Was out gun shopping and ran across a P17 Enfield which was chambered in 308 Norma Magnum.
Here's my question: Can a 308 Norma be rechambered to a 300 H&H? I'm pretty sure the action would be long enough but will the 300 reamer clean up the chamber? From what I've gathered a 308 Norma and a 30/338 are almost identical so with the extra length of the 300 but less taper is this feasible?
The gun is dirt cheap and in excellent condition but if it has to be rebarreled then I'd rather have a 300 on a more commercial action

Thanks for any responses

Why bother? 308 NM is a terrific caliber. Very accurate, plenty of power. I like it better than 300 Win Mag.

I'm not very educated in the gunsmithing/alteration department, but I think the severe body taper of the H&H case would cause a problem. What happens there? can the reciever end of the barrel be chopped and re-threaded? How does that work? Can anybody explain this?

The 308Norma and 300H&H have about the same capacity.No gain there.To get cheap 308Norma brass,resize and trim 300Win.

you can purchase 308 norma mag brass at www.grafs.com

It would be necessary to cut off at least 1 3/4 inch of the breech end of the barrel to get the chamber to clean up. The only sensible conversions (depending on your definition of "sensible")would be to the 300 Winchester Mag or the 300 Weatherby mag. Regards, Bill.

Another vote for 308 Norma as the cat's ass!! (That's good)

I'm too lazy to look up case specs but that should answer your question pretty easily with the right book.

Lastly, the easiest way to get 308 Norma cases is to take stock 338 Win Mag cases, size them to 308 with a 308 Norma sizing die, prime, charge, seat your favorite bullet and have at it. Typically for me the forming loads impact at the same point as fireformed loads out to reasonable distances.

As far as I'm concerned you stumbled upon the best caliber you could possibly find.

Good luck.

Reed

308 Norma Mag brass at at $1.20 US a piece
would not be an option for me. But if you have dies 2 boxes would not break the bank. Because the 308 Norma is on of the finest 30 Magnums. It would be a shame to change it to an inferior cartridge.

338 Win Mag brass is .060 too short but would work if you watch the carbon ring and clean it out frequently.

300 H&H and 300Min Mag brass would work but would require outside neck reaming because of body brass being used for the new neck. This is the way I would go since I have the tools to do most magnum case conversions.

Chamber to 300 Win Mag if you have to buy dies anyway or shoot factory, maybe another way to go.
Fred M

[ 11-05-2003, 08:51: Message edited by: ZERMEL ]

No, it can't!! Unless your barrel is an untapered bull barrel with enough steel in it to allow you to cut off the .308 Norma chamber all the way up to the shoulder so you can rechamber it.

Aside from nostalgia, what do you what the gun to do? My 24" .308 Norma outperformed the .300 H&H by almost 200 FPS with all bullet weights from 150 grains on up!

Coming from Sweden, I cry when I hear that you want to destroy a perfect .308 Norma Magnum chamber!!!!

I vote for purchasing a set of reloading tools for the costs you save by buying the rifle very cheap, then use .338WinMag brass.

I myself have another wonderful "Nils Kvale" caliber, namely the unsurpassed .358 Norma Magnum

Gentlemen

I made quick check for you. Brass for the 308 NORMA MAG is avilable from Sinclair international

I think it's a better cartridge than the 300 win. The closest wildcat is 30-338

/ JOHAN