358 Norma-Comments?

[lgm270]

Am interested in a .358 Norma.  Would enjoy hearing from others with experience or opinions about this round and its flexibility.  Do reduced loads (down to .35 Whelan level) work ok?

Would enjoy hearing from anyone who has experience with this round and the .350 Remington in terms of recoil, performance, etc.

[TRWalker]

 A good rifle in 358 Norma Magnum is difficult to find, expensive to buy, and hard to find ammo for. That's the negatives.  On the plus side, rifles are well made, accurate, and powerful enough for anything you'd care to hunt. It may be a little light for cape buffalo but it can do the job with the right bullets.  It can also be loaded down for hunting deer if you so desire, but to me, a 250/3000 (250 Savage) is all that's needed for deer sized game.  I have a  Classic Lee Loader so ammo availability isn't a problem since I own a supply of brass. I have a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 on my Husqvarna and feel that it's a good choice. If I didn't already own a rifle chambered for the 358 Norma Magnum I believe I would stay with a 375 H&H Magnum. It's a slightly better round, easier and cheaper to buy, and ammo is available anywhere in the world you'd choose to hunt. I own a CZ 550 in 375  H&H caliber and it is a fine rifle.  If you do buy a 358 Norma Magnum, get a  couple hundred  brass cases and a set of reloading dies and you should be set for a lifetime  of big game hunting.

[BBF]

I can't comment on the Norma other then you are getting up towards .375H&H  levels.
I can however write about the 350 Rem. I had the Remington Classic. A very fine shooting rifle that was not finicky on the loads I put thru it. Everything from the  factory 200 gr Rem to the original 250 gr Barnes worked well. The very best groups on that rifle came by using the 250 gr. Hornady RN with a full load of IMR 3031 to push it.  For very mild loads you can use H-4895 and the 200 gr Rem Cor Loks or similar RN's

You didn't ask, but I wil write it anyway. A .35 Whelen is very similar to the Rem cartridge in performance.

[Jaydub in Wi]

I bought one this summer, a rebarreled win 70. Loading data is a bit of a challenge. I haven't shot mine yet, but will next spring. Brass can be formed by necking up 338s. I got one because I like "unpopular" cartridges ie 264 win, 270 wby and now 358 norma

[zorak]

I dont know much about that Norma caliber but it anything like it's little brother the .308 Norma mag I think you will want to put a muzzle brake on it .

[BBF]

 Shooting this rifle with well over 70 grains of powder pushing a 250 gr bullet will make this a memorable experience

[doeroller]

I have been shooting one for the last 30 years. It is a great caliber. Brass is no problem. Just neck up 338 Win Mag brass and fireform. The case will be a little short, but after reloading a couple of time with a full power load the case will be long enough. Cheapest way to get one is to rebarrel any standard length magnum action. Recoil is no different than full power 300-338 Mag guns. Midway has Norma brass, but it is expensive. If you want the correct headstamp and all like I did. My gun was a 7 Mag Ruger rebarreled with a McGowan barrel, 25 in. I have loaded the 180 Speers up to the 225 Noslers. I have had no problems using 338 Mag brass. Layne Simpson mentioned this way of getting brass. I have killed elk, nilgai, moose, black bear, and caribou with mine. If you want one get one before the 35 fever passes.

[jim dab]

I've been shooting a 35 cal for 12 years now, a 358 STA. Maybe 100 ft/sec faster. I've shot 225 to 300 grain loads. 225 at 3300 ft/sec. 250s at just under 3100 ft/sec and the 300 at 2650 ft/sec. I shoot 225 mostly and on everything from antelope to moose. The 300s new this year, kick a little harder but on moose they are hard to beat. I've seen my wife shoot over twenty rounds of 225s at the bench. Holding to 1" groups. Bruised but not daunted. I will never not have one. If I get to old to shoot the 358 STA I'll get a Whelen. lol

Jim

[mauser98us]

Had a 358 Norma Mag in A Schulz and Larsen Model 65 DL. Fabulous rifle and cartridge. Killed a few elk with it,did the job right. I did not find the recoil levels to be too objectionable,but the S&L was a heavy rifle.Let it go in a moment of stupidity.I also had the S&L rifle in 308 Norma and 7X61 Sharpe and Hart. Still have them  Mike

[Ron T.]

