In Defense of the 300 H&H magnum.

[Doc Hollywood]

This past season I took an old Army buddie's offer to come hunt with him and his dad who is a guide. When I arrived there were a lot of guys around camp (customers) and I spent a few days packing game and gear, (camera equipment) out and field dressing, in exchange for a cull elk on private land. It was a good deal all the way around. Sitting around camp all these guys were toying with their elk rifles. Lots of short, and super short, and ultra mags. Lots of stainless and synthetic. I just sat and listened to these guys extolling the virtues of their respective newfangled nonesense and didn't say much. The night before I was going to hunt I pulled out my rifle which is a 50's era Winchester model 70 in 300 H&H with a Zeiss conquest 3-9x44 on top. My rifle formerly belonged to an Alaskan guide who used to grab it by the muzzle and knock the snow off his boots with the stock. It maintains a solid 60% of its blueing and I wouldn't sell it at any price because it shoots 3/4" 10 round strings at 100 yards if you take it slow. I was instantly greeted with light hearted ridicule by all the guys around the fire pit. I simply ignored most of it except a comment by one old timer saying that such a good old gun shouldn't be subjected to the rigors of the hunt anymore, and I should get something more modern. After anchoring a past it's prime plains elk at just under 400 yards I was surprised when the cajoling didn't die down, guys started drunkenly explaining to me that muzzle loading season was over; and I had just set the world record for longest shot with a musket. I got home to California and started looking at a modern replacement for the old H&H because after all it would be nice to hunt with a gun that I wouldn't mind if something happened to. I handload my H&H, I worked up the reloader 25 load from the 48th edition Lyman except I substituted the 200 grain jacketed spitzer for a 200 grain nosler accubond. I use 73 grains of powder and a standard rifle primer for 2900 fps. What I discovered upon researching these new 30 caliber magnums is that with 200 grain bullets their ballistics didn't offer much better performance. the ultra mag in particular gave me an extra 200 fps for an extra 10 grains of powder! I couldn't safely match the performance with the WSM, WSSM, or the SAUM in that bullet weight. I could with the win mag but I don't like how short it's case neck is, uniform neck tension is really important in my book. So it seems like I shouldn't second guess the old super 30; I could have saved myself a lot of time by remembering the old adage. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[steelslaver]

Sounds like the guys were having some fun with you. My buddies and brothers can be unmerciful in hunting camp. Lots of the older cartridges hold their own against the new ones.

Old guns and for that matter old guys are just fine for the rigors of the hunt. If you had got a brand new ultra mag the results would have been the same, but you would have missed your old hunting rifle and never felt quite as comfortable with it. Yes, something might happen to it, something might happen to you too. Neither one needs to stay home.

The Rums, Ultras and the Lapuas may well get another 200fps, whats that, 4" of drop at 400 yds? A deader elk? LOL A good man with a rifle he knows well will put meat in the pot. Somethings don't get any better with the latest greatest.

 

[williamlayton]

I have never been in a camp where anybody recognized the worth of abybodyelses weapon/bullet/loading/ 0r for that matter anything else-to include pick-up choices even if the same manufacturer.
I see no reason to change---well, golf clubs is different !
Blessings

 

[Kanewpadle]

For at least 30 years, my father has taken big game in Alaska with a 338 win mag. The performance is much like the 300 H&H but with a shorter action.

In his later years he was ridiculed over the 338 by those who didn't know what they were talking about.

Attitudes changed when he came back to camp. Only once did he have to shoot more than once. Moose, brown and black bear fell with one properly placed shot.

 

[rockquarry]

I've had a couple of .300 H&H Model 70s. Still have a pre-'64. Fine cartridge, no doubt, but not very popular anymore. It's getting very hard to find brass. A distributor told me a couple of years ago that Remington was no longer going to offer brass for sale. I have not verified this and don't know if this may apply to loaded ammo. I don't know about Winchester.

However, there is more expensive brass available, like Nosler.

 

[Texas Star]

For at least 30 years, my father has taken big game in Alaska with a 338 win mag. The performance is much like the 300 H&H but with a shorter action.

In his later years he was ridiculed over the 338 by those who didn't know what they were talking about.

Attitudes changed when he came back to camp. Only once did he have to shoot more than once. Moose, brown and black bear fell with one properly placed shot.

I think Winchester knew what they were doing when they introduced the M-70 in .338 as the Alaskan...I think that was in 1959. And I think the .338 was much better thought out than the .264 they introduced at about the same time.


I remember reading Col. Askins's reviews of them. Yes, I got into guns at a very early age.


With modern loads, I'm sure the .300 H&H remains a very capable cartridge.


Back in its heyday, British loads weren't much hotter than US .30/06 ammo. Modern enhanced performance .30/06 are actually hotter.


I think the OP should consider a professional refinish if his rifle is that worn. But I don't doubt it's a killer on almost all game short of those that we normally think of tackling with a .400 bore at the least.

 

[DWalt]

The big two for African hunting back in the day were the .300 and .375 H&H Magnums. At one time, the .300 H&H was popular among long-range target shooters.

