buying a used 340 Wby - what to look/look out for

[tdbru]

Sounds like the 225gr. TTSX are a known successful quantity.  based upon IMR/H 4350 loading data, it appears that the 185s can be started >3200fps/975ms, maybe even north of 3300fps/1006ms.  i haven't studied ballistic charts yet, but i wonder at what distance the velocity of the 225gr. TTSX at 3050fps/930ms actually overtakes the velocity of the 185s starting at 3200fps/975ms to 3300fps/1006ms, and at that distance, is the velocity of either still above 2000fps/610ms required to cause expansion?  barnes manual #4 lists the 185 @ 3295 in a 24" tube with IMR-4350.  of course velocity varies per rifle, but the MkVs have 26" tubes, which may nudge a max load of 4350 over the 3300 fps mark.  or not.  i have a warped brain since i like to ponder these questions i guess.  i guess as BB340 and .257 have posted, pick what groups the best.  i wonder after testing all the bullets if i'll need to re-tube due to throat erosion?  probably not but there are a lot of 0.338" bullets to try. 

[BB340]

I did try the 225gr TTSX but it didn't shoot as good in my rifle compared to the standard TSX's. However I gave them to a mate that I talked into buying a .340 (& he loves it) and they were the most accurate pill out of his.
The other thing I found with the 225gr TTSX's was they opened up quite a bit faster than the TSX. Which is great for thin skinned game and for long range shots. But I prefered the deeper penetrating TSX's.

[tdbru]

BB340,
given the range of game you use your 340 on i can understand the interest in a little deeper penetration.  here i won't have that large a selection of thick skinned game.  will be mostly split toed ungulates.   

one of the reasons i picked up a fast medium bore, is that i have a couple medium bores that work very well out to medium distances (~250 to 300 max) as far as trajectory & punch.  but didn't have anything that was very flat shooting for distances out past 300, with the punch to go with it.  the 340 appeared to be very flat shooting to 400, depending upon selected projectile and load.  and carries a bit of punch with it.  so i was concentrating on that combination of flat + punch.  now of course there are several large cap 338s that carry the freight, including the 340.  and the 358 Norma and 8mm Rem Mag are also good medium bores that are decently flat.  when i started my search locally here, this wonderful example was found and i am quite happy with it.  never found an 8mm Rem Mag, or 358 Norma Mag.  in all the searching.  nor did a 338-378 show up.  did see a 338Lapua, but it was around 13+ lbs in a tactical chassis stock with a big muzzle brake.  great for long range shooting, not so handy to hunt with.  so for a flat shooting medium bore that was reasonable size/weight for hunting, the 340 i found was practically perfect.  this met my requirements very nicely and i didn't mind that it was used at all.  i am so looking forward to load development, and then hunting with it.  the one advantage the 0.338" bore has over the 8mm bore and the 35cal. bore is bullet selection.  in fact, that appears like it will be both a blessing and a bane.  so many bullets to choose from, so little time for extensive load development...
thanks,
-tdbru

[BB340]

Yep I am hearing you tdbru! The .340 would be as close to the perfect all round as one could get I think. I am going to have two of them soon. I will load one with lighter projectiles like yourself, for all deer type game. Then one loaded with a stronger pill like the TSX for larger skinned game. Well that is going to be my excuse for having two .340 Wby lol. Not that one needs an excuse..

[.257]

Barnes bullet performance. The middle bullet is a 185 TTSX, recovered from an Pronghorn, 400 yards. The right bullet is a 225 TTSX, recovered from a bull elk, 380 yards. These bullets were fired from a 338 win mag.
The bullet on the left is a 100 TTSX, mule deer, 150 yards, from a .257 weatherby.

I now have .340 and only loading the 225 TTSX

[tdbru]

Wow.  thanks .257   yep, i can see that the 225 looks a bit better than the 185, but since they were both recovered, that means success!!  400 yards.  and still great performance.  that's what i'm interested in. 

would it be logical to assume that at close range, as in the 257 Wby ttsx recovery, that the 185 and possibly the 225 would also shed the 4 petals?  i don't see that as a "failure" since almost all lead core bullets slough off the nose bits as they expand.  i think the correct term for that is ablation?  but i'm not sure.  anyway, bullet makers tout the lethal effects of the secondary particles as they transverse game animal innards.  i suspect the 4 petals from a ttsx would be just as effective at collateral damage to the insides of critters if the bullet impact was at such high speed (close) that the petals peeled back and then detached themselves.  as in your recovered 257 ttsx round.  i am please to see that the ttsx expand well at long range.  thanks!
-tdbru

[.257]

The 100 TTSX was a straight frontal shot. The bullet ended up in the backstrap 3" past the shoulder after traveling 16-17" of bone and muscle.
Muzzle velocity is 3575
The muzzle velocity of the .340 is not that fast so l don't feel the pedals would come off normally.
I am planning a black bear hunt this spring and emailed Barnes to see which bullet 185/225 they would recommend. They replied and said because l have a good load with the 225 to go with it on black bear.
I feel on thin skinned game the 225 TTSX is one of the best all around bullets for the .340

[Dino82520]

Barnes bullet performance. The middle bullet is a 185 TTSX, recovered from an Pronghorn, 400 yards. The right bullet is a 225 TTSX, recovered from a bull elk, 380 yards. These bullets were fired from a 338 win mag.
The bullet on the left is a 100 TTSX, mule deer, 150 yards, from a .257 weatherby.

I now have .340 and only loading the 225 TTSX
[/quote


I must be doing something wrong, I haven't recovered a Barnes bullet yet.

[BB340]

Don't worry Dino I have only covered a small sample of TSX's out of the many critters I've shot with them. I much prefer I projectile that will give complete penetration leaving a large exit wound for the animal to bleed out of. That is why I use TSX's.

[.257]

Yes a recovered Barnes bullet is a true Treasure!!
Good hunting and good luck!

[Dino82520]

Don't worry Dino I have only covered a small sample of TSX's out of the many critters I've shot with them. I much prefer I projectile that will give complete penetration leaving a large exit wound for the animal to bleed out of. That is why I use TSX's.

I agree.  I've always felt that two holes lets the air out of them quicker.