300 Norma Mag

[Batemanb12]

AXSR 300 NM 27" barrel w/100 rounds down range .

H1000 @87g
Lapua
215M
Berger 230 Hybrid (Moly)
3098 fps
ES 1.1
Sd .7

H1000 @87g
Lapua
215m
Berger 215 Hybrid (Moly)
3160 fps
Es 17
Sd 7.5

 

[Rebelirons]

I’m jealous with everyone’s success with their Norma’s. I took mine out finally with 2 different powders (H1000 and IMR 8133) and 3 different bullets. After break-in and all the cleaning I couldn’t get it to shoot under 1” at 100yds. I hope it’s not a gun that won’t shoot but very disappointed in the accuracy. SD’s, speeds and pressures where good. I just couldn’t get it to shoot accurately. The bullets were Berger 215’s , 230’s and 225 ELD-M’s. Guess it’s back to the drawing board. CIP reamer and my bullets weren’t load out or in crazy so, who knows. I will say the worst groups were with the 8133

Rifle specs;
28” Bartlein 1:9”
Defiance Deviant
TT Diamond
Manners T4A team

 

[Runnineh]

I’m jealous with everyone’s success with their Norma’s. I took mine out finally with 2 different powders (H1000 and IMR 8133) and 3 different bullets. After break-in and all the cleaning I couldn’t get it to shoot under 1” at 100yds. I hope it’s not a gun that won’t shoot but very disappointed in the accuracy. SD’s, speeds and pressures where good. I just couldn’t get it to shoot accurately. The bullets were Berger 215’s , 230’s and 225 ELD-M’s. Guess it’s back to the drawing board. CIP reamer and my bullets weren’t load out or in crazy so, who knows. I will say the worst groups were with the 8133

Rifle specs;
28” Bartlein 1:9”
Defiance Deviant
TT Diamond
Manners T4A team

I've never used a bartlein, so I'm not sure how fast they really break in. I've had a couple brux's, and all of them actually broke in at around 220 rounds. That's when I saw my sd's come down into the low single digits and accuracy really tightened up. With my Norma, I've put 5 shots in nearly the same hole at 100 on a couple occasions. I'd say since it's new, give it a couple more sessions.

 

[Birddog6424]

I’m jealous with everyone’s success with their Norma’s. I took mine out finally with 2 different powders (H1000 and IMR 8133) and 3 different bullets. After break-in and all the cleaning I couldn’t get it to shoot under 1” at 100yds. I hope it’s not a gun that won’t shoot but very disappointed in the accuracy. SD’s, speeds and pressures where good. I just couldn’t get it to shoot accurately. The bullets were Berger 215’s , 230’s and 225 ELD-M’s. Guess it’s back to the drawing board. CIP reamer and my bullets weren’t load out or in crazy so, who knows. I will say the worst groups were with the 8133

Rifle specs;
28” Bartlein 1:9”
Defiance Deviant
TT Diamond
Manners T4A team

I had lousy luck with the ELDMs. The nose would get damaged in the magazine. First shot was great, the rest sucked.

I've stuck with 230gr Hybrids almost exclusively now. My freebore is set up for that bullet. It's been money with consistent .2 to .3 groups running RE33 in the 92gr range. That's a 9" twist Proof CF.

What manner of load development are you using?

 

[Rebelirons]

I was taking that into account. I only have 95 rounds down. Its just the accuracy was so poor it kinda ruined my weekend. I have a line on a couple pounds of Retumbo so between that and the H1000 I hope to shrink the groups a bit. Gonna play with seating depths as well.
My loads for 8133 started at 83.0 grains and went up every .5 grain to 90.0 gn. The H1000 with the 230’s started at 80.0 gn to 84.5gn. It’s probably too early for a full on Red Alert but it sure wasn’t promising

 

[mindekei]

Guys, any advice on what freebore to select for 300 Norma build?
Want to shoot bullets which are quite long: 230 Bergers, 230 and 250 A-tips, 230 SMK's pushing with Vihta N570.
Would like to avoid neck shoulder junction.
Barrel proof carbon, 1-8", will be sitting in DT SRS A1.

Do I read correctly that .215 freebore might be to short?

thank you for your expertise

 

[BClrh]

Guys, any advice on what freebore to select for 300 Norma build?
Want to shoot bullets which are quite long: 230 Bergers, 230 and 250 A-tips, 230 SMK's pushing with Vihta N570.
Would like to avoid neck shoulder junction.
Barrel proof carbon, 1-8", will be sitting in DT SRS A1.

