.308 Norma Magnum

Obviously there's people out there that appreciate the 308NM as much as I do. For my last Mule Deer hunt on draw in AB, my Schultz & Larsen got the nod.

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One of my favorite and most accurate loads, with an C.O.A.L. that exceeds the 'suggested' maximum with an example of the results is the following.

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I am changing over to Barnes and:redface: hope I haven't asked this previously but I was wondering if anyone else has gone that route and if so, any loads you'd like to share??
 
The worst belting i got was from a S&L 308 NM, The owner was scared of it and asked me to check the scope on it. Was not pleasant to shoot, after 3 shots to check sighting i said enough shoot your own damn rifle. He said they were reloads his brother with the same rifle did for him and i didn`t see any signs of exessive pressure. I always blaimed stock design but you guys don`t seem to have trouble with the S&L stock. Thats as close as i have ever came to being scoped in the eyebrow, would knock my glasses off.
 
The worst belting i got was from a S&L 308 NM, The owner was scared of it and asked me to check the scope on it. Was not pleasant to shoot, after 3 shots to check sighting i said enough shoot your own damn rifle. He said they were reloads his brother with the same rifle did for him and i didn`t see any signs of exessive pressure. I always blaimed stock design but you guys don`t seem to have trouble with the S&L stock. Thats as close as i have ever came to being scoped in the eyebrow, would knock my glasses off.

Like any othe 30 Cal Magnum in a light rifle, the 308 Norma mag is capable of dishing out substantial recoil.
As you indicated, stock design has plenty to do with how the shooter feels that recoil.
I have shot several S&L 308 Normas, and did not feel they were particularly punishing, but there were different models, so possibly a different stock design.
My worst 308 Norma was a lightweight, early model Parker Hale with a 22" slim barrel, and a very lightweight stock.
I owned it in the days before Limbsavers, R3's, Decelerators, etc.
I had it fitted with a Pachmayr "Field" pad, which helped considerably, but it was not a rifle that one spent a lot of time on the bench with.
My present PH M81 is a bit lighter than my custom gun, but both wear decent recoil pads and are quite tolerable to shoot from the bench.
I abhor muzzle brakes, so will never have one installed.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
My grandfather left me a Parker Hale Safari in .308NM

Sadly it needs to be sent to a gunsmith here in BC once I find one close that can tear it all down and restore it back to it's glory.
 
The worst belting i got was from a S&L 308 NM, The owner was scared of it and asked me to check the scope on it. Was not pleasant to shoot, after 3 shots to check sighting i said enough shoot your own damn rifle. He said they were reloads his brother with the same rifle did for him and i didn`t see any signs of exessive pressure. I always blaimed stock design but you guys don`t seem to have trouble with the S&L stock. Thats as close as i have ever came to being scoped in the eyebrow, would knock my glasses off.

Just asking but I'm wondering if the scope, and/or its mounted position on the rifle, may have been the main contributing factor for it almost scoping you? I've had four different Schultz & Larsen rifles and I've always found the stock design able to 'handle' the recoil exceptionally well.

The Schultz & Larsen is my favorite bolt action rifle. I still have two and am interested in obtaining one more. In the photo on the bottem is the model 65DL in 308 NM I posted the picture of earlier. Above it is a 68DL in 7x61 S&H.

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Years ago an inexperienced friend asked to try a couple of shots out of the 1st 308 NM I had in a Parker Hale. I did tell him to 'hang onto it' firmly but long story short,:( the 1st shot broke his glasses and split him open pretty good.
 
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Johnn, what do those Schultz & Larsen rifles weigh as pictured ?
Reason I ask is because I had a Mod. 68 DL in 7X61 S&H and it seemed to be a fairly light rifle.... gave it to my brother for his birthday and its his favorite sheep rifle. It had 'noticeable' recoil.
My 308 Norma is done on a re-chambered '48 vintage Remington 721 originally a 30-06. With the scope detached and wearing a Lyman peep it weighs 7 lb. 4 oz., and recoil is 'lively' to say the least... not a gun for a beginner to shoot, but nevertheless a tackdriver and a keeper.
 
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Here's some loads I use in my Browning Safari FN mauser in .308 NM 1-12" twist.Will be trying some Barnes 168gr TSX soon........Harold.....all under an inch some better.
 
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Yes Johnn i belive the scope was positioned correctly, unfortunatly i haven`t had a chance to shoot another similar rifle. The S&L rifles are certainly well built, i would not pass one up if the stars lined up.
 
Johnn, what do those Schultz & Larsen rifles weigh as pictured ?
Reason I ask is because I had a Mod. 68 DL in 7X61 S&H and it seemed to be a fairly light rifle.... gave it to my brother for his birthday and its his favorite sheep rifle. It had 'noticeable' recoil.
My 308 Norma is done on a re-chambered '48 vintage Remington 721 originally a 30-06. With the scope detached and wearing a Lyman peep it weighs 7 lb. 4 oz., and recoil is 'lively' to say the least... not a gun for a beginner to shoot, but nevertheless a tackdriver and a keeper.

