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-   -   308 Norma Magnum (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=122757)

u_cant_rope_the_wind 02-21-2012 12:24 PM

308 Norma Magnum
 
was just curious , how many people on this forum have and use this great caliber 308 Norma magnum, and how do you like it

huntinstuff 02-21-2012 01:59 PM

For years I had a Schultz and Larsen in 308 Norma
Great gun but nothing that a 300 win mag wont do, and cheaper

Last I checked, 308 Norma ammo was 77 bucks a box.

traderal 02-21-2012 06:41 PM

Had a Schultz and Larsen , an Alpine and a Parker Hale. Liked the PH best because it would stabilize the 110 gr for coyotes. Its all in the name, Norma Magnum just sounds so much more powerful.

leo 02-21-2012 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinstuff (Post 1312829)
For years I had a Schultz and Larsen in 308 Norma
Great gun but nothing that a 300 win mag wont do, and cheaper

Last I checked, 308 Norma ammo was 77 bucks a box.

X2. Mine was a custom chambered Model 70, I poked 1 bull elk with it and sold it. Too expensive to shoot.

6tmile 02-21-2012 07:17 PM

Mine is a n old parker hale, it shoots great

Woodbeef 02-21-2012 07:24 PM

Picked up a Safari Super made in 63 awhile back. So far I like it.

u_cant_rope_the_wind 02-21-2012 09:34 PM

one other caliber i dont here much about is a 300 H&H,
does anyone shoot this caliber???

Leeper 02-22-2012 10:19 AM

As far as the 308 Norma is concerned; what's not to like? The only problem is that it has become rare enough that it has almost achieved wildcat status. It is a nicely designed cartridge which is relatively efficient, for a big thirty.
The 308 Norma was introduced as a means to turn your 30/06 into a magnum. By rechambering your Springfield, Enfield, or Model 70 Winchester, you could have a rifle which actually outperformed the 300 H&H yet fit into the magazines of these rifles without alteration. The dimensions of the 308 Norma were such that the 30/06 chamber would clean up entirely when reamed out to the Norma (this was not the case with the 30/338 wildcat which required that the barrel be set back to ensure that it would clean up the neck).
When Winchester brought out the 300 Winchester Magnum, it would have made more sense to bring out the 30/338 as the 300 Winchester Magnum. The only problem was, the 30/338 was a physically smaller cartridge than the already well established, 308 Norma. Winchester's marketing people felt that, in order to be successful in the marketplace, the Winchester offering had to be larger so as to appear more powerful than the Norma. At the same time, they wanted to have the cartridge fit into the standard length model 70 magazine (pre-64). The result was the 300 Win mag with it's very short neck holding bullets which were deeply seated to fit the magazine. The marketing ploy worked though and the 300 Winchester was ascendent. That American manufacturers chose to chamber for the Winchester and that US ammo makers elected to not manufacture Norma ammunition certainly helped in this regard.
The 300 H&H is a pretty nice cartridge in some respects and was the first thirty caliber magnum which was commonly available to the North American shooter. I say commonly available because the 30 Newton, a cartridge remarkably similar to the 308 Norma but without a belt, appeared several years prior to the 300H&H. The 300 H&H is a full length magnum cartridge (like the 375) but it's body is so tapered as to reduce the powder capacity to a little less than that of the 308 Norma. Happily, this is a good capacity for a thirty caliber so the 300 is a good performer. Because of it's length, rifle actions available at the time had to be lengthened in the magazine and loading ports to accept the cartridge. That this weakened the actions (in the case of mausers and pre-64 Model 70's) is indisputable and it is difficult to understand why Winchester would have chosen to go this route rather than to chamber for the Newton cartridges (Winchester western was already making ammunition for the Newtons). I suspect it had a lot to do with friction between Charles Newton and Winchester's management at the time. Perhaps Newton wanted royalties or maybe they just couldn't get along.
I like the 308 Norma and consider it to be the best of the 30 caliber belted magnums. It easily exceeds 3000 fps with 180 grain bullets and this is enough for any North American hunting situation. It's a good looking cartridge and easy to reload for. Leeper

weedcatcher 02-22-2012 04:19 PM

I have 2 rifles chambered in 308 Norma.

