I have been shooting 300H&H in rifles off and on since 1991 or so. Several years ago, it looked like the 300H&H was coming under fire as being inferior to the 300 WinMag and not much different then a 30-06. Then several new 300 magnums appeared, each supposedly the latest and greatest. Cases started getting a little harder to find. Fewer new rifles were being offered in 300H&H. I noticed that factory loaded offerings were disappearing. When Winchester stopped offering a 300H&H load some figured the handwriting was on the wall. Gun writers began describing the 300H&H as obsolete. As everyone talked about 300 caliber "fad" rounds, the 300H&H became the dignified old classic that was to be remembered but not to be used.

Then just over a year ago, something changed. As good as they are, the short magnums and ultra mags lost steam. I noticed more rifles being offered in 300H&H. I noticed ammo companies starting to add 300H&H loadings. And then, today, I took a look at what Nosler is offering in their Custom line. It can no longer be argued that the 300H&H is like a 30-06 nor that it is outclassed by the 300 WinMag.

Here is what Nolser is listing:

30-06 150gr @ 3000fps
300 H&H 150gr @ 3200fps

30-06 180gr @ 2750fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps

300 H&H 200 gr @ 2750fps
300 WinMag 200gr @ 2800fps

It looks like there is a renewed interest in 300H&H and some ammo companies are finally loading it to to contemporary standards.

So, is the 300H&H making a comeback?

As much as I love the 300 H&H, I can't say it's making a comback until I see factory rifles again chambered in the cartridge.

We're definitely in the golden age of ammo availability for just about everything. Hornaday, Nosler, Quality Cartridge, Superior and even Winchester are offering a lot of choices for cartridges that were hanging on by a thread just a couple of decades ago.

I reckon if Winchester made a 300 H&H that was a basic copy of their 375, including the iron sights, they would sell plenty of them and at 375 pricing.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
I reckon if Winchester made a 300 H&H that was a basic copy of their 375, including the iron sights, they would sell plenty of them and at 375 pricing.

Oh Yeah!!

Don't forget it is now a regular Ruger No1 listing.

But I like the idea of a Mod70 300H&H.

I certainly hope it is making a come back. I've just ordered a Ruger No.1S in .300H&H. It has been one of the cartridges I've been fascinated with since I started learning about firearms.

I picked up ca. 1964 Browning Safari Grade with Browning marked 2-7x scope in this caliber. The only reason I bought that rifle is because it's Mauser-actioned rifle in classic sporting caliber.
I was pleased to see that Hornady and Nosler now load ammo in this caliber.

We have a whole lot of older cartridges that are in the same category.....little to no factory chambering with little to no real reason.....other than they just don't sell with the general public. Only serious and somewhat rebellious gun cranks like those that post on places like this are the customers.

Among them are the 6mm Rem, .257 Roberts, 6.5 X 55 Swede, 260 Rem, 7 X 57, 280 Rem, .300 H&H, 8 X 57, and more.

These cartridges represent superb performance in nostalgic chamberings. There will always be a "trace" demand for these rifles and ammo and because of that someone will fill the demand and even if the price is elevated the market will bear it.

Have no fear....the .300 H&H is not going away.....nor is there any evidence that it's making a "strong" comeback!....at least that is evident here.

It will outlast my .350 Remington that's for sure.

Making a comeback? Did it ever leave?

CZ has them the 300 H&H

I don't know about a "comeback", but it seems that many people are beginning to gain a new appreciation the old cartridge, including myself.

I happened into a somewhat abused .300 H&H in a Sako L61R a year or so ago. After cleaning it up a little, it's become one of my favorites.

I've owned three .300 Winchesters in this identical model and have never gotten either the velocity nor the accuracy I felt I should from any of them. But the old H&H will fling a 180 grain bullet just as fast as any of the .300 Winchesters, and refuses to throw any bullet outside of a 3/4" circle. I don't need super velocity, so I have it throttled back to "only" 2960 fps with a 180 grain Accubond, but it will go just as fast as any of the Winchesters with no sign of excessive pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
I certainly hope it is making a come back. I've just ordered a Ruger No.1S in .300H&H. It has been one of the cartridges I've been fascinated with since I started learning about firearms.

I have always wanted one in the #1S. It just screams classic African rig.

I think nostalgia is making a come back.
Would you rather have a 300 Win Mag or a 300 HH?
I always would chose the HH.
The game wont know if the bullet was 50 or 100 fps slower.
The modern cars might be faster too but I'd take a classic any day.

