.300 Norma magnum for hunting??

[yobuck]

Many years back the late PA gunsmith Howard Wolfe created a cartridge he could
use at Williamsport with a 30" barrel gun. He took the 378 wby. case and shortened
it. Other than a few shooters there and a few PA hunters it never became popular.
Ive had one built by Howard on a mark v action for quite a few years. I strictly use it for long range PA deer hunting.
About 3 years back a friend built a 300 Norma on a 700 action. We filled both cases with water and weighed them. There was only about 1 gr difference.
I use 98 gr retumbo in mine with a 190 smk. Thats a pretty hot load that i only use for hunting. Im sure there are better bullets now days but these do a good job on deer.
I wouldnt be all that excited about owning a 300 Norma on a standard boltface. If i were building one id opt for a larger bolt but thats just me.
As for what is and what isnt a hunting bullet, weve found over the years thats best decided by the animals.

 

[4xforfun]

You'd probably do better with a .308 Winchester or a 30/06!

That there is some funny s%*t!!

 

[Chandalar]

Most accurate round I have ever shot. 1:10 does very well with 208s and 230 OTMs.

 

[mountainman56]

Most accurate round I have ever shot. 1:10 does very well with 208s and 230 OTMs.

I had not done any research on the 300 Norma. I have read through every post on this thread and apart from one silly one y'all have me wantin one now. Sounds like an excellent hunting cartridge to me.

 

[Chandalar]

Wish I had more time to shoot it.

 

[gaps]

I am getting 3050fps with my 300RUM and a 230gr Berger Hybrid out of 28" Krieger barrel. Anyone have an idea what velo the 300Norma could push this bullet out of a 28" barrel?

 

[vikingsniper]

Around 2950 in the 28" tube. The improved version could match the rum pretty easy tho

 

[Chandalar]

Shooting a 26" and H50bmg, I have been using 2850fps totrue my ballistic solver and 230 grain OTMs. At 2300 ft. I'm holding 7.5 milsof elevation for 1100 yards. The 300 RUM is a power house, no doubt, and I have seen its capabilities on Dall sheep here in AK.

I just haven't shot a cartridge that I like better or feel more confident with at or past 1000 than the 300 Norma. I had been shooting 338 Lapua, decided to try a 300 Norma, and I'm glad I did. To me it is just that much more of an accurate cartridge with the 230 grain bullets.

 

[gaps]

Thanks for the info. I am using 89.4gr Retumbo with my 300RUM and a coal of 3.899, how much powder does the 300Norma use and I am assuming the coal is around 3.6? Thanks for any info!

 

[Chandalar]

Thanks for the info. I am using 89.4gr Retumbo with my 300RUM and a coal of 3.899, how much powder does the 300Norma use and I am assuming the coal is around 3.6? Thanks for any info!

I stared at 86 grains of H50 BMG, Federal 215s, coal is at 3.530, .028 off the lands with Berger 230 OTMs.

 

[Chandalar]

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This was 208 Hornady Match load development with one grain increments looking for pressure with H1000.

Second photo was the first group at 1100 with 230 OTMs, nothing spectacular, but it was a good starting point for me using H50bmg. This was laying on top of a snow bank with a bipod, wind was @ 12mph @ 90deg. Used 7.5 MILS of elevation at that distance.

 

[Litehiker]

Chandlar> "Most excellent shooting dude!"

Swamplord> Yer totally keerect re. the difference between .308/30-06 and the .300 NM. There just is no comparison as to trajectory curve, distance before it goes subsonic or energy delivered at any distance.

In fact 6.5 Creedmoor easily outshoots a .308, that's why it (and .270 Rem.) is used in long range matches so much. Just can't beat the trajectory for that class (mid-weight) of cartridges.

Yes, the .300 Win mag will do quite well with Berger 230 gr. bullets but the .300 Norma mag will do better, because, as Swamplord mentioned, it's a more efficient cartridge case shape. And it has a longer neck to accommodate longer bullets so there is more room for the powder charge.

And finally... General Dynamics has chosen the .300 Norma mag for its new medium machine gun. And BTW, that mg weighs LESS than the current standard weight M240 in 7.62 NATO. The advantage in distance over the 7.62 NATO (.308) is about 1,000 meters! 'Nuf sed.

 

[Chandalar]

Fun out in the White Mts. today.
4 shot group at 776 yards.
Wind was from 3oclock at 4-11mph,
300 Norma @ 2796fps with Berger 230 OTM's, 86 grains of H50bmg. Held 4.7 mils of elevation, and into the wind .7 mils.
The mug shot was all I had in my pocket for reference. 3.530 COAL.
25.5 " barrel 1:10 twist

 

[Litehiker]

I think the .300 Norma mag will rapidly gain popularity due to its superior trajectory compared with the .300 Win mag. I speak as one who owns both a target and hunting rifle in .300 Win mag.

Plus the cartridge shape helps its accuracy. Anyone questioning this statement only needs to look at the 6 mm and 6.5 mm benchrest cartridge cases to see what I mean.

BTW Jason, great groups!