Ammo for 308 Norma Magnum - Asking for a Friend...

thegazelle

thegazelle

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A friend from church asked me after Christmas Eve service as we were loitering around the foyer, about this...he just inherited a rifle chambered in "308 Magnum" from his recently deceased Grandfather and asked me if I had any ammo for it. Being old, dense and easily distracted, I said "yeah, I got tons of it", assuming I heard 308 (meaning Winchester). He said funny, he hasn't seen any in the stores, at which point I sheepishly asked "sorry what are you looking for again?" He said "308 Magnum". I said, never heard of that before.

He indicated that "I think the official name is 308 Norma Magnum." I don't know how old the gun is, but if it's his Grandfathers, we are probably looking at 1940s-1950s maybe. Regardless, out of curiosity I checked around some of the site sponsors online catalogs yesterday, and sure enough, nothing of this sort. He is not a reloader but he wanted to get something so he can do some shooting and put his Grandfather's rifle to good use. I said it may be that that rifle may just be a wall hanger, as I don't recall seeing that ammo in stores in the 20 years I have been a gun owner, but then again, I haven't been explicitly and purposefully looking for it.

I am sure there are many on here who can educate me on this - I don't necessarily need the information on the history as much as whether this is still a viable round that can be found being sold (presumably not through existing retail channels), when the person looking for it is not a reloader (so buying brass is useless to him). Or is he, as the old adage goes, out of luck...
 
I believe Prophet River has some , they did about a month ago. The 308 NM came out in 1961. The ammunition isn’t cheap so your friend had better be prepared for sticker shock. Most people reload for myself included due to high price of factory loads. Not a common or well stocked by most stores.
 
Snider shooter said:
I believe Prophet River has some , they did about a month ago. The 308 NM came out in 1961. The ammunition isn’t cheap so your friend had better be prepared for sticker shock. Most people reload for myself included due to high price of factory loads. Not a common or well stocked by most stores.
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We just received some Norma and some HSM in 308 Norma mag. Not online yet.
 
thegazelle said:
A friend from church asked me after Christmas Eve service as we were loitering around the foyer, about this...he just inherited a rifle chambered in "308 Magnum" from his recently deceased Grandfather and asked me if I had any ammo for it. Being old, dense and easily distracted, I said "yeah, I got tons of it", assuming I heard 308 (meaning Winchester). He said funny, he hasn't seen any in the stores, at which point I sheepishly asked "sorry what are you looking for again?" He said "308 Magnum". I said, never heard of that before.

He indicated that "I think the official name is 308 Norma Magnum." I don't know how old the gun is, but if it's his Grandfathers, we are probably looking at 1940s-1950s maybe. Regardless, out of curiosity I checked around some of the site sponsors online catalogs yesterday, and sure enough, nothing of this sort. He is not a reloader but he wanted to get something so he can do some shooting and put his Grandfather's rifle to good use. I said it may be that that rifle may just be a wall hanger, as I don't recall seeing that ammo in stores in the 20 years I have been a gun owner, but then again, I haven't been explicitly and purposefully looking for it.

I am sure there are many on here who can educate me on this - I don't necessarily need the information on the history as much as whether this is still a viable round that can be found being sold (presumably not through existing retail channels), when the person looking for it is not a reloader (so buying brass is useless to him). Or is he, as the old adage goes, out of luck...
Click to expand...

Do any google fu, you'll find the back story. Basically the 375H&H, begat the 300 h&h. That case used to introduce 458 wm and 264wm circa 1958. Nimrods got impatient for a 30 cal version, necking down/up the 2.5" magnum case to 30 cal. That case and sammi patent became the 308nm about 1959. Norma made reamers and brass. The most common commercial rifles available were Shultz and Larsen, Husqvarna, or Parker hale for low end. Those rifles were approximately 3x the cost of a M70. Winchester came out with the 300wm in 1963? Quickly hambered in domestic rifles, it basically killed the 308nm as a commercial choice. So likely your friends rifle is from that 1958-63 time or a more modern build/project. The 308nm exists between 30-06 and 300wm. Much like 300wsm, max handloads can get to 300wm factory ammo speeds.

Years ago(25-30?),at international shooting supplies, near Guildford mall in Surrey, 20 virgin norma brass were something like $68/20. You can neck down/up the closest 2.5" family members, 7rm or 338wm. I have a standing rule to use brass with the right headstamp on my reloads. Factory ammo is more common than 350 mag, which isn't saying much. Probably now between Weatherby and African calibers for cost. I blame this caliber for starting me down the reloading rabbit hole. It's basically a reloader only caliber. A wtb ad on the reloader EE will find dies and brass within weeks(ish). Straightforward non fussy caliber.

Just the random musings of a perpetual insomniac. Anyways
 
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Yup, Ol` Paws old S & L M68DL got me into reloading.
Back in the day I'd be fruck'd iff'in I'd spend $3.00 a rownd furr factory ammo.
Have build up a decent supply of brass'n bullets along wid da ker-pow flewid that makers run.

Funny oww some of the brass I'd awffer at our last show didn't awl sell.

Price gonnah be up come April.
 
Thanks for the info and sources. I talked with my friend and gave him the links and then talked with him on the phone. Tim talked with his wife who I heard a clear "NO" in the background (presumably due to the cost of a box of ammo, but I think she's neutral on guns to begin with), so his inherited gun will be a wall hanger, but his own admission.
 
thegazelle said:
Thanks for the info and sources. I talked with my friend and gave him the links and then talked with him on the phone. Tim talked with his wife who I heard a clear "NO" in the background (presumably due to the cost of a box of ammo, but I think she's neutral on guns to begin with), so his inherited gun will be a wall hanger, but his own admission.
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My response to that would be “you’re grandmothers heirlooms can go to auction then “ haha
 
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