Any one have experience with a .308 Norma Mag in a 22" barrel? Is 22" too short for the powder capacity of that cartridge? I am looking to build a short, light grizzly bear rifle on the .308 Norma Mag cartridge. The goal is to launch a 200 grain Barnes bullet at 2900 fps. I definitely want to limit barrel length to 22", so the question becomes what cartridge is the best match for that barrel length and is still effective bear medicine.

Any thoughts are appreciated.


Jordan

While you should be able to get there you will be pushing it. I have a little 19" 358 Norma that launches a 250 gr at 2700.

quote:

Originally posted by Jordan:
Any one have experience with a .308 Norma Mag in a 22" barrel? Is 22" too short for the powder capacity of that cartridge? I am looking to build a short, light grizzly bear rifle on the .308 Norma Mag cartridge. The goal is to launch a 200 grain Barnes bullet at 2900 fps. I definitely want to limit barrel length to 22", so the question becomes what cartridge is the best match for that barrel length and is still effective bear medicine.

Any thoughts are appreciated.


Jordan

There's no reason it won't work......but I'd be using the standard 300 win mag case instead.

You can actually get a 200 grain A-Frame at 2,700 from a 30-06 and 22" of barrel and prudent reloading. Either of the mag cases should come close to adding the 200'/sec you want. Even if you only get 2,800'/sec it'll give serious pain to a grizzly!!!!

Jordan

I reload for 30-338 which is the balistic twin of the 308 Norma Mag. My primary load is 180gr Partition with 4831. I get 3150fps from my 26" barrel. If you adjusted that for a 22" barrel, it would be 3050fps. I think you can get close to your desired vel w/ a 200gr bullet, but it will be a close thing.

If I were hunting griz, and wanted a lighter rifle than 375HH, I'd go with a 338WM or 9.3x62. My 286gr parition load at 2400fps would be an excellent bear load. I'd be wary of a 30cal rifle for big bears. Kudude

Kudude:

You are probably right in your preference for a larger caliber. I just can't seem to get over my hang-up of wanting higher velocity. Everyone I have talked to [and read] says go with a bigger caliber [.358 Norma, for example], but I am still stuck on velocity.


Jordan

Years ago I use to shoot a 308 Norma Mag but then had a 30-338 build. In the new Hodgdon reloading manual they have max loads for the 308 Norma Mag with 200gr bullet is 2889fps out of a 26" barrel and that with 70gr/H-4831. I did find one load using 71gr/A-XMR3100 200gr bullet @ 2921fps.
Your going to be pushing it to get 2900fps. You might want to check VihtaVuori reloading data and see what powders they would be using. I think RCBS at Orville still has 308 Norma Mag cases.

quote:

I think RCBS at Orville still has 308 Norma Mag cases.

Midway has both the 308 & 358 Norma brass.

I agree with the larger caliber voters. If you like the 308 Norma, you'll love the 358 Norma and if you wait a couple months you can have a .375 Ruger and that is serious bear medicine, and a lot more stuff as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Jordan:
...I am still stuck on velocity.

Hey Jordan, Nothing at all wrong with Velocity "if and when" it is providing an advantage for you.

Think about how far away the Bear will be when you would consider taking the shot - it will be "relatively close-up". And the Barnes Bullets perform well with lots of Velocity.

The trick is to get a Balance of a HUGE destructive path plus an Exit from any normal angle. Here the HEAVY for caliber Bullets excell in performance and that typically means lower Impact Velocities. Their Mass provides a high Sectional Density and the Barnes Bullet Design expands about 100%, retains that expansion, retains the Mass and plows right on through.
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Any Belted Mag of 30cal and above, with the heavier-for-caliber Barnes (or other Premium Bullets) that I can think of will do fine for you - regardless of what the Velocity happens to be.

Short and light Bear rifle? An off the shelf Remington Model 7 in 350RemMag with the Premium bullets would fit those requirements perfectly.

quote:

Short and light Bear rifle? An off the shelf Remington Model 7 in 350RemMag with the Premium bullets would fit those requirements perfectly.

Well said Hot Core

quote:

Originally posted by Jordan:
Any one have experience with a .308 Norma Mag in a 22" barrel? Is 22" too short for the powder capacity of that cartridge? I am looking to build a short, light grizzly bear rifle on the .308 Norma Mag cartridge. The goal is to launch a 200 grain Barnes bullet at 2900 fps. I definitely want to limit barrel length to 22", so the question becomes what cartridge is the best match for that barrel length and is still effective bear medicine.

Any thoughts are appreciated.


Jordan

You might look at 200 gr North Forks. Their driving band design is a little faster than conventional smooth-shank bullets at the same pressure and they shoot as well as TSX bullets. Same construction style as A-Frames in that they are a solid shank with bonded lead nose. An added benefit is the same weight and configuration in a flat-point solid.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

I think RCBS at Orville still has 308 Norma Mag cases.

Midway has both the 308 & 358 Norma brass.

Jordan lives in Northern Calif might be close to RCBS (Orville, Calif)and they have another business also called www.Huntington.com. Midways price on 308 Norma Mag per 100 is $123.99 plus shipping Huntington price is $103.98 plus shipping.

What say you?

Whatever you say, you better say it loud, 'cause that thing's gonna sound like a stick of dynamite going off next to your ear out of only a 22 inch barrel.

I can't feature how chopping a couple of inches off of the barrel can offer enough advantage to offset the loss of velocity and increase in muzzle blast.

short, light grizz rifle...

Id rather build a 375 Taylor