I've always wanted a 300 H&H, and have found one that I'm looking forward to. It has the original steel butt plate, and I'm considering having a classic red pad put on it. I'm buying this gun to use, and hunt with. While I don't want to de-value the gun, I do want it to be comfortable to shoot.
As simple as some will say recoil pads are to install, I don't want to take any chances. I need a worthy hand to send it to. The closer to North Alabama the better. Any recommendation would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't do this.. There's plenty of them out there that have been chopped, try to pick up one of them.. Or at least get another stock and save the original..
I know this isn't what you were asking.. But...

A clean original pre-64 in a rare caliber like the 300 H&H might bring $2500 or more in 90%. I've got one like that, and it would take more than that to buy it from me.

Cut the butt stock, add a pad, and cut the value by 1/3rd, even a bit more.

It's like buying a Hemi Superbird and taking a sawzall to the roof because you always wanted a convertible.

They aren't making them anymore...

Shoot it a while before you do anything rash (or foolish). I just had a 300 custom built with a steel butt plate. I don't think it's going to kill me. Use a pad at the bench.

pre 64 stocks become available with some regularity....check the want adds here and other places....gunbroker usually has some available....

Install a pad on one of them and glass bed it to your barreled action.....set your original stock away....someday you'll be glad you did.

Better yet, if you have deep pockets let one of the custom smiths that post here build you a new stock for it.....

There are some pretty decent slip on pads you can use if the extra 1/2 inch LOP is not a problem. The metal pad on the rifle is probably inletted on the top so to properly mount a rubber pad some wood will have to be cut.

It is very easy to find and fit a pre 64 standard stock for a standard caliber with a pad on it to an H&H. The magazine well needs opened up about 1/4" in the front. The material you remove is hidden from view so it doesn't have to be perfect or even close by any means. Save the original steel butt and use the other one. Who am I to talk, I just had steel crossbolts put in an original 375 H&H pre 64 stock myself!

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
Shoot it a while before you do anything rash (or foolish). I just had a 300 custom built with a steel butt plate. I don't think it's going to kill me. Use a pad at the bench.

I'll shoot it first for sure. And may explore the custom stock scenario. (vapodog)

Try it first. I shoot my pre'64 .300 h&h with steel plate and it doesn't bother me at all. For big game hunting I don't think you will notice it
C.G.B.

Will do!
Do you like your 300 H&H pretty well. I've got a couple of 300 WSM's. I do like them, but the H&H is, and has been one I've always wanted.

I personally don't care for P64 stocks. They have too much drop for me. I restocked my 375 and have the original 2 cross bolt stock sitting in my safe.

Duane,

it's in the header.

Just a question- say he took the steel butt plate off and just had a rubber recoil pad fitted to the stock and he didn't cut it- would it hurt the value then? All he would have to do to make it original again would be to remove the rubber recoil pad and screw the steel one back on. Or am I missing something?

Won't work. Aside from the slight curvature of the original butt end, there's the widow's peak mortise at the heel too.

When shooting hard kickers at the bench, I put a velcro-attached slip on pad in place. Put it away when done and no one knows that I was a wuss!

I would not cut a stock stock. I had the same issue, a very nice 55 in 300H&H. I bought a beater stock that had already been cut. Any of them will do, does not have to be a magnum length stock, all you have to do is open up the magazine well a tad. I now have the best of both worlds, one that is comfortable to shoot and I don't care if the stock gets dinged.

quote:

Originally posted by gnoahhh:
Won't work. Aside from the slight curvature of the original butt end, there's the widow's peak mortise at the heel too.

When shooting hard kickers at the bench, I put a velcro-attached slip on pad in place. Put it away when done and no one knows that I was a wuss!

Gonna shoot it like it is. Not going to cut it or change it in any way. Slip on is the answer, and that's what I'll do.

I shoot mine with the steel butt plate.
I bought it because it had not been modified. I am not a collector but just wanted it to be right.

M

People build 20-40K custom bolt rifles that they know will be worth alot less in event of resale,
now people are worried about the devaluation of an ordinary factory pre64 by putting a rubber pad on it.
for goodness sake - just put an appropriate pad on it, forget the money value and one day remember
all the enjoyable hunts/experiences you had with it.

If I was looking for a p64 300HH for the purpose of actually hunting with,
it would not bother me if the previous owner has fitted a quality rubber pad.

..- maybe you need to decide whether you are a hunter or prefer to please a P64 collector one day in the future.

I must say I agree with Trax.

