cyberdoggie
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- Location
- Vavenby BC Just north of Kamloops
Does anyone know the balistics differences between the 300win mag and the 308 norma mag??
300mag versus 308 norma mag
- Thread starter cyberdoggie
- Start date
The 300 Win Mag has slightly more capacity, so will outperform the 308 Norma. The "short" neck on the 300 Win Mag supposedly hurts its accuracy, but someone forgot to tell that to the 1000 yd competitiors.
Other than nostalgia, and the desire to be different and to use more expensive brass and dies, there is no reason to use the 308 Norma over the 300 Win Mag. I bought a P17 sporter in 308 Norma and promptly had it rechambered to 300 Win Mag.
Other than nostalgia, and the desire to be different and to use more expensive brass and dies, there is no reason to use the 308 Norma over the 300 Win Mag. I bought a P17 sporter in 308 Norma and promptly had it rechambered to 300 Win Mag.
I have both as well, and the velocity difference is effectively nil. One of my 300 Win Mags is slightly faster then my 308 NM, and the other is slightly slower, neither has more then a 40fps difference. In terms of case design, the 308 NM is a slightly more desirable case, but as pointed out, in the real world there really isn't any difference. - dan
Hey grit if you add both those posts together that makes 50-60fps...
They are very close... slight edge in case capacity and velocity goes the the 300WM.
The Norma is getting harder to find brass for... and the name sounds silly :wink:
They are very close... slight edge in case capacity and velocity goes the the 300WM.
The Norma is getting harder to find brass for... and the name sounds silly :wink:
300 Win Mag will run about 50 fps more than the Norma when both are loaded to safe maximum operating pressures. Real world difference is nothing.
And yes, you can make 308 Norma cases from 300 Win (or 7mm Rem Mag or 338 Win Mag)
I personally prefer the Norma case
And yes, you can make 308 Norma cases from 300 Win (or 7mm Rem Mag or 338 Win Mag)
I personally prefer the Norma case
I have owned several 308 Norma Mags over the years and prefer it over the 300 Win Mag, but in reality, There is not enough difference for anyone to detect in the field. At present, I do not own either, but have a 30-338 Mag, which is basically the ballistic twin to the Norma Case. I use 7mm mag to form cases for this one, and they are exactly the right length. If one makes 308 Norma cases from 338 Win or 7mm Rem Mags, The final fire-formed case will be up to .070" shorter than minimum specs. I always used Virgin 300 Win Mag cases [W-W cases only] to make my Norma mag cases, Takes a .060" trim, but you have a full-length case with the proper neck length when you are done. With the Norma mag in a 24" barrel, I maxed out around 3125 fps with 180 Partitions, and just about 3000 with the 200's This was using Norma MRP or earlier Norma 205. Reloder 22 should get similar results. IMR 7828 also worked very well with the 200/220 grain offerings. I have occasionally scared the guys at 1000 yards with my 308 Normas, and more recently the 30-338, but in Sporter weight rifles, they dish out a bit more recoil than is really comfortable for that game. Regards, Eagleye.
Isn't the .308 Norma Mag pretty much relegated to the 'obselete' category? I mean how many people are getting 'customs' done in Norma Mag these days... [notwithstanding the number of guns out there already so chambered that people are still using]??? :?
1899 said:
It really is duck soup simple. Just neck up, load and fireform.
The case necks end up a bit short, however this has no serious effect in a hunting rifle, and probably not anything to worry about as far as chamber erosion unless you are going to be shooting thousands of rounds.
Ted
1899; You do set the shoulder back a small amount, but with new brass, I never had any problem whatsoever doing this. You have to set your Norma die to "bump-up" quite hard to accomplish it, but it is not a real problem, in my experience. I have made at least 500 cases this way. But if you find it a chore, use Ted's way. It works fine, just leaves you with a shorter neck. Regards, Eagleye.
Hey, Dave, what is your experience as far as accuracy goes?
Mine has been that the 308 Norma is noticeably more accurate than the 300 Win. No practical difference as far a hunting goes of course, but defintely more accurate in my experience.
Have owned several of each and know you have too, so am curious as to your obsewrvations.
Ted
Mine has been that the 308 Norma is noticeably more accurate than the 300 Win. No practical difference as far a hunting goes of course, but defintely more accurate in my experience.
Have owned several of each and know you have too, so am curious as to your obsewrvations.
Ted
Ted; I have noticed the same difference as you have as far as accuracy goes. While I have never had a 308 Norma that was not quite accurate [some astoundingly so], I have owned a couple of 300 Win Mags that were unimpressive. I have also had some 300 Winnys that shot very well. I have owned at least 3 Norma Mags in Parker-Hale bolt guns [Commercial Mauser actions] all were tackdrivers. I had a Schultz and Larsen, it also was wonderfully accurate, but liked it's loads a bit lighter to make the brass live. I barrelled a 700 and had it chambered in 308 Norma Mag...wow! It would put 5-200 grain Partitions into ½moa right out to 400 yards and beyond. The list goes on and on. My present 30-338 has shot under 9" for 10 shots at the TPRGClub's 1000 yard match. It will shoot 3 into .35 or so with boring regularity. I think that the case may just be a little better balanced than the slightly longer bodied, shorter necked 300 Win Mag. There's no flies on the WM though, in a good rifle they will hang in pretty good. Who knows? Just seems that a higher percentage of Norma Mags shoot very well. Regards, Dave. [Eagleye]
1899 said:
Kristian, you could use a 308 neck sizing die to neck 338 down, but it has been my experience that eventually you need to FL size and then you are stuck.
You could use 300 Win Mag or 308 Norma mag dies to seat the bullets.
If you get serious about a 30-338, be sure to check eBay for dies. I have seen them on there several times for about 1/3 retail. If none there, you can get top quality dies from C-H for less than $100 CDN landed at your door.
Ted