the first is built on a Brazilian Mauser action. Has a Hammerli barrel, and wears a Parker Hale stock. The safety is the low swing type, and it has a Timney trigger. Nice gun.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSCF0234.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSCF0257.jpg


My other 308 Norma is a factory chambered H. Dumoulin. I didn't get it in it's original stock, and now it's in a Bell and Carlson. It's a tad lighter than the Brazilian, shoots a tad smaller groups, and the same loads go a tad faster. I also like the drop plate. It doesn't have a scope in the pics, but its wearing one now.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSCF0273.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSCF0278.jpg

norma mag 02-22-2012 06:44 PM

I shoot an old Parker Hale "Safari Super" I like it.

Pioneer2 02-23-2012 07:41 AM

FN
 
I have a FN 98 Browning Safari in a synthetic stock as BUBBA broke the original stock so bad Eddy Match couldn't use it.Not for a collector but it sure shoots .I load 71.5gr /IMR 4350/150gr and 72gr/of either RE#19 or H4831/180gr..........never tried heavier bullets as it has a 1-12 twist.I FL size range brass in .300Win Mag and trim........Harold

Woodbeef 02-23-2012 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u_cant_rope_the_wind (Post 1313508)
one other caliber i dont here much about is a 300 H&H,
does anyone shoot this caliber???

Funny you mention the 300 H&H. I've been looking for one of them for a couple of years. Even have a Ruger #1 and a couple of Winchester Model 70 barrels,ammo and reamers for it. Just never was quick enough to grab one. Since I picked up the 308NM,I'm thinking it will suffice quite nicely in place of the H&H.

u_cant_rope_the_wind 02-24-2012 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodbeef (Post 1316572)
Funny you mention the 300 H&H. I've been looking for one of them for a couple of years. Even have a Ruger #1 and a couple of Winchester Model 70 barrels,ammo and reamers for it. Just never was quick enough to grab one. Since I picked up the 308NM,I'm thinking it will suffice quite nicely in place of the H&H.

I've been collecting 300 magnums, and so far the one that keeps eluding me is the 300 H&H, I found it was easier to get a 300 Dakota then a 300 H&H , as i don't want to buy a new one for my collection,

Slone500 02-24-2012 11:05 PM

thanks to catnthehat, i have been enjoying the Savage Model 12 --bench gun as they call it, and the joy of hearing 300 plus yard hits....need more ranges to have metal gongs--WTF is the issue? sound?
308 is a caliber that goes way6 back, the new calibers don't mean much to me

Camp Cook 02-25-2012 09:06 AM

My go to hunting rifle for appr 20 years was a made in Germany Vorre actioned built in Yakima, Wash & chambered in 308 NM loaded 180gr bullets with 75grs Norma MRP powder and I still have it.

2 reasons I finally parked it was groups opened up from 3/4" to 1 1/2" @ 100 yards and I live on the wet coast so I wanted a stainless steel rifle so I now shoot a Rem 700 LSS in 300RUM.

I still have a couple hundred new 308 NM brass on the shelf and I found Norma MRP powder to be the very best powder for this cartridge.

I totally recommend this cartridge it will do anything you will ever need it to do...

Dumbo_Dave 02-25-2012 10:58 AM

I have a P17 Enfield that used to be chambered in 308 Norma. Shot it for many years - got a lot of deer and even one Moose. Found it to be a perfectly acceptable hunting cartridge. Used to load 150 gr Sierras to what the books said was 3200 fps using H4831. That barrel was somewhat pitted - possibly from using corrosive ammo. She shot well enough that I just kept on using her until 100 yard groups opened up to about 3". When considering what caliber to re-barrel in, I thought about all those hot summer afternoons trying to shoot the old girl in short sleeves over a spare tire or hood of the car and chose something a little lighter in the recoil departmant. She's now a 264 Win Mag. We still walik the hills together. I still shoot over truck hoods and spare tires on hot summer afternoons - only now I don't have to stop after 6 or 8 rounds :).

