Wby Vanguard S2 in 240 Wby mag ?

[score]

I know that this has probably been discussed much before, but so be it. Reply if you would like. Any opinions would be appreciated. Anyway, I enjoy the .243 Win. and own a few. When the new Vanguards came out, I purchased one in .257 wby mag. I like the rifle and see that they are also chambered in .240. I really only have one simple question. No need to go into ammo, factory or reloading for it, etc., etc.. I am aware of the performance of the .240 wby and my question is this. Do you feel that it is worth it to buy a .240 instead of the .243 for it's relatively modest gain in velocity, MPBR, and down range energy? Or buy one just because?

[bulletman]

The cost of the cases or ammo is what would impede me.

[bdub]

Originally Posted by bulletman

The cost of the cases or ammo is what would impede me.

X2 and just finding it may be a pain. I would lean more to something like a 25-06 if I wanted some more umph. Much easier to find brass or make it from 30-06 cases. JMO

[score]

Originally Posted by bdub

X2 and just finding it may be a pain. I would lean more to something like a 25-06 if I wanted some more umph. Much easier to find brass or make it from 30-06 cases. JMO

Thanks for the replies to you and bulletman. However, like I said, the ammo issue aside, as it is not an issue for me, and I have a 25-06 and 257 wby., my ? was related to performance btw the .243 and the .240 wby.. I would really appreciate it if you would re-read my original question. Thank You very much. I have been mulling this over and would like further input and opinion to help me decide.Bob

[Lefty-Canuck]

I bought a .240WBY because it was a rare firearm to find in the configuration I did. (left handed, West German Made) As the fastest factory production .243 caliber rifle ever made.....I think it is pretty darn neat.

Compare the ballistics to your .257WBY, you will soon see there is "overlap" between the 2 cartirdges.

That being said if I could do it all over again I would probably have a 6mm/06 made custom. Largely due to the availability of brass (neck down a 25/06 to .243/6 mm). The 6mm/06 almost matches the .240WBY in performance...but you have to go custom or used to get one.

My .240WBY is quite accurate and works like lightning on deer and coyotes.....but it was probabaly the most finicky firearm I have ever loaded for, it is extremely particular in what it likes. keep in mind that is just my rifle, another one could be different.

Unloaded brass in the .240WBY goes for about $45 per 20. Loaded ammo is from about $55-$120 depending on the bullet.....only Weatherby makes ammo and only Weatherby and Norma make brass as far as I know.

LC

[score]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

I bought a .240WBY because it was a rare firearm to find in the configuration I did. (left handed, West German Made) As the fastest factory production .243 caliber rifle ever made.....I think it is pretty darn neat.

Compare the ballistics to your .257WBY, you will soon see there is "overlap" between the 2 cartirdges.

That being said if I could do it all over again I would probably have a 6mm/06 made custom. Largely due to the availability of brass (neck down a 25/06 to .243/6 mm). The 6mm/06 almost matches the .240WBY in performance...but you have to go custom or used to get one.

My .240WBY is quite accurate and works like lightning on deer and coyotes.....but it was probabaly the most finicky firearm I have ever loaded for, it is extremely particular in what it likes. keep in mind that is just my rifle, another one could be different.

Unloaded brass in the .240WBY goes for about $45 per 20. Loaded ammo is from about $55-$120 depending on the bullet.....only Weatherby makes ammo and only Weatherby and Norma make brass as far as I know.

LC

Thank You Lefty! I have to run right now. Hope to talk to you later today about this.score

[bulletman]

But we already have one of those!

[score]

Although there is overlap in the forementioned cartridges, the question remains. Are there "significant" differences btw. the .243 and the .240 wby in the field?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by score

Although there is overlap in the forementioned cartridges, the question remains. Are there "significant" differences btw. the .243 and the .240 wby in the field?

Yes...substantial velocity gains. Especially for the handloader when comparing the .243WIN to a .240WBY.

Flatter shooting and further effective range are 2 big benefits to the .240WBY IMHO.....for coyotes, deer and antelope it is a tough cartridge to beat.

LC

[score]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Yes...substantial velocity gains. Especially for the handloader when comparing the .243WIN to a .240WBY.

Flatter shooting and further effective range are 2 big benefits to the .240WBY IMHO.....for coyotes, deer and antelope it is a tough cartridge to beat.

