Parker Hale Safari Super worth building on?

Curly1

Curly1

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North Eastern Nova Scotia
I recently aquired a Parker Hale Safari Super chambered in 308 Norma Mag with 50 brass and dies(the rifle has a 3 digit serial number). The rifle needs some cosmetic work, but, it' a mauser 98 CRF design and appears very stout. My initial plan was to flip the rifle and pocket the change, but, I am wondering if I am making a mistake. The action of this rifle is making little sounds like "use me, I will make you proud". I hate that nagging sound in the back of my little brain, it alway's costs me way too much. The questions are 1) is the rifle is worth taking a chance on and 2) is the 308 Norma Mag the right round or should I consider a barrel/chamber change as part of the build. I guess what I'm asking is should I sell it for the $500 or so it would bring or should I use it to build a really nice long range rifle?

I would only use the rifle, sparingly, for target shooting beyond 400 meters(my CZ527 in 204 Ruger covers the 0 to 300 meter range very well and is just sooo much fun) and maybe a rare big game hunt. I really do not need it, but, the voices....

Opinions on the action and caliber most welcome and requested please.

:cheers:
Cheers
Curly1
 
It is already in an excellent long range calibre, if the barrel is good, why would you change it?
 
Personally, I'd work a load up for it & shoot it just as is.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
What all the rest of the guys said...the 308 Norma Mag is already a super chambering. Load some up, try them. If it shoots well, hunt with it! Eagleye.
 
308 Norma Magnum

The .308 Norma Magnum is very similar to the .300 Winchester Magnum. As such, a Game Animal hit with either one will never know the difference.

If you run out of brass, the .308 Norma Magnum brass can easily be made from 300 Winchester brass. Just resize and trim slightly to length.

In fact, if you check some of the reloading handbooks, you will notice that the .308 Norma Magnum will get approximately the same velocity with the same bullet, but will use less powder doing it. I would consider the 308 Norma Magnum a more efficient cartridge than the 300 Winchester.

(I just know I am going to get lots of Hate Mail from the 300 Winchester crowd on that one!)

You are probably best with the 165 and 180 grain bullets, and a slower burning powder such as 4350 or 4831. Because of the larger powder charges, a Magnum primer might provide better ignition. Like any rifle, they are individual, and you have to work up a load for them.

Most reloading books will give you data on the .308 Norma Magnum. Use the starting loads and work upwards until you find a good accurate HUNTING load. You do not really need minute of angle for a hunting rifle, what you do need is minute of Moose. And it is no good having a bullet going like a bat out of hell if you can not hit anything with it.
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Although it would appear that the 300 Win Mag has a bit more room because it is slightly longer to the shoulder than the 308 Norma Mag, in practical terms, the difference in capacity is negligible.
I have filled a Winchester 300 Win Mag case full to the mouth with a ball powder, and then transferred it to a 308 Norma Mag case.
In most instances, the powder will fill the Norma case to the mouth, just like the Win case.
I believe that the Norma case may be slightly thinner, and at the shoulder, it is .004-.005" larger when fire formed, accounting for the room.
Regardless, both are capable of very similar ballistics, and the Norma Mag has a longer neck, which I like when seating long, pointy bullets. Regards, Eagleye.
 
just because I like easy ammo, I would pay a smith the 75-100$ to run a 300 win mag into it

No, I don't hate the 308 nm, just had first air/air canada lose my bags too many times
 
teenahlake said:
just because I like easy ammo, I would pay a smith the 75-100$ to run a 300 win mag into it

No, I don't hate the 308 nm, just had first air/air canada lose my bags too many times
Click to expand...

T; The problem is, just running a reamer into it may not do the job. You may have to set the barrel back up to 3 turns to clean up the "ring" at the shoulder of the 308 NM chamber.
Somewhat like trying to make a 7mm STW out of a 7mm Weatherby Mag. Eagleye.
 
So I loaded up 20 rounds and took to the range. It took 5 rounds to get the VX-III on target at 25 yards, we then put 3 five shoot groups out to the 100 yard targets with the largest group measuring 1 1/4 inches (my group) and the smallest at 5/8 of an inch (Steve's group). It's a shooter, but, like so many larger rifles these days my old bones complained painfully. It will make somebody a great rifle, but, just not for me.

Cheers and thank you for the input, esp Eagleye for the test load.

Curly1
 
Curly1 said:
So I loaded up 20 rounds and took to the range. It took 5 rounds to get the VX-III on target at 25 yards, we then put 3 five shoot groups out to the 100 yard targets with the largest group measuring 1 1/4 inches (my group) and the smallest at 5/8 of an inch (Steve's group). It's a shooter, but, like so many larger rifles these days my old bones complained painfully. It will make somebody a great rifle, but, just not for me.

Cheers and thank you for the input, esp Eagleye for the test load.

Curly1
Click to expand...

Maybe thats the downfall of the norma compared to the WM,
someone should enjoy it however.
 
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