Cheapest load for 308 norma mag.....preferably using pistol powder...

slicknova

slicknova

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So I'm looking to finish making 308 Norma mag brass out of 300 Winchester. I realize that this is not a true "fire form" as I have just pushed the shoulder back... reardless I would still like to find a cheap load, with some pistol powder and a 150grn cast bullet just to put a sharp shoulder on the case before loading it with a expensive rifle powder load and a expensive bullet. Something with red dot, bullseye, 231, unique, universal, aa#5, would be nice, I have lots of all of those. Id like to stay away from the CoW method if possible and use the 150grners I have.... then at least i'm still shooting!! Essentially looking for a cheap plinking load...How do I make one safely?

Any input appreciated..... Thanks!
 
I would say:

use the proper powder and a proper bullet, use the minimum recommended load in the book. Thats what I would do.
Bulk 150 grains hornady are 30 cents each.

Trying to screw with pistol powder in a case that holds 70 grains of powder seems a bit unsafe to me to save a few cents per round.
(I am no expert)
 
slicknova said:
So I'm looking to finish making 308 Norma mag brass out of 300 Winchester. I realize that this is not a true "fire form" as I have just pushed the shoulder back... reardless I would still like to find a cheap load, with some pistol powder and a 150grn cast bullet just to put a sharp shoulder on the case before loading it with a expensive rifle powder load and a expensive bullet. Something with red dot, bullseye, 231, unique, universal, aa#5, would be nice, I have lots of all of those. Id like to stay away from the CoW method if possible and use the 150grners I have.... then at least i'm still shooting!! Essentially looking for a cheap plinking load...How do I make one safely?

Any input appreciated..... Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have 3 - 308 Norma Magnum rifles, and have made literally hundreds of cases for them from 300 Win Mag brass.

I never have bothered with the "fireforming" step in this chambering.
Just load them up with your regular hunting load, and go shooting.

That shoulder will form just nicely, and it's likely that your ammo will be just as accurate with the first firing as with
subsequent ones.

Make sure you trim to 2.550" before you load, of course.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
I've gotten the "fire form in the field" advice from a few veteran reloaders in the past, not necessarily for .308 NM, but for other cartridges. I tend to always go that way myself now, whenever possible.
 
how do you form 300 win mag cases to 308 norma?
Had to buy a box of 20 rounds for my father in law at 100$ after I shot a box of his f** 308 norma...
 
Grease them up and run them through the full length die.
I have found deburring the case mouth and lightly lubing it, especially the inside helps.
 
Little more that that . Remove expander button/rod,lube .300 win mag brass lightly only to were .308 NM shoulder is,q-tip inside lube necks then FL size all brass. Trim cases to proper OAL /chamfer inside + outside of neck. Re-install expander button and size/deprime new cases.Load ,prime and shoot.Case loss should be about zero with no oil dents.Higginson Powder has cheap Browning stamped .300 win mag that is really Norma! Harold
 
I've found that running 300 Win cases into a 338 Win size die with the decap rod and expander removed. Trim case. Size case in 308 N size die. Prime load and shoot.
 
As has already been posted, just use the regular full power load when fireforming. You will get perfect brass with the sharp shoulder you are looking for, and the point of impact will be the same as with fireformed loads.

I have used 300 Win Mag successfully, but form most of my 308 Norma Mag from 338 Win Mag brass. Just adjust the sizing die until the bolt will just barely close on the case, load up, go to the range, and sight in. No trimming necessary, no problem with rounded shoulders, just perfectly-formed brass that is a few thou short.

Actually, in a pinch one time, we formed fifty cases for a friend of mine using 7mm Rem Mag brass. They are quite short in the neck, however they have been reloaded a few times, and are still working fine.

Ted
 
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