...So far I am unable to locate the source for the 300 value. Where does the 300 lbs/ft value come from? Probably that comes from published data for low voltage power and instrumentation cables particularly for those with rubber base insulation such as RHW.
Many progresses have been achieved increasing the strength of cable insulation. However still today there are many cable manufacturers that recommend lower sidewall pressure (SWP) values than the one published by AEIC.
As an additional reference, the report EL-3333-CCM from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) published similar values from the AEIC standard. However, this report limit the SWP without jacket to values as low as 750 lb/ft for 3 cable pull and reduce to 1500 lb/ft when the jacket is not applied tightly to the cable core.
SUGGESTION: indicate in the spec the minimum SWP for different type of insulation materials and implement procedures to verify the compliance with the specified values during the purchasing process and prior the installation of the cable.