The .240 Magnum Rimless Holland & Holland (also known as the .240 Apex and the .240 Super Express) is a centrefire sporting rifle cartridge developed in English gunmakers Holland & Holland no later than 1919,[3] primarily for use in hunting deer and plains game.[1]

.240 Magnum Rimless
TypeRifle
Place of originEngland
Production history
DesignerHolland & Holland
Designed1919
ManufacturerHolland & Holland
Specifications
Case typeBelted, bottleneck
Bullet diameter.245 in (6.2 mm)
Neck diameter.274 in (7.0 mm)
Shoulder diameter.403 in (10.2 mm)
Base diameter.450 in (11.4 mm)
Rim diameter.467 in (11.9 mm)
Rim thickness.035 in (0.89 mm)
Case length2.49 in (63 mm)
Overall length3.21 in (82 mm)
Primer typeKynoch # 81
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
100 gr (6 g) SP 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) 1,865 ft⋅lbf (2,529 J)
Source(s): Cartridges of the World.[1]
.240 Magnum Flanged
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter.245 in (6.2 mm)
Neck diameter.274 in (7.0 mm)
Shoulder diameter.402 in (10.2 mm)
Base diameter.448 in (11.4 mm)
Rim diameter.513 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thicknessUNK
Case length2.5 in (64 mm)
Overall length3.25 in (83 mm)
Primer typeKynoch # 81
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
100 gr (6 g) SN 2,775 ft/s (846 m/s) 1,711 ft⋅lbf (2,320 J)
Test barrel length: 28
Source(s): Kynoch[2]

As it was common for rimless hunting cartridges, a rimmed (beltless) variant, at the time called just "Holland's 240 Super Express"[4] and now sometimes named .240 Flanged Magnum or .240 H&H Flanged, was developed simultaneously for break-barrel rifles and combination guns.[5][2]

Overview

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The ballistic performance of the .240 H&H in factory loads is very similar to that of the .243 Winchester, with a 100-grain (6.5 g) bullet with a diameter of .245 inches (contrary to the .240 name) giving a muzzle velocity of approximately 2,900 feet per second (880 m/s). When it is loaded at the same pressure as the .243 WSSM using modern powders, the .240 H&H has the potential for slightly better performance.

Most bolt-action rifles made for the .240 H&H will be amply strong enough to handle hand-loaded cartridges at high pressure.

.240 H&H Performance Comparison
Cartridge Bullet weight Muzzle velocity Muzzle energy
.240 H&H Magnum 100 gr (6.5 g) 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) 1,865 ft⋅lbf (2,529 J)
.240 Weatherby Magnum 100 gr (6.5 g) 3,406 ft/s (1,038 m/s) 2,576 ft⋅lbf (3,493 J)
.242 Rimless Nitro Express 100 gr (6.5 g) 2,800 ft/s (850 m/s) 1,740 ft⋅lbf (2,360 J)
.243 Winchester 100 gr (6.5 g) 2,960 ft/s (900 m/s) 1,945 ft⋅lbf (2,637 J)
.243 Winchester Super Short Magnum 100 gr (6.5 g) 3,110 ft/s (950 m/s) 2,147 ft⋅lbf (2,911 J)
.244 H&H Magnum 100 gr (6.5 g) 3,500 ft/s (1,100 m/s) 2,720 ft⋅lbf (3,690 J)
.246 Purdey 100 gr (6.5 g) 2,950 ft/s (900 m/s) 1,930 ft⋅lbf (2,620 J)
6 mm Lee Navy 100 gr (6.5 g) 2,680 ft/s (820 m/s) 1,595 ft⋅lbf (2,163 J)
6 mm Remington 100 gr (6.5 g) 3,100 ft/s (940 m/s) 2,133 ft⋅lbf (2,892 J)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Barnes, Frank C., Cartridges of the World, 15th ed, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2016, ISBN 978-1-4402-4642-5.
  2. ^ a b Kynoch Ammunition, "Big Game Cartridges", www.kynochammunition.co.uk, archived, 15 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Holland & Hollands "Apex" .240 super express rifle".
  4. ^ H&H 1933 catalog
  5. ^ "240 FLANGED MAGNUM | Cartridgecollector.net".