A good rifle in 358 Norma Magnum is difficult to find, expensive to buy, and hard to find ammo for. That's the negatives.  On the plus side, rifles are well made, accurate, and powerful enough for anything you'd care to hunt. It may be a little light for cape buffalo but it can do the job with the right bullets.  It can also be loaded down for hunting deer if you so desire, but to me, a 250/3000 (250 Savage) is all that's needed for deer sized game.  I have a  Classic Lee Loader so ammo availability isn't a problem since I own a supply of brass. I have a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 on my Husqvarna and feel that it's a good choice. If I didn't already own a rifle chambered for the 358 Norma Magnum I believe I would stay with a 375 H&H Magnum. It's a slightly better round, easier and cheaper to buy, and ammo is available anywhere in the world you'd choose to hunt. I own a CZ 550 in 375  H&H caliber and it is a fine rifle.  If you do buy a 358 Norma Magnum, get a  couple hundred  brass cases and a set of reloading dies and you should be set for a lifetime  of big game hunting.

I couldn't have said it better or more completely.  TR Walker said it well...   +1   !~!~!


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[sbsmith]

  I rebarreled a 375 H&H to 358 Norma to get better ranging. It worked. I have used my 23" barreled Sako for more than twenty years and never regretted it. In Alaska I have found that ranges can be on the longer side of 250 yds with boring regularity in the places I hunt. With 225 Accubonds I get right at 3000fps
with no freeboring or other tricks. My go to load is with a 225 Nosler partition at 2950. I use these loads for everything from sheep to moose, although if I ever go to Kodiak, I will leave the 358 Norma home and take something that starts with a 4 or 5.
  Cases are easy to form (I use 338 Winchester cases, necked up and fireformed). They are readily available and tougher and harder than Norma cases. Cheaper too. For most folks, a 338 is probably a better choice. But if you're an unapologetic gun crank, want more power than a 338, then I say go for it and enjoy.
  Regards,
  sbsmith 

[3leggedturtle]

Thers one in Omaha Cabela's.   Looks like it was a rebored and rerifled barrel,  cause it had "30 GIBBS" also stamped on it.   Was a nice older military action and cant remember which.  Dont remember exact price but was around $300 with 4X weaver scope.

[lgm270]

Is it feasible to down load the .358 Norma to .35 Whelen  levels?

I have a Win .338 that is not satisfactory.  Thinking of re=boring to .358 Norma, or alternatively, re-barreling to .350 Rem Mag.  Frankly the  full blown .358 Norma is a bit too much of a good thing for me, but I would be OK with down loading to .35 Whelen if that's easily done.    I have an inventory of easily  reformed .338 and that's a factor.

Any recommendations about twist?  12"  14"  I need some advice on this.

Any thoughts?  

[Dand]

lgm- its not clear to me what your issues are with the 338 win.  But your comments on the 358 Norma make me wonder if you would be dollars and time ahead to trade the 338 for a rifle in 35 Whelen? I think that would be easier and cheaper than a rebore or re-barrel.

I've been intrigued by the 358 Norma but never shot one.  Played with some 338s. Some old Winchester rifles I liked to shoot but a Browning would beat me up - tho it was crazy accurate. But that Browning made me hesitate to try anything bigger.  I too have heard that the 358 Norm can hit very hard at both ends.

I mostly use a 300 win mag tho play with the idea of a 338-06 or 35 Whelen.

[Drilling Man]

  I've fired the 358 Norma a bit, seen it used in the field too...  Personally, i'd sort out the .338 problem, and use the money left over to buy more ammo and practise, practise, practise!

  DM

[bigswede]

The 358 Norma is a great round and easy to load for.  As already stated, just use 338 winnie brass.  Mine is a rebarreled model 700 BDL, it has a 24" A&B fluted barrel, a Remington factory camo synthetic stock, and is topped with a Leupold European-30 2-7 scope with the German #4 reticle.  I had it built for elk hunting, but sadly all I have ever shot is a big whitetail buck.  As with all 358 caliber rifles it kills with authority and you can eat right to the hole.  Mine doesn't recoil aweful bad but you know when you pull the trigger.  The 350 rem mag is also a very fine cartridge, not finicky as with most 35's, it doesn't quite have the power of the 358 Norma on either end.  I am partial to medium bore rifles and ones that not many other people shoot.  My go to rifles are my 358 Norma, 375 RUGER, 338-06 AI, 350 Rem Mag., and my recently acquired 35 whelen in a model 700 classic.  I think you will be very happy with the Norma, I have a 250 gr Hornady sp load that I shoot at 2750 and a load with 225 Nosler accubonds that shoots right at 2950 fps.  The "BIG SWEDE" would make a fine one gun arsenal for North America.  Happy shooting.

[Mnswede]

I have a 358 Norma Mag.  Nice custom rifle with a mesquite stock.  Unlike everyone else, I used 375 H&H cases fire formed to 358 Norma.  I shoot Hornady 250gr SP and you will feel it when you shoot.  I haven't shot the rifle at anything larger than whitetail, and it puts them down fast.  Norma still loads this round and so if you don't mind the sticker shock, you can buy cases and ammo.