Elderly chamberings - what bullet weight?

[Potashminer]

Probably "procrastination" - I can / will likely load both bullets in both rifles and see what I get. But I thought to see what suggestions might be out there.

I have a Model 70 Winchester - 24" barrel in 300 H&H; and a Parker Hale 1200 - 24" barrel in 308 Norma Magnum. Lots of brass for each (I think). There is a good stash of 180 grain Grand Slam, and 220 grain Round Nose Hornady bullets. For "coolness" or "old time Fudd" considerations - which weight would be preferable in either chambering? I view both of them as a "bit more" than a 22" 30-06 and perhaps a "bit less" than 24" 300 Win Mag - but not really a lot of space in there to be filled ... If the barrels on those are cut back to 20" or shorter, likely as appropriate to just stay with good old 165 grain 308 Win.

 

[nowarningshot]

The old grand slam bullets, amber plastic boxes, bullets in their individual holes are excellent. Newer versions are disappointing. If you have the older ones, the grand slam in 308 norma, 220 in H$H.
,
Never had a 300 h$h, but several 308nm. The Parker Hale is capable of stomper loads, load hot the 308nm can push past vanilla 300wm.

 

[Potashminer]

Thanks for suggestions - picture below of the boxes that I have - a couple more of each type box on hand - both "versions" appear to have the amber boxes that you describe, but different labels. Is there a reason I would use one or the other??

I only have the one version of 220 grain Round Nose left here - Red label Hornady, metal reinforced corners on the boxes - no mention of "Interlock", or even a Part Number on the label - so I suspect they are older - but all that I have, so no choice for 220 RN.

 

[hunters home]

With prober handloads the difference between the H&H, 308 Norma and 300 Win on paper is negligible and even less in the field. If your Model 70 would be a pre-64 then I would not ever cut the barrel.

 

[todbartell]

in my rifles, Lapua 300wm brass holds 91.6grs h2O, and Norma 308NM brass holds 90.2 - Velocity potential is near identical




I'd run the Grand Slam in the 308NM and the 220gr in the H&H

 

[Andy]

It used to be "as heavy as you can find", so I'd say the 220's.

I have a box of "Barnes Original" in 308 that are 225 grs and one in 323 that are 250's. You don't see that much anymore.

 

[track]

I have my 300 H&H ready to go this autumn for bull moose. I have a nice load using the Nosler 165 grain Accubond infront of H-4350, which is suffice for those big critters.

 

[dan belisle]

I usually choose 200 gr bullets for my 300 mags (of whatever flavour) for hunting, but of the choices you have I would likely go with the 180's. - dan

 

[downwindtracker2]

I have a 308Norma on a P-17. Some back ground on it. It's a better designed cartridge for the 3.4" 30-06 magazines than the 300WM. Being slightly shorter it has less capacity. But for marketing reasons I guess, Norma loaded it hot. Factory Norma velocities are MAX. , don't exceed. I remember seeing 3080fps, in maybe an old Gun Digest or an old box, so I checked my boxes of brass. I have couple of factory loadings of 180gr Dual Core with the ballistics printed on the back. They must be newer, they are 3020fps. A bit saner. The couple of older? 180gr SP boxes didn't have any velocity on them. As with any magnum, premium bullets are called for. If you are being retro cool, 180gr Partitions .

 

[downwindtracker2]

I just remembered, this getting old is a #####, but John Barness in his Book of Gun Gack 3 talked about loading the 300H&H. It has the same volume case as the 300WSM. So he used that data, it was much fresher than 300H&H data. Hope this helps.

 

[Eagleye]

I have been loading/shooting the 308 Norma Magnum since 1967.
It is realistic to get 3100 with a 180 grain bullet, using Norma MRP
or Reloder 22/25.
Your 300 H&H will run those 220 grainers to 2800+, and be quite
effective as well. Dave.

 

[todbartell]

newer factory ammo 180gr Oryx did 2960 fps from my 24" barrel. I use RL26 with 180gr A-Frames & Accubonds for 3025 fps. My 220gr load is the Woodleigh bullet over enough Viht N560 to hit 2780 fps