I have two BRNO 602 Magnum actions for custom rifles (same look and feel). One will be a 375 H&H, but I am in two minds on the other caliber either a 300H&H or 8x68. This rifle will be used for the larger African plains game at extended range - read Kalahari and Karoo. I am sure both would work. What are your recommendations.

which do you like, as it makes zero difference to the critter

Hi, I tend to lean towards the 8x68 (bigger hole), but then again you do not have the bullet choice as with the .30 calibers.

From a functional point of view, it is hard to go wrong with the 8x68S. But it can be a hard cartridge to feed. Apparently, Norma has started offering brass for it, otherwise brass availability (in particular outside of Central Europe) has been spotty, to say the least. So if you do decide to go this way, make sure you obtain a healthy supply of brass.

The .300 H&H is a very classic cartridge, although in later years not that easy to find brass for either.

Neither caliber would be particularly easy to find ammo for in Africa. The 8x68S might be found in Namibia, but hardly in other African countries. In this respect, a lowly .300 Win Mag would be better.

- mike

One other thing to consider is that the 8x68S has a rim dimension of around .510-.512". It might be more troublesome doing bolt-face work for it. It is my understanding that it is much more difficult trying to "close" a bolt-face than to "open" one up.

I would probably stick with a standard action if I were to choose the 8x68S. Either should serve the purpose for which you intend to use it very well.

A friend of mine have a matching pair in ZKK 602.
One 375 H&H, the other in 300 H&H.
Great looking and accurate working rifles both of them.

.300 H&H! E-nuff said!

When it comes to plains game....anything larger than a .300 H&H is just plain overkill......and the dictionary doesn't define "deader"!

I do wonder why sometimes if it might be simpler to call up a gun shop or hunting guide in the area you intend to hunt in and ask what they think?

And what others are using! But I guess that the issue for extended range will be which weight bullet you want has the better SD?

150 0r 165 grain I'd never consider an 8mm over a .30". But at 200 grains and heavier I'd think I'd lean to the 8mm over the .30".

Especially something like a boat-tail design 220 grain 8mm.

A boattailed 220 Sierra out of a .300H&H or a .308Norma will probably exceed that from an 8mm round in ballistic coefficient and run at about the same velocity.

I would have to check and my .300H&H and .375H&H are being stocked with Borden Rimrocks ae we speak, they are minty P-64 Mod. 70s with the long 26" and 25" barrels respectively. With my handloads using 200 and 300 Nossies at 2900 and 2600, these would be my choice and I would not look elsewhere.

no contest the 300 H&H is a fantastic round and it is really on the come back just about eveyone makes ammo for them now

FWIW...when I was in RSA I didn't see a single box of .300 H&H ammo anywhere.....300 Win Mag and .30-06 was available everywhere.....I'd have thought the h&h model would have been quite popular.....They shoot what we shoot it seems....except for the DG ammo!

Given one is 375 H&H the other should be a 300 H&H

The perfect matching pair.

8x68S!!!!!!!!!!!

Definatly the 8x88S.

If for no other reason that it has way more cool points than the 300.

The 300 H&H is a classic I will admit but the 8x68S can push bigger heavier bullets faster.

The .300H&H is a quite soft kicker while the 8x68S is kicking like a muley!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
Given one is 375 H&H the other should be a 300 H&H

The perfect matching pair.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Monastery-Forester:
The .300H&H is a quite soft kicker while the 8x68S is kicking like a muley!

recoil is subjective.

Personally I would rather shoot my Sauer in 8x68 than a featheweight .270.

I'd go with whichever ammo is more readily available. Metric calibers have more African / European acceptance (but I have a .300 H&H)

Ag ja!

300 h+h for me!

I took my 300 Ultra to Afica and I killed 4 animals. I was using 200 partitions one long shot 280 yds away that was my zerba. the others
were around 200yds away. killed them all no trailing.

I have both calibers, I would do the 8x68 any day!! If the rifle is built right then recoils is a non event!
ammo is now freely available in SA and Namibia!

quote:

Originally posted by BianJ:
I have two BRNO 602 Magnum actions for custom rifles (same look and feel). One will be a 375 H&H, but I am in two minds on the other caliber either a 300H&H or 8x68. This rifle will be used for the larger African plains game at extended range - read Kalahari and Karoo. I am sure both would work. What are your recommendations.

.300 Pegasus.

I consider a .338 Win Mag and a .416(pick your flavor) to be the perfect African duo. .338 for all plains game except giraffe and even the cats if legal. .416 for giraffe and thick skinned dangerous game for much better clout than a .375. I could see a 8x68 substituting for my .338 in this scenario but ammo availability greatly favors the .338 except maybe in Germany itself.

If the .375 is the OP's big gun then he can use it for eland, wildebeest, and maybe big kudo in addition to dangerous game and gain a little low side flexibility with the .300 H&H. I think the .300 H&H is slightly better than the .300 Win mag on minor technical points but would definitely go .300 win mag for better availability that might save a hunt someday.

Both the .300 H&H and 8x68 are some of the slickest feeding turnbolt cartridges out there so arguing that one probably won't shed much light.

I'd use the 8x68 if I were going to a former German colony, such as Namibia. I'd use the 300 H&H if I were going to a former British colony. Both will do the job equally well, but I'd make the choice based on the nostalgia of where I was going.

My next rifle for Africa wil be my scoped .300 H&H and 400/350rigbymauser shooting open sights.

quote:

Originally posted by BianJ:
I have two BRNO 602 Magnum actions for custom rifles (same look and feel). One will be a 375 H&H, but I am in two minds on the other caliber either a 300H&H or 8x68. This rifle will be used for the larger African plains game at extended range - read Kalahari and Karoo. I am sure both would work. What are your recommendations.

You have already decided that either caliber will work but if you are building a rifle to compliment your .375H&H then .300H&H seems the obvious choice.

quote:

You have already decided that either caliber will work but if you are building a rifle to compliment your .375H&H then .300H&H seems the obvious choice.

+1!!!