I think a 300H&H paired with a 375H&H paired with something like a 223 or 243 etc you would be set for just about anything.
I was just looking at a Mod 721 in 300H&H today. If anyone wants it I can tell you where its at

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
CZ has them the 300 H&H

But I don't think it is available in the standard rifle

the 300 H&H has many fans

300 H&H

Interesting article, Abob:

quote:

The 300 H&H is making a strong come back in South Africa due to all the negatives associated with the faster magnums.
...

The gun world media conditions us to believe that we need faster and faster magnums as the time passes by. My contention is that Remington has now created a Mona Lisa with a moustache with their Ultra Magnum!

There is no doubt the .300 H&H is a very fine cartridge. But comeback?

Consider this. When the .300 H&H was a commnon chambering of both Remington and Winchester, not to mention Holland & Holland itself, and numerous other suppliers in Europe, in actual fact not a great many of them sold.

It was lack of sales that caused them to be sort of eased off into the market shadows in the first place, even when there were few if any other .300 magnum alternatives available. No .308 Norma, no .300 Winchester, few if any .300 Wbys, .300 Mashburns, and so on. But still not many bought the Super .30 rifles, even for Camp Perry work.

It is basically a "niche" cartridge, and it's not a very big niche when the whole gun market is considered.

I think it will be around forever plus a week, and well deserves to be.

But a big seller? Not in my lifetime, I'd bet.

With modern CNC machines, makers can afford to add the chambering to their list available for their standardized rifles, because it is easy and inexpensive for them to do. But it will probably never dominate that list.

Around 1980 I had Harry Creighton put a 26" .300 H&H barrel on a Interarms Mark X action for me. Loved it then and still do. Does most anything I need done.

when i see it on the shelves at walmart

While we're on the subject (and I apologize for the semi-hijack).........

I ran across a spotless push-feed Model 70 XTR at a local shop aver the weekend.

What would be a reasonable price for it?? I know they are fairly uncommon.

30-06 180gr @ 2750fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps

So, is the 300H&H making a comeback?[/QUOTE]

I get 3040 fps measured by my Oehler proof Chrono with my .300 WSM and a modest load of RL 17 pushing a TTSX in a short model 70 action. Shoots 1/2" at 100 yds. So no, I don't think the .300 H&H is coming back.

quote:

Originally posted by Strut10:
While we're on the subject (and I apologize for the semi-hijack).........

I ran across a spotless push-feed Model 70 XTR at a local shop aver the weekend.

What would be a reasonable price for it?? I know they are fairly uncommon.

There was one like it (assuming .300 H&H) locally and they almost couldn't give it away....I didn't need another one....It just sat there for months with a $450 price tag on it!

It was consigned and the owner just picked it up and took it back home with him!

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
when i see it on the shelves at walmart

Only one out of four local gun shops had one dusty box on the shelf. Others had none.

quote:

Originally posted by Strut10:
While we're on the subject (and I apologize for the semi-hijack).........

I ran across a spotless push-feed Model 70 XTR at a local shop aver the weekend.

What would be a reasonable price for it?? I know they are fairly uncommon.

The only push feed post-64 std. grade Winchester bolt rifle worth good money is the rare Mannlicher stocked variation.
A box of Winchester or Remington ammo for .300WinMag costs about $26 at Walmart does that help?

quote:

Originally posted by MLG:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
I reckon if Winchester made a 300 H&H that was a basic copy of their 375, including the iron sights, they would sell plenty of them and at 375 pricing.

Oh Yeah!!

In a lefty, of course!! I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

The death knell came for the British 300 H&H caliber when Winchester decided to make their own .300 cal, and so introduced their 300 Win Mag in 1963, as it fitted their M70 actions much better. The 300 win Mag is actually a 7.62 x 67 mm, whereas the 300 H&H was a 7.62 x 73 mm that is better suited for long or what we call magnum actions. This was the main reason. The 300 Win Mag's cartridge case still featured a belt, but in order to get the same velocity from a shorter case, Winchester fatten up the case by designing it with minimum body taper and shorten the neck. In factory loadings Winchester loaded their own ammo a bit hotter than the 300 H&H, so that some benefit could be demonstrated. However in handloads they compare equally. 50 fps at a level of 3,000 fps is neither here nor their, in any event.

