I have a winchester mdl 70 classic left hand in 300 win mag being shipped to me. It is SS/Wood with a red pad. I want to have it re barreled to 358 norma mag. can I retain the factory wood stock and barrel contour with this swap? what would my muzzle dia. be at 24"? The action has already been professionally bedded, assuming it was done correctly, can that be left alone? Who would you recommend I send the gun to have the work done by? I am considering Douglas for the barrel. Can they do all the necessary work to complete the job?

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Jake

Congrats! The 358 Norma is one I am also considering. I can't speak to Douglas or other barrel makers, but PacNor has done a couple for me and contoured the barrel to factory dimensions. When I received my barreled action, it dropped perectly in the factory stock. I highly recommend PacNor!

Consider a rebore rather than a new barrel unless you want more weight.

Pictured ina Remington Classic 300 H&H rebored by High Plains to 400 H&H and restocked by an employee of the old (WY) Ballard rifle co. with custom solid steel "dropped" bottom metal. Vias brake tamed it a bit and it was a 1 MOA 3 shooter with several bullets and loads from 300-400 gr.

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Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Congrats! The 358 Norma is one I am also considering. I can't speak to Douglas or other barrel makers, but PacNor has done a couple for me and contoured the barrel to factory dimensions. When I received my barreled action, it dropped perectly in the factory stock. I highly recommend PacNor!

Ditto on PacNor. The .358 Norma can also go down to 22" with negligible loss of speed to make it a little handier. Good choice for calibre.

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The .358 Norma can also go down to 22"

I have a 20" Mannlicher and have never had a low velocity issue

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Originally posted by ramrod340:

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The .358 Norma can also go down to 22"

I have a 20" Mannlicher and have never had a low velocity issue

True enough, but at that length, muzzle blast starts to get intense.

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True enough, but at that length, muzzle blast starts to get intense.

Maybe. I have never noticed a real difference. But since I have a 60% hearing loss I fire nothing without full ear protection anymore.

Just out of curiousity, has anyone noticed muzzle blast when shooting big game? I have not. Now days at the range someone will always be there with a blaster. On top of a big hill who cares? roger

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Consider a rebore rather than a new barrel unless you want more weight.

I think you would have to set the barrel back with a rebore wouldnt you? A 358N is a 338 length case, the shoulder of a .300 win is further foreward.

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I think you would have to set the barrel back with a rebore wouldnt you

Yep .11"+

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Originally posted by bartsche:
Just out of curiousity, has anyone noticed muzzle blast when shooting big game? I have not. Now days at the range someone will always be there with a blaster. On top of a big hill who cares? roger

Only once when I was using a muzzle brake prone next to some shrubs and over snow. Sure as hell noticed it lol

Still cheaper to set back a couple of threads and rebore than thread, chamber, blue, fit sights and rework the barrel channel.

If you set the barrel back a couple threads you now have a gap between wood and metal just in front of the chamber area. I would opt for a new barrel that matches the original barrel and I would go with 23 inchs in the 358 Norma.

Send it to Dave at IT@D and have him copy the contour, then cut to 22".

Thank you all for the great ideas. I know I will rebarrel it and I guess my main questions are:

What barrel maker will do the best job of fitting and matching the finish on my SS action?

Will a factory 300 win mag barrel contour be to thin for the Norma at 24" if I want it to drop in its current stock?

Thanks,
Jake

Love the 358 Norma:

There is a famous Scandinavian guy that has hunted all over the world with a 358; tigers, moose, bongo, elephant. Wish I could remember his name, makes for some interesting reading.

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Originally posted by snowman:
If you set the barrel back a couple threads you now have a gap between wood and metal just in front of the chamber area. I would opt for a new barrel that matches the original barrel and I would go with 23 inchs in the 358 Norma.

Great minds think alike!!

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Originally posted by ultralight:
Thank you all for the great ideas. I know I will rebarrel it and I guess my main questions are:

What barrel maker will do the best job of fitting and matching the finish on my SS action?

Will a factory 300 win mag barrel contour be to thin for the Norma at 24" if I want it to drop in its current stock?

Thanks,
Jake

If your barrel contour is too thin at 24 inches for the 358, Pacnor will contour the new barrel using the factory contour and reduce the taper after the barrel leaves the stock. They did that for me when rebarreling a M70 FWT from
7-08 to 358 Win. Looks great!!!

Jens E Perto, he has taken 45 species of game with it , no tiger but all else. From Ibex high up in mountains to elephant and buffalo. Standard load . 250 Nosler P loaded to -270 trajectory . And the 310 Woodleigh soft / solid , loaded to .375 HH speed . I have a .358 Nm also, havent shot it some years , due to economy and no job fields , but will use it soon and plans foreign hunts with it . I love it much, only used Oryx 250 grain on game , but it was good effect .

http://www.riffeljagt.com/NOMotterup.htm

some of his storys about S&L rifles.