.240 Belt. Riml. Nitr. Exp. Load Data

The .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express, commonly written as .240 Belt. Riml. Nitr. Exp., is a British sporting cartridge with a significant legacy among aficionados of vintage and classic rifles. Introduced by the legendary gunmaker Westley Richards in 1919, it emerged during the golden age of nitro express cartridges, when British manufacturers competed to offer high-velocity, flat-shooting rounds for double and bolt-action sporting rifles. The design incorporated a belted case, which was relatively innovative at the time, allowing for improved headspacing compared to rimless or rimmed cartridges, an advancement highly appreciated by rifle makers and shooters alike. The .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express shared case genealogy with larger siblings such as the .276 and .275, resized for a .245-inch bullet, revealing the British penchant for adapting successful case designs for creating new performance niches.

This cartridge quickly garnered a reputation as a favorite for medium-range, lightweight sporting rifles, especially for use in the British Empire’s colonial territories, where reliable performance on medium-sized game was essential. It was prized by professional hunters and sportsmen seeking a cartridge with enough speed and power to deliver decisive shots at extended ranges while minimizing recoil and rifle weight. Its case design facilitated smooth extraction under tough field conditions, and its moderate dimensions allowed it to be chambered in trim, portable rifles ideal for long pursuits on foot in Africa, India, or across the Australian and New Zealand backcountry. Original factory loads could readily reach approximately 2,900 feet per second muzzle velocity with a 100-grain bullet, making it one of the flatter-shooting small/medium-bore rounds of its time.

The .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express found particular favor as a stalking rifle cartridge for deer, antelope, and similar-sized game. In the UK and Europe, it was frequently used for red deer, roebuck, chamois, and similar species, while in Africa and India, it was trusted against impala, blackbuck, and even the occasional leopard when carefully placed shots were possible. Its high velocity extended its effective range beyond many contemporaries, providing hunters with flatter trajectories and modest wind drift—two crucial factors in unpredictable field conditions. Although it was always too light for dangerous or thick-skinned game, its terminal performance was more than adequate for the majority of open-country hunting scenarios encountered by experienced riflemen.

Bullet weights for the .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express typically span from 87 to 100 grains, with the 100-grain soft point being by far the most common and versatile for field applications. The caliber diameter, .245 inch, is unusual by modern standards, meaning that bullet selection today is limited but still available through specialist component makers. Its case length is 2.49 inches, and the cartridge maintains a belted, rimless profile, aiding in reliable extraction. Modern enthusiasts and ammunition reloaders appreciate the .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express for the historical interest it brings, its ballistic efficiency, and the unique challenge of loading and shooting a true classic. When reloading, care must be taken regarding bullet choice, brass sourcing, and maintaining original specifications to preserve the accuracy and gentle recoil attributes that made the .240 Belted Rimless Nitro Express a mainstay during the halcyon era of British rifle making.