Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Are there practical reasons to own a .300 H&H?

The only really practical reason to own a .300 H&H is because there just plain isn't much in this world with that kind of cool factor...


And it IS efficient. It was my favorite cartridge for elk..

When I was doing a LOT of hunting the main battery was a 7x57, a .300H&H, and a .375 H&H...can you tell I like the classics?

No problem.

Glad we're on the same page.

The larger the case the less efficient. But then there’s a minimum too. Who wants to hunt caribou with a 300 blackout?

It seems that when one wants to promote a smaller case, the word efficient is brought up.

Yes a 30-06 is more efficient than a 300 Mag, a 308 is more efficient than a 30-06, a 308 Marlin is more efficient than a 308 Win, and a 300 Savage is more efficient than any above.

If it were just for efficiency sake, there would be no more Weatherby’s or belted magnums and 3,000 fps would not be likely.

But others put more priority on velocity.

Where’s your happy medium? If you’re hunting pronghorn, efficiency may not be your highest priority. But if you’re hunting from a stand and will be shooting at 50 yards then an ultra magnum may not be your first choice.

There ya go Bugg. IMO there are too many who miss that point.
Efficiency has its place AFAIC. But efficiency is not the END ALL.

As a personal example,
I like/use the 7 RM and have no complaints BUT

IMO the 7 RUM is over the top. I’m not just referencing recoil, I also shoot/hunt the 8 RM.

Jerry

Sometimes you just have to quit worrying about efficiency, feet per second, case life, and what other folks say on the internet- and just get out and shoot.

Well "Practical" is a word that may be perceived differently by different people.
I earn my living (about 985% anyway) making flintlocks. Are they "practical"?
Yes, if the purpose is to enjoy one more then you might enjoy (as an example) an AK47 or an AR15. Having be as far behind in my work load as 8 years, apparently there are many dozens of men and women that agree.

For customers who disagree within the State of Wyoming, I also have a lot of experience making ARs and AKs too.
Some still prefer a classic Bolt action, like a 98 Mauser, a Lee "Speed" or a Mannlicher–Schönauer. I just made a classic-looking left handed bolt action for a man in 9.3X62 by re-shaping a Ruger M77 Mk2 and re-barrelling it to that caliber with a barrel I contoured to the classic 1910 shape.
Is that as practical as an FN-FAL?

Many will say yeas. Many others will say no.

gnoahhh above may be closest to the real issue here.

Who cares if it's not practical in someone else's eyes.

I have owned and used several 300s in my life. I sold them all except my 300H&H. Why? Because I like it the best. Ballistics are in the same league as most others 300s and I can't tell ANY difference in how well it kills elk than any other 300 at any range.

I just like the classic lines best.
It makes me enjoy the gun more then the other eight 300s I have owned, so to me it's the most practical of them all.

I never said efficiency is the end all. That said, I remain convinced that a lot of folks are over gunned and over scoped.

Truer words were never spoken. I can't tell you how many nimrods I see in the deer woods armed with magnums of some sort with scopes bolted on that would do a Marine sniper in Afghanistan proud. Do they entertain Walter Mitty-like dreams of mountain-to-mountain shots at sheep, or wish they were staring at a riled up brown bear? I don't get it.

Nature abhors a vacuum!

Always worked for me

I remain convinced that a lot of folks are under-skilled, ignorant, and inexperienced. I am also convinced that much of what most folks "know" is contradicted by facts.

I have had several 300 H&Hs. I think it is a really easy to get to shoot round, it feeds smoother than any of my other rifles- even ones of the same make and I just ordered brass for it- Midway or Graffs had Norma brass at about a buck a pop.

I am taking it to Africa in a couple of weeks and will probably hunt with factory 180 grain Fail safe ammo. It also really likes 150 Partition Golds so that is what I will load.

I had Redding make me a custom die. My brass last plenty long now with almost no trimming.

Yes, it requires a long action but it is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle where I am trying to pry the utmost accuracy out of it. When I bought the current one, it was to be a donor for a 375. I made the mistake of shooting it first.

My group of 4 that is headed across the pond next month are taking three 300 H&Hs. My second gun is a 458 Lott. Both are nostalgic African cartridges.

I've got absolutely nothing of value to add to this thread, but here's my .300 H&H. I really like it so far.
Both of these critters could have easily been taken with a .308 or even a .243, but that's not the point. I just really like this rifle.

szihn said, “Who cares if it’s not practical in someone else’s eyes?”

I agree and it’s great that we have choices and that we are not all alike.
It would not only be boring, but consider the difficulty in finding ammo or
components IF we only had 2 or 3 rifles and cartridges to choose ! !

I’ve had a Rem 700 8mm RM for quite a few years. I’ve hunted it and killed WT
with it..... practical ? NO. Then why, because I wanted to !

ATST what animal is too tough for a 200 gr Nosler Partition at 3100 FPS ?
I’m prepared for anything that I might hunt.

I’ve also wanted to ‘play’ with a 416 RM for a long time. I’m not buying one but
if I did, what diff is it to anyone else?

There are a few smaller cartridges that I have NO interest in owning or shooting.
Some of those are very popular among us loony’s... I don’t criticize those who adore those rounds.

Variety is good for US.

Jerry

Tinman...I thought I was the only one to take a 300 H&H to Alaska caribou hunting.....

And that sums it up pretty well. And is the reason most of us have neat rifles in odd chamberings

My ugly wife/rifle comments still stand, but I forgot to add this: My pre-war 70 shoots 180gr Partitions, TTSXs and 200gr Partitions to the SAME POI out to 200 yards. Pretty darned practical in my view.

I'm doing some serious downsizing right now. When I'm done will be down to a 257Roberts, 275Rigby, 280Remington and a 300HH for scoped big game rifles, all of which have been eclipsed by "better" more modern chamberings.

Hey Super Cub, are you just now getting ready to use some of those 300 H&H cases that went your way some time ago?

I don't have an H&H but do have a 300 WSM which is ballistically the same thing. It seems to be a nicely balanced cartridge and was easy to get shooting well.

All the best from Ontario.

Jim

I don't need one, don't have one, but would like to have one.