300 H&H Powder and Load Data?

Tdub

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Sep 13, 2014
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My dad has a 300 H&H that I want to start reloading for, everything that I have read says you can shoot 150-220 grain bullets but that you are wasting what the gun is designed for if you shoot anything less then a 200 grain bullet. I bought some 210 VLD's and emailed Berger to see if they had some load data on H1000 or Retumbo and they recommended not using these powders. They say that there is not enough internal capacity to use these powders with this bullet. I don't know if it is a long shot but I would like to see if anyone has any experience with reloading for this round and these powders, or anything they have found to work well? They recommend the basics like H4831 and RL22. The capacity is very similar to the 300 win mag as well as the powders they suggest.

Thanks for any help!
TDub
 
If you are wanting to shoot heavy bullets, try a moderately slow powder, like IMR 7828 or 7828 SSC. That should cover you from light to heavy bullets and spark some life into that old .300 H&H. Or you could just always open the chamber to a .300 H&H 40* Improved.
 
I have an old Rem 721 300H&H with a 26" barrel. I cleaned it up and got it set up as the kids' deer and elk rifle. I am using the 215 Berger Hybrid pushed by 69.5 grains of H1000 at 2,670fps. I use Fed 215 GM primers and Norma brass. ES are usually around 7fps. Accuracy is very good for an old factory rifle at .75 MOA beyond 300 yards. Have taken it to 883 yards on paper and it holds up very well. In my experience with this rifle, it's not the equal of a 300 Win Mag with heavy bullets as some say. It's more between a .30-06 and 300 Win. I initially was just neck sizing but ran into some consistency issues with pressure. Bought a full length sizer and set it up to just bump the shoulder so it still chambers slightly snug. That fixed the consistency issues.
I did try RL22, RL17, RL33, Ramshot Magnum and Retumbo. H1000 produced the best speed without excessive pressure. It was also the most consistent in accuracy and ES. Hope this helps
 
If you are wanting to shoot heavy bullets, try a moderately slow powder, like IMR 7828 or 7828 SSC. That should cover you from light to heavy bullets and spark some life into that old .300 H&H. Or you could just always open the chamber to a .300 H&H 40* Improved.

Thanks fella's, I have 4350 and 4831 on hand. The 7828 stuck out to me from the manual. I will see about getting my hands on some of that and try it. They say you can get up to 4% more with the SSC which is a nice options.
 
I have an old Rem 721 300H&H with a 26" barrel. I cleaned it up and got it set up as the kids' deer and elk rifle. I am using the 215 Berger Hybrid pushed by 69.5 grains of H1000 at 2,670fps. I use Fed 215 GM primers and Norma brass. ES are usually around 7fps. Accuracy is very good for an old factory rifle at .75 MOA beyond 300 yards. Have taken it to 883 yards on paper and it holds up very well. In my experience with this rifle, it's not the equal of a 300 Win Mag with heavy bullets as some say. It's more between a .30-06 and 300 Win. I initially was just neck sizing but ran into some consistency issues with pressure. Bought a full length sizer and set it up to just bump the shoulder so it still chambers slightly snug. That fixed the consistency issues.
I did try RL22, RL17, RL33, Ramshot Magnum and Retumbo. H1000 produced the best speed without excessive pressure. It was also the most consistent in accuracy and ES. Hope this helps

Tumbleweed-
Sorry I missed your post earlier. This is exactly what I was looking for, I think I will still work with the recommended powders but want to try something a little slower burning. When you found you load what was your starting point? Is 69.5 grains of H1000 pushing the limit? I'm looking more for accuracy then velocity. Thanks all for your suggestions.
 
I have other 300 mags for the high tech stuff. When i carry my h&h its loaded with good old 180 cup and core bullets and its usually loaded with 4350 or 4831. Its a cool old school caliber and i like it loaded like that. Ive taken deer out past 300 yards with loads like that and if im hunting someplace that i need more range ill take my 300 ultra or 7stw out of the safe.
 
Tumbleweed-
Sorry I missed your post earlier. This is exactly what I was looking for, I think I will still work with the recommended powders but want to try something a little slower burning. When you found you load what was your starting point? Is 69.5 grains of H1000 pushing the limit? I'm looking more for accuracy then velocity. Thanks all for your suggestions.

In my rifle, 69.5 grains of H1000 is near max load but is safe. Barely a faint extractor mark and shells eject smoothly. When initially neck sizing with the Lee collet neck sizing die, I would have some cases that showed more pressure than others and bolt pressure varied quite a bit when closing the bolt on a cartridge. I feel that neck tension was not sufficient for a hunting round. This caused inconsistency with accuracy too. I bought a Lee full length die and set it up to just bump the shoulder and this die also gave me some nice neck tension I didn't have before. Inconsistent pressure signs went away and accuracy came back. If I recall correctly, I couldn't find load data for this combo with H1000. So, I did some calculating and comparing and started at like 67 grains. Hope this helps.
 
In my rifle, 69.5 grains of H1000 is near max load but is safe. Barely a faint extractor mark and shells eject smoothly. When initially neck sizing with the Lee collet neck sizing die, I would have some cases that showed more pressure than others and bolt pressure varied quite a bit when closing the bolt on a cartridge. I feel that neck tension was not sufficient for a hunting round. This caused inconsistency with accuracy too. I bought a Lee full length die and set it up to just bump the shoulder and this die also gave me some nice neck tension I didn't have before. Inconsistent pressure signs went away and accuracy came back. If I recall correctly, I couldn't find load data for this combo with H1000. So, I did some calculating and comparing and started at like 67 grains. Hope this helps.

Thanks!
 
Google is your friend.

https://www.google.com.au/webhp?source=search_app&gws_rd=ssl#q=300 h%26h load data

I believe the original factory load used cordite which is similar to the american powder IMR3031. Probably not the optimum powder for that cartridge now, since the development of more modern propellants.

That load of cordite and its mundane velocities, made the cartridges reputation, but it did not become popular (or known) in the USA till it was used in a highly specialised custom built target rifle to win a few long distance matchs.

Good luck with your search.
 
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