300 H&H Magnum nedd advice

[Mr Humble]

Hi, new to the site but old fart caster. Working up a load for my 300 H&H Ballard highwall (pic below) with my new NEI 210 gr driving band bullet.(pic below) Naturally the HW is throated for jacketed bullets so I have to seat them way in (love the l-o-n-g 300 H&H neck). Starting with 25gr 4198 to duplicate 30-40 Krag. Am trying cornmeal as a filler and also dacron. In the past (other rifles) I have also used Ballistic products shot buffering with good results. Thoughts, experience and opinions appreciated.
(Have essentially the same NEI mold in 35 & .411, both are very accurate)

[Tim357]

Hoooeee!! That is a SWEET looking rifle! Can't help ya on the loads, but had to comment on the rifle..
Tim sends

[Mr Humble]

Yeah when Ballard was in WY, they did build some special stuff. Not sure about since the move to MI.
Just for grins I priced out duplicating it today (I bought it from the late Thad Scott who special ordered it and had it as "new old stock" for several years, for $4K) Build it today w/o the scope $7500 and wait a l-o-n-g time.
Crazy, yup, but never saw an armored car following a hearse!

[BABore]

Any relation to Dave Humble from up in da UP?

You might want to look into XMP 5744 and Mag pimers. I've had good sucess with that in the 338 Win Mag and 375 H&H. I've never had to use fillers with it. Accurate Arms should be able to get you a min/max load. They respond to emails pretty well.

[Mr Humble]

No relation, just picked it because it reflects my wonderful persona (ask my wife...well.....no don't).
I'll check out that powder/primer combo. thanks.

[Mr Humble]

Well, looks like I really need advice!
Group #1 was shot with some 170 gr 30-30 bullets I bought off a caster on ebay years ago. Compared to the quality of my NEIs...... like Mossberg vs H&H.... but they shot. Note that is a 100 yard group.
The next two were shot today at FIFTY yards with my beautiful bullets (+-2/10) and the driving band left (as per NEI) unsized the full .311 the back @.308.
BTW I always use SPG lube and it always works, never any leading as long as moderate loads.
I'm thinking maybe try some "from the mold" although the bore slugs .3075.
Thoughts? Ideas? THANKS!!!

[Mr Humble]

No thoughts ? No ideas ?

[runfiverun]

slow your powder down some, a pretty good 30 cal load like 28-31 grs of 4895 and a filler might get you more accuracy.
i am assuming this is a 10 twist bbl? and about 1800-1900 should be a good accuracy velocity.
a tuft of dacron will work nicely.
you might be able to settle down those groups some with a primer change also [fed,win]

[Mr Humble]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[ra_balke]

That is one lovely rifle...

3oo H&H I think that buggar has a short neck, but I cant see it in my mind..

Keep the bare lead of bullet away from the powder charge, so you cannot seat them below the case neck.

Do not size them ! had lube only,, and use a lyman style slip on gas check.

Look for starting velosities of 1700 fps, and if you want it accurate try not to break 2000 fps.

for the Powder, I would go with 2400, and no filler, just make sure all loads have the powder seated unifirmaly back aginst the base of the case.

Any powder from 2400, to 4895 is worth a try. But I'll bet 2400 will be the winner.

[Mr Humble]

Progress is being made. These two 10 shot groups were shot at 50 yards. Bullets were not segregated for weight variations. The 3031 load will be tried again with segregated bullets to see if it tightens up further. Using no filler in a case this large requires the muzzle be elevated for each shot and set down with uniformity. A royal pain that still opens up non uniform ignition. The other advantage of filler with this bullet in this rifle is that the bullet must be seated below the end of the neck due to the spitzer throat. The filler protects the exposed portion of the bullet from powder gases. (it also smells good). A slight crimp was also applied as the driving bands are below the neck.

[Ben]

I think I read that your drive bands on your bullet are sized .308.

Do you have a .309 and a .310 sizing die ?

Not always, but in many cases " BIGGER " is better if the loaded round chambers OK.

Ben

[TonyT]

Mr Humble,
At one time I used SR-4756 without any fillers but have sold the rifle many moons ago. I'll see if I can dig up the old DuPont loading data which was for jacketed bullets.

[Mr Humble]

Well, I figgered out the problem. I bought the wrong mold! The mold I had (now sold to a happy camper with a very loose throated Krag) had a .310 driving band (the one at the front of the bullet.
When I woke up and dug out my 1994 Handloader article on how great this bullet was, it had a .301 driving band. Now mold on order and now should be able to set OAL to ENGAGE lands rather than STOP at them. For now I'll shoot my 1910 303 Savage 1899 with the ancient Lyman RN 170 GC and 9 gr Trailboss. I am wondering if sized and trimmed 30-30 cases will work with that pooper load (30-30 is smaller in front of rim) and allow me to save my gold plated Norma 303 Savage cases for hunting use with the "bucket mouth" Barnes 30-30 bullet?