Do I read correctly that .215 freebore might be to short?

thank you for your expertise

I am doing the same set up in a A2. I went with a .250 freebore. It depends how much your load wants to jump but .215 is on the short side for bigger bullets.

 

[Yerman]

Guys, any advice on what freebore to select for 300 Norma build?
Want to shoot bullets which are quite long: 230 Bergers, 230 and 250 A-tips, 230 SMK's pushing with Vihta N570.
Would like to avoid neck shoulder junction.
Barrel proof carbon, 1-8", will be sitting in DT SRS A1.

Do I read correctly that .215 freebore might be to short?

thank you for your expertise

I shoot the 250 A-Tips with a .225 FB. They wont mag feed but the FB seems just right.

 

[mindekei]

Thanks guys, will uodate how it went.

 

[Bc Adventures]

Wondering if anyone can help me
I need load data for my 300 Norma mag Christiansen arms mpr
1:8 twist
26 inch barrel
using Berger 245 grain EOL hunting tip
Powder H1000

need to know min max grains and ideal

 

[Rebelirons]

Be Adventures. As far as anything that I read, with that bullet and H1000, I wouldn’t exceed 84.0 grains. Don’t take my info as gospel though

 

[BClrh]

Wondering if anyone can help me
I need load data for my 300 Norma mag Christiansen arms mpr
1:8 twist
26 inch barrel
using Berger 245 grain EOL hunting tip
Powder H1000

need to know min max grains and ideal

If you call berger they will give you data over the phone.
I have the same rifle and 85 grains of h1000 with a 215 berger is getting pretty hot so you will be well under that.

 

[Rebelirons]

Berger’s data is known to be really hot. For the 230 grain Hybrid anyway

 

[Conqueror]

Does anyone have a list of which reloading manuals have 300 Norma loads listed? I bought the newest Hornady manual because they told me it did and was disappointed to find it was 308 Norma Mag instead.

 

[Shawnsts]

Though I would add to this since I have used a lot of the info on the thread.
300 norma
225 ELD-M
Lapua brass
26" hart 1:8 twist (T3 break)
Tac338 action
.010 off lands
Started at 84.5gr retumbo and worked up to 86.5gr (with no pressure signs)
84.5gr retumbo - 2940 fps (this load was .015 off the lands)
85.5gr retumbo - 2964 fps (.010 off the lands)
86.5gr retumbo - 3050 fps (.010 off the lands)

 

[Reload10]

Though I would add to this since I have used a lot of the info on the thread.
300 norma
225 ELD-M
Lapua brass
26" hart 1:8 twist (T3 break)
Tac338 action
.010 off lands
Started at 84.5gr retumbo and worked up to 86.5gr (with no pressure signs)
84.5gr retumbo - 2940 fps (this load was .015 off the lands)
85.5gr retumbo - 2964 fps (.010 off the lands)
86.5gr retumbo - 3050 fps (.010 off the lands)

Nice. What freebore is your reamer? Coal seems short with a 225gr?

 

[Shawnsts]

To be honest I do not know what the Freebore is (there is probably a way to measure?). I purchased it from a guy who said it was built by RGS LLC. Today was my first time shooting it. I did my best finding the lands with the hornady locknload guage. I came up with 3.593 for 225 eldm and 3.695 for the 245 elite hunter which I haven't tried yet.

I am just starting really getting into reloading so I am not the best at it.

 

[dgheriani]

Is there a consensus on what primer to use for the 300 Norma? I'm waiting on my action to arrive (Stiller Tac338) and my smith has a 30" Krieger set aside for it. I'll be using Lapua brass and Berger 215s or 230s and either N570 or H1000 (most likely the N570 though). I've gone back a few pages and guys seem to be either using Fed 215Ms or CCI 250s, any preference? I've got 1k 250s here but they're kinda ear marked for my 7SAUM. Should I just get some Fed 215Ms or just stock up on 250s and have em do double duty?

 

[nick338]

MAYHEM- 300 NORMA MAGNUM 245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
$269.99

Quantity

Choose an optionChoose an optionADG 50

Mayhem- 300 Norma Magnum 245 Berger EOL Elite Hunter quantityAdd to cart

• Description
• Additional information
• Reviews (0)

CALIBER	300 NORMA MAGNUM
BULLET	245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
BRASS	ADG
POWDER	VIHTAVUORI N570
PRIMER	FEDERAL 215 MATCH
VELOCITY	3125 F/S
G1 / G7	.823/ .414
COAL	3.685″
REC. TWIST	8
QUANTITY	20/50

28″ 1:8 Barrel on test rifle

This is interesting from Unknown Munitions. Velocity seems more in line with what a 215 would be at.

