I have a chance at both they are almost identical in condition and price but can only take one home. I know nothing about either other than what my reloading books tell me. Any info or help you can offer to help me decide would be great. Factory ammo is of no concern. Thanks.

What make rifles? Barrel lengths? In like barrel lengths they're ballistically even.

til later

I have 2 308 Norma's, one built on a Ruger and one built on a MRC 1999. Both are very accurate, didnt take much work to get them both shooting that way. Both of them have shot under 1/2 inch with pretty boring consistency. The only problems I see with the Norma, is that the brass is expensive and load data seems dated. I like my brass to have a headstamp that matches the gun, so no fireforming in this case for me. The load data is out there, just pretty limited. Most of the manuals dont seem to be updated to reflect some of the newer powders that might give a little more velocity, if that is what you are after.

The Ruger has a 24 inch tube and the MRC has a 26 inch tube. The Ruger velocity, using Speer data, was accurate to the velocity almost to the digit with IMR-4831. I did try H-1000 using data from the Hodgdon book with 150 AB's, very accurate but the velocity was no where near what it should have been.

The MRC likes 165 Interbonds with IMR 4831, velocity was right where it should have been as well. I just got back from Wyoming and shot 3 antelope with that rifle. Filled both doe tags with one shot.

Guess it comes down to which rifle floats your boat.

I would surely opt for the 308 Norma, hands down.

The performace would be the about the same,since powder capacity is about the same.The H&H is some times used in rifles of the 30-06 length,by removing metal from behind the lower lug(pre-64 M-70,FN Brownings).Both brasses are harder to find,but 308Norma is easily made from 300WM.

I have heard the H&H is one of the most efficient 30 cal rounds out there (most velocity for least amount of powder). That's just what I have read; I don't know. I like the H&H just because of it's history. Wildcats just don't do it for me the way old proven rounds like the H&H do. JMT.

308 Norma is a factory round that has actually been around for about 50 years. I think it actually preceeded the 300 Win Mag by about 5 years. Both brass and loaded ammo are still available for it today. Just a little tidbit for ya.

.308 Norma is a fine round. This would be my pick of the two, as I would actually like it a little better than the 300 Win.
It is the case and shoulder length of the .264 Win.,7Rem mag., 338 Win. series.

Both great rounds I would toss a coin in the air or find out how easy it is to get brass for either one.

I built a 308 Norma for a friend of mine. Very nice shooter.
I own and shoot the 300 H@H in a Rem 721. Great gun.
I sorta paniked when Winchester stopped making the brass but Remington picked it back up. It's an excellent round and very accurate.

T

The 308 Norma is basically a 30-338. Brass is now harder to find than H&H brass. I like the H&H and have one right now, a pre-64 mod 70 and couldn't be happier.

There hasn't been any new loading date for the H&H in 25 years so I use 300WSM data (which is abundant) and it works out just fine if nothing but starting load data.

Ballistically they're pretty much the same. My M70 XTR 300H&H is the slickest feeding rifle I have and very accurate. To me both rounds have a very high cool factor going for them. I'd flip a coin to see which one I took home.

I have a .308 Norma. It is one shooting gun. I had no trouble picking a load and going hunting.

As others have said, brass and ammo can be a bit pricey. I have a good supply of factory brass, but I also used .338 Win brass. Even fire forming and blowing the shoulder to fit, it shot very nicely.

The .308 Norma was made to fit 30.06 actions. It did come to market or at least the ammo did before the .300 Win from what I have found.

Either caliber is a time tested winner!

Either will do what a 300 win mag will do, accept you'll be up the creek if you should desire factory ammo, and will likely have to put some effort into finding brass as well.

