Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Push Feed Win Model 70 in 300 H&H - Opinions?

Got that right.. I always scoffed at guys that said they had to pull the bolt back to make sure they chambered a round, because they couldn't feel it. Now I've caught myself doing the same thing on occasion with my 375. The H&H feeds like greasy sausages....They are also very accurate in my experience. Here's how I'd answer mr. Tatelaws questions:

1. Recoils a tiny bit more than a comparable weight 30-06.
2. If it's an XTR it should be worth approx. $750.00
3. Pushfeed Winchesters model 70's are known to be pretty accurate.
4. Ammo and brass is harder to find than other 300 magnums.
5. Brass doesn't last as long because of the case taper.
6. Ballistics are almost identical to the newer 300 WSM.
7. Capacity in some rifles(like the pre 64 model 70) is 4 in the mag box vs. other 300 magnums with 3.
8. Quality of that style of model 70 should be exemplary..

Speaking of magnums...I think it was around the time Winchester did the push feed .300 H&Hs, they also did some in .270 Weatherby and I think, .300 Weatherby.

Probably not many of these around, either.

As for.300 H&H brass having a short life span, it seems that should be so, just looking at the case shape. For me, that hasn't been the situation.

I guess I've made my contribution to the deterioration of this thread.

Does anyone know what the production years were for the XTR models? Or at least when they quit making them?

They were offered for couple years in mid 1980s. Based on body taper the case would need trimming after every firing. Not sure how that affects useful life because I do not reload. As I said the .300WinMag is far more practical caliber to own rifle in.

....

The .300 H&H pushfeeds were originally a limited run done for Wammes Corp (now Acusport) in 1988. There was a "Standard Grade" and a lesser quantity of "Safari Grades" with upgraded wood. A couple years later they briefly added the H&H to the standard catalog for a short stay. Here's my Safari Grade from the Wammes run, easily one of my favorite rifles.

What does this mean? Is it that the taper leads you to believe it'll need trimming every time? Have you actually observed this need to trim every time even though you don't reload?

Some years back there was a box full worth of plated, once-fired .375 H&H brass laying on the ground at my range. I picked it up and still have it even though I don't - and probably never will - have a rifle chambered for that round. My preference, in fact, would be a .375 Ruger if I ever choose to buy a .375 bolt rifle.

Practicality is also why the .300 H&H has such little appeal to me. Yes, as others have pointed out, it feeds slicker than snot. (Yawn.) Brass for the .300H&H is about 2-1/2 times more expensive than .300WM and there are fewer options. Midwayusa.com currently lists 5 types of .300WM brass as in stock with only 2 types for the .300H&H. The story on loaded ammo is about the same with loaded .300H&H ammo costing about 3 times as much as for the .300WM and much more limited in both options and supply. Midwayusa.com currently lists 47 types of .300WM ammo in stock, almost 8 times more than the 6 types in stock for the .300H&H.

For handloaders or aficionados none of this matters much, and that is OK. If I had a shotgun I didn’t want I might trade for it myself. From a purely practical standpoint though, I don’t see the value. The .300H&H won’t do anything useful that a .300WM can’t do as well or better and as a handloader with multiple .30 rifles from .300BLK to .300WM, there isn’t much of a niche left anywhere in the middle. Practicality only goes so far though and scratching an itch is a perfectly valid reason to buy a particular item, be it a rifle or something else. If the OP likes the rifle I hope he gets it and gets a lifetime of enjoyment out of it.

Lovely!

Brass on any belted magnum won't last long - UNLESS the shooter's a reloader and uses a neck-sizer after first firing.

On the H&H series the neck will stretch a bit quicker - but just pay attention to length and it'll be a piece of cake..

Wow!

You done good...

That's a keeper, for sure.

DF

Last year I tried to set up an identical 2nd elk rifle to my semicustom 700 chambered in 7STW. The 7STW came with a B&C stock with their Maxxguard (rubbery) finish that I really liked for our cold rainy elk seasons. I looked and looked and finally came upon another identical stock. Looking for barreled actions to put into it, I came upon a custom 700 chambered in 300h&h. I was excited as when I was growing up my Grandpa's only hunting rifle was a model 70 in 300h&h. This h&h has proven to be accurate, and its recoil shooting 168 E-tips noticeably less than any 300wm I've shot. Brass is easy to find, it might be a bit more than 300wm brass, but its a hunting rifle so I won't be exhausting brass every month. Lee even makes their collet die for it - though I'll full length size the brass before hunting with it, but its nice for making quick practice rounds. I have a ton of 168 nosler custom comp blems that I use for cheap practice.
Bottom line - its accurate, good power for the recoil given, its a little bit unique, and components are readily available. I like it.

IMO,buy the .300 H&H TATELAW.

These are basically the reasons the rifle interests me, the main one being I like older, less common cartridges. I prefer my 220Swift to my 22-250. I know the 300WM is more practical. I've had a couple and the recoil in a sporter weight rifle was more than I cared for. I won't own another unless it's in a heavy barrel, Sendero style rifle. I had a 300WSM. I don't know why, but WSMs just don't trip my trigger.

The H&H is pretty much the only 300 magnum I have any interest in owning, otherwise my 7RemMag will do anything I need from a magnum. I probably wouldn't be nearly as interested in this one if I had to buy it outright instead of trading a shotgun I don't use and some boot for it.

+1!

Imagine that. Campfire members encouraging another member to buy a rifle. Who woulda thunk?

It's the only time the 'fire can agree on something!

Hey,when it comes to spending someone elses money what's not to agree on?

IMHO those M70's are way underrated. And as far as .300H&H casings and reload tools go their available.

I've had a few Winchester Model 70 push feeds, and for the most parts they have been fine and accurate. Also had a pre 64 in 300 H&H, that one was very accurate. Like folks say more like a hot 30-06, more of a push than a smack for recoil. I would certainly consider a push feed in 300 H&H, they did not make many. Having said that the one rifle I never could get to shoot under 2" was a push feed Model 70 XTR in 243.