Thread: 300 Ham'R or 30 Apache

Originally Posted by SixtyTen

I have been chewing on the idea of a switch barrel rifle based on a Howa Mini Action with a 223 bolt face and I think the 300 HAM'R/30 Apache/30-223 is a good option for a .30 cal in this platform. From what I have read you can duplicate 30-30 performance from reasonably short barrels.

I was trying to figure out what the most economical cartridge possible would be for deer sized game and below and I think the 300 HAM'R is pretty close.
-Easily available brass
-Small rifle primers
-Pretty much the smallest caliber to effectively use cast bullets, or a good selection of cheap factory projectiles.
-Small high pressure case so you can use smaller amounts of faster powder for the same velocity.

A cast 160gr HP going 2000-2200fps would be a sweet load.

This cartridge does nothing new, but it's still interesting.

Whats the appeal of using cast bullets? Just for the cost saving?
I briefly played with case bullets and found them to be a pain in the arse when loading, that unless I was a very high volume shooter then I'm not sure I'd bother.

If I were limited to a 223 bolt face I'd go for 6x45, maybe 25x45 or 6.5x45 depending on projectile availability.
It's probably just me but I don't see the appeal in a 30cal with such little case capacity.

My thought process is this:
the small case capacity means you either need to go for a very light bullet or put up with lower velocity with a heavier bullet, both result is a cartridge that will have a practical range of 300ish meters, if you are then limiting yourself to 300m then you may as well go go for something like the 6x45.
6x45 will have less muzzle energy but will have a higher BC bullet and higher muzzle velocity that at 300m you'll have performance similar to a 243 at 400-500m which most people would be happy with.
You then get the advantage of less drop and less effected by the wind.

Unless you need a lot of close range energy (like the Americans want for big game or shooting mass pigs with ARs) then I don't see the appeal in the 30/338/45/etc calibre cartridges unless the idea is also do run subsonics. I also think in the current climate where the likes of ADI have stopped producing the less common/popular powders I wouldn't want to get into a cartridge that needs a oddball powder unless I already had a decent supply.

In saying all that in the OPs situation, especially if he already has 30cal bullets and suitable powders, then 30 apache (30-223) would be a good choice as forming of brass is easy and 223 brass is readily available. If the hunting distances are such that 300blk/30-30 would be more than adequate the 30hamr/30-223 are giving you better perforamance with the only downside being burning more powder, which is likely inconsiquential in this siutation.