Hello BnC O4,
As others have said, that is a beautiful rifle (yes quite).
Your wife has a fine eye for art.
Also, I applaud your wife for her choice in cartridges.
The .300 H&H / 180 grain spitzer is my favorite cartridge for longer shots on so called “plains game”.
I’ve also shot a good bit of deer and caribou with it here in Alaska.
When I first set foot in Africa, about 16 or 17 years ago, I brought a custom built one, on an FN Commercial Mauser ‘98, with 4x Zeiss scope.
That was to the southern part of Namibia, near Keetmanshoop (before I discovered the not-game-fenced hill country, further north, in the Khomas Hochland Highlands).
Anyway, no doubt I’m preaching to the choir here.
But for those unfamiliar with the .300 H&H, it was designed by that company for exactly what I used it for, Africa.
Specifically, open geography, where shots tend to be a bit long.
No surprise, it turned out to be slap bang perfect for Namibia.
Since others have answered the ballistic questions of this cartridge, I guess I’m whipping a dead horse by saying factory loads seem to be just slightly warmer than the .30-06.
But with hand loads, firing at smallish targets, out past 400 meters, I cannot tell any difference between the H&H and the .300 Winchester.
Well, the Winchester seems to have a slightly more “snappy” recoil.
But, one of my friends here in Anchorage suggests: That could be just my preference for classic / nostalgic things, causing me to imagine it, lol.
Well any way, I will remain on the edge of my chair with anticipation, until reading up on how your wife progresses toward a hunting trip, with her beautiful new Mauser.
And, for news of you finally getting a chance to fire it yourself.
Your wife sounds like the finest type of woman any man could ever hope for.
My wife is no rifle enthusiast but, a life long Alaskan that lives to fish and totally understands my fondness for rifles and hunting.
She has taken a shoulder mounted springbok from down in my man cave and hung it in our dining room.
Likewise, I caught her measuring another spot on the dining room wall and comparing it to an impala mount of mine.
A good spouse is truly worth everything it takes to romance them into a happy life with you.
Bravo! I say.
Well, I’m rambling again.
So, cheers,
Velo Dog.