Just daydreaming here about a classic caliber I have never played with, and was leafing through my new Woodleigh Loading Manual when I chanced on their .300 H&H data. They are showing their 240-grain PP SN exceeding 2500 fps with 70 grains of Re25. I just have to think there is not a large ungulate alive that could stop that bullet with a sectional density of .361.
Anyone here used it in the field?

They sure will tip an elk over in the dark timber, or a bison upside down and I would not hesitate to shoot a CApe Buffalo with that load, They open up big and still penetrate plenty...I like the bullets and I like the caliber..Been a go to caliber for me for many years, its a walking contradiction, partly fact and partly fiction, but it walks on the heels of a 300 Wby and can be loaded to equal or slightly beat the 300 win mag, especially with bullets of 200 grs. and better, and most other 300s have to hump hot to equal it..Not to mention how the case shape makes it feed as professed by many, however the real advantage is how it extracts that's made its fame..It also recoils less with that wonderful case configuration, and I personally can tell the difference. It may be on its last legs in todays society of short fat cartridges, but its a winner, always has been, and like the 7x57 its refused to die as each generation of thinking hunters just have to try it out..

I have used the Barnes original in 250 grains. Works as expected on Bear, complete penetration. Still have a stash of these on the shelf.

I also got some of the old .032" 250 gr .308" bullets. I haven't had occasion to shoot anything but paper and chrony screens with them, but as noted, they are impressive. surprisingly, they are about the same length as a 220 grain, just virtually parallel sides and a flattened point. they do well in a 300 Wby.

The best thing about the 300 H&H is it still has enough neck to load those big long bullets, whereas most of the modern cases do not and those bullets extend into precious powder space needed to boost those long bullets to acceptable velocity...I have used a lot of 220 gr. Nosler partions and can drive them as fast or faster than my 300 Win mag or a 30-338 I had at one time. Is that extra mean anything, I have no idea, but it makes me feel good and enhances my love of the old girl.

I don't own a .300 H&H (but would like one some day) I wonder if at some point except in certain specific circumstances too much bullet weight has diminishing returns. I suppose if you wanted to use it for relatively close range shooting at large animals it might be good. But to me it kind of defeats the primary purpose of the .300 mag. I do have a .300wby and a .300 Winchester magnum and notice a steep drop off in velocity above 200 grains.

Cougarz, if eland to 200 yards were on the menu, that 240 makes sense. But not for antelope at 400.

Bill,

There ya go - a specific purpose where it would make some sense.

Knocks the socks off a bison !!!

Loaded some for my buddy in his 30-06 for hogs. Makes big holes in hogs on both sides.

Having used the 300 for what seems like two lifetimes and that's about it come to think of it, if I had to pick one load to hunt all animals of the world, Id choose the Nosler 200 gr. partition, ( or a 200 gr. Woodleigh ) but would you kindly allow me a handful of solids cuz I might have to deal with an Elephant or Hippo some day. otherwise the 200 would suit me just fine. Its an outstanding bullet under all conditions in the 300.

Cougarz,
The 240 and 250 gr. bullets are pretty close to diminishing returns especially in the 300 Win mag.

The 300 H&H handles these long bullets considerably better because its a long magnum case with a very long neck, therefore the long heavy weight bullets don't intrude into the powder space as they do in almost all of the other 300s...

I see them as bullets to hammer big heavy animals at under say about 250 to perhaps 300 yards if I had to pick a number, but 300 yards is a fur piece out yonder IMO, but certainly a makeable shot for a good rifleman under most conditions.

Put a whooping on a black bear, deer or elk at 50 to 75 yards too. With an exit wound and breaking 2 shoulders. I call it the snowplow shot. Cant run with non working front legs, just snowplow. Never been able to snowplow a moose though

G'Day Fella's,

Bill, iirc the 240grn Woodleigh 0.308" bullet, was specifically developed for the .30-06 cartridge?
The owner of www.woodleighbullets.com.au Geoff McDonald, is a big .30-06 fan, and he wanted a a heavy bullet just for this cartridge. I'm not sure if it may be a bit soft when used at normal hunting ranges, out of the .300 H&H?

Hope that helps

Merry Christmas
Homer

Ray & Bill,

Well I guess I'm a fine one to talk, I bought a few boxes of 220 grain Remington Corelokt .30-06 ammo on sale last year to try out. It's been quite a while since I had shot any.

Guys, I have a pre-64 Model 70 in .30-06 I was going to have rechambered to .300 H&H, but after looking at '06 ballistics with today's premium bullets and powders, I will probably just leave it as is -- and try those 240s in it.

I would go to the 300 H&H if I were using bullets of 220 gr. and larger..I see the 30-06 at its best with the 200 gr. Nosler at 2700 FPS and the 220 gr. Nosler at 2400 to perhaps 2500 FPS..keeping in mind that most 06 bullets in 220 gr. weight are not up to the job..The Nosler is the only one I trust....

I do like the Woodleigh 240 gr. in my 300 H&H and had no trouble getting 2400 FPS to 2500 FPS in my 300 H&H with them. They were not too soft based on one buffalo, and several elk. This was with my Rem 721, I had a pre 64 Win. in 300 H&H and shot some game with it also, same results. Love the 300 H&H.I was amazed how popular it still is in Africa.

