300 H&H

[Catpop]

In my years of working with firearms I was led to believe that a greased case would shear the bolt lugs off.
But in thinking about it, the brass is going to stretch if fired in a dry chamber
And not in a greased chamber
But the pressure exerted on the bolt face is the same minus the little bit the absorbed by the brass stretch which I doubt is very much.
To each his own opinion
My favorite saying is
“There are those that do and the rest ———.

 

[Catpop]

I know making 300 Weatherby from fire forming 300 H&H sounds radical. However, the cartridge is basically an improved 300 H&H. I have made Weatherby brass with 300 H&H cases. As I understand it, there was no factory ammo, as such, when the Weatherby round was introduced. Only rifle looneys and/or people with bunches of H&H brass do this thing today. I used my homemade brass in a Vanguard with no problem. All this ended at a rifle club meet where a member had some for sale reasonable. All my H&H brass come with my 721. My feeling now are pick a magnum. Which ever way you go it's gonna be 3000fps with a 180 gr. bullet

I liked that “the 300 Weatherby magnum is basically an improved 300 HH”. And so is the 300 Winchester magnum.
Kinda puts a nice touch on the 300 HH history!

 

[Milt1]

I'm in awe of you guys that shoot the 300 H & H like it was a .243. I remember sighting in one for a friend of mine in Montana. I thought my Remington 721 in '06 kicked hard but it was a cream puff compared to that 300 H & H. Never again will I volunteer to sight that caliber in for anyone. You guys have at it!

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Somewhere along the line my 300 H&H missed the cream puff accessories. Back in the day IIRC 722 and 721's could be found with two stocks styles. One style more drop as used with iron sights. The other was straighter more suitable for scope sights. This may account for different reports on recoil on those rifles. Maybe a Remington collector could enlighten us. My 721 is like any other thirty caliber magnum. You are aware when it goes off!

 

[Slamfire]

In my years of working with firearms I was led to believe that a greased case would shear the bolt lugs off.
But in thinking about it, the brass is going to stretch if fired in a dry chamber

Exactly. The brass is going to stretch if fired in a dry chamber and if there is clearance between the case and chamber. This was brought to my attention by Professor Boatwright in his blog, the Well Guided Bullet http://www.thewellguidedbullet.com/. Professor Boatwright is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, so his qualifications to talk on this subject are better than mine, and vastly better than any in print, for profit, shilling for industry, gun writer. The latter have been our teachers, and it really shows the lack of professionalism inherent with shills, and that the print industry is profoundly a platform to promote profits for the industry and very little else.

What Professor Boatwright brought to my attention was that if a cartridge had zero clearance, it could not stretch. And if the cartridge did not stretch, it was not carrying load. So, all those neck sized cases are maximizing bolt thrust, just as my greased cases do. Any case that is a little long, ones you have to crunch fit to the chamber, well those things are not carrying load, and thus, they are maximizing bolt thrust.

Once I started from the assumption that the laws of physics were consistent, they have not changed in the last century or two, what dropped out, was that the fearmongering about greased cartridges shearing lugs was a cover up by the Army Ordnance Bureau. I was able to trace it prior to WW1, and I am convinced the Army Ordnance Bureau came up with this to misdirect blowups that were occurring with single heat M1903's.

The remarkable thing is how long this has rattled around the shooting community, when as I documented in my referenced threads, there were so many historical mechanisms that used greased and oiled cartridges. When the leaders of the shooting community don't know the history of firearms, again, it shows nincompoops are in charge.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Speculating: I was fiddling with my stuff and an obvious choice for building a 300 H&H was right there in my hands. The one in the hand was a Weatherby Vanguard in 300 Weatherby. Looks that action could be used to build up a 300 H&H. When this rifle comes as a Howa the price is very reasonable. I'd rather go this way than breaking down a Weatherby Mk 5 or Model 70 Safari. Another true magnum action is a CZ550. All this is about how to build a 300 H&H without going into permanent hock! Other choices? Suggestions?

 

[Catpop]

Speculating: I was fiddling with my stuff and an obvious choice for building a 300 H&H was right there in my hands. The one in the hand was a Weatherby Vanguard in 300 Weatherby. Looks that action could be used to build up a 300 H&H. When this rifle comes as a Howa the price is very reasonable. I'd rather go this way than breaking down a Weatherby Mk 5 or Model 70 Safari. Another true magnum action is a CZ550. All this is about how to build a 300 H&H without going into permanent hock! Other choices? Suggestions?

You could have a competent gunsmith set barrel back one thread and rechamber to 300HH. Although with out looking at the drawings one thread may not be enough. I too would not change a mk 5 or a pre 64 Winchester safari!
Which reminds me I have an 80s Colt Sauer 300 win mag that needs a stock and a maybe a 300 HH ungrade! Ah another quest!

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Rechambering: Compare the length of the if the 300H&H to the 300 Weatherby. Also, check the measurements on each cartridge at the shoulder.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I have a pre-64 model 70 in 300 H&H that has made meat for many years. Many elk and mule deer fell to that rifle in the hands of my dear friend and shooting mentor. His widow allowed me to buy it, and in my hands, it has brought down several elk and even a fair-chase wild bison. I have my friend's funeral program in my ammo can of 300 H&H ammo.

