300 H&H Magnum

[Mortis]

OK...I was going through a box of junk and found a bag of mixed brass I had collected up some years back. OK... a couple decades ago.

Anyway, in this mix was a 300 H&H mag.

It's shape intrigued me. So I pulled the Nosler book and lo and behold, there it is with intro to the cartridge by one of the Nosler's..... sorry... I'm at work...book is at home...and my memory sorta, kinda fails me on Mr. Nosler's first name.

Anyhoooo..... I have a BRNO Large Ring Mauser action just begging for a barrel.

I would appreciate the Pros and Cons of this cartridge.

I have a Tikka 695 in 7mmRemMag and a Ruger 77 in 338 WinMag.

How would this round fit into this group??

 

[BK]

John is the name you are looking for. Passed away not too long ago. Starter the company in the late '40s I believe.

I'm no help on the Mauser, sorry.

 

[DrMike]

Pros: nostalgia, effective, easy feeding, readily available components

Cons: Really can think of any.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Cons: brass can be hard to come by.

It needs a really long magazine because of the case length but it's performance is similar to a .300wm.

 

[shoots_5]

I have a Rem 721 chambered in 300 H&H. One of my favorite rifles! They are accurate, relatively flat shooting and fairly mild recoil. I have 2 loads worked up for mine, one using 165gr grand slams and the other with 185gr Berger VLD's. Have dumped elk with both. It's a very versatile cartridge in that you can load it down a bit for smaller game or load it heavy for bigger game. My Grandpa who originally had the rifle used to use it for moose with a 220gr round nose bullet with no problems.

Here's a picture of a couple of H&H cases next to a 22-250 and 338LM. Working on some load development using the 165gr AccuBond's and the 168gr Amax. I'd like to replace the grand slams with the AccuBond if I can get them to shoot well as they have a bit higher BC and are cheaper since I can get seconds from SPS.

 

[Africa Huntress]

I was weaned on this gun.
Shorter barrel required
lower recoil
better barrel life
very easy and reliable feed
easy to reload
In equator countries it reduces your chance of a sluggish bolt
200/250 yards with a 220 grain is perfect medicine in the Bushveld.

Negatives--- I am thinking, I am thinking --

Did I mention, this is one of my favorite calibers LOL

Just passing through guys, cant stay but had to put in a plug for the caliber I have carried since I was Anna s age.

 

[Mortis]

Thanks everyone for the info...... gives me alot to chew on....

BTW...the Intro to this cartridge was written by Bob Nosler..... nice to be home with my library.

 

[RalpW]

Nobody here hunts on the Equator

Few rifles are made, so if you want one you have to have one made and get a long action to do so which costs more money. Ammo will cost more and is not easy to find on the shelve. you can get just as much or better with other calibers that are manufactured by normal manufacturers. Of course if money is no object, then none of this matters.

 

[tddeangelo]

Or....

I just bought one in a Model 70. Cost me $850 for a prewar Winchester rifle because some genius decided diamond inlays and a short LOP were a good idea for it's stock. Even with the replacement stock I bought, I have $1150 in the rifle. I'll recoup a few bucks for the existing stock, maybe $50 if I'm lucky, so call it $1100 in it.

I also have an FN-made M70 chambered in 300WSM. Shelf price? $1050. Yep, huge price difference.

Components are basically similar in cost to other magnum rounds. I've seen brass on sale at SPS and I think at Cabela's recently for good prices. I didn't buy any because I got brass with the rifle when I bought it. I live near a Cabela's store that seems to always have a few different options in 300H&H ammo on their shelves. Prices are about the same as other 30-cal mag ammo.

You can get a "shooter" 300H&H M70 on Gunbroker for under $1500 almost anytime you like if you care to look and have a tad bit of patience. No need to have a custom gun made.

If one wants to shoot a 300H&H, it's a perfectly viable option. One will not walk into Walmart and buy one, no. But if one wants one, they're there to be had. And not for an arm and a leg, either.

I'm curious...how exactly do you KNOW that no one here hunts on the equator?

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned two Model 70, Alaskan, .300 H&H's. The only bad thing that I have found is wimpy .30-06 velocity factory ammo for a cartridge which has the same capacity as the .300 WSM.

The two .300 H&H's that I have owned were both more accurate than the Browning .300 WSM but that means nothing. The important thing for me was putting 69.0 grains of IMR 4350 in the .300 H&H case, coupled with 165 grain Partitions and getting a cartridge that will kill deer as far as you can see them, DRT! This combination will yield about 3150 fps in most rifles.

