When it comes down to choosing a rifle and ammunition for the job, the 340 Weatherby Magnum makes the choice pretty easy. It is a rifle cartridge that was introduced in 1963 as a response to the 338 Winchester Mag released in 1958. The designer, Roy Weatherby, took advantage of the longer case to pack in more powder for eleven greater velocities. This was done in order to fill the gap between the 300 Weatherby Magnum and the 378 Weatherby Magnum.
The.340 Weatherby Magnum employs the same.338 in. diameter rounds as the.338 Winchester Magnum, but at a higher velocity. Because Weatherby factory ammo is loaded to maximum specifications, reloaders may have difficulty matching the reported Weatherby velocities. Currently, A-square is the sole factory ammunition manufacturer for the.340 Weatherby Magnum, which has restricted the caliber's popularity. In infield tests, however, the 340 Weatherby Magnum beats the 300 Ultra mag, 338 Win mag, and even the larger.375 H&H, delivering a significantly flatter shooting and harder striking performance.
The 340 Weatherby Magnum shoots heavier 338 bullets at higher velocities just as well, making it a decidedly powerful combination. It is a rifle cartridge that is best suited for a game the size of elk or larger. It can also be used by deer hunters with lighter bullets. The 340 Weatherby Magnum delivers phenomenal performance at an extended range even when the target is African game. With a performance like the 340 Weatherby Magnum, though, it's only inevitable that there would be a trade-off. In other words, its performance comes at the cost of higher recoil for both the shooter and the rifle platform.
