Hunting construction
Soft-point, bonded, partitioned, and monolithic expanding bullets are designed differently. Their intended impact-velocity ranges and use cases come from the bullet or ammunition manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SPORTING & MATCH RIFLE
.240 Weatherby Magnum
A belted 6mm-class sporting-rifle cartridge. Its .240 name belongs to the Weatherby family rather than indicating a literal .240-inch bullet.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall length · max
- 3.100 in
78.740 mm - Case length · max
- 2.500 in
63.500 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2433 in
6.180 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.4720 in
11.990 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Sporting & match rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.2433 in / 6.180 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 2 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 100 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.240 Weatherby Magnum is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 240 Weath. Mag.. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
It is distinct from .243 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor. The older Weatherby ballistic source is dated 2020 on this page.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Roy Weatherby introduced the .240 Weatherby Magnum in 1968, adding a fast 6 mm cartridge to his existing magnum family. It was offered in the Mark V rifle and pursued the same open-country, high-velocity sporting philosophy associated with the larger Weatherby cartridges.
The .240 has its own case design and should not be understood as simply another name for the .243 Winchester. Its belt and Weatherby identity place it visually within the magnum tradition, while its small bullet diameter makes it a distinct member of that family. Sierra compares its performance role with the earlier 6 mm/.30-06 wildcat idea, but that comparison is not a claim that the cartridges share identical cases. Its historical niche has remained relatively specialized: a factory-supported, high-velocity 6 mm for varmint and deer-sized-game rifles within Weatherby’s premium sporting-rifle system.
Historical sources: Sierra: .240 Weatherby Magnum cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Match construction
Open-tip match and tipped match bullets prioritize consistency and aerodynamics. A match designation does not by itself mean the projectile was designed for hunting expansion.
Specialty offerings
Lead-free, reduced-recoil, and premium long-range products are separate load designs when offered. Compare the exact SKU, bullet weight, test barrel, and intended role rather than relying on a cartridge-wide average.
In the cited .240 Weatherby Magnum examples, bullet weights are 100 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
100 grains
3,200 fps
Spitzer
Compare all 2 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WeatherbyG240100SR | 100 gr 6.48 g | Spitzer | 3,200 fps 975 m/s | 26 in | Weatherby · PDF p. 1 ↗ |
| WeatherbyN240100PT | 100 gr 6.48 g | Partition | 3,275 fps 998 m/s | 26 in | Weatherby · PDF p. 1 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.240 Weatherby Magnum: estimated shorter-barrel scenarios
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 100 gr Spitzer · 30 fps/in scenario | Weatherby 2020 rule; calculated scenario | 16: 2900; 17: 2930; 18: 2960; 19: 2990; 20: 3020; 21: 3050; 22: 3080; 23: 3110; 24: 3140; 25: 3170; 26: 3200 |
| 100 gr Spitzer · 65 fps/in scenario | Weatherby 2020 rule; calculated scenario | 16: 2550; 17: 2615; 18: 2680; 19: 2745; 20: 2810; 21: 2875; 22: 2940; 23: 3005; 24: 3070; 25: 3135; 26: 3200 |
.240 Weatherby Magnum: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 100 gr Weatherby Spitzer | Weatherby | 0: 3200; 100: 2875; 200: 2573; 300: 2290; 400: 2025; 500: 1780 |
| 100 gr Weatherby Partition | Weatherby | 0: 3275; 100: 3013; 200: 2767; 300: 2534; 400: 2313; 500: 2102 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .240 Weatherby Magnum?
A belted 6mm-class sporting-rifle cartridge. Its .240 name belongs to the Weatherby family rather than indicating a literal .240-inch bullet.
What diameter does .240 Weatherby Magnum use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2433 inches (6.180 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
It is distinct from .243 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor. The older Weatherby ballistic source is dated 2020 on this page.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. The estimated barrel-length view applies the disclosed Weatherby slope rule to the 26-inch catalog anchor; it is a calculated scenario. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- C.I.P.: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 1 ↗
- Sierra: .240 Weatherby Magnum cartridge background ↗
- Weatherby · PDF p. 1 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.