The cartridge feeds smoothly, is easier to FL size than the .300 WSM, and with the Pre 64 Winchester Model 70, makes a classic rifle combination which may be from the past but has modern accuracy and velocity potential.

 

[tddeangelo]

Excellent post, Charlie.

 

[alaska100]

I can not add anything that Tom, charlie, aleena, shoots5, Dr Mike and BK has not already said. I do like this caliber and if you hand load it is an EXCELLENT 30 caliber choice. Many hve used it successfully with 180 and 165 gr bullets. We find it is most effective for hunting in this area with the 200 or 220 gr.

Tom, makes a good point. Check the Africa sub forum, many have hunted there and I will also be hunting in a equator country very soon. I will be taking the 300 H and H and a 416 Rigby.

Tom also makes a good point about cost of both the rifle and ammo.

 

[Mortis]

I really appreciate all the comments I have received so far.

To RalpW..... I'm a retired Marine.... money means nothing too me....just something necessary to live. As long as I can pay my bills, nothing else matters in this concern.

To all others....once again...thank you.

I find this cartridge interesting in design more then anything else. Is it necessary to me? Not really. But in this part of the country, it would be very rare. And think of all the fun I can have on a range testing loads with such an odd round.

I can consider several uses for it, but it is not needed. But seeing comes before wanting as the old crook said on TV.

And to build my own makes it my own.

More for me to consider.......

 

[Oldtrader3]

Money is the for taking the Mauser action and converting it to the .300 H&H by adding the cutout in the receiver ring and lengthening the magazine. Or you can make it a .338 Win Mag by only only opening the bolt face dimension.

Now of course the .300 H&H with 180 or 200 grain bullets is an excellent elk round as is the .338 Win Mag which happens to be one of my favorite elk rounds, if I can't have a .340 Bee. I have killed (4) elk with the .338 WM and each of them conveniently died with a short distance of where they where shot. The .338 only sheds about 200 fps/ 100 yards which makes it a superior elk cartridge out to nearly 500 yards.

In 1958, Winchester issued both the .300 Win mag and the .338 Win off of the .264 Win Mag in the Model 70 line. This was a good year for elk hunters and all serious medium game hunters.

 

[Mortis]

Oldtrader3..

I have a Ruger 77 (No Mark) in 338 WinMag.... I'm only redundent in handguns....

Guess I need to check with my gunsmith and see if the wife needs to take a second job.

 

[FOTIS]

How would it fit? Hmm....

Logically it would not. There is nothing the HH will give you that the other 2 will not.

Nostalgically ?????? Never a better fit!

 

[gerry]

Cool round, the 300 H&H along with the 30-06 are the only 30 cal cartridges that interest me for some reason. If the gunsmith gives you the go ahead on your donor gun go for it and keep us posted

 

[Oldtrader3]

Me also Gerry, I have owned other .30's for periods of time but the .30-06 and .300 H&H are the only two .30 caliber rifles that I have owned most of my life.

 

[FOTIS]

Are you building it????

 

[Mortis]

Just spent an hour on the phone with my Ballastics Guru down in Breckenridge Texas. He chuckled when I told him about the 300 H&H..... seems he had a Win Model 70 back in the early 70's.

Anyhoo...it seems the BRNO has Non-Standard threads..... square cut similiar to ACME threads. This is a problem. Not one that cna be overcame, but just drove the price up another couple hundred.

So..... being that he has my Ruger 338 doing load tests, he said best stay with what I have for now. Save the money for other projects or just save and buy one outright.

Now my Guru adopted me as his little Bro some years ago..... sorta nice in many ways. He does my long range workups cause he has a 200 meter range in his back yard and a 1000 yard range 5 miles away to test loads on. I only have a 200 yard range available about 6 miles form me....but this time of year is crowded with hunters prepping for deeer season.

He shoots comp at 2x2 steel squares at 600 yards on a regular basis. His 6.5-06 AI is like a laser.

He is also a retired SF 1stSgt....

Last Tuesday evening he went to the back of his property....laid out some piggie bait and waited a bit. He took my 338 loaded with 225 Hornady Interlocks.

He got a Two-Fer......

He hit a 150+ pound sow at 110 yards thru the shoulder....it passed on thru taking an approximately 70 pound boar right behind the shoulder. He couldn't see the little one...so even he would admit...dumb luck.

Both critters dropped where they stood.

He's taking the 338 Muley hunting late November.

Anyway....... I'll put this project on the back burner for now..... but it is not forgotten.

Folks.... I really appreciate the comments. And when the time comes....ya know I'll keep ya posted.!!!!