 

[MOUNTIC]

MAYHEM- 300 NORMA MAGNUM 245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
$269.99

Quantity

Choose an optionChoose an optionADG 50

Mayhem- 300 Norma Magnum 245 Berger EOL Elite Hunter quantityAdd to cart

• Description
• Additional information
• Reviews (0)

CALIBER	300 NORMA MAGNUM
BULLET	245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
BRASS	ADG
POWDER	VIHTAVUORI N570
PRIMER	FEDERAL 215 MATCH
VELOCITY	3125 F/S
G1 / G7	.823/ .414
COAL	3.685″
REC. TWIST	8
QUANTITY	20/50

28″ 1:8 Barrel on test rifle

This is interesting from Unknown Munitions. Velocity seems more in line with what a 215 would be at.

That's got to be a misprint. Maybe 3025. But thats still cooking with a 245.

 

[nick338]

That's got to be a misprint. Maybe 3025. But thats still cooking with a 245.

He says it's not. I called him and that's what he got out of his rifle with N570.

 

[MOUNTIC]

He says it's not. I called him and that's what he got out of his rifle with N570.

Curious then what others get or if they have pressure. Impressive speed none the less.

 

[nick338]

Curious then what others get or if they have pressure. Impressive speed none the less.

Agreed. I'm going to get some coming to try it. Rifle won't be ready for 3-4 months though.

 

[Reload10]

I highly doubt that will be achievable in another barrel. He must have a fast one, or brass is only good for 1x.

 

[nick338]

I highly doubt that will be achievable in another barrel. He must have a fast one, or brass is only good for 1x.

Most likely. I would be happy with 2950

 

[Shawnsts]

MAYHEM- 300 NORMA MAGNUM 245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
$269.99

Quantity

Choose an optionChoose an optionADG 50

Mayhem- 300 Norma Magnum 245 Berger EOL Elite Hunter quantityAdd to cart

• Description
• Additional information
• Reviews (0)

CALIBER	300 NORMA MAGNUM
BULLET	245 BERGER EOL ELITE HUNTER
BRASS	ADG
POWDER	VIHTAVUORI N570
PRIMER	FEDERAL 215 MATCH
VELOCITY	3125 F/S
G1 / G7	.823/ .414
COAL	3.685″
REC. TWIST	8
QUANTITY	20/50

28″ 1:8 Barrel on test rifle

This is interesting from Unknown Munitions. Velocity seems more in line with what a 215 would be at.

What would be the starting grains of powder for this load? I am not wanting to push those speeds (seems unrealistic for my rifle), I just don't know where to start with n570. I know that my 338ax likes n570 and I have a bunch of it.

 

[nick338]

What would be the starting grains of powder for this load? I am not wanting to push those speeds (seems unrealistic for my rifle), I just don't know where to start with n570. I know that my 338ax likes n570 and I have a bunch of it.

Couldn't tell you man, it's not my load and I haven't tried it yet.

Berger's starting load with N570 and the 245 EOL at 3.680 is 79.4 grs and max is 87.2

 

[Reload10]

Question for the group- I have a le wilson inline seater with an arbor press for seating. For sizing I've historically used redding body dies and Lee collet dies. I've read good reviews on the hornady sizing die.

What sizing die do you use successfully? I have a distaste in my mouth with the redding bushing die as I've had experience with the bushing bring angled before. Thanks

 

[Dogtown]

I really like the Redding S dies for the past 15 years or so, after many years or using Lee, Hornady and RCBS. For wildcats I've traditionally had CH4D make custom dies for me, but lately I've been using custom Whidden dies and really like them. If you want to stick with a bushing die, give the Whidden dies a try.

 

[WeiserBucks]

What would be the starting grains of powder for this load? I am not wanting to push those speeds (seems unrealistic for my rifle), I just don't know where to start with n570. I know that my 338ax likes n570 and I have a bunch of it.

My Norma is a 28" and with 86.5 grains of N570, 215M and Lapua brass I get 3000 fps with no pressure using 230 Bergers. At 87.1 grains I get a faint ejector mark.

 

[Dogtown]

Is anyone running the 198 Flatline's through their .300NM?

 

[Movistar]

Shot my first rounds through my 300NM this weekend.

I did a work up with the following materials:

Peterson virgin brass
215 Berger Hybrid
FGM215M primers
VV N570 powder
seated at 3.595 OAL based off Mark Gordon’s distance to the lands test.

started at 81 grains because 300NM isn’t your moms 223. VV lists max load for this bullet and powder at 87.3 so I started at 81 and worked up to 84.