 

[Iggy]

My Dad bought a used Winchester Model 70 300 H&H Magnum back in the 50's and fell in love with the cartridge. He killed Elk, Moose, Antelope with it.
When I was 14 and old enough to hunt big game, he bought me a Remington Model 721 in the same caliber. I killed a 5 point Bull Elk with it a few days later.
Pappy was bustin' buttons off his shirt that day.

In the past 60 years, I can't tell you how many Elk, Moose, and Antelope and every other kind of critter have fallen to that old rifle. Never needed more than one shot in all those years.

I never felt the need for another hunting rifle except for a couple of side trips into muzzle loaders and black powder cartridge rifles.
My Son has the Winchester and his Son has the Remington

Those old rifles ain't done yet.

 

[Arik]

I always wanted a 375H&H, 9.3x62, 9.3x74

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a long range/1000 yard rifle in 308 Win. and was looking for a 1 mile gun. It was a toss up between the 375 H&H and the 338 Lapua mag. I had a very good 375 hunting gun but would have to spend over at least 1 grand to get it up to the long range configuration I wanted. The 338 Lapua had a higher Ballistic Coefficient on 300 grain Boat tails than the same weight 375's, so I went that route! But for Large animals a 200 yards or less I'll that the old H&H mags every time. They have been proven time after time since 1912!

Ivan

 

[30-30remchester]

A graceful old gal that H&H is. To me those new short magnums look like milk jugs with a pointy hat. I have owned a few Pre 64 Winchesters in both 300 and 375 H&H. The long tapered cases make feeding into the chamber a thing of beauty. Feeding those short stubby cartridges is kind rough and clunky. When a Winchester model 70 from before 1964 is chambering a round there is a sound and feeling when closing the bolt that has not been replicated by any other rifles I have used. No need to look down and see if a round is being chambered. I can tell in pitch black by sound and feel if a round is going into the pipe. When the 300's or 375's are being chambered it is even smoother because of the long taper and absence of sharp shoulders. I have talked to quite a few Mauser and Winchester devotes and they all agree that there just is nothing smoother than a H&H cartridge in an old Winchester. The 300 Magnum, as it was first called, is just sexy like a long lanky girlfriend. I hunt with only old guns and can see no reason why to retire a good gun just because of its age.

 

[Rpg]

Hard time imagine a finer hunting rifle than a pre 64 M 70
In 300 H&H.

 

[29aholic]

At one time the 300 H&H was considered the most efficient of the magnums due to configuration of the case.


I was lucky enough to briefly own a set of Griffin & Howe Pre-64 70's in 300 and 375 H&H. Sadly I couldn't keep them but they were fine rifles.


The Ruger #1H in 375 H&H is my all time favorite magnum rifle.

 

[rufgr]

I still have two pre-64 model 70 Winchesters in 300 H&H. One is a standard grade and one is a Bull gun. I don't shoot the standard grade much any more as it gives me a headache. I still shoot the Bull gun quite often as it's weight tames the recoil down to gentle shove. Both guns have fired many 5 shot groups less than 1" at 100 yards.

 

[britbike1]

I always thought a putting a properly constructed bullet in the proper place was the key to a successful hunt. A few hundred fps more or less doesn't matter except at the farthest ranges, maybe try getting closer rather than shooting at extreme range. Keep the range within your shooting capabilities.

 

[leswad]

A 300 H&H thread with no pics? WTH I don't know about your Winchesters but mine kicks like a mule!

 

[LittleCooner]

​

Hard time imagine a finer hunting rifle than a pre 64 M 70
In 300 H&H.

This was going to be my comment but Rpg has beaten me to the draw.

I have one of these pre 64 gals in 300 H&H, it does not get shot much anymore, but I would not trade her for any of the new stuff and that includes one of the fancy custom jobs by any of the famous rifle smiths. She is just a baby 300 Weatherby who has not grown up yet,

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Having fired both 300 and 375,

I prefer the 375.

A long time ago, I had a custom 375 made from a Remington 1917 Enfield.

Never shot anything with it yet other than paper.

I am looking forward to hunt with it in Texas after we move.

 

[jag312]

I know someone who inherited a Model 70 in .300 H&H Magnum from his grandfather. The rifle is from the early 50s. He was complain9ng that the rifle was not using a modern cartridge. He wanted the rifle to be rechambered for the .300 Winchester Magnum. I told him that I would be willing to buy a new Winchester Model 70 for whatever cartridge he wanted and trade for that old rifle in the obsolete cartridge. He is thinking about it.

 

[Texas Star]

I know someone who inherited a Model 70 in .300 H&H Magnum from his grandfather. The rifle is from the early 50s. He was complain9ng that the rifle was not using a modern cartridge. He wanted the rifle to be rechambered for the .300 Winchester Magnum. I told him that I would be willing to buy a new Winchester Model 70 for whatever cartridge he wanted and trade for that old rifle in the obsolete cartridge. He is thinking about it.

If he'd trade his grandfather's rifle for a new one, he deserves to lose it. Sounds as if you'd take better care of it.


I think he should keep it and also buy a new one. If he can afford to hunt today, he can probably afford a new rifle.