Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 358 Norma

LT I guided in the Katmai Preserve for 10 yrs and the Norma was with me all the time. If you get back up here give me a shout as I commercial fish out of Naknek.

Sounds like a plan!

It was my first trip to SW AK. I was actually born at Elmendorf AFB so AK is kind of in my blood! Worked summers in KOTZ in the early 80's and hadn't been up since 1989. When I got off the jet this summer, it just felt right!!!

Plan to come up again soon. Want to float the Alagnak and get back to KOTZ to see friends, employers, etc. who are getting up there in age and mean alot to me.

For a great small game load try 8-11 gr of 231 behind a 185 cast pistol bullet. When I sight in with 225tsx, they are spot on at 25 yds and shoot a ragged hole.

Anyone been trying any of the new medium powders in their 358?
Alliant 2000mr looks pretty good so far with the 225 tsx, and I have a can of Ar Comp to try next. My rifle seems to do better with a bit faster powder than the 4350 range.

Ronben yrs ago 4895 got my attention for the Norma and seeing how I use it in 6 other cartridges it became my fav! I tried plinking with squib loads but soon went back to a medium load behind 225 Sierra's.

waterrat,

Getting more efficiency with the 4895, better velocity, or better accuracy vs 4350? I had the IMR4350 sitting around so that is what I started with.

tac been used by anybody? supposed to be great in a 350 rem.

I can't locate my Swift manual at the moment, but how fast can I run those 280s out of my Norma with a 26" barrel?

2600 is probably realistic, but Swift says 2500 I believe. I never tried em, always wanted to though

LT I switched to 4895 for a recommended load and after seeing how easy it meters it get used for most of my rifles now excepting the 30 gibbs and my wifes 284.

I tried the AR Comp with the 225 sierra. Started at 65 gr and went to 68. Groups got tighter as I increased the load with 68 giving me a sub .5" group. It was bit on the warm side, so I backed down to 67 and seated .020 deeper. 5 shots into .6"
No chronograph unfortunately, but I would imagine they are 2900+. I may have a new powder! Now to see how it does in the whelen.

I decided to run 250 gr. North Fork SP's and have had good luck with AA2700... after reading an article on .358 Norma load development some years ago in TAR (Jan. 2004). It meters well and is supposed to be less temperature sensitive in full capacity loads...

Started at 74.0 and worked up till 1st signs of primer flattening. I settled for 2920 fps.
First COAL yielded 1.06" for 5 shots.These were just thrown charges with first and last weighed for verification.

I will try a few more seating depths, but at $2.00 (and change) each time it goes "bang", doing too much farting around with a load that's already shooting MOA seems sorta anal.

It ain't no target rifle nor was it intended to be.

Casey, any idea where I might find a copy of that article? Info on the .358 Norma is pretty scarce. I asked Hodgdon if they would ever produce data for any new powders and they told me NO because it was an obsolete cartridge. You wouldn't know it after reading this thread....
I think the 35's in general must be rising in popularity. 225 Sierras are out of stock everywhere.
I shot the last of mine over 2000mr and found 70 gr to be the sweet spot. .55" 5 shot group. No pressure signs up to 73, but the groups opened up with every grain.
Now I need to get the chrono fixed (errant gas check!)

ronben,

I have no idea of what "TAR" is that CaseyTibbs refers to -- I too hope to get a copy.

However, I can post one online sources for loading the .358 Norma.

Norma

Not surprisingly though, this deals with Norma powders -- but some of the highest velocity loads I have seen for the .358 Norma is on this web page (e.g. 2845fps with 250gr bullets) so it is worth a look.

John

Sorry about the "TAR" reference.... "The Accurate Rifle" magazine is the predecessor to "PS".... "Precision Shooting" magazine. (Before and concurrent with TAR was "The Tactical Shooter").

The article I referred to is "The .358 Norma Magnum (Twice)" by J.C. Munnell. He actually got as high as 2957 fps with a 250 gr Speer spitzer over IMR 4350.

I settled on AA2700 because it takes up less case capacity and my chamber is a little shorter than the rifle in which Munnell got his results with IMR4350 in.

The .358 Norma seems to be the "flavor of the month" lately and its not surprising.... Duplicates .340 Weatherby ballistics with a considerably shorter barrel and can be built on a shorter action. Plus it makes a little bigger hole.

As mentioned earlier the Norma mags also have a bit of a "cool factor" going for them.

Thanks Casey.

2957fps is smokin'!

John

I suppose I could scan the article if you can't find it?

I've never gotten close to that with 250's in any of mine,but then again I don't torture test 358 Norma cases like I've been known to do with Gibbs and Ackley rounds.

I think I know a guy here in Sweden who subscribed to The Accurate Rifle (I am sure it was never sold at the news stands though).

I will check with him, and if he doesn't have it, I will get back to you to take advantage of your kind offer.

John

Casey, If you would scan and post it, I would certainly appreciate it. Maybe the round will be resurrected.

FWIW,For a small game plinker, I have had great luck with 8-11 gr of 231 under a cast 185. Same poi as 225's at 25yds. I think it will be a great grouse load.

My mid range plinker is 31 gr 4227 under a 240 cast.

Ok...

Taken directly from TAR:













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Hope you can read this?