.340 Weatherby

[JimP]

Yep, I would be all over it. I might just give him what he is asking and not worry about it with it being a Lazermark.

 

[rookhawk]

Good evening gentleman, I was wondering if any of you had experience with the .340 weatherby caliber. I caught wind of one forsale in my area in left hand no less. Unless there is a pressing reason why I shouldn't , I plan to track down this unicorn of a rifle and buy it post haste.

Thank you all for shareing your experiences.

I had a .340 Weatherby briefly, it was in a highly customized Ruger #1 and it was stunning. It was PAINFUL to shoot in a gun weighing 9.5lbs. To put it into perspective, it has about 15-20% MORE recoil than a 375HH but it also has a much faster recoil, so instead of a gentle push of a 375HH its a brisk spanking from the 340 Weatherby.

It would certainly spell doom for any elk, grizzly, or moose in North America should you hit one properly with this round. Then again, a 35 Whelen will do it with child-tolerable recoil and a 375HH will do it with a lot less shoulder pain AND it is a caliber useful for African DG too.

I'd focus on the gun more than the caliber, it sounds like you're a lefty and beggars cannot be choosers. If this gun is a "deal of a lifetime" and you want to put the whoop on North America's biggest game and you don't care about recoil...this is your gun. If its full-price, I'd be tempted to hold out for a 375HH or a 35 Whelen depending on if you want a gun that is soft shooting for North America or a big enough gun to be legal in Africa too.

 

[JimP]

I will admit that the .340 does have a good bit of recoil and can be a pain to shoot off of the bench. I can usually shoot around 10 rounds out of mine before I have to put it down.

Now saying that I have never felt the recoil from it when shooting at a animal.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I was able to purchase the rifle today so I will soon be forming my own recoil opinion.

 

[meigsbucks]

I had a Ruger #1 rebarreled to the .340 Wby. Used 250 gr Nosler Partitions in it. I now use a .338 RUM which is pretty much it’s ballistic twin. I used 225 gr Swift AF in Namibia in 2018 with great results. I now load 250 gr Barnes LRX but have yet to use it on game.
The .340 is a great round that shoot flat and hits hard, but be advised, it has fast, sharp recoil.

 

[JimP]

Pictures, we need pictures.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Pictures, we need pictures.

As soon as I make it to town , I'm forced to use data for internet access as my home is to rural for a provider to cover.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

The old gentleman whom I bought the rifle from had just taken possession of a custom ordered .338-378 left handed, I believe when filling out the form he checked yes to all options. Unfortunately I did not process the funds required to get him to part with it. His gun rack only has so many slots and his wife doesn't allow him to go over that number so I was lucky enough to purchase the .340 to "free up space".

 

[Ray B]

His gun rack only has so many slots and his wife doesn't allow him to go over that number

those wives that won't allow a second gun rack are a short sighted bunch.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I was able to purchase the rifle today so I will soon be forming my own recoil opinion.

Put on a slip on Limbsaver recoil pad over the factory pad. Unless the lop would be too long for you, it works wonders in taming recoil!

 

[CoElkHunter]

The old gentleman whom I bought the rifle from had just taken possession of a custom ordered .338-378 left handed, I believe when filling out the form he checked yes to all options. Unfortunately I did not process the funds required to get him to part with it. His gun rack only has so many slots and his wife doesn't allow him to go over that number so I was lucky enough to purchase the .340 to "free up space".

The “old gentleman “ must be a glutton for recoil punishment! The recoil on my .375 h an h is about the same as my .338WM. I enjoy shooting both of them. Like rookhawk stated, the recoil SPEED can be brutal with some of these calibers. Just saying?

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Put on a slip on Limbsaver recoil pad over the factory pad. Unless the lop would be too long for you, it works wonders in taming recoil!

I'm not overly sensitive to recoil regardless however I do prefer a long length of pull so that is an option. The lop is 14.5 now which is perfect for me.

By chance does anyone know if Leupold scopes are lifetime warranties? There is a 2-7x33 on the rifle now of older vintage.

 

[JimP]

That 338-378 will leave damage on both ends when the trigger is pulled.

As for the rack system and only one gun in a slot, you should tell him that he can get 2 into each slot. At least that is how I have done it is in my safe.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

The “old gentleman “ must be a glutton for recoil punishment! The recoil on my .375 h an h is about the same as my .338WM. I enjoy shooting both of them. Like rookhawk stated, the recoil SPEED can be brutal with some of these calibers. Just saying?

I would honestly be surprised if any of them were fired again. The rifle I bought hadn't been fired in "a few" years. All of his rifles were weatherbys as well as several shotguns which lead me to believe that he was more collecting.
Old is probably not the best word I could of chosen elderly would of been more polite, the gentleman was a veteran of the Korean conflict and deserves every possible courtesy.

 

[Dr Ray]

Only comment is that you won’t get many shots out of the barrel.
Suggest you check very thoroughly if second hand.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I would honestly be surprised if any of them were fired again. The rifle I bought hadn't been fired in "a few" years. All of his rifles were weatherbys as well as several shotguns which lead me to believe that he was more collecting.
Old is probably not the best word I could of chosen elderly would of been more polite, the gentleman was a veteran of the Korean conflict and deserves every possible courtesy.

No matter what his age, more power to him! Sometimes, there’s gratification in just owning a firearm one has always wanted even without firing it. I’m not there yet, but I understand.

 

[Fastrig]

I'm not overly sensitive to recoil regardless however I do prefer a long length of pull so that is an option. The lop is 14.5 now which is perfect for me.

By chance does anyone know if Leupold scopes are lifetime warranties? There is a 2-7x33 on the rifle now of older vintage.

congrats on the new rifle....from what I understand, Leupold scopes are warrantied for life even if aren’t the original purchaser.

 

[Ray B]

...from what I understand, Leupold scopes are warrantied for life even if aren’t the original purchaser.

Not sure of current Leupold policy, but that was the eeal with the Gold Ring scopes- they were guaranteed forever against breakage, even in most cases of misuse/neglect.

 

[One Day...]

.340 Weatherby...

Arguably one of the very few calibers that can truly do anything on earth, from sheep with TTSX 185 gr - when its trajectory is within 1" as flat as that of a .257 Wby, to any plains game anywhere in the world with 225 gr TTSX, to Eland, Moose, Grizzly, Lion, Buffalo, etc. with 250 gr TSX. Load it with solids and Hippo and Elephant are just fine. It is the originator and ballistic twin of the vaunted .338 Lapua; it delivers the power of a .375 with a 350 yards MPBR; and it meets the dangerous game legal energy requirements.

My current .340 Wby... Weatherby Mark V true stainless earlier model (not the current silver coated carbon steel Weathermark); 26" #2 contour barrel; earlier stainless steel bottom (not the current pot-metal cast bottom); Bell & Carlson Medalist kevlar & aramid stock with full length aluminum bedding block and pillars (not the original 'Tupperware' injection molded stocks); drilled & tapped for 8x40 base screws; with Zeiss Diavari Z 2.5-10x48 30 mm tube scopes in Talley bases and Screw Lock Detachable rings. Accurate, deadly, indestructible. Anything, anywhere, anytime.

Sable Hunting. .340 Wby 225 gr TTSX

• One Day...
• Aug 13, 2019

For your reading pleasure...
Guns & Ammo - September 1989

How I fell in love with the .340 Wby

 

[JimP]

Leopold has one of the best warranties out there. However before I would send it back to them for a repair if needed I would call and talk to them about it.