I have access to a 300 with a pad added stock and am interested in the action only, I could be talked into a trade or outright sale for the stock. It is in decent condition. I also have this barrel and another one available.

Email me if interested: Jkob60@msn.com

Will email,
Thanks

I cut a pre-64 and really regret - could have just bought a nice drop in synthetic with a pad installed and used that.

The H&H doesn't really kick that much IMO. You won't feel it at all when hunting. I'd use a PAST (sp?) or slip on pad for the bench but I would not cut the stock.

Here's a very nice custom:
300H&HM70

If it hasn't been said, the .300 H & H tc98 has purchased is a super grade M-70.....not the run of the mill pre-64

I don't believe it has been said.

Now I will change my post to DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT CUTTING THAT STOCK STUPID!!!

There is a prewar Super Grade stock on eBay right now over $749 the last I looked. The greedy seller even removed the swivel bases and has them offered separately.

I'm usually tall and lanky, but age is shrinking me, that all cleared up I would just stick one of those lace on or rubber pull on recoil pads over the buttplate if your tall and lanky, wont work if your short and fat!

A used replacement stock or a plastic stock is another option, and probably the most suitable IMO..

You have a grand old caliber and capable of challenging the 300 WBy with 200 gr. Nosler and a cupful of H4831..

tc98,

Just admire the rifle and shoot it at the range with a slip on pad.

I have pre 64 70's in the calibers I want. The 300 H&H came with a pad and of course I have shot it but I have no real want for 300 magnums. In fact I don't prefer them as they kick too much.

For my hunting my 7mm or 264 mag will cover it.



It's the 70 to the right with the light color sling, aftermarket pad and 3.5-10 Leu. I bet some quasi collector like me would take it as it is and shoot it.

Don't cut the stock. I have a pre 64 M70 in 300H&H and using NBT 165gr it isn't a kicker in the least and will flatten just about anything.

I will be "the other guy".
Make the gun how you like it. Yah, yah, yah, if you cut it, the "collectors" will hemorage but it is your gun. Use it, enjoy it, make it fit you. Value is relative. What is the point of having it if you do not like to use it?

I have had several "collector" guns, I shot them, used them, kept a few, sold a few and enjoyed owning them.

Another option is to use a nice leather slip over pad. I bought one from Galco(?) and like it a lot on the big bores.

Anyway - enjoy what you own. Do not let it own you.

On the "collectors" out there. I am not ragging on you. I am just not one. I got cured when I told my kids that Beanie Babies are not collectables/investments - they are toys that can be made and made and made again.

Collecting something that was designed to shot, driven, worn or eaten and then to not use it for that purpose is insanity to me.

Hey, I drove a friends 1965 Silver Cloud Rolls to work and on dates while he was afraid to take it out of the garage. It is just "stuff" at the end of the day and especially at the end of your life.

I don't know if Beanie Babies are still being made but I do know that Pre 64 M70's aren't being made. If the rifle can't be used as is then either use the slip on pad if it doesn't increase the LOP to unshootable length, load it down, sell it and buy something else in that caliber.

All a recoil pad does on the old 300 H&H is give the rifle a one inch running start at your shoulder, and they are nice when you stand the gun up on the linoleum in the kitchen, they won't slip and flip..The 300 H&H is heavy and tends to push not snap your neck like a short fat round.

Hold it into your shoulder firmly with both hands, it will make felt recoil much less and make you shoot better..Nobody has ever been terribly injured by recoil and it has never killed anyone I know..Its mental "MOST OF THE TIME" the scope is the danger element.

If its a Super grade and you don't like the metal butt plate PLEASE PM me if you wish to sell or trade it. I have an original (metal butt plate) in 300 H&H. It REALLY doesn't kick my FWT 30/06 is worse. DON"T cut the stock!

Ray Atkinson,

You wrote:

Nobody has ever been terribly injured by recoil and it has never killed anyone I know..Its mental "MOST OF THE TIME" the scope is the danger element.

Your right 'some of the time!

Flinching will cause missing the target much of the time.

Those hard recoil plates hurt. For a military gun then ok as it's butt plate may also be used as a weapon.

I have all kinds of recoil pads including that those shown in the kitchen. Those are the old ones and I use the newer softer Decelerator pads and like both.

I have been hunting and target shooting for a lifetime and handloaded my first centerfire rifle in 1953.

I know what I prefer.

Here is an original pre-64 M70 Featherweight .358 Winchester from my collection with it's hard metal butt plate. A hard plate like that hurts.

I have not cut it as it's a collector and I have plenty of other 358's ready.