Shortest route to a 300 H&H?

[375er]

I have been having the urge to have a 300 H&H in a crf action. Will it be easier to find one or build one via rechamber/rebarrel?

Not ruling out a 300 Win. either. Just decided to look at options. All opinions welcome!

 

[Aaron N]

There are lots of M70’s out there. That would probably be the easiest route to buy one. I’d say $2000 would be an average plus or minus for condition.

 

[Aaron N]

Another thing to look for, if your budget allows, is searching for someone’s else’s custom rifle that’s now up for sale. It won’t be exactly what you want, but it will be a steep discount to the actual build price.

 

[sestoppelman]

Agree on the original model 70, they are around, usually in fair shape, 25" bbl, CRF, all the good stuff. I has one once, dang good shooting rifle.
I have a model 70 .300 now, an XTR push feed, but its gorgeous and I like it.

 

[Aaron N]

Agree on the original model 70, they are around, usually in fair shape, 25" bbl, CRF, all the good stuff. I has one once, dang good shooting rifle.
I have a model 70 .300 now, an XTR push feed, but its gorgeous and I like it.

If the Win Mag came out in 63, now many years of overlap where there with the two big 30’s?

 

[sestoppelman]

If the Win Mag came out in 63, now many years of overlap where there with the two big 30’s?

Only 1963, after that it was only the Win mag until later when the H&H was released occasionally in post '64 style.
I have one of those made around 1986 in a special run.

 

[sestoppelman]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/942310000

This is what I have, only the wood on mine is nicer. I see a couple of pre 64's on Gunbroker.

 

[Aaron N]

Only 1963, after that it was only the Win mag until later when the H&H was released occasionally in post '64 style.
I have one of those made around 1986 in a special run.

I wasn’t sure if they were a regular offering or special runs, thanks for the info!

 

[Desperatezulu]

I wasn’t sure if they were a regular offering or special runs, thanks for the info!

Regular offering! One of the original 6 chamberings chosen when the M70 came out if I recall correctly.

"Per Roger Rule's book pre 64 chamberings included 37,000 300 HH's and 208,000 06's. The 30-06 Springfield was by far the most popular chambering, and with good reason, at 36% of all pre 64 70's."

There should be some original examples floating around still in decent condition.

Short of an original H&H rifle in this calibre, I believe the M70 is THE one to have in 300H&H. Sadly they're very uncommon in RSA so I went the custom route and still feel a little short-changed.

 

[BeeMaa]

Shortest route to a quality rifle - Dakota M76 Classic 300H&H on GB for $3K (buy it now for $3.5K). You would probably be ahead money buying this type of semi-custom rifle considering what you would spend at a gunsmith to have all the nice touches done to a Winchester M70. Plus the wood is really nice.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/941828767

Longest route to a full custom rifle - Buy a Granite Mountain double square bridge action, bottom metal and stock blank to have a custom rifle made exactly to your specs. Price expected to start at $15K, but you will have EXACTLY the rifle you want. Better yet, make a set and have a 300H&H with a 375H&H...you might get a break on the price for doing both at once. @Nevada Mike had this done with a custom builder for his LH 404J. I'm sure he would recommend the same person for the work.

 

[Excessexpress]

Short of the full custom Avenue, find a 375 you like and have it rebarrelled. It will most likely feed with little or no adjustment.

 

[Aaron N]

Shortest route to a quality rifle - Dakota M76 Classic 300H&H on GB for $3K (buy it now for $3.5K). You would probably be ahead money buying this type of semi-custom rifle considering what you would spend at a gunsmith to have all the nice touches done to a Winchester M70. Plus the wood is really nice.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/941828767

That’s a pretty good price for a Dakota, is it not?

 

[BeeMaa]

That’s a pretty good price for a Dakota, is it not?

I'm not an expert on the Dakota brand outside of what I posted here.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/parkwest-arms-at-dsc.66758/post-941107
Ultimately the "value" will be determined by the buyer and seller. That said...if I were on the market for a ready to use, timber stocked, traditional rifle with CRF in 300H&H, it would be high on my list of possible choices.

 

[mdwest]

A good number of M1917 and P14 enfields were converted to 300 H&H over the years.. the length of the action and it’s strength lends itself well to the full length magnum family of cartridges..

Some really nice customs can be found at a steal of a price if you are fortunate in finding one…

Mine required a good bit of work… it needed a complete re-blue and complete refinish on the stock.. but the metal and wood at its base was in great shape.. and the wood is particularly nice with lots of figuring present..

I literally picked it up at a gun show for $350 out the door.. the owner thought he had a hunk of junk on hand… I paid a guy in Dallas another $300 that does incredible hot blue work to do the metal for me.. and I did the stock work myself (I do quite a bit of woodwork as a hobby and am reasonably decent at refinishing stocks)…

All in I’ve got $650 invested… and my best guess is I’ve got a$1500 rifle now based on the quality of the wood, quality of the finishes, etc… (it’s also got a timney trigger that a prior owner had installed… and a few other nice “custom” touches on it like an ebony grip cap, ebony friend cap, etc..)…

Doesn’t hurt that it’s lights out accurate with factory federal loads either…

I’ve never regret spending those $650

 

[Bonk]

I have a LNIB Cooper M52 in 300H&H I'd consider selling. PM me.

 

[sestoppelman]

Regular offering! One of the original 6 chamberings chosen when the M70 came out if I recall correctly.

"Per Roger Rule's book pre 64 chamberings included 37,000 300 HH's and 208,000 06's. The 30-06 Springfield was by far the most popular chambering, and with good reason, at 36% of all pre 64 70's."

There should be some original examples floating around still in decent condition.

Short of an original H&H rifle in this calibre, I believe the M70 is THE one to have in 300H&H. Sadly they're very uncommon in RSA so I went the custom route and still feel a little short-changed.

Regular offering in the pre 64 yes, but not after that.

 

[Bullthrower338]

So the simplest route to a 300 H&H? I started the journey by finding a very nice Pre-64 example, then my buddy @tarbe decided to sell his Ruger No. 1 in the wonderful Super 30 so I bought it. Took it on a Safari and was in love with the 300 H&H! We were a dealer for Montana Rifle Company and needed to make our annual order so I had them chamber a rifle for me in 300 H&H, while waiting for it to be built I bought a Winston Elrod rifle that was offered on AH chambered in 300 H&H. @tarbe was missing his No. 1 so we did a trade and he got his baby back which still had Kudu blood in the checkering from his first Safari. So now I was back down to three, well I loved the No. 1 so ended up with a Color Cased one just before I left Texas. I just ordered a Z5i from at @R&M FIREARMS and a set of rings from Alaska Arms, which will get sent to be Color cased as soon as I get them. Moral of the story is there is no way to get a Short Route to a 300 H&H, but it has been a great trip!

 

[sestoppelman]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/941107978

Here is a very nice one on GB. The stock finish looks too nice to be original when compared to the moderate blue wear, but its a looker.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

+1 on an original Pre 1964 Winchester Model 70 Super Grade

 

[sestoppelman]

By 1960 the Super Grade was discontinued.