LC

It sounds like you enjoy yours. Once you found what your rifle liked (is your twist 1:10?), what grain bullet have you been using for deer and antelope? And, how long is your barrel?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by score

It sounds like you enjoy yours. Once you found what your rifle liked (is your twist 1:10?), what grain bullet have you been using for deer and antelope? And, how long is your barrel?

Mine has a 1 in 10 Twist, 24 inch barrel....I use a 90gr bullet. If you can get a 26 inch barrel...then do it.

See this thread for info

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...highlight=love

LC

[score]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Mine has a 1 in 10 Twist, 24 inch barrel....I use a 90gr bullet. If you can get a 26 inch barrel...then do it.

See this thread for info

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...highlight=love

LC

NICE! Did you need to mess with the trigger? I think I'm getting convinced here Lefty. I don't know if you have handled the new Vanguard S 2's, but I like my 257. Yeah, I am convinced all of a sudden Thanks for helping me spend some more $

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by score

NICE! Did you need to mess with the trigger? I think I'm getting convinced here Lefty. I don't know if you have handled the new Vanguard S 2's, but I like my 257. Yeah, I am convinced all of a sudden Thanks for helping me spend some more $

Be prepared to have a tough time finding brass...I would start looking now

LC

[score]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Be prepared to have a tough time finding brass...I would start looking now

LC

Lefty, I'm not too worried, as like my other rifles, they each don't get shot alot. I will sell my brass, to recover some cost to use factory ammo. Hornady now loads 257 and with any luck, they may begin to load other wby cals.. Really, when you look at the cost of premium ammo, wby is not really that outrageous. I think I saw someone selling their once shoot cases for a dollar a pce.. I have the calibers that I want and would like to have some more unusual ones such as the 240, 6.8 spc, etc.. Iwould really like to add a 250 savage and I still need a .264 of some sort. I will probably just sell off a few that are just taking up space or use something to swap a barrel if I can find it and someone to do it. Anyway, the 240 appeals to me so why not? In the whole scheme of things, the little higher cost is not really that bad.

[gatorr]

I have one in the new Vanguard 2 and it is very accurate. For $529 how can you go wrong? As for brass not sure why people say its hard to find Cabelas has it and P&D has it. As for loaded ammo premium bullets as in 85 grain Barnes TSX goes for $87. Mine shot .487 3 shot group using factory so i really look forward to reloading for it. I bought for antelope hunting in Montana which we get drawn every second year as i found my .257 accumark is a lot of gun for a antelope. Yes if your going to buy a .243 cal go for the biggest, baddest, fastest their is and thats the Weatherby. Love mine.

[score]

Originally Posted by gatorr

I have one in the new Vanguard 2 and it is very accurate. For $529 how can you go wrong? As for brass not sure why people say its hard to find Cabelas has it and P&D has it. As for loaded ammo premium bullets as in 85 grain Barnes TSX goes for $87. Mine shot .487 3 shot group using factory so i really look forward to reloading for it. I bought for antelope hunting in Montana which we get drawn every second year as i found my .257 accumark is a lot of gun for a antelope. Yes if your going to buy a .243 cal go for the biggest, baddest, fastest their is and thats the Weatherby. Love mine.

Yeah, I like the new Vanguards as well. Nice trigger IMO and the gun fits me well. I really like the .243 and felt like another one until I started considering the 240. Still not 100 % sure, but usually when this happens I think about it and suddenly at the spur of the moment it appears.

[score]

Originally Posted by gatorr

I have one in the new Vanguard 2 and it is very accurate. For $529 how can you go wrong? As for brass not sure why people say its hard to find Cabelas has it and P&D has it. As for loaded ammo premium bullets as in 85 grain Barnes TSX goes for $87. Mine shot .487 3 shot group using factory so i really look forward to reloading for it. I bought for antelope hunting in Montana which we get drawn every second year as i found my .257 accumark is a lot of gun for a antelope. Yes if your going to buy a .243 cal go for the biggest, baddest, fastest their is and thats the Weatherby. Love mine.

Oh and gator, where did you buy yours at? Cabelas doesn't sell them chambered in 240 wby mag and Wholesale didn't have them when I asked. Thanks. score

[gatorr]

WSS north nope, WSS south nope tried Cabelas nope so of course the salesman tried to convince me Weatherby didnt chamber the vanguard 2 for the .240 and he had a nice .257 for me to buy. Tried Sylvesters in Bonnyville nope and then tried Bashaws nope. I bought it in Red Deer from Wolverine sporting goods, they had 2. I dont understand why the other places wouldnt order them when you would think that caliber would be very popular. I mentioned all the places that didnt have so you could maybe try them now. The empty brass is $42 a box the loaded stuff with the cheap 87 grain spire points was $52 a box so i went with the loaded stuff to break in the barrel and sight in the scope and collect some brass for reloading. Good luck i hope you find one as you will enjoy it.

