Hello,

I've been looking for a factory 358 Norma Mag, preferably a Sako. However, they are hard to find.

Here's the other option I was thinking: purchase a 300 Win Mag Sako Finnbear from Eurooptic for under $1,400 and rebarrel to a 358 (with a longer barrel: 25-26).

Any flaws with this idea? Assume they are easy to rebarrel (by a gunsmith)?

If you are going to rebarrel then any of the normal length magnums would work. 7mmMag, 338 etc. Only issue is the Sako "might" have metric threads and some smith don't like them or charge extra to cut the threads.

I've got a 358 Norma on a FN barrled action in the basement but only a 20" barrel

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
Hello,

I've been looking for a factory 358 Norma Mag, preferably a Sako. However, they are hard to find.

Here's the other option I was thinking: purchase a 300 Win Mag Sako Finnbear from Eurooptic for under $1,400 and rebarrel to a 358 (with a longer barrel: 25-26).

Any flaws with this idea? Assume they are easy to rebarrel (by a gunsmith)?

Not sure why you would want a 25 or 26 in barrel on a 358 Norma. I've had several rifles chambered in 358 N and the longest I would go is 24 inches. I would even look at 23 inches. You would give up very little in velocity and that shorter barrel would be much handier in thick bush.

quote:

Not sure why you would want a 25 or 26 in barrel on a 358 Norma.

I would raise the same question. The potential gain for a 26" vs a 24" would be around 50fps. For me a 24" handles so much better than a 26 much less a 27 in a hunting rifle.

For my $ I'd opt 23-24. But, you should buy what you feel you want. It is your time, $ and rifle. A 26" will knock them on their butt also.

One of my favorite rounds and as others have said, any standard magnum should just be a rebarrel. Another option if you like single shots is to get one of the new Ruger No. 1 sporters with the 24-inch barrel and just run a .358 Norma reamer into it. The extractor may not even need adjusting. My first .358 Norma was an original Husqvarna 1641 with 26-inch barrel. I am currently building one on a 1903 Springfield action with a 25-inch barrel, because I just like a bit longer barrel.

You have a pm

I just had to sell my newly rebarreled 358 NM! I can make you a super deal on dies, and 50 new Norma brass cases! Shoot me a PM and we'll chew the fat on it Pard!

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

Not sure why you would want a 25 or 26 in barrel on a 358 Norma.

I would raise the same question. The potential gain for a 26" vs a 24" would be around 50fps. For me a 24" handles so much better than a 26 much less a 27 in a hunting rifle.

For my $ I'd opt 23-24. But, you should buy what you feel you want. It is your time, $ and rifle. A 26" will knock them on their butt also.

Ramrod is very much "dead on" here. Even a 22" barrel suffers so little loss of power that it's easily overcome with better handling. The .358 Norma Magnum is extremely powerful and the loss of energy due to a shorter barrel will never be noticed in the field.

BTW.....if a rebarrel is in order don't forget the .375 Ruger...it's also a lot of "oofda"

As part of my project of learning to shoot from the left shoulder (right eye problem), I bought a left hand Ruger 77 in 7mm Remington Magnum. Because I already have a 7mm Magnum, and because I had intended to try out a .358 Norma for a long time, I had the barrel reblred and rechambered. It worked out fine, and is a pleasure to shoot, albeit somewhat light for the caliber.

Xausa- Barnes 180 TTSX is your huckleberry!