I recently purchased a Winchester model 70 classic at a truely wonderful price. The problem is its barreled in 7mm STW which I don't see myself shooting. My initial thought was to barrel it to a 26" 300H&H. I have a 375 Ruger in the Ruger African Hawkeye and a 416 Rem Mag in the Win mod 70 already, just looking for a chambering that makes the most sense...or should just leave it in 7mmSTW?

I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

I really think if you give the STW a try you will be pleased. It can be loaded with anything from a screaming 140 grn bullet to reach out and touch 175's. you obviously don't mind recoil and I don't think mine is that bad. The BC of the .284 bullets are great and you have a lot of choices. This is all being said on the premise you reload. If you don't then any of the calibers you mentioned are going to be expensive to shoot.

The 7mags are not my cup of tea, simply because I don't need them. But they are great for what they are properly used for.

Considering what you already have, I'd sure leave it as is.

quote:

Originally posted by BigBullet:
I recently purchased a Winchester model 70 classic at a truely wonderful price. The problem is its barreled in 7mm STW which I don't see myself shooting. My initial thought was to barrel it to a 26" 300H&H.

I'd rather have a 300 H&H than an STW. They're classy and they feed like grease on glass. If you can afford the work I'd say go for it. You can probably even find an STW fan to buy the take off barrel.

I own both, and I find the .300 H&H a more practical cartridge.

The 7mm bore seems neither fish nor fowl. It is a bit large for a light rifle -- I like a .270 or 6.5mm bore much better for deer and antelope. The 7mm is also a bit small for a heavier rifle as anything it can do on elk, moose, or African plains game a .30 cal can do better.

I've owned two .300 Winchesters and neither has shot as well as my .300 H&H. My H&H (24.4" bbl) does 2960 fps at very nominal pressures with a 180 grain Nosler, whereas I was pushing the .300 Win in the same barrel to its upper pressure limits to do only 80 fps more. This isn't to say that the .300 Win isn't a "good" cartridge, only that my experience with the H&H has been better. With the 26" barrel you plan, your .300 H&H will easily equal the velocity of a 24" .300 Win.

One of the things that I should mention is that most of my rifles are geared to hunting Africa. I have plenty of deer, pronghorn, elk type stuff already

I hunted plains game in Namibia with a PH who carried a 300 H&H in a pre 64 model 70. It was pretty nice rifle. That was 9 years ago and I have been looking for one since. I was able to pick up the 7mm STW m70 Classic for $550 so I think I have some room to get it rebarreled. Would there be any major work to get this action to feed in 300H&H?

If you you're not a big fan of the 7mm STW, the 300 H&H is a classy and practical alternative, especially on a M70 action. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by BigBullet:
One of the things that I should mention is that most of my rifles are geared to hunting Africa.

For dangerous game, your actions should all have the same length bolt throw. I would pair this one with the 416 by going 300H&H or 8mm Rem. However, if you're using the 375 Ruger as your primary, then this action wouldn't have a place.

quote:

For dangerous game, your actions should all have the same length bolt throw. I would pair this one with the 416 by going 300H&H or 8mm Rem. However, if you're using the 375 Ruger as your primary, then this action doesn't haven't a place.

Abosolutely! And don't overlook stock finish. If you use a lighter colored finish on your .300, then when you switch to your .416 for buff you could be in real trouble. The same thing is true of bluing: Switching between blue and stainless barrels can get you killed! Why, even an inch difference in barrel length is asking for trouble!

I think the 300 h&h is the best of the 300 mags.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

For dangerous game, your actions should all have the same length bolt throw. I would pair this one with the 416 by going 300H&H or 8mm Rem. However, if you're using the 375 Ruger as your primary, then this action wouldn't have a place.

Abosolutely! And don't overlook stock finish. If you use a lighter colored finish on your .300, then when you switch to your .416 for buff you could be in real trouble. The same thing is true of bluing: Switching between blue and stainless barrels can get you killed! Why, even an inch difference in barrel length is asking for trouble!

As you wish.

quote:

Ganyana
one of us
Posted Nov 10, 2008 12:31 PM
Only reason I can think of is if your 'other' heavy uses a long action. I prefer my working rifle (a 9,3x62) and what ever else I happen to own as a big bore back up to have the same length action. It avoids mistakes.

Posts: 2196 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 23 July 2003

You're welcome to track wounded game while carrying a 26" barrel. Hope that the PH backing you up isn't carrying one.

I thank you for the point concerning action length. I do try to match my actions during a safari. If I can't match the actions I at least try to have the safetys work in a similar fashion.

I beleive a matched pair of Winchester Mod 70s in 416rm and 300H&H would cover most of the bases on a hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by BigBullet:
Would there be any major work to get this action to feed in 300H&H?

IIRC, the STW is based on the 8mm Rem and 416rm case rather than the H&H. While these two are very similar, the Rem version has been blown out slightly. You might check with Winchester to see if they furnish a different magazine box for the H&H brass. Can't say if the rails would need tuning. I would think that the follower is the same.

Going with the 8mm would avoid the matter. How about a 30 Super (30/8mm Rem Mag)?

300 H + H is a great choice.

+1 for the 300 H&H. Although you may want to do some research on what if anything needs to be done to convert from the STW to H&H as far as feed rail work, etc. I agree that I want all of the safeties to operate the same on the rifles I take on safari but personnaly don't worry too much about action length. Last safari, I used a 375H&H and a 308, but then I have never had a problem with shortstroking.

I've always liked the looks of a 300 H & H, seated with a 220 grain RN...

just looks like an African hunting cartridge of days gone by..

handloaded it is an awesome performer on game also..with an MV of say 2800 fps or so..