308 Norma Magnum
- Thread starter rummer
- Start date
Sell the rifle and replace it with a 30-06. Rebarrel is pricey unless you can do it yourself and then there's the cost of a barrel. The best is to keep in in the magnum calibres like 300Win Mag....at least ammo is available and you won't have a bunch of feeding issues.
If you reload, you can easily make cases out of 300 Winchester Magnum cases. It is very close, and you will have almost identical ballistics.
It might be possible to rechamber to 300 Winchester Magnum, if your magazine box is long enough. Otherwise, you are looking at an barrel change and a fair expense.
For about $150, you should be able to put together a pretty good reloading outfit. The advantage of reloading is that you can customize a load for your own rifle, and usually get more accurate loads. Plus, you can shoot a lot more for the same price as factory ammo.
It might be possible to rechamber to 300 Winchester Magnum, if your magazine box is long enough. Otherwise, you are looking at an barrel change and a fair expense.
For about $150, you should be able to put together a pretty good reloading outfit. The advantage of reloading is that you can customize a load for your own rifle, and usually get more accurate loads. Plus, you can shoot a lot more for the same price as factory ammo.
With no action/magazine modifications... .264 Win Mag, 7MM Rem Mag, .338 Win Mag are easy choices depending on what you will use it for mostly. A quality stainless barrel installed is not cheap but it will shoot great for a long time.
hugh manuell
Regular
- Location
- Central Ontario
As others have said, I recommend that you leave the rifle as is and reload for it. The 308 NM is a great cartridge, at least as good as the 300 WM.
Hugh
Hugh
I think the 308 NM is the best of the short (well, medium now days) mag 30's. Longer neck then the 300 Win Mag for better bullet retention, and everyone I've had was an accurate rifle. I have 30 mags in 300 H&H, 308 NM, 30-338, 300 Win Mag (x 4, but some will be built into something else, and one I'm giving away), 300 Wby, 300 RUM. Had a 30-378 for a while, seems a bit too much, same as a 30-416 Improved. Building a 300 Pegasus. Anyway, once you handload, the 308 NM will be your friend again. Very good hunting caliber. - dan
+ you will lose most of the rifle's value by rechambering / rebarreling... The original rifles chambered for the .308 NM are in quite good demand and you may get a better value in selling the rifle and buying a new one in a caliber you like.
Reloading is the way to go and will provide you with a rifle for lifetime service. H4350/IMR4350 usually are the powders to use.
Reloading is the way to go and will provide you with a rifle for lifetime service. H4350/IMR4350 usually are the powders to use.
I have a Parker-Hale Model 81 "Classic" in 308 Norma Mag. It is a real "thumper" and likes the 200 Grain Accubond chased by a big dose of Reloder 25. Velocity is 2940 fps at 15 ft and it shoots right around ¾ moa right out to 500 yards [That's under 4" groups at 500] Great Elk, Moose and other large animal rifle. Eagleye.
Will drop the value of the rifle a tad for most folks. - dan
