A little more love for the 300 HH

[salmonchaser]

I really enjoy this Ruger #1. My only complaint is it just does not like to be pushed. I’ve gotten 180s up to 3100 but the groups open up to 1.5 or so and mild pressure signs.
Above 2950 with a variety of powders and bullets I typically get a flyer out of five. At a sedate 2900 to 2940 or so she’ll stay at or under an inch.
I tried pushing her again today and like last session she really opened up. I’ve gone through the bedding, checked for free floating and the like and can’t find any problems.
I like that my 100 yard group from last time I was out is essentially identical to today’s effort.
+8 clicks, 2MOA from 100 yards got my elevation zeroed at 300 yards. Off to the left in part because it started out that way and I didn’t adjust for wind.
I’m done figuring out loads. I’ve an AccuBond; Partition and Barnes, all 180s, that all will go 1/2 MOA or so out to 300 anyway. Next time out I’ll make a slight windage adjustment, call it good and shoot steel at 2, 3 and 400 until fire danger shuts me down, then paper plates until I go elk and moose hunting with her.
I cleaned the rifle thoroughly a couple days ago. Started the session firing two fouling shots from a box that belonged to my great uncle. He died when I was in high school, so these were at least 1972 vintage 220 grain silver tips. Dead zero for two shots at 100 yards. Gotta like that. Velocity was 2500 as I recall.

 

[JD338]

Good show Don. Definitely minute of moose.
You should have a full freezer this fall.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

I've made similar observations with a number of cartridges. Approaching maximum charge they tighten up and then begin to spread out. You have a fine load that'll take anything you might encounter in NA and most of the world.

 

[truck driver]

Did a little research for you and found some loads you might like but I would start low and work up. The trick will be finding the bullets used to develop the loads. WW cases were used for all loads along with CCI 250 primers.
180gr Speer Magnum bullet, IMR4831 70grs vel 3043fps 3/4" group 100yds.
Sierra 165gr BT Norma N-205 72.0grs 3202 fps 1" group 100yds.
Sierra 165gr BT IMR4831 72.0grs 3190fps 1/2" group 100yds.
Shot from a M70 Super Grade with a 26" barrel.
Loaded right the old gal will reach out and touch something at 1000yds and has won a few matches.
Your loads look very good.

 

[gerry]

I really enjoy this Ruger #1. My only complaint is it just does not like to be pushed. I’ve gotten 180s up to 3100 but the groups open up to 1.5 or so and mild pressure signs.
Above 2950 with a variety of powders and bullets I typically get a flyer out of five. At a sedate 2900 to 2940 or so she’ll stay at or under an inch.
I tried pushing her again today and like last session she really opened up. I’ve gone through the bedding, checked for free floating and the like and can’t find any problems.
I like that my 100 yard group from last time I was out is essentially identical to today’s effort.
+8 MOA from 100 yards got my elevation zeroed at 300 yards. Off to the left in part because it started out that way and I didn’t adjust for wind.
I’m done figuring out loads. I’ve an AccuBond; Partition and Barnes, all 180s, that all will go 1/2 MOA or so out to 300 anyway. Next time out I’ll make a slight windage adjustment, call it good and shoot steel at 2, 3 and 400 until fire danger shuts me down, then paper plates until I go elk and moose hunting with her.
I cleaned the rifle thoroughly a couple days ago. Started the session firing two fouling shots from a box that belonged to my great uncle. He died when I was in high school, so these were at least 1972 vintage 220 grain silver tips. Dead zero for two shots at 100 yards. Gotta like that. Velocity was 2500 as I recall.

Looks really good. It would be cool if you could use some of your uncle's loads for a hunt one day.

 

[salmonchaser]

Looks really good. It would be cool if you could use some of your uncle's loads for a hunt one day.

I would like that too. He was a big fan of the silver tips. I think I’ll save what I have left just to do that.

 

[JD338]

I would like that too. He was a big fan of the silver tips. I think I’ll save what I have left just to do that.

That 220 gr Silver Tip factory load would be perfect moose medicine.

JD338

 

[gerry]

That 220 gr Silver Tip factory load would be perfect moose medicine.

JD338

Yep shot my first moose in 1990 with 220 gr Silvertips from a 30-06 at slightly less speed than a 300 H&H. Had jacket core separation on my 2 nd shot but they worked. First one sailed right through. Shot my first black bear too with that load.

