What about the 300 H&H ???

I'm new to the site and have been looking at all the recommendations for African Rifles. I figure my first trip will be a PG safari so I been looking into a rifle to dedicate solely to hunting African PG. I have seen a lot of good recommendations but I never saw the 300 H&H mentioned. I was thinking of building a 300 H&H and have it push a good 180 gr bullet. This should take damn near anything right? I know a 30-06 will do most anything the old H&H will do, but the H&H head stamp just screams SAFARI. What do you guys think?

I have three rifles in mind for tackling Africa. A 300 H&H for PG and any antelope, 375 H&H for anything big or dangerous, and a 6x45 for the tiny ten and any varmints.

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Originally Posted by cavtrooper94

I'm new to the site and have been looking at all the recommendations for African Rifles. I figure my first trip will be a PG safari so I been looking into a rifle to dedicate solely to hunting African PG. I have seen a lot of good recommendations but I never saw the 300 H&H mentioned. I was thinking of building a 300 H&H and have it push a good 180 gr bullet. This should take damn near anything right? I know a 30-06 will do most anything the old H&H will do, but the H&H head stamp just screams SAFARI. What do you guys think?

I have three rifles in mind for tackling Africa. A 300 H&H for PG and any antelope, 375 H&H for anything big or dangerous, and a 6x45 for the tiny ten and any varmints.

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Not much doubt in my mind that the 300H&H will get it done for all plains game with the only concern I'd have would be on Eland although I'm sure smaller calibers have been used on the big fellows. I took my .300 Win Mag last year and it was plenty fine on the Kudu I shot. The H&H and the Win Mag have pretty similar ballistics. As far as bullet weight I'd try out both 180 and 200 grain weights and if the 200 shoots as accurately or as well as the 180, I'd go with the heavier bullet.

I may be mistaken, but I think most of the African countries limit you to two rifles. If that's the case, I'd take the 300 and the 375 and leave the 6x45 at home.

I understand I can't take all three with me at once, but when I go I plan to have an agenda of what I will go after. This will allow me to choose which rifles to take.

I have no problem with your choices they sensible and smart.

My brother used one in Namibia on plains game, biggest was kudu and blue wildebeest. One shots on all but the blue, which took 4 I think. Used 200 gr Nosler Partitions moving out at over 2850 fps. Its a great classic cartridge for Africa.

My favorite is the Hornady 180gr Iterlock. They work great.

Hi cavtrooper94!

First of all welcome to the forum. I have no doubt in my mind that the 300 H&H will work on any of your plains game. As long as you are comfortable with the rifle and put the shot in the right place, you should have no problems.

Best Regards
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

The 300 H&H is very nostalgic and as you say, "screams SAFARI". I have a custom 300 H&H and thoroughly enjoy it. I load mine with 180 grain North Fork bullets and they have performed extremely well on elk and PG. One issue I have run into is the quality of unfired brass from Remington and Winchester. The brass is undersized to the point I have had to fire form it to have it come even reasonably close to SAMI specs. It is that bad. If you get a 300 H&H I suggest you purchase either Nosler or Norma brass to do your reloading with.

What would you guys think of a two gun arsenal, a 375 H&H and a 7x57? What would the 7x57 not be big enough for, except Eland I'm tracking that one.

I think your choice is a fine one!:)

Excellent choice.

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Originally Posted by cavtrooper94

What would you guys think of a two gun arsenal, a 375 H&H and a 7x57? What would the 7x57 not be big enough for, except Eland I'm tracking that one.

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Those would work just fine. In fact, you could just as well leave the 7x57 home and shoot everything with the .375. I've done it as has my partner and we took everything from bushpig up to eland with it. Still, the 7mm is a fine cartridge. I would just be sure to load fairly heavy bullets in it. You don't need the flat trajectory in Africa, the ranges aren't long, and for something the size of kudu or zebra, 160-175's give you a lot more security, IMO.

Ol Sarge is correct, you can shoot everything with the 375. But, since you started out asking about the 300 H&H, why not go with a 300 & 375. Now you're really showing class cartridge selection.

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Originally Posted by Pancho

Ol Sarge is correct, you can shoot everything with the 375. But, since you started out asking about the 300 H&H, why not go with a 300 & 375. Now you're really showing class cartridge selection.

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In that case, fellas, just go with the .375 and save on the space. Loaded with 235 or 250 gr'ers, the 300 win mag, wont do anything that the H&H cant do.

My 300 H&H pre 64 Winchester Super Grade loves 200 gr TSX's. Larry at Superior loaded them for me and they are extremely accurate. Good luck.

7X57 plus 375 or 300 H&H plus 375 ? you can't go wrong with either. Normally I say take the one that you shoot the best, but if you are comfortable with the 375 that you will be fine with the 300. Everyone is comfortable with a 7X57. Take the combination that floats your boat.

I took a Ruger #1 in 300 H&H to Namibia in May 2011. I used 200gr Nosler Partitions in handloads developed by my FFL dealer. My brother also came with me and he took a Ruger African in .300 Win Mag using Remington "safari grade" 200gr Swift A-frames. He got one shot kills on Kudu and Gemsbok, and I got one shot kills on Kudu, Gemsbok, and Red Hartebeest.

You can push the 220 grain Nosler Partition out of a 300 H&H at a little over 2600fps. That would most likely do an eland in. I would be real happy to hunt all the plains game with the 300H&H and the 7x57 as a two gun battery.

Uncompahugre,

what is the barrel length on your 300 H&H?

Have you ever shot 200 gr bullets in it?

I have a Lilja 25 inch stainless steel barrel on my 300 H&H. It was bead blasted to give it a very dull gray finish. I only shoot 180 grain North Fork bullets through it. My current load pushes them at 3,000+ and groups under .75 inch MOA when I do my part. No, I have never shot 200 grain bullets in this rifle nor do I intend to. I have 338 Win Mag that I load 215 to 225 grain bullets in it.