But the bottom line is my 30-06 with a 200 gr. Nosler at 2700 FPS, is my load..and my 300 H&H with the same bullet at 3020 FPS. Both are excellent, The 300 H&H reaches way out yonder and dumps them with that load.

If I deem heavy bullets are in need for a hunt, I would simply opt for my .338 and the 300 gr. Woodleigh PP or a .375 H&H depending on what I was hunting..

Some like a slow big bore like a 35 Whelen or the great .318 WR. and they are great killers within their scope, but every time I used a short range rifle I saw some real trophies way out yonder, even though I was in the thickest of stuff, it just happens, so I like the .338 as a do it all caliber with .210s, 225, 250, 275 and 300 gr. bullets available..

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
...It also recoils less with that wonderful case configuration, and I personally can tell the difference...

I wonder if you can explain how the case shape effects the recoil? I had always thought it was just a matter of physics; of the weight and velocity of the ejecta and the mass of the rifle, with stock shape affecting the felt recoil.

Ray, the Woodleigh manual shows that 240 at 2380 over 53 grains of RE22. Ought to be a very useful load out to 200-250 yards, I'm thinking.
Sambarman, I have read somewhere that the long, gentle shoulder creates less recoil than, say, the famous double radius Weatherby shoulder, but cannot cite any facts behind it, just a fuzzy guess that there is some slight jet effect at play. Would love to hear a better explanation.

The Woodleigh 240 box even says .30-06 Springfield on it.
Here are two of them next to a little Hornady 150-grain Interlock.

I don't know what 300 gr Ray is shooting in his 30-06 but I tried the 240 Woodleighs in a number of my 30-06's and stabilization and accuracy was as much of an issue as velocity.

Just like in a fight - a better/tougher small bullet will out perform a larger but lessor one

Phil, I think your quote about the tougher bullets is a classic and should be added to your other .30-06 quote.

I think Ray's quote was a typo about the 300gr., I am sure he meant the 200gr. N.P.

Just my humble opinion. A skilled rifleman can make the most out of certain equipment limitations due to range and performance. However, Given choices, there are some better suited for the job.
I think the 200gr. is for the 30-06 and the .300's, a 240gr. is a substantial jump inhibiting the virtue of the .30 cal. all around capability and turning them into a limited short distance affair.
The reality is we hunt and don't have 100% control of where the animal will turn up. Being more versatile is prudent.
The 240gr. W. is a well made product, if by chance it was all I had. I would use it without reservation. Granted, my preference is in that order: TSX, A Frame and N.P.

I love classic calibers and they have held on for a reason. The .300H&H is a darling and will feed and extract like no other. Definitely my favorite of the .30 calibers. That function alone is not recognized by the ballistic number crunchers and is the most important. The wisdom in design engineering to fulfill a function is similar to all the 1898 attributes.

Regarding the 240 in a .30-06, here is the answer I received from Geoff McDonald when I asked him about stability issues:

Hi Bill,
You won't have any stability problems with a 10" twist. All of the 30/06 rifles we have shot them from
deliver excellent accuracy with the 240 gr. I have personally shot pigs, camels and even water buffalo
very successfully with this combination.
You should be able to approach our top listed load for R22 quite easily, all of our Max. loads are quite conservative.
Let's know how you get on.
Regards,
Geoff McDonald
Woodleigh Bullets

Thanks to the system dpcd developed, I now have another 300 H&H. I owned an FN Commercial Magnum action made in the mid fifties in 375 H&H. He pulled the barrel, and I took it to Bartlein Barrels to have the contour matched in a 30 caliber blank. They shipped it to him, and he fit it to the FN.
I think I am going to get some of those bullets from OZ.

When Danny Ptereson built the 30-06 barrel for my 30-06 he knew I would be using heavy bullets and made it with a 1 in 9 twist and Lon Paul regulated all the flip up sights for 220 gr bullets @2400 fps.
It shoots 150 gr bullets well and also does great with Geoff's 240 gr bullets, which by the way have always worked well and held together but don't always penetrate as deep as I prefer.
I prefer to see an exit wound as two holes leak more than one.

Phil, do you think this bullet at 2500 -- in .300 H&H -- would reliably leave an "inny" and an "outy"?

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Phil, do you think this bullet at 2500 -- in .300 H&H -- would reliably leave an "inny" and an "outy"?

I would guess it depends on where you placed it and how big the animal was.

Phil,
I corrected my post it was a typo and I seldom read my posts, guess I need to do that...

To my thinking the best bullet in the 300s and the 30-06 for bad stuff that bites or hooks is the 200 gr. Nosler..Although Im not much of a monolithic fan, they do seem to work well of big stuff and the problems Ive had were on light stuff..The monolithics sure do work on buffalo and all but negate the need for a solid, but I still believe in solids on buffalo for follow up and in a charge situation..

I know the 200 gr. Nosler will out penetrate the 240 Woodleigh about everytime or 99% of the time in a box of magazines or in living flesh. (giving myself some latitude here) basically due to its smaller front end expansion, but the Woodleigh penetrates enough, expands very wide and does tremendous damage, but penetration is first and foremost IMPO..