.30-06 to .300 H&H?? Possible? Worth it?

Kilo Charlie

Kilo Charlie

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I like cartridges that are just a bit less popular. The .300 Win Mag doesn't really interest me, but I've always been interested in the .300 H&H.
There aren't a lot of available .300 H&H rifles out there at a reasonable price, and I was wondering how much would be involved, cost-wise, in rechambering a .30-06 bolt rifle, for example a Rem 700, to .300 H&H. Is it just a case of rechambering and opening up the bolt face? I'm thinking that the cost of the conversion could be as little as $300.00 or so, give or take.
Are current Rem, Winchester and Ruger actions long enough to accommodate this cartridge? I know both Rem and Winchester used to chamber it in their rifles.

I realize that one could set back the barrel of a .300 Win Mag, but that would require some barrel channel/bedding work.
 
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This is lots of work but doable, The question as to economy is all up to you.

You need to have a reamer and a get of headspace gauges to heave the barrel re-chambered, then you would need to address the different bolt face issue. Depending on what gun, you can either buy a new bolt assembly, or you may be able to have the bolt face opened up and a new extractor put in.

If I was hell bent on doing this, i would purchase a new custom barrel and have that installed instrad of re-chambering a factory barrel. This will also allow you to select the right twist for the length of bullets you want to use. You would need to use different magazines if mag feeding as the magnum-sized brass is different from a 30-06

I cannot see this costing less than about $800 with only simple converting your existing rifle. Economy is in the eye of the beholder, but I would simply buy a rifle in this caliber.
 
It's not IMpossible, just not sure if it's practical. First I would get a round or two, and see if the action is long enough. Rugers, except for the ones they use for their .416/.375, I'm sure are not, and I don't think the new winchesters are... the remington I'm not sure about. Bolt face would have to be altered, and likely the feed rails too, to get reliable functioning.

At the very worst, you have an excuse to go shopping for a new rifle... how about a Ruger No. 1 in .300 H&H?
 
The 300 H&H is a fine performer and feeds slick as sn*t.

The Remington Long action will accommodate the 300 H&H quite nicely.

The feed rails would probably need to be opened slightly.

The boltface is the biggest hurdle....
I would try to find a bolt with the Magnum face.
That would eliminate the need to open your existing one.

As another poster said, if going to this much trouble, a new, 26" barrel would be nice.

I would opt for the 10" twist, it will handle all hunting bullets well.

Regards, Eagleye
 
Easy to do the deal with a "Classic" (pre-FN) Model 70. Find a magnum donor, swap out the follower and mag box for the H&H length, trim the ejector and screw on a new barrel. You might even find a take off '06 barrel that you could have fit and rechambered. That'd be the way I'd go if I didn't already have an M70 in 300 H&H.:D
 
Consider that brass isn't all that easy to find. Hornady makes it, but their brass has a reputation for being overly soft and useless after only a few firings. Nosler makes brass, but it will cost you dearly.

Here's mine < brag > :D

046-1.jpg
 
SuperCub said:
Consider that brass isn't all that easy to find. Hornady makes it, but their brass has a reputation for being overly soft and useless after only a few firings. Nosler makes brass, but it will cost you dearly.

Here's mine < brag > :D

046-1.jpg
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Ah-Haaaa. Now I see who snagged that .300H+H Safari before I could...good for you brother.
Last year I had a Winchester 70 Super-Grade (1990's CRF) .338WWM converted to .300H+H. The gunsmith recommended starting with a magnum caliber rather than a .30-06/.270 rifle which I would have preferred. Therefore the .338 barrel was replaced with a Douglas pre-chambered barrel. The spacer at rear of mag was removed which made it long enough for H+H case and the ejector was replaced to allow bolt to travel back more before ejecting long case. Only issue I encountered later was the follower needed to be made to be closer to rear of mag otherwise second round would sometimes not pick up. I cured this by simply sliding mag spring rear wards in floor-plate slot about 1/4" and filling gap with J-B weld. Harder to say than see. Overall, the conversion cost about $800.
Geoff
 
BigUglyMan said:
Easy to do the deal with a "Classic" (pre-FN) Model 70. Find a magnum donor, swap out the follower and mag box for the H&H length, trim the ejector and screw on a new barrel. You might even find a take off '06 barrel that you could have fit and rechambered. That'd be the way I'd go if I didn't already have an M70 in 300 H&H.:D
Click to expand...

I was hoping you'd want to sell me yours before you left for Kugluktuk, LOL. I'd have driven to Behcho'ko for it!
 
longbranch* said:
Ah-Haaaa. Now I see who snagged that .300H+H Safari before I could...good for you brother.
Last year I had a Winchester 70 Super-Grade (1990's CRF) .338WWM converted to .300H+H. The gunsmith recommended starting with a magnum caliber rather than a .30-06/.270 rifle which I would have preferred. Therefore the .338 barrel was replaced with a Douglas pre-chambered barrel. The spacer at rear of mag was removed which made it long enough for H+H case and the ejector was replaced to allow bolt to travel back more before ejecting long case. Only issue I encountered later was the follower needed to be made to be closer to rear of mag otherwise second round would sometimes not pick up. I cured this by simply sliding mag spring rear wards in floor-plate slot about 1/4" and filling gap with J-B weld. Harder to say than see. Overall, the conversion cost about $800.
Geoff
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What are you using for brass?

Paul
 
Have about 40 new I've kept for "hunting loads" and recycle about another 40 for range. R-P and W-W I've picked up over the years at shows. In a pinch you could run new .375H+H brass through your dies. I tested this and except for odd wrinkle or dent in neck/shoulder area it works. Couple firings and you'd never know I'm sure.
Geoff
 
Geoff - did you get rid of your pre-64? Or do you now just have two in the grand old .300?

SC - you could also buy Nosler brass.
 
Why not? said:
Winchester makes 375 H&H brass that is very tough and easy to find. One pass through the 300 sizing die and presto, perfect 300 brass!

Ted
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Wish I'd bought your old Mauser when you offered it to me, Ted!
Live and learn, LOL!

Sounds like the idea isn't really practical. I may just save a few sheckels and buy a vintage 721 or a new Ruger Number One.
 
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