Amazing 308 Norma Magnum factory ammo!

[mbogo3]

I have a FN Belgian Browning in .308 NM

 

[Jack Robinson]

3 favorite rifles in my collection are custom made 7x61 S&H, 308 NM and 358 NM, also have a Browning Safari in 308. Really like Norma brass in all calibers, the stuff lasts forever

 

[kamlooky]

A buddy of mine stumbled upon a real nice 308NM in the 68DL model.
He asked if he should buy it.
NOOOOOOOOOO, junk and I'll take if for parts for mine.
He wouldn't by it.
What I said.
He did get the rifle.
Sweet she is and I couldn't believe the price.
There was one at the Vernon show this year with a spare stock.
The price was a bit off for the shape.
There is a gent I bought my BLR81 from I believe may still have a
pretty slick Schultz $ Larsen. I think it's a 7mm original not the
reamed out style.
PM me if you're interested. I may have is number out in the shop.

 

[Kevan]

I picked up an interesting 308 Norma a few years ago, a 721 Remington originally in 30-06.
Whoever did the re-chambering and bolt face work did an awesome job because it functions flawlessly and as plain as 721s are it is an excellent hunting rifle. The rifle came to me with dies, 2 boxes of original Norma factory loads and over 200 unfired brass, a Lyman receiver sight and Paul Jaeger detachable mounts.
It seems to prefer heavier bullets and groups best with either 180 or 200 gr. bullets over a case full of H 450 powder...

 

[Johnn Peterson]

3 favorite rifles in my collection are custom made 7x61 S&H, 308 NM and 358 NM, also have a Browning Safari in 308. Really like Norma brass in all calibers, the stuff lasts forever

Three of my favorites as well. Those are the three pictured in my previous post, # 10, all three are Schultz & Larsens.



The Schultz & Larsens, top down;

• - Model 68DL in 7x61 S&H
• - Model 65DL in 308NM
• - Model 68DL in 358NM

I believe the three cartridges pictured on the front of the old Norma Gunbug's Guide reloading manual are those three calibres. In that manual on page 50 there's a one page article titled;

When you want power
The Norma Line of Magnums
And below is some of the calibre specifics for each of that 'famous three'.

The Schultz in 358NM was the hardest of the three to obtain and prior to getting it, I acquired a very nice model 1651 Husqvarna in 358NM from Ted. I need two 358NM's like a hole in the head but I can't bring myself to part with the Husqvarna.





It's too pretty.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Johnn - good to know that you won't be having any problems with pigeons and crows in your reloading room.

That Owl decoy with moveable head goes well with the Foxpro Caller and Jack In The Box unit in the camo backpack on the left below the Owl. Something I haven't been getting enough use out of for a while now.

 

[dan belisle]

I think the 308 NM is the best balanced 30 magnum out there, what the others really should have been (not that I don't have other 30 mags, a half dozen at last count). Mine is an early PH Safari. Norma ammo used to be the standard for high performance factory ammo. It was easy to beat the ballistics (and usually the accuracy) of the North American made ammo, but Norma really delivered. - dan

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I think the 308 NM is the best balanced 30 magnum out there, what the others really should have been (not that I don't have other 30 mags, a half dozen at last count). Mine is an early PH Safari. Norma ammo used to be the standard for high performance factory ammo. It was easy to beat the ballistics (and usually the accuracy) of the North American made ammo, but Norma really delivered. - dan

I think a lot of what came about from Europe, and to some degree, led the way to some of what is popular in North America today was due to inovation and R&D by manufacturers like Norma and Schultz & Larsen. Notably, following the introduction to the market of the 308NM in 1960 was soon followed by the 300WM in 1963. Somewhat similar, the 7x61 S&H was brought to market in 1953 but never it never achieved the popularity of the 7mm Remington Mag that followed in 1962. Admittedly, both were following the market intro of the 7mm Weatherby Magnums appearance in 1944.

 

[Why not?]

Cleftwynd - I know of an old Browning Safari...hard to get any more classic than that!

Ted - what powder are you using with the 220's? I had excellent results with the .300 WM, 220gr Partitions and H1000. I was chronographing just over 2850fps out of a 24" barrel. I'd give it a try, if you are so inclined to do some experimenting.

I should point out that I sold my .308 Norma Mag a few years ago and have regretted it since. It was a "custom" built on a GEW98 action. That thing was slick. I tried pm'ing everyone I dealt with in an attempt to get it back, but my efforts were futile.

I feel your pain.

The 220 Hornady and Sierra loads in the Frankenrifle are using H450, and purposely kept around 2700-2750. The Hornady, in particular does not hold together well at close range if loaded much faster.

Ted

 

[1899]

Ted - a little of topic here, but are you sticking with Interlocks still? IIRC there were some changes in their desing and I also seem to remember you having a haywire experience with them.

 

[Why not?]

Yes, I have about fifty of them left, and they are relegated to 30-06 and 308 Winchester loads, at 2600 and 2450 fps respectively.

Ted