.308 Norma Magnum?

[cash_tx]

Original amma from 1965
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I have a few of those same boxes, but containing new (old stock) unprimed brass; which I am currently using to work up a hand load using Sierra 165 BTSP's.

 

[hvnorton]

I adore the .308 Norma Magnum, and think the Ruger M77 would make a great platform for that caliber. I am fortunate enough to have inherited a 1968 Browning Safari Grade in 308 Norma Magnum from my late father, and it is one of may favorite rifles in the safe; not just due to the fine quality construction of the rifle itself, but the caliber has a neat history and ballistics as well. My dad hunted thin-skinned North American whitetail with it, so the only ammo we had on hand for it was 150gr. Sierra BTSP's backed by 73.5 grains of IMR-4350; but I am currently working up a handload using Sierra 165gr. BTSP's using that same powder.

I hope your build goes well; and if you ever need any loading data for this caliber, I have several old reloading manuals for this caliber from the likes of Sierra, Hornady, Speer, etc. and feel free to drop me a message if you need me to look something up.
View attachment 475103

@cash_tx Hi Sir, I just inherited a rifle my grandfather had custom made chambered in .308nm. While I’ve found 3 boxes of the original 1965 norma dual core ammo on gunbroker, I am starting to realize that once that’s gone I will need to learn how to reload if I want to use this rifle consistently. Do you have any advice/recommendations for someone getting into reloading generally (best press to use, powder, tricks of the trade, etc) and specifically getting into reloading .308 norma mag. I am planning on saving all 60rds of brass I have. I am extremely motivated to learn and keep this rifle in the hunt rather than just a family heirloom, and any advice you can share would be much appreciated. Thank you!

-Hunter

 

[TucsonFX4]

@cash_tx Hi Sir, I just inherited a rifle my grandfather had custom made chambered in .308nm. While I’ve found 3 boxes of the original 1965 norma dual core ammo on gunbroker, I am starting to realize that once that’s gone I will need to learn how to reload if I want to use this rifle consistently. Do you have any advice/recommendations for someone getting into reloading generally (best press to use, powder, tricks of the trade, etc) and specifically getting into reloading .308 norma mag. I am planning on saving all 60rds of brass I have. I am extremely motivated to learn and keep this rifle in the hunt rather than just a family heirloom, and any advice you can share would be much appreciated. Thank you!

-Hunter

I certainly don’t want to discourage you from getting into reloading. It is fun, rewarding, and worthwhile. Also expensive and time-consuming. As a stopgap, and possibly a complete alternative, you can get 308NM here, I haven’t used them but would expect good results:

308 Norma Magnum Extreme Custom Ammo

308 Norma Magnum Extreme Custom Ammo Ammunition

hendershots.net

 

[hvnorton]

Thanks for the reply Sir, I am a 29 year old lawyer with two young kids so I could use another peaceful hobby. I did see hendershots has this available but I figure if all I can get are reloads I might as well learn to do it myself. I appreciate the encouragement.

 

[TucsonFX4]

Find yourself a reloading book to learn about the basics and then get a couple reloading manuals.

You can go crazy buying equipment, but it is not necessary. No need for a progressive press, or many other high speed/automated gizmos. You will most likely find reloading for a bolt gun makes you search for the best accuracy, not a way to save 15 seconds loading a cartridge.

 

[hvnorton]

That is great advice thank you! There does appear to be a lot of items that claim to speed the process up that you can spend your money on. I know my dad had a Dillon press at one point but sold it. Would that be a good place to start? Does it matter what kind or brand of die that you buy?

 

[Nevada Mike]

Reloading has provided me with more enjoyment from my rifles and shotguns AND taught me a great deal I would not have learned otherwise.

 

[TucsonFX4]

Dillon is great, I own one and love it. I’m not using mine to its potential because my reloading time is for accuracy for bolt guns. Find yourself a single stage press and a basic die set. Get some books as I suggested above, and you’ll be set until you read through the first book. A couple more odds and ends and you’ll be making cartridges.

 

[cash_tx]

@cash_tx Hi Sir, I just inherited a rifle my grandfather had custom made chambered in .308nm. While I’ve found 3 boxes of the original 1965 norma dual core ammo on gunbroker, I am starting to realize that once that’s gone I will need to learn how to reload if I want to use this rifle consistently. Do you have any advice/recommendations for someone getting into reloading generally (best press to use, powder, tricks of the trade, etc) and specifically getting into reloading .308 norma mag. I am planning on saving all 60rds of brass I have. I am extremely motivated to learn and keep this rifle in the hunt rather than just a family heirloom, and any advice you can share would be much appreciated. Thank you!

