which brass if any can be formed to 308 norma with out special dies

As I don't know how much shooting/loading experience and equipment you have, I'll have to assume you are a beginner and go from there. If that is not correct, I apologize in advance.


First, you are asking how to make a cartridge which is no longer a factory issue round that is generally available. You are not going to be able to do that with ANY other case, without at least a little special equipment, though in some cases that equipment may be just a good case-trimmer.


Essentially, you can make workable .308 Norma brass from any belted mag brass at least 2.5" long with the same case head and belt diameters as a .300 H&H case.

That includes the .300 H&H, the .300 Winchester, .300 Weatherby, 8 m/m Remington Mag, .338 Winchester, .358 Norma Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag, and several others, You could also make it from 7 m/m Rem Mag, though it might come out a hair or two short.

I make my .308 Norma Mag from .338 Winchester. One pass through the FL sizing die and a good trim to uniform length, and I'm done. Guess that's why the .30/.338 wildcat and the .308 Norma are considered by many to be essentially the same thing. (Yet another name for it is the .30 Belted Newton.)

If you have a "stubby" die such as used to be made by C-H, Skip Otto, or many others, you can move the shoulder back on any of the longer cases AND reduce the neck to the diameter you need. Then a relatively inexpensive RCBS file-trim die will decrease the work of reducing the neck length to what you need, and you can use the longer magnum cases too. With cases which have to be reduced a lot in length, your new case neck may include some of what used to be case wall, and in that instance, you may also have to thin the new necks by either inside reaming or outside turning.

Loaded for some time, I read 300 win mag was best but wanted other options, I don't want to buy special dies if I don't have to. I have a power trimmer so trimming is no problem. I have a good quanity of 338 and 300 win mag. thats why I was asking

Both will work. I think the .338's work better (are easier) because the cases are the right length to start with. The .338s tend to grow a little in length as they are necked down from .338 to .308, but still require less trimming than the .300 Winnie cases. At least that has been my experience. With a power case trimmer, should be a piece of cake for you. Good luck, AC

thanks bossman
I have more 300 winnie then anything, I was hoping they would work