[elkhunter11]

As for loaded ammo premium bullets as in 85 grain Barnes TSX goes for $87.

So you could pay for a press and handloading gear with the savings that you would realize from reloading about 10 boxes of ammunition, from just that one rifle, let alone the extra cost savings if you shoot other guns as well.

[Cal]

I was always told that any Weatherby cartrige needed a 26" barrel to see significant velocity gains over their more popular counterparts. The Vangaurd only comes with 24" barrels as far as I know. I would check into what actual velocity gains a .240 would get out of a 24" barrel vs the .243 and 25-06 before buying one. I cant see any logical reason to go to the trouble of feeding a WBY unless one is getting significant velocity gains which may or may not happen in a 24" barreled Vangaurd.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Weatherbys website does not list the vanguard chambered in 240. Only 243 Winchester and 257 wby mag. Something seems a bit off here.

[score]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

Weatherbys website does not list the vanguard chambered in 240. Only 243 Winchester and 257 wby mag. Something seems a bit off here.

I am sure I did see it on their website. It is in their catalogue and another poster has one. Yes, it is chambered in 240

[score]

Originally Posted by Cal

I was always told that any Weatherby cartrige needed a 26" barrel to see significant velocity gains over their more popular counterparts. The Vangaurd only comes with 24" barrels as far as I know. I would check into what actual velocity gains a .240 would get out of a 24" barrel vs the .243 and 25-06 before buying one. I cant see any logical reason to go to the trouble of feeding a WBY unless one is getting significant velocity gains which may or may not happen in a 24" barreled Vangaurd.

Yeah, lefty said the same thing and is something to consider for sure. I have a 257 and a 25-06. Don't need the 25-06 and will probably sell it. I like the 24's. Thanks Cal.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by score

Yeah, lefty said the same thing and is something to consider for sure. I have a 257 and a 25-06. Don't need the 25-06 and will probably sell it. I like the 24's. Thanks Cal.

If that 25-06 has a wood stock on it I might be interested.

[score]

Originally Posted by Cal

If that 25-06 has a wood stock on it I might be interested.

Nope. Camo synthetic.

[markg]

YOu could go with somehting like a .243 AI there pretty flat shooting and there pretty big with the bench rest crowd.

[score]

Originally Posted by markg

YOu could go with somehting like a .243 AI there pretty flat shooting and there pretty big with the bench rest crowd.

Yeah. I have a few rifles I can and want to play with. Can you provide details on how to go about this? Thanks

[normanrd]

I have a 240 lh mkV that has a 26" hart barrel. It shoots 100 grainers @ 3425 fps with 54 grains of 7828, and an 87 grain bullet at 3610 with 56.0 grains of 7828. both are sub moa loads, more spectacular than lightning on deer and turns coyotes inside out (literally) at 500+ yards. Mine was pretty much 100 fps faster than Leftys in a side by side comaprison, same box of factory ammo, same chrono. Hope this helps for getting a feel for "real life" velocities and performance. Mine is an 1:8 twist.

Norm

[Big Racks]

Originally Posted by score

Yeah. I have a few rifles I can and want to play with. Can you provide details on how to go about this? Thanks

As LC said, the 6mm-06 would be another fine option. OR, get into a 240 Gibbs !! Bit more of pain forming the brass but looks very promising.

I've got a SS Rem 700 .30-06 that I haven't been able to sell and have been doing a bit of research on re-chambering/re-barrelling options. Looks like a potential sale this morning has saved me a whole whack of money .

[score]

Originally Posted by Big Racks

As LC said, the 6mm-06 would be another fine option. OR, get into a 240 Gibbs !! Bit more of pain forming the brass but looks very promising.

I've got a SS Rem 700 .30-06 that I haven't been able to sell and have been doing a bit of research on re-chambering/re-barrelling options. Looks like a potential sale this morning has saved me a whole whack of money .

Yeah, I like the 6mm-06 idea but will stay away from the Gibbs. A friend of mine had one, I think it was a .270, and to him it was a p in the a. He sold it. Thanks Big Racks.