It is a very fine cartridge.

Because it has a belt on it.

Barstooler

The 300 Win Mag and the 300 WBY won the popularity contest.

Mostly because it isnt an "American " calibre.
Its been overtaken by the 300 Win Mag and 300 Weatherby and a bunch of others which do the same task , and are "homegrown" for most firearms purchasers.

It is but, it's not American and the 300Win Mag killed it off.

Now the beltless mags such as 300WSM and 300RUM have completely entombed it..........

Problem is the brass it almost $1.40 each and your locked into one manufactor. We have one member in our gun club that has an old Browning factory 308 Noma mag. Our version here is just neck down 338 brass to 30 cal called the 30-338 mag and thats what I shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
The 300 Win Mag and the 300 WBY won the popularity contest.

Cause I have a 300 Apex?

I have one on an old 03 springfield action, shoots great but ammo is hard to find.

Craven

The first rifle I ever bought is a custom Springfield in .308 Norma Mag. Fine caliber.

Winning doesn't always mean the losers are junk.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
The 300 Win Mag and the 300 WBY won the popularity contest.

Fine caliber .. 300 win is more or less identical, and you can find brass at kmart/walmart/hardware store..

i've got a 300 win on a springfield... it was NEARLY a 308 norma ... except it would have trippled the cost of the project to buy a 30 norma reamer, dies, and brass ... you see, at the time, a 300 win reamer was on hand...

I used to think the 308 Norma Mag was the best 30 caliber going. That was before the 300 Win mag was real popular.

Because I already have one.

seriously, it was just the result of a bad decision on winchesters part. the norma is better than the 300 win mag, the 300 isn't even as good as the 30x338win mag. winchester should have bought out the 308 and 358 norma cartridges and been far ahead.

it is expensive, but really, how much do we shoot our hunting rifles? I have 180 pieces of new, 20 pieces once fired. I just have to take the time to develop a load and sight it in (bought it years ago, 03, had it rechambered and have only fired it a few times since).

Red

Heck I just finished a 308Norma it is the little brother to my 358Norma.

The only thing wrong with a 308 Norma that I can think of is that I don't have one, and would like to.

But I do have about 200 pieces of Norma brass, and a 323 Hollis reamer made by PT&G and a set of dies by Redding, and a new #4 Douglas SS 8mm blank, and a like new Ruger 77 MKII action with magnum bolt face, and a Hogue stock to drop it all into, and rings, scope, sling, powder, primers, etc., and several hundred Hornady 220 gr 8mm bullets.

So, where's the problem?

I need a gunsmith to put the rifle together for me, and a reloading bench.

KB

I haven't seen that many 300 Rums out there. I built a 30-338 years ago but I never laid eyes on one piece of 308 Norma brass.

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
it is expensive, but really, how much do we shoot our hunting rifles? Red

Had this discussion with a friend of mine this very morning about another fine old cartridge, the 300Savage (in a Model 99). He picked one up today for a song, $310.00!
He was talking about ammo costing $30.00 a box and I told him I must have two or three hundred empty, once fired cases and he could come over and load up 100 rounds and that would be probably all he would need for YEARS.

I told him if he shoots 400 rounds through it in his LIFETIME, he would be just slightly behind me.

If the cost of hunting rifle ammo is keeping you from shooting as much as you should, then you need to stop shooting and sell all those expensive old guns.

The line forms right behind me...

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
The only thing wrong with a 308 Norma that I can think of is that I don't have one, and would like to.

But I do have about 200 pieces of Norma brass, and a 323 Hollis reamer made by PT&G and a set of dies by Redding, and a new #4 Douglas SS 8mm blank, and a like new Ruger 77 MKII action with magnum bolt face, and a Hogue stock to drop it all into, and rings, scope, sling, powder, primers, etc., and several hundred Hornady 220 gr 8mm bullets.

So, where's the problem?

I need a gunsmith to put the rifle together for me, and a reloading bench.

KB

LMAO!!!

Don

This may be a dumb question but here it comes.

Can .308 Norma brass be used to reload 30-338 Win?

Just curious.

quote:

Can .308 Norma brass be used to reload 30-338 Win

Based on the $$$ higher cost of the 308Norma brass can't imagine anyone would want to. Run the 308 brass in a 30-338 case then trim. The 308 brass is longer and the shoulder is further forward and slightly smaller in diameter. With the set back to the 30-338 it might need a first firing to be a perfect match.

I have used 308 Norma brass to make 300 Apex cases. I find it's really better to just resize 338 in the Apex dies and then fire form the cases. When I set the shoulder back on the Norma brass it seems to always leave a ring whee the original shoulder ended. 338 a whole lot simpler for me.

I replaced the barrel on my old 308 Norma a year ago. I stayed with the Norma chambering.Yes brass is a little more expensive but it is availible. I'm not sorry I stayed with the Norma. With the new barrel it groups under an inch @ 200 yds for 3 165 TSX bullets. Thats not too shabby for a sporter weight rifle.

I own one made on an FN 98 but now it's got head space problems (I think). Once you fire it, it's very hard to open the bolt. So I'll probably can it and try and fit something else into the custom stock.
LDK

quote:

It is but, it's not American and the 300Win Mag killed it off.

Now the beltless mags such as 300WSM and 300RUM have completely entombed it..........