The blueing is worn, its missing both front and rear sights, the stock has been refinished, and the buttpad replaced. Its no collector piece. But its the most precious, meaningful rifle I own, and will never leave my hands until I'm finished with this mortal coil.

 

[94045]

M17 Surplus Sporterized
M14 Bolt Head
Ream Chamber
Slight Mod to Magazine
Slight Mod to Feed Rails
Done

Been thousands of these done.

 

[adcoch1]

M17 Surplus Sporterized
M14 Bolt Head
Ream Chamber
Slight Mod to Magazine
Slight Mod to Feed Rails
Done

Been thousands of these done.

And that is the recipe I want for mine...

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Modifying 1917 actions: It's getting harder to find people who know anything about straightening trigger guards. Also, getting somebody that can modify action correctly is also very difficult. How about suggesting some sources for this work. I'd need some other gunsmithing done along these lines. Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[94045]

The Smith I used to use retired officially years ago and I don't think his health even allows the occasional side job any more.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Many really nice sporters were made up on 1917 actions. I'm thinking that adding all the cost up it would be more economical to go with one of the more current actions. Not that a very good rifle can be made up from the 1917 action it is a matter of $. My last rifle was made up with an Mauser action I had converted over thirty years ago. The man that did this work has passed. The man that finished it out f has recently retired. I am afraid that those of us who like this kinda thing need to own that's then this is now.

 

[d2wing]

I have a nice pre 64 in 300 H&H , i am watching this thread with much interest

I don't have one but my hunting buddy has one. It was his dad's, and now his son has it. It is a family heirloom.

 

[Jessesky]

I really want one. Dad gave me a .300 Weatherby Mk V, and the recoil will knock the snot out of you.

Since it's already a magnum-length action I'm seriously contemplating having it re-barreled in the Mk V contour to .300 H&H.

Stay safe!

Could always download a bit. But won’t have that classyness of the h&h

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I'm thinking that Winchester was the first to offer 300 H&H and 375 H&H in regular factory made affordable rifles.

I'm not exactly thrilled at the notion of loading down magnums when there are several perfectly satisfactory 30-06 rifles in the market place. The idea is not to get a belted 30-06. Man says he wants a 300 H&H.

 

[Catpop]

I'm thinking that Winchester was the first to offer 300 H&H and 375 H&H is regular factory made affordable rifles.

I'm not exactly thrilled at the notion of loading down magnums when there are several perfectly satisfactory 30-06 rifles in the market place. The idea is not to get a belted 30-06. Man says he wants a 300 H&H.

If the man wants a super 30, then he should have one!!!!! That’s my angle!!!!

 

[Gordon]

I may be wrong, but I believe you can safely shoot a 300 H&H round in the Weatherby.

I did it alot in the 80s when I was in to the .300 weatherby and there was lots of .300 brass around. You can even hunt with it as the belt controls the case position and you only lose a 100 fps or so off of what the normal .300 does while being blown out to .300 Weatherby. That was a plus in hunting around the world until the 90s at least .

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I am trying to neck down 375 H&H brass. It's more difficult than it sounds. It's not worth the effort. It might be beneficial to see how rough it is to find 300H&H brass. Somebody had borrowed my dies neglecting to bring them back. I had passed up on a used set for $15.00 before realizing the old set was gone. Found a bargain in a new old stock set on Amazon. Finding Super Thirty brass may be difficult-not impossible.

 

[joed]

Winchester used to have seasonal runs of brass for the H&H which I'd bet they still do.

 

[Catpop]

I found some on Etsy- whatever that is? 50 cent each once fired.
My next range session will be using greased cases! And all future reloading will be neck size only! I have to conserve what little I have!!!

Is 180 the preferred bullet weight to most of you? I started out using 150 since I reloaded 06 also, but later felt it was little light for a magnum and moved up. I always used imr 4350, but think I may try H4831 on next go round. Any favorite loads out there?

 

[cdb1]

using greased cases!

That’s illegal in certain parts of Utah.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Yes, 180 gr. and IMR 4350. Give us an update on greased rounds. Good price on once fired assuming (dangerous) it's H&H.

 

[joed]

I found some on Etsy- whatever that is? 50 cent each once fired.
My next range session will be using greased cases! And all future reloading will be neck size only! I have to conserve what little I have!!!

Is 180 the preferred bullet weight to most of you? I started out using 150 since I reloaded 06 also, but later felt it was little light for a magnum and moved up. I always used imr 4350, but think I may try H4831 on next go round. Any favorite loads out there?

I read the explanation on greased cases but just can't see it. My .300 H&H was exceptionally easy on cases and after 3 firings didn't even need trimming. And I never shot light loads in mine.

My favorite powder was IMR 4350 and bullets were 165 gr to 200 gr. After selling the rifle I still have 300 unfired cases in case I get another .300 H&H. No, they aren't for sale.