Case IH’s Puma 260 might be the obvious match for the 300hp tractors featured in this series, but, with the near-identical T7.300 already covered, we’re instead focusing on a model with slightly more poke.

And owner-operator Ben Sharp has a good grasp of both, having upgraded from Puma to Optum in June this year.

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It’s his sole tractor, responsible for the farm’s 280ha of arable work plus contract cultivating, drilling, hedgecutting and spraying – jobs that make up 20% of the Optum’s total hour count.

Why a Case IH Optum 300?

I wouldn’t have an Optum if it wasn’t for switching from New Holland to Case in 2021. At that time, I intended to buy a T7.270 but was quoted £160,000.

Instead, I bought a Puma 240 – basically the same tractor – for £120,000. This saving laid the foundations for the Optum.

Between those two tractors I had a Puma 260, bought in 2023 for £140,000.

It was ex-demo and had every gadget going: subwoofer, automatic telescoping wing mirrors – the full shooting match.

Both the 240 and 260 were good. And when the 3,000-hour warranty was nearly up on the 260 – it clocked 2,800 hours in 18 months – I intended to get the same again.

But Sharmans came up with cracking deal for a stock Optum. The cost to swap was £40,000 and I was sold after a demo. It pulled the five-furrow plough practically at tickover.

As I only have the one tractor, I like to keep it in warranty: 4,000 hours this time.

I’m more than happy repairing second-hand implements but I want a good, reliable power unit. A £20,000 bill for a new gearbox would take some swallowing.

Ben Sharp © MAG/Oliver Mark

What extras did you opt for?

I tend to buy ready-built stock tractors. They’re usually cheaper and I’m not precious about spec.

This Optum was sat at Basildon and had the essentials – mobile RTK guidance and cab suspension.

One thing I did change was the tyres. As some of the fields are 12 miles away, I wanted harder wearing Michelins.

The dealer managed to fit these at no extra cost as another customer wanted my Trelleborgs.

And I had the front wheels set so their inside track matches those of the rears. This helps plough straight and keeps them out of the gutter on the road.

How has it performed?

I’ve pushed it hard – 800 hours since June. That’s slightly more than usual as I didn’t bother hiring in an extra ­tractor.

It means I’m constantly swapping implements, but the upside is one finance package, one fuel tank to fill, and one service to pay for.

Some might say it’s overkill having a tractor this size for a mounted Hardi sprayer, and the clock hours too expensive.

But it’s cheaper than running a second machine – at least one that’s new and in warranty – and that money can be spent on buying or renovating other implements.

It has never felt too big or heavy and doesn’t leave any ruts when it’s wet, especially if I drop the tyre pressures to 10-12psi.

© MAG/Oliver Mark

And the extra weight comes in handy for the Bomford Hawk Evo 7.0 hedgecutter. Its 7m reach and Domex steel head were enough to have the Puma cocking a wheel, but the Optum has no such trouble.

I also like knowing I’ve got the power to handle any job without caning it.

The 3.5m, four-leg TWB Terminator takes some pulling, as, in some conditions, do the five-leg subsoiler, 5m power harrow and 5.5m discs.

As for fuel use, I reckon it uses a bit more than the Puma when pulling a fully loaded trailer, and a bit less on lighter-duty fieldwork.

I’ve certainly never had to fill the 600-litre diesel tank more than once in a day, thankfully.

What could be improved?

I miss the big toolbox on the Puma, which slid out below the fuel tank. The Optum’s barely has space for a hammer and 10 spanners, so I’ve had to buy a Cherry BoxSmart.

This isn’t all that easy to hook on as the bulging bonnet makes it very hard to see the front linkage from the cab.

The air con could also do with a bit more oomph, as it struggles to keep the temperature down on a hot day, and the window wiper is old-school.

The Pumas swept through 270deg, whereas this one just clears a small arc across the screen.

But, most importantly, I’ve had no breakdowns. The only issues have been a signal glitch on the GPS and having to wrestle with the pto stub when swapping it for the power harrow.