 

[salmonchaser]

Its 8 clicks, 2MOA,

 

[truck driver]

Hmm Silver tips brings back old memories.
Dad always carried a few factory loads with 150gr Silver tips for his 30-06 a pre WW II M70 .
His back up was 180gr Corloks which he seldom had to use since the Silver Tips would drop a deer right there.
He always shot factory ammo and never got into reloading rifle ammo and when asked why since he reloaded shot shells he would say that reloads weren't as accurate and not dependable. (lol)

 

[salmonchaser]

although he said it was with an03/A3, not a 300 HH, My uncle shot down two Jap.Zeros Shortly after landing on beaches in the south pacific. As he told it he shot one of the pilots through the butt, head shot the other. His story was they were called shots. He was a superb shot. Watched him shoot five mule deer bucks with five shots when I was about 10, they were single file across the canyon. Any way, it is a great Idea to use some of his ammo on my trip to Canada. If the moose is inside 150 I”ll use his old silver tips.

 

[JD338]

Excellent plan Don.
Post a picture of the 220 gr Silver Tips.

JD338

 

[NYDAN]

Look like you have that rifle and load all set for the season.

 

[PJGunner]

I've always wanted a #1 in .300 GH&H. I do have four Ruger #1s in .300 Win. mag though. Two are the #1S 200th year guns and the thirrd is an "S black pad. Odd one out is a "B" model with a sort of story.

I don't know why Ruger #1s have been on the scarce side west of the Mississippi but that's the way it seems to be. I never even saw one for sale until 1975. That when I spotted a "B" in 30-06 and snapped it up. A year later I ordered a .300 Win. Mag, in the "S" model and the dealer got a "B". When I complained that it wasn't what I'd ordered, the dealer called to ditributor to find out what thew deal was. H e let me talk to the gut and what I was told was, "That's the only one I've been able to get. Take it or send it back.. I took it. I've been running 200 gr. Speer Hot Cores over the long discontinued WMR powder for almost 2900 FPS. It's sub MOA in all four #1s and in a Winchester M70 I have. Shoots almost as good with the same charge and the 200 gr. Nosler Partition. Nice elk load.
Paul B.

 

[salmonchaser]

That was about the same time I picked up my first one, a 243. The only 1B I have is a 22-250 I’ve had since about 1980. I think my most accurate might be my 375 1s. Although they all go under an inch. The 375 does not seem to care what it is fed.

 

[nhenry]

Y'know... There's a certain gunsmith I know you're aware of that does absolutely fantastic work on #1s. It's one of the things he's wanting to specialize in as well. He'd gladly accept this one I'm sure he could sparkle some magic on it and have it tighten up at those higher velos

 

[salmonchaser]

Y'know... There's a certain gunsmith I know you're aware of that does absolutely fantastic work on #1s. It's one of the things he's wanting to specialize in as well. He'd gladly accept this one I'm sure he could sparkle some magic on it and have it tighten up at those higher velos

We have visited. What I am afraid of, given how inconsistent they were when I started hacking on them, is how much I’ll end up spending if I send four or five to him. They all shoot pretty well now but, yes, it would be nice to fully realize the potential of the old 300 super. The window is getting pretty tight on my fall hunts to send it off.
Dang it, now I’m looking up his number!

 

[DrMike]

We have visited. What I am afraid of, given how inconsistent they were when I started hacking on them, is how much I’ll end up spending if I send four or five to him. They all shoot pretty well now but, yes, it would be nice to fully realize the potential of the old 300 super. The window is getting pretty tight on my fall hunts to send it off.
Dang it, now I’m looking up his number!

Spoken like a true gun crank!

 

[salmonchaser]

Excellent plan Don.
Post a picture of the 220 gr Silver Tips.

JD338

The lot numbers indicate 1966 manufacture date. Box is post 1961 because it has the kids warning. I have eight rounds left. A couple were missing along with a couple of empties. His method of zeroing was to put a paper plate or one of his nephews hats on a post about 100 yards away. He would center punch the target and call it good for another year. Most years, after my dad got after him for trying to fill everyone’s tag, he would shoot once for a deer and once for an elk.

 

[JD338]

Very cool Don. That's some real eye candy right there. Hope you can put one of those into a moose.

JD338