Hey guys, I was thinking a little today, and i was wondering if any of you heard of or tried to neck up a 338 win mag to 35 caliber and what you think the advantages or disadvantages to the 338 win mag it would have, as far as trajectory and ballistics, or are there any commercially loaded rounds on the market that would come close to it. It was just a thought. Thanks Bill

you have just described (or nearly so) the .358 Norma Magnum.....a cartridge rivaling the .375 H&H in power!

It's already been done. It's the .358 Norma Magnum. I believe Norma introduced it in 1959, IIRC. I have no experience with the .358 Norma.

-Bob F.

As for a trajectory comparisons,
there is not a lot of difference between the 2. The .358 hits harder But trajectory is about the same.
I have wanted to build a .358 norma for along time.
I picture one with a low powerd variable scope, say a 1.75X6 Leupold in QD mounts.
And a good bullet say a .225 TSX , For long shots, and a Back up peep ,set up for 250 grain Round nose bullets to use when hunting in really bad rain storms.
that should be a real thunper...tj3006

Hey guys, thanks for the info. Do any rifle companys chamber the 358 norma in a factory rifle or is it just a custom deal. Sounds like it would be an awesome caliber to have.

Thanks Bill

There is no material difference in power between the 338WinMag and the 358Norma Mag.

If anyone really believes that 0.020 of bullet diameter makes that much difference to a Grizzly, Elk or a Moose
do your math over because you got it wrong.

If you REALLY want to "rival the 375H&H" in power with a 358bore that takes a 358STA (an 8mmRemMag necked up to 358mag, it's an "ultra mag" in all but name and the fact it still wears a belt.)

OR you could wildcat the 338RUM to a 358mag of your own (if one of the already extant wildcats wasn't to your liking)

Yes, the 358Norma shoots the wider bullets and gets slightly more velocity at the same pressure with the same weight bullets that's true on it's face, but that also ignores the fact that the 338Win is loaded to slightly higher pressure and infact edges the Norma on velocity with most bullet weights. Yeah you can push things with handloading, but the same techniques work just as well on the Win they do on the norma, so again, the difference is a wash...

I've shot the Norma, several hundred times even... I did ALL the load development for my brother's Norma, it is an easy cartridge to find an accurate powerful load for, but the same thing is true of a 338WinMag....

Difference? Nil.

Any difference between them is smaller than the margin of error in any test you care to devise.
So it's a personal choice thing, so make your personal choice and don't devise BS reasons why you choose, as that only suggests you are still trying to convince yourself.

ME? I made my choice I chose a 338Win.
Why? I rebel at the idea of shelling out more than a $120 for a FL die set and my brother's dies are in Wyoming.
I'm bothered even more by paying nearly double for a 50piece bag of brass, add to that Norma brass has always seemed "soft" to me and tends to stretch more because it needs to be trimmed more often)

Add to thisthe fact that all of the manufacturers have a better selection of 338dia projectiles designed for magnum rifle use (there being no 338whelen

I won't debate your right to choose differently, but I will suggest you base your choice on reality rather than fantasy.

If you still chose the Norma be aware that you will either pay more for brass OR be forced to "wildcat" brass from something else (338Win is a FAR from a perfect solution)

Loaded ammo for the Norma is virtually unobainable.
(and expensive when it can be found)

Loading dies for the 358Norma are considered "custom" by ALL the die manufacturers (or were when last I checked)
and of course are priced accordingly.... :O