Custom 308 Norma Mag
- Thread starter todbartell
- Start date
Just a sum of the parts. I know a sub 8lb scoped 300mag is no fun to shoot! And I know 10+lb rifles are no good to carry around
An excellent choice on plumber and caliber. I have had nothing but great experiences with both for decades.
Hoping you talked T.L. into putting the reamer in inventory.
The 308NM is a pleasure to tune at top end velocities, IMR7828 and 180 AB's are a near flawless combo.
My current 308NM weighs 7.25lbs scoped( 32oz optic), no brake and is never objectionable to shoot. Stock fit becomes very important in lightweight magnums. Light trigger pull weight and quality are equally important and oft overlooked in LW rifles. My recommendation would be Jewell for the MRC.
Hoping you talked T.L. into putting the reamer in inventory.
The 308NM is a pleasure to tune at top end velocities, IMR7828 and 180 AB's are a near flawless combo.
My current 308NM weighs 7.25lbs scoped( 32oz optic), no brake and is never objectionable to shoot. Stock fit becomes very important in lightweight magnums. Light trigger pull weight and quality are equally important and oft overlooked in LW rifles. My recommendation would be Jewell for the MRC.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Mark; I heartily endorse your new build!!! I believe you will be quite pleased with the results.
Your chosen components should morph into an accurate, handy rifle that is comfortable to
shoot. Your goal of 3050 with the 180 is realistic, and it is possible that it may even deliver
a bit more. I have two custom 308 Norma Magnums, and they are both amazingly accurate.
One sports a McGowen tube,[ 1-10"] the other a Benchmark. [1-9"] See a group below from
the Benchmark, with a 200 Partition load at 2965 fps [26"]. Post some pics of the finished item,
plus a couple of groups.Dave.
Nice group. Very nice. My best accuracy results, early on with the Parker Hale and now even more so with my Schultz & Larsen, has been using the Sierra 200gr SBT with IMR 4350.Colt Ultralight action, .308NMag .336nk, 24" #3 KMP deep 6 flute, Shehane Tracker Obeche stock, custom to original profile with blind magazine, tuned stock trigger group. Built by my old friend Leonard Baity of NC, stock work by "Mickey" Shehane.
I replaced the Talley LW ring/bases w/ Talley steel ring and bases to mount Leupold LPS 2.5x10x45mm(hence the 32oz optic) exceptional glass, but heavy.
Meets your speed goal+ with 180AB's and shoots .5's for 3.
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If I wanted to build myself a 30 cal magnum, the 308 Norma would always be my first choice with the 30-338 a close second. If I was a beltaphobe, I would build a 30 Newton but the cost of brass is an issue there. I came close to building a WSM for a long range target rifle once but got over the urge before I got around to doing it. I feel good about that. I do have barrels chambered for the Norma and the Newton which are fitted to an old Model 70.
I'm curious to know what your final thought will be on the Montana action.
Came close to ordering one a few times but was always put off by some of the online banter about fit and finish.
Played with them at SHOT a good 10 years ago back and wasn't overly impressed, things can certainly change though.
Excellent choice in calibre as well.
Came close to ordering one a few times but was always put off by some of the online banter about fit and finish.
Played with them at SHOT a good 10 years ago back and wasn't overly impressed, things can certainly change though.
Excellent choice in calibre as well.
Bill [Leeper] built me a 308 Norma magnum in 2011. It is on a "tweaked" 700 Magnum action,
has a 26" McGowen contour 4 barrel, a heavy recoil lug, Triggertech trigger, all bedded into
a Custom Shop Tiger maple stock.
This Norma Magnum is one of the most accurate rifle i own, often flirting with ½moa......and
that with several different bullets, including the Scirocco II, the 168 and 180 TTSX, the 175 LRX,
the 165 and 180 Partitions, and the 200 A-Frame. 200 Partition in this rifle is about MOA, so
still very huntable. Very versatile rifle, and easy on the eyes as well.