As pictured in my previous post, top down;
68DL in 7x61 S&H
- Empty
- With sling
- Leupold VARI-X III, 3.5 - 10
- 9 1/4 lbs

65DL in 308 NM
- Empty
- With sling
- Leupold VARI-X II, 3 - 9
- 9 1/2 lbs

Can't recall if I mentioned it in a previous post but my 'introduction' to Schultz & Larsen rifles was by an old European gunsmith I knew in the B.C. interior. He stated that in addition to the level of workmanship, the real hallmark of Schultz & Larsens was the extremely high quality of their barrels.

I'm not a gunsmith by any stretch of the imagination but the bolt is apparently, fairly complex so any stripping and cleaning of it I'll leave to someone that knows what they're doing.
 
As pictured in my previous post, top down;
68DL in 7x61 S&H
- Empty
- With sling
- Leupold VARI-X III, 3.5 - 10
- 9 1/4 lbs



Can't recall if I mentioned it in a previous post but my 'introduction' to Schultz & Larsen rifles was by an old European gunsmith I knew in the B.C. interior. He stated that in addition to the level of workmanship, the real hallmark of Schultz & Larsens was the extremely high quality of their barrels.

I'm not a gunsmith by any stretch of the imagination but the bolt is apparently, fairly complex so any stripping and cleaning of it I'll leave to someone that knows what they're doing.


I'm probably wrong but I thought my 68 DL was a tad lighter than that.
The extractor wore out in the 7X61 and I left the bolt with a local gunsmith for a year, he couldn't repair it so I packed the rifle off to my brother in the Yukon who is a very proficient gunsmith / gun builder and he immediately repaired it, tested it, and refused to give it back, so I said " Happy Birthday ."
His first trip with it took a very nice Dall, so needless to say its a keeper for him. ;)
 
I'm probably wrong but I thought my 68 DL was a tad lighter than that.
The extractor wore out in the 7X61 and I left the bolt with a local gunsmith for a year, he couldn't repair it so I packed the rifle off to my brother in the Yukon who is a very proficient gunsmith / gun builder and he immediately repaired it, tested it, and refused to give it back, so I said " Happy Birthday ."
His first trip with it took a very nice Dall, so needless to say its a keeper for him. ;)

:eek:You wouldn't by chance happen to have another Schultz, say in 358 NM, that you'd like to give away for a birthday gift would you?????? If so and as it's my birthday today, keep me in mind and I would be forever grateful, I promise:p.

Back to the complexities of the S&L bolt, that's kinda' the general info I've been given on it and in my opinion, the only down side to the S&L rifle. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Bruce, H4831, has had considerable experience with them in the past and but I've not heard him mention any significant bolt problems so I'll keep my fingers crossed. dwh44 is a collector of S&L rifles so I'll have to ask him for details at the next gun show.

Oh, concerning the weight, a shootong buddy has an old small 0 - 20 lb scale and when I saw a very similar one at a local antique shop, I picked it up. Nothing complicated and measures in increments of 1/8 lb but handy in my reloading room for weighing firearms.

And don't forget, if you send a Schultz in 358 NM, I'll give it a good home:p.
 
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Here I thought you were tossing us some kibbles.
Preview post, hit the go advance button and see what happens.
I think you can then delete the photos.
You need to scroll down a bit.
 
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This is what I wanted to post instead of the revolvers !
Dug these out of my stash and I wondered if any of the 308 Norma gurus have seen these bullets in the loads before ?
They are 180 gr. nylon tipped supposedly dual core as stated on the box.
They sold for a whopping $ 13.50 back in the day, price sticker is still on the top box.
So much for inflation eh ?
 
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This is what I wanted to post instead of the revolvers !
Dug these out of my stash and I wondered if any of the 308 Norma gurus have seen these bullets in the loads before ?
They are 180 gr. nylon tipped supposedly dual core as stated on the box.
They sold for a whopping $ 13.50 back in the day, price sticker is still on the top box.
So much for inflation eh ?

I've never seen a nylon tipped bullet in the factory loads I purchased when I got my 1st rifle in 308 NM. What was available then in Norma factory loads was their 180gr Dual core but lead tipped bullets. Going back to that day, when I changed to a 308 Norma in a Parker Hale from my sporterized Lee Enfield, 303Br. ammo was going for $3.50/box for Dominion so it was a shock when I had to pay $8.10/box for factory 308NM. ;)Mid 60's.

In this photo of my reloading room, on the end wall as part of the room decore, is an old Norma bullet display board. Checking it, I don't see any nylon tipped bullets displayed.

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I also have copies of the Norma Gunbug Guide and Ballistic table and don't see reference to nylon tipped bullets there either. I also have a paper edition ot the Norma Ballistic Tables Loading Data and pictured in that is what appears to possibly be a few examples of nylon tipped bullets.

With his experience in retail shooting supplies in the past, someone that may be able to shed light on the topic is H4831.
 
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