No problem forming brass for either chambering, but I've learned my lesson about oddball chamberings. I've had my fill!

the old H&H round looks cooler, feeds like deer guts on a doorknob


other than that, heads or tails

Neither is easy for factory ammo, some available (special order I'm sure) Federal & Norma) To me it would depend on what you want the rifle for. The 300 H&H is at it's best with the heavy 308's here is where it is better that the 300 Win and the Norma. Lighter weights your pick. I have a '55 model 70 in 300 H&H, very accurate and one of the best feeding rifles I have ever owned. In it's day the H&H was considered a 1000 yard round, Norma was to me the best 30 magnum on a 06 action.

The 308 Norma has always been my favorite 30 magnum. Possibly because it's the first one I shot. It's a good performing, neat looking cartridge.
It is NOT a 30-338. It is slightly longer and the distance to the shoulder is slightly greater. It was made longer so that it would clean up a 30/06 chamber when rechambering. I believe Winchester would have brought out the 30-338 as the 300 Winchester mag if the 308 Norma had not already existed. The advertising guys figured the 30-338 might be at a disadvantage if compared to the physically larger Norma round. The 300 Win mag was designed to be bigger than the 308 Norma. It worked. Ads were run showing the superior stature of the new Winchester mag. GD

My first "real" big game rifle was a .308 Norma on '03-A3 action. Heckuva shooter, but a bit heavy. Lost it in a house fire.

Because of availability and cost of brass, ammo, etc, I'd go with the H&H,

Without knowing what rifles they are in and your intended use, this is a bit pointless. That said, Jack Atcheson Sr. was an early devotee of the .308N until he started using the .338 for everything, and I do mean everything.

On the other hand the .300 H&H is too cool and would get the nod for a plaything, as I would likely use something else if I were serious.

I got a 308 Norma Mag rifle before any Norma brass was available for it . I ran 300 H&H cases into a 308 Norma trim die then fire formed the cases . During the late 60s I purchased ten boxes of Norma brass which I still have. I have used the rifle to shoot prong horn, mule deer ,and elk. One year when I lived in Wyoning I loaded up 20 rounds, shot three rounds to check the rifle sites shot three more rounds to get a pronghorn, mule deer and elk...It was some what common back then to have military surplus 30-06s converted to the 308 Norma Mag. Back then some of the boys were having their 300 H&H rifles converted to the then new 300 Weatherby. I would not have a problem taking out the 308 N Mag or the 300 H&H for big game hunting.

Jayph,

If you're looking for a logical way to decide, Perhaps I can help. But if it's emotion you're basing your choice on, then no one can make that decision but you.

If you are looking at factory ballistics, read the back of Speer #9. They chronographed actual factory loads and recorded the velocities. The .308 Norma just about comes out on top of every other .30 cal magnum. (even the .300 Wby) But that is because loads are chrongraphed in actual hunting rifles. The .308 Norma is factory loaded to 65,000 PSI. IIRC the .300 WBY is only about 58,000 and the longer freebore of Weatherby rifles causes some velocity loss.

That being said, if you throw handloading into the mix, then the .300 Win, .308 Norma, .300 H&H, and even the .300 WBY are all pretty much peas in a pod. Realistically, at reasonable hunting ranges, neither you nor the intended victim will notice the difference.

Bear in mind, that this then becomes pretty much an emotional issue. Some folks are impressed with the .300 H&H because a guy named Ben Comfort (IIRC) set a 1000 yd record with it back in the 1930's. Some folks don't like the double radius shoulder of the WBY propriety cartridges. Other folks think the .308 Norma is just plain magical. (Myself included). And yet, even others don't care for the short neck of the .300 Win.

But ultimately the choice is EMOTIONAL! And if it's your gun, then it's your emotional. You have only to please yourself. What I think, matters not!

Grasshopper

Well I took a look at the guns today and knowing that they are close to the same performance wise I chose the rifle that fit and felt the best. I will be bringing home the .308 NM as it was a little better shape overall (good blue just some marks from normal use on the stock) It's a Parker Hale Deluxe with engraving on the floor plate and a rams head. I look forward to load development. Thanks for all the info.