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Well, I've been wanting to get a discussion going on the 308 Norma magnum. In large part, because I'm finally going to have one and I'll probably end up selling the rest of my rifles... NOT.. Ha ha.. I think it's been about 20 years now that I've dreamed of owning a rifle chambered for this round. I've had just about every kind of 300 magnum imaginable, but for some reason never a Norma magnum. Even though it's been on my bucket list for a long time. Any of you use one for hunting the great pacific northwest? Target practice/punching paper or ringing steel. I hear they are inherently accurate. What say you guys?
The rifle I am having re-chambered is very similar to the one I regard as being the cause of my screen name. It's a BSA model E (factory sporterized m1917) and is chambered in 30-06 at the moment. It is at Velzey's shop as we speak though, waiting for it's new chamber to be finely cut and reamed to perfection. This BSA rifle was exhibiting signs of a sloppy chamber, as it was stretching brand new Norma brass to the extent that I was uncomfortable loading it another time. I also fired some ammo that I had loaded a couple times and it looked just fine, but when I extracted it, the brass was split around the circumference of the case near the base of the cartridge. After that happened, I contacted a buddy that I knew was hoarding a 308 Norma magnum reloading die set and 100 pieces of new Norma brass. The dream of owning and hunting a 308 Norma magnum seemed like it was actually going to happen. Finally...
Here's the rifle. I can't think of a better rifle for this project to be built around. Right now it holds 6 rounds of 30-06 ammo. I'm curious to see if it will hold 5 rounds of the magnum ammo:
Here's how she was shooting after it's initial load development:
I'm not as much into the magnum's as I used to be, so maybe I'll just load it light (30-06 speeds) and call it good. A 200gr. Nosler partition running at 2,700 fps will work just fine and the rifle seems to like that bullet.
Anyway, if you have them and use them, post them up here. I'd love to see what you run. Whether it be an old sporterized 1903, Mauser 98 or enfield like mine.
Regards guys and have a great weekend!!!!
The rifle I am having re-chambered is very similar to the one I regard as being the cause of my screen name. It's a BSA model E (factory sporterized m1917) and is chambered in 30-06 at the moment. It is at Velzey's shop as we speak though, waiting for it's new chamber to be finely cut and reamed to perfection. This BSA rifle was exhibiting signs of a sloppy chamber, as it was stretching brand new Norma brass to the extent that I was uncomfortable loading it another time. I also fired some ammo that I had loaded a couple times and it looked just fine, but when I extracted it, the brass was split around the circumference of the case near the base of the cartridge. After that happened, I contacted a buddy that I knew was hoarding a 308 Norma magnum reloading die set and 100 pieces of new Norma brass. The dream of owning and hunting a 308 Norma magnum seemed like it was actually going to happen. Finally...
Here's the rifle. I can't think of a better rifle for this project to be built around. Right now it holds 6 rounds of 30-06 ammo. I'm curious to see if it will hold 5 rounds of the magnum ammo:
Here's how she was shooting after it's initial load development:
I'm not as much into the magnum's as I used to be, so maybe I'll just load it light (30-06 speeds) and call it good. A 200gr. Nosler partition running at 2,700 fps will work just fine and the rifle seems to like that bullet.
Anyway, if you have them and use them, post them up here. I'd love to see what you run. Whether it be an old sporterized 1903, Mauser 98 or enfield like mine.
Regards guys and have a great weekend!!!!