Pioneer2 02-25-2012 03:05 PM

Here you go......
 
Prophet River has Ruger #1's in .300H+H as well as .303Brit and .250 Savage.......Harold

Booner Sniper 02-27-2012 09:31 AM

When i was about 17 I learned about the 308 Norma Mag, and I wanted one in the worst way just bc it was different than the ever so popular 300 WM. Needless to say it wasn't an easy find but I found one when I was 18 built on a P17 action with a Birds Eye Maple Thumbhole stock, 4 boxes of Norma shells and a Cheap Tasco scope. I developed a load for it with 180gr Partitions and 4350 powder, and took it Moose hunting that year. I found a 52 1/2" bull at 425 yards and put him on the ground with one shot through the shoulders. Found the bullet under the skin on the far side, since then I have been in love the with cartridge.
I sold that rifle and found a Model 70 Classic that I had barreled and chambered to 308 Norma Mag, this is my go to gun now, and I have had nothing but great success with it, both in accuracy and in hunting. Worked up a load with 168gr Berger VLDs and 168gr Barnes TTSX that shoot within 1/2" of each other. I have yet to actually use the Barnes for hunting bc the Bergers have done everything i have ever wanted them too. I will have to try them out one of these days just to see how they work.
You get all the benefits of the 300 WM but with a longer neck to give you a little more neck tension and bearing surface which was thought to be a benefit. If you reload they are great, if your shooting factory it can get a bit pricey to shoot a lot of rounds, but spending money on hunting and shooting is never a bad thing!

mavericknr 02-14-2013 10:37 PM

I have a Dumoulin that my grandfather bought new at the army navey back when they sold guns it is a grate caliber it can be loaded to any thing you would need in north amarica only issue is the cost of factory ammo the last box i got was $97.00 for 20 i found virgen brass at puds in bashaw 50 count of brass for $100 that will keep me shooting for a while

Coiloil37 02-16-2013 06:10 AM

I had a Parker Hale in 308NM for a couple of years. It took me a while to find brass but I lucked into 11 boxes of Norma brass at the show down in Calgary one year and worked up a few loads. It satisfied me until I bought a crony, with 180's I was getting 40 fps over my 30-06 and 165's were 50-60 fps faster. I had to deal with a 2" longer barrel, around 15 grains more powder per load, more recoil and noise and no appreciable gain in performance. It's luster quickly wore off and I cut it loose. When I find a nice FN browning in 300 H&H I'll probably give it a try.

leo 02-16-2013 01:33 PM

The 308 Norma bug bit me again. I picked up a Shultz & Larsen 68 DLX and a bushell of once fired brass and factory ammo from a fellow AO member. I'll be picking up another bushell of once fired and factory ammo from another member in a month or so. I just love the fit and finish of the rifle. These were one of the premier rifles in its day. If it shoots as good as it looks I'll have a real gem that will become a permanent fixure to my growing collection of old and obsolete firearms.

traderal 02-16-2013 07:41 PM

Don't overload the S&L as you can spring the action. I did it once and then the bolt was difficult to close.

Woodbeef 02-16-2013 10:20 PM

I was so impressed with the cartridge,I'm having a FN built Model 70 in 30-06 rechambered for it.

Big Daddy Badger 02-16-2013 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u_cant_rope_the_wind (Post 1313508)
one other caliber i dont here much about is a 300 H&H,
does anyone shoot this caliber???

I would if I could find one.

leo 02-16-2013 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traderal (Post 1851559)
Don't overload the S&L as you can spring the action. I did it once and then the bolt was difficult to close.

Thanks for the tip.

ken1989 02-17-2013 07:08 AM

I own two identical 308 Norma Magnum made by Voere and likely 300 rounds of brass. Once you obtain the brass and handload, ammo cost is an non issue. I love the way it shoots period.

Xtreme 03-10-2013 05:40 PM

Used one for many years, loved it to death. Sadly, it died.


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