Here's a couple of pics....has a 3.5-10x40 B&C Leupold on top these days. Dave.
has a 26" McGowen contour 4 barrel, a heavy recoil lug, Triggertech trigger, all bedded into
a Custom Shop Tiger maple stock.
This Norma Magnum is one of the most accurate rifle i own, often flirting with ½moa......and
that with several different bullets, including the Scirocco II, the 168 and 180 TTSX, the 175 LRX,
the 165 and 180 Partitions, and the 200 A-Frame. 200 Partition in this rifle is about MOA, so
still very huntable. Very versatile rifle, and easy on the eyes as well.
Here's a couple of pics....has a 3.5-10x40 B&C Leupold on top these days. Dave.
Hey Dave ........ While I do get how a gun looney sometimes wants something a bit different. I came very close this year to having a 300H&H built until I got some prices on brass here in Canada.
Am wondering if there are any practical advantages to choose a 308Norma over a 300WM. IIRC, a lot of folk will mention about the longer neck of the Norma but also do not recall hearing about bullets falling out of the 300 Winchester case.
Nice rifle, BTW.
Hey Dave ........ While I do get how a gun looney sometimes wants something a bit different. I am wondering if there are any practical advantages to choose a 308Norma over a 300WM. IIRC, a lot of folk will mention about the longer neck of the Norma but also do not recall hearing about bullets falling out of the 300 Winchester case.
Nice rifle, BTW.
Thanks, Paul. There are probably no true practical advantages to owning a 308 Norma Mag over the 300 Winchester Mag.
I do feel that the 308 Norma is a better designed case. I was somewhat taken aback when Winchester finally released
their 300 Win Mag, since I felt they would legitimize the 30-338 Magnum, but I guess they decided they wanted just a little
edge, capacity wise. I honestly believe that the 308 Norma is a bit less fussy, although both can be very accurate.
Unless you choose to make 308 Norma cases from some other case, you have the excellent Norma brass to work with. This
can be hard to find at times, but I feed 4 - 308 Normas, and have never had an issue. Then, there is the "cool" factor you
alluded to....something just a bit different.
Dave.
Further to Dave's comments, and having had a 338 WM, I was always of the opinion the 308 NM would have been a more logical choice upon which to build a family . . . 7 mm, 208, 338 and 358.
I also had a 300 WM but do not believe the advantage was significant enough to warrant creating the 300 WM versus the 308 NM.
When I had my 338 WM, a considerable amount of brass was obtained from a source who was determined to create a 308/338 WM but that venture went down the tube.
Hunted with a man once who had a 303/300 WM but the 180 grain Sierra bullets literally blew up when pushed to 300 WM velocities.
Always appreciated Dave's accolades for the 308 NM.
I also had a 300 WM but do not believe the advantage was significant enough to warrant creating the 300 WM versus the 308 NM.
When I had my 338 WM, a considerable amount of brass was obtained from a source who was determined to create a 308/338 WM but that venture went down the tube.
Hunted with a man once who had a 303/300 WM but the 180 grain Sierra bullets literally blew up when pushed to 300 WM velocities.
Always appreciated Dave's accolades for the 308 NM.
jeez you're old
You are so correct, lol. But still young at heart, and not so fragile
that the 30 cal magnums and the 8mm Rem Mag scare me to shoot.
I have a abhorrence for muzzle brakes, so I tolerate the recoil, or I
don't own it!! D.
When Norma designed the 308 Mag., they made the chamber long enough that the reamer would clean up the neck of a 30/06 since they anticipated, maybe even intended, that many 308's would be re-chambered 30/06's. When Winchester designed their 300, they wanted the cartridge to be physically larger than the, already established, 308 Norma; hence the longer case and shorter neck. Winchester ads, at the time, actually compared the two cartridges in pictures. The inference was, of course, "bigger is more powerful". In this particular instance, this wasn't true but it was their stary and they stuck to it. The Norma achieved higher velocities but did so at higher pressures. Later on, Norma throttled back on their factory loads and increased case capacity by thinning the brass (as they did with the Super 7x61). As with my 30 Newton, I satisfy myself with 3000 fps with 180's. Good enough for me.