-Hunter

Happy to help if I can. Did you get any ammo with the rifle you inherited, or are you starting from scratch? Also, can you point me to the link on Gunbroker for the ammo? I've not heard of "dual core" ammo when it comes to 308NM, but would be happy to check it out.

In most cases, I would not recommend that someone get into reloading for just a single caliber; unless it was something that they shot a LOT of (as in hundreds of rounds a year, at least), but 308NM is a rare bird and reloading is about the only option to feed it these days. Can you provide more details on the rifle and how you plan to use it after getting ammo (and pics always help)?

 

[hvnorton]

Absolutely I’ll attach some photos. I just have the 60 rounds I purchased on gunbroker. I try to go mule deer hunting every fall with my dad in the high sierras. Our family is from mammoth lakes so we will be hunting the minarets this year on horseback. I will also be doing an elk hunt in Utah this year. I will likely only be shooting 5-10 rounds per hunt between zeroing and hopefully filling a tag. The photos of the rifle are how I received it but I have since added a Leupold optic. It believe it was custom made but possibly a Husqvarna mauser 98 or maybe a .30-.06 conversion in the 60s-70s. Hard to tell with so little information anywhere on the rifle besides “802A” and “.308 Norma Mag CL” stamped on the barrel.I have rifles but this has become somewhat of a passion project for me due to the sentimental value. It is beautiful wood and blued with floral engravings. Accordingly I will spend the money to get into reloading initially for just this caliber in order to continue using it.

 

[perttime]

That is great advice thank you! There does appear to be a lot of items that claim to speed the process up that you can spend your money on. I know my dad had a Dillon press at one point but sold it. Would that be a good place to start? Does it matter what kind or brand of die that you buy?

As a slight (?) exaggeration, Dillon is great but really geared towards producing hundreds or thousands of rounds quickly.

For Magnum rifle rounds, my instinct would be to get a single stage press, where you do one operation at a time, and then have the time to inspect the cases in between.

As suggested, read on reloading. Getting the right amount of the right powder under the right bullet (and some other details) can be a matter of life and death. Don't be afraid: as in driving or flying, reloading just has a number of things that you need to get right.

 

[hvnorton]

Copy that, thank you. I was an infantry officer in the Army so it’s not so much fear of death as it is fear of wasting money trying to figure this out on my own when everyone here is so willing to lend valuable advice! Especially for such a niche cartridge.

 

[perttime]

There's a number of companies that produce good single stage reloading presses, or kits that also include other stuff that you'll need (or want). Hornady, RCBS, Redding. I must be missing some.

 

[ZG47]

Single stage press, definitely.
First tool … a chronograph. Record ten (10) velocities per test, with factory ammo and divide the standard deviation by the average/mean to obtain the coefficient of variation i.e., the percentage value of the standard deviation for that test series. Standard deviation, by itself, tells you bugger all. You now have solid data for your rifle.
Second tool, a good manual. Avoid the current Lyman manual. The 47th edition, from the 1980s, was the last edition suitable for beginners. Cost cutting has ruined the later editions for new hand-loaders. The Speer manual is, in my estimation, the current number one for beginners.
NB I suggest that you stay with gilding metal jacketed bullets i.e., traditional ‘cup and core’ bullets, Nosler Partitions and proven bonded bullets. Going crazy with some of these ‘do everything’ bullets is a bit like buying a Victorinox Champion to spread the jam on your toast. You can always try the fancy stuff later, when you have spare cash.

 

[hvnorton]

Single stage press, definitely.
First tool … a chronograph. Record ten (10) velocities per test, with factory ammo and divide the standard deviation by the average/mean to obtain the coefficient of variation i.e., the percentage value of the standard deviation for that test series. Standard deviation, by itself, tells you bugger all. You now have solid data for your rifle.
Second tool, a good manual. Avoid the current Lyman manual. The 47th edition, from the 1980s, was the last edition suitable for beginners. Cost cutting has ruined the later editions for new hand-loaders. The Speer manual is, in my estimation, the current number one for beginners.
NB I suggest that you stay with gilding metal jacketed bullets i.e., traditional ‘cup and core’ bullets, Nosler Partitions and proven bonded bullets. Going crazy with some of these ‘do everything’ bullets is a bit like buying a Victorinox Champion to spread the jam on your toast. You can always try the fancy stuff later, when you have spare cash.

Thanks for the notes! I will definitely plan on keeping it simple at first and just trying to reload the brass I already have.

 

[Pheroze]

Thanks for the notes! I will definitely plan on keeping it simple at first and just trying to reload the brass I already have.

The brass may expand just above the belt. If you use this die everytime you will get a lot of life out of that brass. It's an extra step but I have found excellent results with this and his head space measure. It's a good site for belted magnum reloading. Good luck!