In any event, the 300 Win Mag became very popular in America; only to be unseated in the magnum popularity stakes by Remington's introduction of their 7 mm Rem Mag, which was introduced a year earlier in 1962. In time to come I am sure, the position is bound to change again for the 7mm Rem Mag, and it may just be the 280 Rem, also known as the 7 mm Express Remington, or even another one like one of the 'Short Magnum'designs - who knows where we stand in another 50 years or so. The 7 mm Express Remington has a beltless case design being preferred by reloaders. The belt personified the magnum-image of way back then in the 60's. The original purpose of the belted magnum concept taken from the .300 H&H and .375 H&H, was to provide precise control of the head-space, since the sloping shoulders, while easing cartridge extraction, provided poor head-spacing. Improved cartridge extraction reliability is desirable while hunting dangerous game, which would be of concern when needing a fast follow up shot.

The CZ factory has just recently introduced the 300 H&H again as a standard factory offering.

Warrior

quote:

Originally posted by Ammoloader:
30-06 180gr @ 2750fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps

So, is the 300H&H making a comeback?

I get 3040 fps measured by my Oehler proof Chrono with my .300 WSM and a modest load of RL 17 pushing a TTSX in a short model 70 action. Shoots 1/2" at 100 yds. So no, I don't think the .300 H&H is coming back.

I was listing Noler's factory loads. Every cartridge listed could be hand loaded to greater velocity. But to keep comparing apples to apples, here are Nosler loads again with their 300WSM load added:

30-06 180gr @ 2750fps
300 WSM 180gr @ 2900fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps

I was listing Noler's factory loads. Every cartridge listed could be hand loaded to greater velocity. But to keep comparing apples to apples, here are Nosler loads again with their 300WSM load added:

30-06 180gr @ 2750fps
300 WSM 180gr @ 2900fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps[/QUOTE]\

Are the above all the same bullet?

Below are factory cartridge data from Federal Premium with a Barnes 180 TSX:

300 WSM 2980 fps
300 WIN Mag 2960 fps
300 H&H 2880 fps
30-06 2700 fps

Ammoloader,

The 180gr load at 2880 is/was the standard 300 H&H load for years. Reloaders have known for a long time the 300H&H wasn't being loaded to modern day velocities like the other 300 magnums. But, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I have noticed things are changing. Nosler is now loading the 300H&H as a modern cartridge should be loaded. I see that as part of a trend toward new interest in the 300H&H.

All three factory loads with Nosler's 180gr AccuBond bullet:
300 WSM 180gr @ 2900fps
300 H&H 180gr @ 2950fps
300 WinMag 180gr @ 2950fps

Nosler does appear to be trying to equalize performance. Rifle manufacturers (including Nosler)will be able to sell more rifles in classic calibers if they do that.

The "resurrect the classic" business model has been proven up by Hornady/Ruger lately with other manufacturers jumping on.

All that said, the basis for my comment earlier was partially based on the fact that you don't see many of those classic loads being carried in brick & morter stores.

Regards,

I have a strong desire to geta .300 Holland and match it with 200gr NF bullets.

My brother stumbled into a 1949 transitional super grade Pre-64. $324.95 OTD. Pretty good deal in 2009 I'd say.

Ryan,

Now you talk, with that combo you can go to hell - shoot the devil, and come back unharmed !!!

Warrior

nostalgia keeps the 300 h&h alive. too many other 300 mags available these days. perhaps only a few flies on the old h&h, but it ain't new, it ain't sexy, and it ain't available in many new factory offerings. i suspect some ammo companies will offer ammo for several decades to come.

My son had a M70 classic sporter 7 mag. re-barreled to 300 H&H last year. Got it back in time to plug two whitetail does at under 75 yards within two minutes of each other. Those 180 Partitions seemed to impress them!

Dear Winchester (FN-Herstal group),

Please consider adding the 300H&H cartridge to your line along with the 375H&H, maybe even in a matching set at a reasonable price so that a common man can afford the set - i.e. $2000 for the matched set in a CRF. And maybe even guarentee their accuracy?...... and maybe have optional open sights just in case someone might want to use them for what they were intended for. Oh and one other thing..please ask Wal-Mart to carry ammo for both calibers.
Please!

quote:

Originally posted by LBGuy:
nostalgia keeps the 300 h&h alive. too many other 300 mags available these days. perhaps only a few flies on the old h&h, but it ain't new, it ain't sexy , and it ain't available in many new factory offerings. i suspect some ammo companies will offer ammo for several decades to come.

"it ain't sexy"!?

Are you high!?

The 300 H&H is one of the most efficient cartridges around. Most FPS/grain of powder.

quote:

Originally posted by mikethebear:
The 300 H&H is one of the most efficient cartridges around. Most FPS/grain of powder.

Most folks look at price and availability of ammo.
A pack of Winchester or Remington .300WinMag ammo is about $26. Efficiency alone isn't going to overcome that.