated is a good one to start with.
Aoudad shooter1975
Well-Known Member
I shoot a 33 nosler, so pretty close. I really like the 265 accubond, 265 Barnes LRX, and 250 Berger Elite hunter bullet. My rifle I outfitted with a Bushnell LRHS 4.5x18.. still working I "the" load but the little load development--easily have walked it out to 650...
Ed
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the hunter
Well-Known Member
I would look at the leupold vx 5hd. I am looking at it now and it seams good for the money
I shoot a 340 extensively and it has pretty much become my goto rifle for all hunting. Depending on what bullets you are using it can handle any and all deer or elk hunting to 1000 with little difficulty. For nearly all hunting, I'm using a TTSX 225 at 3,015 and while I do practice to over 1000 with this round, I have only taken one animal over 500 with it. With this load I would not hesitate to shoot out to 800+ if I had to. That said, there are better .338 hunting bullets for the longer ranges which I would use if the longer range hunting were my exclusive intent, but I live here in CA, so I stick with the Barnes. Strangely enough, my target/rock load is a 300 SMK at 2,620, that carries 1,650 fps at 1000 yards and, I'm told, is a spectacular hunting round, though I have not proven it out myself.
Ethics is subjective and varies from one shooter to the next. The NUT behind the trigger is the key to your question. "My" unwritten rule is 1K FT LBS for deer and 1K FT LBS for elk last point of impact. However, I have effectively harvested game below my self-imposed threshold.
With the right load and NUT behind the trigger, the .340 WBTY can be a 1K elk rifle. There is shooter's max and load max, which one does the 500 apply to?
Elkeater
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For 500 yards max just a good vortex with a BDC reticle should work. Doesn't have to be a $1000 scope for that type of work. Lots of practice with that rifle scope combo is also recommended.
What he knows and what range he is capable of is the longest ethical shot for him.
