Newby / reminder of reloading and shooting procedure:

forgot to chamber a few rounds before going to the range for pressure check, etc. After the first one found that nothing would chamber, despite having (re)sized and chamfered new Hornady brass in .300 H&H and checked against trim length.

Had to go home and work it out. Hornady brass was a tad over trim length, but not over max. case length at all. Rechecked Ken Howell's book -- I was okay. Just trimmed 'em to 2.840", chamfered (after "resizing") and loaded 'em back. It wasn't an OAL thing either. The lands in my 721 are WAAAY out there.

Probie mistake? Surprized at Hornady brass difference (probably to the good) by forgetting to chamber a few rounds. Thankfully it was just 10 rounds I had to "fix".

While your 721's throat is generous, it appears that the chamber itself is short. Most chambers allow a few one-thousandths over maximum standard case length rather than failing to accept brass that is less than MCL.

But your point is well-taken: Never assume that any cartridge will chamber until you've proven it by actually chambering it. I get tired of people saying that they always full-length size to "assure that the cartridges will chamber". B.S. Full-length sizing no more assures that a cartridge will chamber than being Dick Cheney assures that you'll go to heaven.

Make sure you get that 300H&H Hornaday brass lubed properly when you resize it. I just spent 30 minutes removing a stuck case (pulled the head off) from my sizing die. I also shoot the Remington variety and the Hornaday brass seems to be a little "harder". I sure do like it though.

Using Imperial + "leftovers" on my RCBS pad and a little Imperial graphite for the necks. Taking the length from 2.842" to 2.840" and really getting a good chamfer has made all the difference. Off to finish prep'ing the rest of 50 cases --- 220-grain Partitions at 65 to 68 grains H4831SC, five at a time. Once I see if the rifle likes a particular load (first shot was okay at 68 grains so pressure will be okay) I can load the remaining 30 and call it good.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
While your 721's throat is generous, it appears that the chamber itself is short. Most chambers allow a few one-thousandths over maximum standard case length rather than failing to accept brass that is less than MCL.

But your point is well-taken: Never assume that any cartridge will chamber until you've proven it by actually chambering it. I get tired of people saying that they always full-length size to "assure that the cartridges will chamber". B.S. Full-length sizing no more assures that a cartridge will chamber than being Dick Cheney assures that you'll go to heaven.

Never a worry with W W brass used until now. (R-P brass didn't last very long for me -- 4 loadings and case separation despite modified neck resizing a la A-Square manual tip). Tried several other hunting loads used on safaris in case something was stuck in the chamber or whatever -- no sweat). Only the Hornady brass is acting strange. Guess I can't let it get over 2.840" in handloads. Good info BTW.

Cheers!

quote:

(R-P brass didn't last very long for me -- 4 loadings and case separation despite modified neck resizing a la A-Square manual tip).

I hate to hear that because I just bought 100 rounds of R-P brass for my recently acquired Sako L61R (yep, finally found one -- they ain't many around since Sako quit the H&H in favor of the .300 Winchester around 1964.)

However, as I shoot lots of diffrent centerfire rifles in this class, even at only four loadings per case, this will last me for . . . well, this will last me.

By the way, I'm doing great in this gun with IMR 7828 SSC and just about any 180 grain bullet you can stuff into it. It groups consistently .75" at a hundred with whatever I run through it. Since you like the heavy bullet, you might want to try some 7828.

Stonecreek

66 grains H4831SC looks good. Need to check 66.5 grains too before calling it good. Should chrony around 2600 fps -- Sierra data for 220-grain roundnose and Hornady for theirs favor H4831SC.

IMR 7828 is supposed to be great for heavier bullets in .280 Rem but I just haven't gotten around to "needing" any. The .280 likes IMR 4350 and 139- to 150-grainers; my 7x64 likes H4831SC and 160-grainers. The .300 H&H does well with IMR 4350 and 150-grainers, otherwise good old (you guessed it) with 180-grainers especially the TSX.

Thanx again!

By the way, I'm doing great in this gun with IMR 7828 SSC and just about any 180 grain bullet you can stuff into it. It groups consistently .75" at a hundred with whatever I run through it. Since you like the heavy bullet, you might want to try some 7828.[/QUOTE]

Stonecreek

I might need to try that IMR 7828 SSC. Not satisfied that I have the best load yet. What weight range to try? The only data I found is Barnes' -- 62.5 gr (2500 fps) to 67.5 gr (2700 fps) with a 220-grainer.

Thanx

Barry

The load I have settled on in my gun is 73.5 grains of IMR 7828 SSC with the great old Nosler Solid Base 180 grain bullet. This delivers about 2960 fps and shows nominal pressures.

In fact, when working up to this load I was at 71 grains and wanted to go to 72 grains, but mis-set the poise setting on my scale by five grains and unknowingly loaded three rounds with 77 grains, then took off to the range with them marked 72 grains. I was amazed when the chronographed average for the three shots went 3075 fps! The more amazing thing is that they exhibited no stiff bolt lift and the three shots grouped into 3/4 inch! I quickly discovered my mistake when I returned to the loading bench, so I discarded the three cases (even though they showed no outward signs of high pressure).

This rather long story of an inadvertant overload just illustrates that IMR 7828 SSC seems to be a very good powder for this cartridge and has an apparently linear pressure curve that won't get you into trouble too quickly. Since you've established a good load with H4831, you would be safe starting with a half-grain more IMR 7828 and working upward from there. I would be very surprised if IMR 7828 didn't yield a measurable velocity advantage over H4831 with the 220 grainer.

"Since you've established a good load with H4831, you would be safe starting with a half-grain more IMR 7828 and working upward from there. I would be very surprised if IMR 7828 didn't yield a measurable velocity advantage over H4831 with the 220 grainer."

Did exactly that and got 100 fps more [67 grains IMR 7828. ] All done!

Thanx!

That's great. So your 220's are running around 2700 fps or maybe a little better? That's moving right along with that big bullet.

2700 and change the one shot I took thru my Pro Chrony. Shot the other four afterward for a group -- a bit better than with H4831SC (so I called it good enough.)

I shot my .300 H&H yesterday aftre mounting a new Leupold scope with the LR reticle. After zeroing at 100 yards, I then used the 400 yard reticle dot for a three shot group at a target set at 435 yards (the only clear spot I could find that was close to 400 yards). The three shots landed exactly where they should have and went into 2.07", which works out to .45 MOA at 435 yards. No wonder the old H&H was a popular long range match cartridge back in the day!

The load was 73.5 gr of IMR 7828 SSC under a 180 grain Nosler Accubond (seconds, at that), Fed 215 in R-P new brass. All I did to the brass was partially-size it and chamfer the inside of the necks. Velocity is about 2960 fps. Judging from pressure signs I could likely go higher, but who wants to mess with success?

Wow! I'm strictly a published loads approach guy. My 180-grain TSX load with H4831SC @ 2800 fps was good enough for my second kudu at 281 yards and a mountain reedbuck at 260 yards. Back in 2005 I used the same load but with a 200-grain Sierra for kudu #1. (Had to learn a bunch between trips -- three shots at 150 yards or so off sticks with the .300 H&H. Another total miss out a "hide" at 50 yards with my .416 Rigby.)

I don't understand why you guys don't use Norma brass instead of Remington and Hornady.Hornady should improve on their brass and make it as good as Winchester brass.Winchester is tops.

I use it all. Sometimes only one kind is available. Hornady brass is good. W W doesn't often make a run of .300 H&H brass. How's the tiger shooting plan so far?