Load Data - 340 WBY

[majestrate98]

Does anybody have load data for the 340 Weatherby shooting 265gr or 285gr bullets? Most books only go to 250gr. I'm shooting a Weatherby Accumark if that makes any difference.

Right now, I'm looking at the following recipe that I derived through some comparisons and simple calculations:
Barnes 265gr TTSX
H4831sc powder
Fed 215 primers
3.675" COAL

I calculated that a starting load of 76.0gr would be safe and working up from there in 0.5gr increments. Expected velocities should be around 2550 - 2650 fps.

Thoughts?

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Out of the hodgdon #26 manual for the 340 roy =

275 grain bullet(no make listed)
h870 90.0--- 2594 FPS
H4831 75.0--- 2377 ____80.0--- 2569 FPS
H450 75.0--- 2349 ____80.0--- 2537 FPS
H4350 71.0--- 2460 ____74.0--- 2575 FPS

 

[majestrate98]

That's good data Lefty. Thank you! I'll need to go grab a Hodgdon manual.

It appears I should be okay adding one grain for the 265gr bullet and subtracting one grain for the 285gr bullet for the starting load and working from there up. Now to run the ballistics and see which one produces better down range. gun)

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

That's good data Lefty. Thank you! I'll need to go grab a Hodgdon manual.

It appears I should be okay adding one grain for the 265gr bullet and subtracting one grain for the 285gr bullet for the starting load and working from there up. Now to run the ballistics and see which one produces better down range. gun)

They actually have less data for the 340 roy in the new manual. They are only using h4831 and h4350 with the same charges as I listed already. I've got #26, which was put out in the mid '90's and has rl series in addition to h, I, and win powders.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

4831 and 4350 are to fast for the 340 wby. Look at a burn rate chart and choose something between 7828 and Retumbo. RE25, H1000, Magpro, etc. I can look up some loads for you from my rifles.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

4831 and 4350 are to fast for the 340 wby. Look at a burn rate chart and choose something between 7828 and Retumbo. RE25, H1000, Magpro, etc. I can look up some loads for you from my rifles.

He asked about data and wanted confirmation about his h4831 weights. If he wants rl25 or retumbo I'm sure he'll ask. H4831 isn't that fast a powder, is is compressed in my 338win. By the way I'm getting 2900 fps with rl19 in my 338win with a 225 hornady or accubond. I'd bet rl19 or rl22 would be better than retumbo or rl25 in this cal.. I've tried Magpro and have had hang-fires with listed loads; I'll not buy that powder again. To much chance of running a bullet into another left by a squib.

 

[majestrate98]

FWIW - I called Barnes today to see what they had. He said to use any data for a 275gr bullet for either the 265gr or their new 280gr LRX bullet and use the slower burning powders to get better velocities - H1000, IMR 7828, etc.

Doing some online search, I've found the following starting loads for 275gr bullets:
84.0gr IMR7828 2600fps
81.5gr RL-22 2650fps

I still haven't found anything for H1000 or RL-25. I'll probably extrapolate those values from the data given above. Right now, I'm leaning towards IMR7828, RL-22 and H1000. Probably not going to use 4831 or 4350 as the velocities are quite a bit lower.

If anybody has better data, I'd appreciate anything you post. Regards.

 

[majestrate98]

4831 and 4350 are to fast for the 340 wby. Look at a burn rate chart and choose something between 7828 and Retumbo. RE25, H1000, Magpro, etc. I can look up some loads for you from my rifles.

Any data you have would be great! Thanks.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

If you have 7828 that is a very good powder for the 340. Start with 85 grains with the 265 and work up. There will be about two grains difference between the 265 and the 285. A max load of 7828 should get you 2850 fps with the 265 grain. A slower powder like H-1000 would work better with the 285 grain but 7828 will do OK if that is what you have. Your max velocities should run about 125 fps slower than the 338-300 RUM. The 340 wby is a serious long range rifle that I have shot quite a bit for over 35 years.

Lefty, the 340 wby is far more rifle than your 338 winchester and requires much slower powders for best performance. RE-19 with 225 grain bullets in the 338 winchester at around 2900 fps is a very good max load for that cartridge. 4350 and 4831 are also good and will give you similar results. RE-19 is as slow as you can go with best loads in the 338 winchester and bullets in that weight range. That is where all my 338 winchesters shoot with best loads. By comparison my 340 wby's will all shoot the 225 grain bullets over 3100 fps with the slower burning powders far more effective.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Lefty, the 340 wby is far more rifle than your 338 winchester and requires much slower powders for best performance. RE-19 with 225 grain bullets in the 338 winchester at around 2900 fps is a very good max load for that cartridge. 4350 and 4831 are also good and will give you similar results. RE-19 is as slow as you can go with best loads in the 338 winchester and bullets in that weight range. That is where all my 338 winchesters shoot with best loads. By comparison my 340 wby's will all shoot the 225 grain bullets over 3100 fps with the slower burning powders far more effective.

I've worked with 1/2 dozen 300 wins and a few 300 wby's and the wby's all had a heck of a time breaking 100 feet per second more than the 300 win. The 338 shouldn't be any different. I've got a 26" ruger #1 and I'm at mid load and slightly compressed running 2900 fps with a 225. I really don't feel like beating the rifle up so I won't push it. The 340 (and the 338U for that matter) just isn't different enough to worry about unless 300 grain pills are on the menu, and if then I'll use my 375. I've got a 300 win, a 300 U, and a 7mm stw for long range.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

If you have 7828 that is a very good powder for the 340. Start with 85 grains with the 265 and work up..

+1


Great heavy bullet powder(7828). I use it in the 300win with 180-220 gr.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

You are right about the 300 winny and 300 wby, less than 100 fps. The 340 wby is quite a bit different than the 338 winchester though since the 338 winchester is just a necked up 264 winchester/7mm remington to easily fit on the short '06 length actions. The 340 wby is a full length blown out 375 H&H case giving it 200+ fps more velocity. You are right where you need to be with your 338 winchester. Like I said your 2900 fps load of RE-19 is very popular and one of the better loads for the cartridge but is at max.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Here are some accuracy loads with my favorite 340 wby. I built this one in 1977 and have taken several animals over 1000 yards with it. It is a 28" 1-10 twist Douglass xx premium barrel on a MK5 action.

215 grain Sierra- 95 grains 7828 at 3270 fps.
250 grain Sierra- 90 grains 7828 at 3030 fps.
265 grain Barnes- 88 grains 7828 at 2905 fps.
Loads are with Federal 215 match primer.
I have not shot the 285 Barnes in this rifle.

 

[majestrate98]

Thanks for all the data guys. I'm going to work with IMR 7828 and H1000 for starters. I'll start working up the loads and post what I find when finished. Should be a month or so. If they don't work, I'll be back looking for more advice.

Regards.