This is just out of curiosity.

If you were having a full custom rifle made would choose the 300 WSM or the 300 H&H.

No other choices.

Mike

I take it that you are looking for a single nice rifle that can handle the widest range of hunting situations. That being the case, I would opt for the 300 H&H. The ability to shoot bullets heavier than 180 grains tips the scale in favor of the H&H. If its for elk sized game and smaller you could go with the WSM and be in great shape. If your plans include moose and larger african game then the H&H would suit you better.

Only thing is that you can put the WSM in a long action, move the bullets out and still use the heavier bullets. Plus you have more powder capacity. I'd choose the WSM.

300 H&H. It will feed better. It will shoot as well and it is a classic.
To be perfectly honest I would prefer the 308 Norma so as to eliminate the need for a long action. Regards, Bill.

Its and odd either or choice. I don't think the WSM gives up anything to either the 300 H&H or the 300 Win Mag for that matter. My 300 WSM will safely push 180s close to 3020 FPS. Haven't tried 200's but many here have and I recall seeing plenty of 2800 FPS velocities.
I'm pretty secure in claiming its a ballistic "wash"... Buy whatever suits your fancy. I'm seating 150's and 180s to touch the lands in my Win 70 300 WSM and the ammo feeds just fine. Also, the 300 WSM gets the bullet to the same approxiomate velcoity with a smaller/lighter receiver, shorter barrel, and less powder.

Mike,

I know you would pick the .300 H&H.

If you are a tech head you would go .300 WSM if you appreciate class then the .300 H&H.

I have a 25-06 Ruger Mk 1 that has never shot any good. I was thinking that the way to go with this reifle is to rebarrel to the .300WSM in a std action but go with a shorter 23-24 inch barrel. That way you can utilise the heaviest bullets weights & seat them right out. Still have a handy rifle & still get max velocity due to the efficiency of the short & fat cases.

What do you think?

Regards,
JohnT

John,

Denis Tobler has the 300 WSM reamer and 300 WSM ammo. Don't know about cases.

Unless you particularly wanted a 300 WSM a 300 Winchester might be the way to go. In either case the bolt will have to be altered and if all else is equal the 300 Win should be easier to make feed well. The 300 Win will be a bit faster will full loads. With 2213 you will get 3100 with 180s and a 24 inch barrel.

On the other hand since you would be up for a barrel, chambering, action gunsmiting and potential feeding problems, I think for a 300 WSM you might consider selling that Ruger and buying a Model 70 in 300 WSM.

The one negative with a short Model 70 would be if you later decided to have a 300 Ultra, or 300 Wby etc. you would stuck with the short action.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 10-17-2001).]

I don't see how a specific chambering like the .300 H&H can have "class"...maybe the rifles they chamber them in but not the cartridge. The H&H was designed around what was available at the time and was great "for it's day" but let's wake up and smell the coffee folks....a 180gr .30 caliber bullet doing 2950-3000 fps is the same no matter what name is on the head of the case.

DB Bill,

Remember that "class" is a product of both some functional value and "perception"

Both of these calibers are going to deliver similar ballistics with full loads.

However, if all else is equal the long tapered H&H case with the small diameter shoulder will feed with less effort and greater relaibility than will the 300 WSM.

Also and as with the 375, the belt does allow one to have a lot of clearance between case and chamber while still retaining only a few thou of headspace.

By the way, the post was put up here and HA as a sort of survey as a result of a discussion that a couple of us were having in Australia.

Mike

I have settled on the 300 H&H, mostly because I like the heavy bullets, 200 and 220 gr., even 250 grs. and I can get higher velocities out of the 300 H&H because of its long neck with the heavy bullets...I like the 300 Win. Mag. a lot, and used it a great deal, but like all the new rounds, a long bullet, dips into the powder space, effecting its effectiveness as a big game cartridge, whether some want to believe it or not....

I like the long sloping 300 H&H case as it feeds well and extracts when things go bad..I like classic and nostalgia and that is my right...

I have to trim more because of the case shape but that's no biggie for me and I could have RCBS make me an X die if I wanted too and solve that problem..

The extra bolt travel is so trivial that it's not worth discussing...short stroking is a magazine term for people that shouldn't be in the field...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Ray...the only thing I would take exception to about your post would be bullet weight. If I feel (personal preference) that I am going to need more bullet weight, for whatever reason, I will go up in diameter. With the new "super penetrator" bullets now available "heavy for caliber" bullets are no longer needed.
The old rounds like the .300 H&H may well be fun to shoot (just like a classic car may be fun to drive on weekends) for everyday use give me the most efficient tool for the job.

Mike,

The .300 WSM ammo was available at Horsley. What I saw were the 180gr Super X & they were selling for about $27 a box. So pretty reasonable pricing.

DB Bill, "Class" is part subjective and part objective. Why the H&H name alone lends some class. No doubt your ballistics argument holds true but if we were ruled by that alone how bland the world would be.

I mean cartridges are like women. Who would go for short & fat when you can get tall & thin!!

Regards,
JohnT

Make mine a 300 H&H please. If I was going to all the trouble to have a custom .30 cal magnum made, premium barrel, exotic wood stock, top grade optics, (OK, I'm starting to pant now!) I would want the class of the H&H. If not, just go down to Walmart and buy a damn plastic stocked Savage. Sure they'll shoot (Savages, and WSM's), but they aint got no class. Just my opinion, do what you want.

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"You seem to be suffering from delusions of adequecy."

I'm not sure if it is "classic" or not but if I was building a nice blue steel and walnut rifle it would have to be the H&H.
If I was building a stainless and synthetic tool, I might pick the WSM. Maybe not. The WSM seems to me to be the answer to a question nobody was asking.
Joe.

DB,
I consider the 300 H&H the most efficient of the bunch..It gets the highest velocity with the least amount of powder and has a neck thats long enough to hold any bullet which most of the others do not..therefore they give up the valuble powder space that gives them the velocity...

Also I have found the 200 gr. Nosler to be the ultimate long range bullet and the very best killer in the 300's, visably better than that wonderfull 180 gr. Nosler...It will also drive lenthwise through an Eland, Moose or elk, and just hammers the crap out of small whitetail deer on a broad side shot, now thats an unusual bullet and I would advise any one who has not used it to just give it a try, then make a decision on their experience.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Ray.....I defer to your experience. You've probably hit more game by accident than I have on purpose...what can I say "You da man"
:0

DB,
you are right I have hit more game by accident, or rather its an accident when I hit game, whichever!!!

You must try that 200 gr. Nosler in your 300 whatever, it is a fantastic bullet on all game,

You are certainly correct that a bigger hammer is better, I won't argue that, the big dog always sleeps on the poarch and eats first...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

If I had a long action Ruger with a .473" bolt face and wanted a 30 caliber it would become a 30-06 pretty quick and it's a no-brainer as far as rebarelling and making it feed.Or how about a 30-06 Ackley Imp.?