Unfortunately 101% correct. Which is a shame it was a BETTER cartridge in all practical purposes than the Winchester, Weatherby or even original Holland & Holland "versions".

If memory serves, there was some controversy about the .308 Norma needing to have a "freebore' like on Weatherby rifles.
I looked this up in Ken Waters Pet Loads.

"Anyway, we've heard no chaff about what might be termed as "Stage,1" except for those deriving from the firm Norma stipulation that barrels for this cartridge be given at least a specified minimum amount of free-boring between chamber proper and rifling origin as a means of educing pressures. Our notes (taken from Norma specs) list this minimum as from 4mm (0.1575 inch if you don't use the metric scale)."I guess the memory banks are still working just fine. Years ago, I met a fellow when I was still living in Nevada and he had a Kodiak mauser chambered to the Norma round. The Kodiaks were cheap rifles based on milsurp 98 Mauser actions and chambered for various cartidges, the .243 which I owned at the time, this guy's .308 Norma and a .358 Win. that I have right now. I dunno who designed the stocks for those rifles, but even the .243 would get uncomfortable during a long shooting session. That .308 Norma in that crappy stock just plain hurt like hell. The .358 isn't all that comfortable either, but I plan on putting it into a synthetic, probably a butler creek and using that horrible stock for firewood.
I did think at times about making a .308 Norma, but when a really good deal on a Mark X in .300 Win. Mag. came along, the Norma was forgotten.
Guess I'll just stick with the .300 Win.
Paul B.

quote:

The only thing wrong with a 308 Norma that I can think of is that I don't have one, and would like to.

But I do have about 200 pieces of Norma brass, and a 323 Hollis reamer made by PT&G and a set of dies by Redding, and a new #4 Douglas SS 8mm blank, and a like new Ruger 77 MKII action with magnum bolt face, and a Hogue stock to drop it all into, and rings, scope, sling, powder, primers, etc., and several hundred Hornady 220 gr 8mm bullets.

So, where's the problem?

I need a gunsmith to put the rifle together for me, and a reloading bench.

Let me know when you find the "right" Gunsmith - this I gotta see....

I just saw one for sale last nite...
But, the house needs a new roof..
New Roof, or 308 Norma??
New Roof, or 308 Norma???

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
..but really, how much do we shoot our hunting rifles? Red

I dunno Red, *I* shoot a BUNCH ... and hunting rifles .. well, i know we are talking about mediums, which you can buy 50 bullets for reloading for about the cost of a SINGLE loaded 500 jeffery round.

I tell my wife that i save money everytime i shoot!

how much do *I* shoot my hunting rifles, and pistols? about 500 rounds of centerfire pistol and 200-300 rounds of centerfire rifle a MONTH, and countless rimfire and pellets

but I ain't a serious shooter

IT&D just finished my Ruger M77 tang safety in .308 Norma Mag, should have early next week!

It does have a following and stronger then many think...I know a few that hunt with them.

The fate of the 308 Norma reminds me of Beta and VHS tapes. The good stuff doesn't always win through, especially when marketing and licensing have anything to do with it. Maybe the name killed it. For some reason 300 sounds (30) 'Super' tough whereas 308 reminds you of that sawed off little military round, excellent though it is in its own league.
- Paul

because
western auto/ sears / walmart stocks/stocked 300 win
and 300 win is generally in every 10 box of shells out of the way gas station ... 22, 223 (well, not TODAY) 270, 30-30, 308, 30-06, 300 win, 9mm, 357, 45acp, and 12 ga (okay, that's 11 boxes)

quote:

Why is no one building 308 Norma Magnum any more?

Actually, most of us never did.

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
I own one made on an FN 98 but now it's got head space problems (I think). Once you fire it, it's very hard to open the bolt. So I'll probably can it and try and fit something else into the custom stock.
LDK

Sounds like SET BACK. roger

bartsch,

If someone GAVE me a rifle in 308Norma Mag that NEEDED
to be set back I'd had run a 300Win reamer into it...

even if I buy a new reamer use it once and throw it away
I'm out only about $90.

How much does your gunsmith charge to set a barrel backand re-ream? presuming he HAS a 308Norma reamer?

AD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
bartsch,

If someone GAVE me a rifle in 308Norma Mag that NEEDED
to be set back I'd had run a 300Win reamer into it...

We're talking apples and apricots,AD.I'm suggesting that the lugs have already SET BACK into the action. roger

quote:

Why is no one building 308 Norma Magnum any more?

It has a "girly" name.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:

seriously, it was just the result of a bad decision on winchesters part. the norma is better than the 300 win mag, the 300 isn't even as good as the 30x338win mag. winchester should have bought out the 308 and 358 norma cartridges and been far ahead.

Red

OK, I give up.
At the risk of opening a can of worms: Why so?
(I'm not opinionated on this topic, just curious!!)

- Lars

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
OK, I give up.
At the risk of opening a can of worms: Why so?
(I'm not opinionated on this topic, just curious!!) Lars

Lars, The only Europian cartridges designs ever promoted by an American rifle manufacturor that I know of were the .300 and .375 H&H. That realy wasn't as much promotion as it was hop on the wagon and take a ride. Marketeers don't want anything that isn't new and wonderful and invented here! roger