Innovative Technologies - Reloading Equipment

Our patented resizing die can reload Winchester, Remington and Weatherby belted magnums up to 20 times, instead of just 2 or 3 times and the top of the die is a chamber width gauge.

www.larrywillis.com

 

[Nevada Mike]

A lovely rifle your father left you. I recently decided to build a 308 Norma Magnum - based on the merits of the cartridge and recommendations from people I trust. I am beginning with a Winchester Model 70. I have recently been able collect about 250 new Norma cases from a couple sources on this BBS.

I grew up hunting deer in the eastern Sierra and have many fond memories of trips with my dad and brothers. Are you a West Point grad?

 

[cash_tx]

@hvnorton , If I were compiling a reloading setup from scratch like you are, I would probably start with an RCBS kit; such as this Rock Chucker kit:

Buy Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit and More | RCBS

Shopping for the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit - Learn more about the latest RCBS Kits and other hunting or shooting gear at RCBS.

www.rcbs.com

I currently use a Rock Chucker press for all my rifle reloading, and like it very much. In addition to this kit, you would need to get some case prep equipment such as a good micrometer, case trimmer (and any relevant collets, if any), shell holders (I believe the 308NM takes a #5 shell holder), perhaps a case tumbler if you want to clean your brass, and of course the requisite ammo components (bullets, powder, primers, etc). I find that the .30 caliber magnums with traditional 1:10 twists tend to really shine with projectiles in the 165-200 grain weight range, so the 180gr is pretty much my standard go-to bullet weight. With the hunting you plan to do, just make sure you pick a good quality bullet; such as those from Barnes, Nosler, etc. for your game loads.

This forum and a few others (such as Accurate Shooter and 24 Hour Campfire) have been great resources for me to gather reloading advice and info in general, as well as for the 308 Norma Mag in particular. On that note, I have several vintage loading manuals from Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, Speer, etc. that have sections on the 308NM cartridge; so if you ever need me to look something up, feel free to ask.

Lastly, based upon the hunting and shooting you plan to do, I think that initial 60 rounds should get you through the first season or two; so take your time in assembling your reloading setup and keep learning along the way. Of course keep an eye out for more opportunities to acquire 308NM ammo and cases; but also get familiar with how you can make your own cases from 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and 338 Win Mag cases.

 

[hvnorton]

Happy to help if I can. Did you get any ammo with the rifle you inherited, or are you starting from scratch? Also, can you point me to the link on Gunbroker for the ammo? I've not heard of "dual core" ammo when it comes to 308NM, but would be happy to check it out.

In most cases, I would not recommend that someone get into reloading for just a single caliber; unless it was something that they shot a LOT of (as in hundreds of rounds a year, at least), but 308NM is a rare bird and reloading is about the only option to feed it these days. Can you provide more details on the rifle and how you plan to use it after getting ammo (and pics always help)?

@hvnorton , If I were compiling a reloading setup from scratch like you are, I would probably start with an RCBS kit; such as this Rock Chucker kit:

Buy Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit and More | RCBS

Shopping for the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit - Learn more about the latest RCBS Kits and other hunting or shooting gear at RCBS.

www.rcbs.com

I currently use a Rock Chucker press for all my rifle reloading, and like it very much. In addition to this kit, you would need to get some case prep equipment such as a good micrometer, case trimmer (and any relevant collets, if any), shell holders (I believe the 308NM takes a #5 shell holder), perhaps a case tumbler if you want to clean your brass, and of course the requisite ammo components (bullets, powder, primers, etc).

This forum and a few others (such as Accurate Shooter and 24 Hour Campfire) have been great resources for me to gather reloading advice and info in general, as well as for the 308 Norma Mag in particular. On that note, I have several vintage loading manuals from Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, Speer, etc. that have sections on the 308NM cartridge; so if you ever need me to look something up, feel free to ask.

I will do that Sir, thank you for all of the info. I am putting a list together and managed to find a vintage norma reloading manual on eBay so I will start there. Happy hunting!

 

[hvnorton]

A lovely rifle your father left you. I recently decided to build a 308 Norma Magnum - based on the merits of the cartridge and recommendations from people I trust. I am beginning with a Winchester Model 70. I have recently been able collect about 250 new Norma cases from a couple sources on this BBS.

I grew up hunting deer in the eastern Sierra and have many fond memories of trips with my dad and brothers. Are you a West Point grad?

I am Sir. Growing up we hunted mule deer in the Lakeview, Oregon/Crane Mountain Zone but I left for the Academy in 2011 and accordingly have been on somewhat of a hunting hiatus until the last few years. We will be hunting in the Minarets outside of Mammoth on horseback this fall. My dad and his brothers all run Weatherby Vanguard Accumarks chambered in .300 WBY now so I asked my dad if I could carry the torch with the .308 NM now that it's not being used.

-Hunter