84gn N570 was 2940 avg with ES of 19 and SD or 9.5.


AI ASR factory 27 inch barrel that had only been factory test fired. I’m sure I’m going to see it speed up as it wears in. It only has 12 rounds on it now. No pressure signs at all at 84gn. I think I may push to 85 but I don’t really feel the need to find the limit. Peterson brass is known for having a bit smaller capacity than others so I may just stick with 84 and fine tune from there.

 

[jugi16]

Cadex 300 Norma 26in Bartlein
Federal 215M Primers
Lapua Brass
Hornady 225 ELD-M
Retumbo 84.6 GNS
10Thou off the lands.



After 100 rounds barrel sped up and did a double 10 round node test. 84.6 of Retumbo has been shooting the lights out in my rifle.

 

[jdnoble]

1lb of Retumbo of magic gold powder.

If you had 8lbs of H1000 or RL33 ... is there a preferred route to go?

 

[Movistar]

Yeah I’d have liked to use retumbo but can’t find it anywhere. N570 was the only thing I could find that had any sort of data for Berger 215s.

 

[Dogtown]

The lack of published data is frustrating, but FWIW I'm testing 215s with RL33 and getting similar results to N570.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I tried RE33 in my 1st Norma a few years ago and the speed was impressive but the ES was wild, over 100 fps at times according to my cheapo chronograph. I've had much better results with N570, H1000 and Retumbo, with N570 giving the best results for me with the 230s. Now that my current 28" barrel has settled in I'm getting 3045 with N570 and 230 Bergers, single digit ES.

 

[dgheriani]

Has anyone tried the Berger 220s in their Norma yet?

 

[Dogtown]

I have a box arriving today and plan to test this weekend.

 

[Dogtown]

Okay, RL33 pushed the Berger 220s really fast with no signs of pressure. The last charge weight in my test was 98gr which gave me 3244fps out of a 28" barrel, but the velocity graph for the whole sequence was all over the place, so I can't really identify a node. I'll try again next weekend and try N570 as well.

 

[dgheriani]

Okay, RL33 pushed the Berger 220s really fast with no signs of pressure. The last charge weight in my test was 98gr which gave me 3244fps out of a 28" barrel, but the velocity graph for the whole sequence was all over the place, so I can't really identify a node. I'll try again next weekend and try N570 as well.

I'm going to try 215s and 220s with N570. Rifle should arrive this week. 29.5" 9tw Krieger modified heavy varmint on a Stiller Tac 338, should be able to get good speeds.

 

[Dogtown]

I was planning to load up some 220s with N570 today, but I'm seeing a serious discrepancy between Vihtavuori's data and what Quickload is predicting. There is no data for the 220 LR Hybrid specifically, but the 220 Scenar load range is 71.3 to 82.9gr, while QL says all of that is quite low. Naturally, I'll take the Viht data over QL any day, but it does seem odd to be so far off. I've been using QL long enough that I feel fairly competent setting values to more closely match the ranges I'm working with. In fact, for the past 12 years or so my go to methodology is to look at reference data and then use QL to compute powder type/ ranges to work up to. I've never seen such a wide margin of error before, which has me hesitating a bit.

 

[moaflat]

I shoot the 250 A-Tips with a .225 FB. They wont mag feed but the FB seems just right.

Doing a new build reamed for 3.820” to accommodate 250 ATIP, any RL33 results?

 

[Yerman]

Doing a new build reamed for 3.820” to accommodate 250 ATIP, any RL33 results?

I believe page 9 of this thread has my RL33 results. My velocities were all over the place. I had the best results with Retumbo.

 

[dgheriani]

I was planning to load up some 220s with N570 today, but I'm seeing a serious discrepancy between Vihtavuori's data and what Quickload is predicting. There is no data for the 220 LR Hybrid specifically, but the 220 Scenar load range is 71.3 to 82.9gr, while QL says all of that is quite low. Naturally, I'll take the Viht data over QL any day, but it does seem odd to be so far off. I've been using QL long enough that I feel fairly competent setting values to more closely match the ranges I'm working with. In fact, for the past 12 years or so my go to methodology is to look at reference data and then use QL to compute powder type/ ranges to work up to. I've never seen such a wide margin of error before, which has me hesitating a bit.

Had a chance to try those 220s with N570 yet? My rifle just showed up yesterday, should have scope, brass and bullets in the next few days. The numbers you got from QL, is that for Lapua brass? Which primers and what OAL? I'm struggling to find load info for 220s and N570.

 

[Dogtown]

No, unfortunately the mismatch with data and QL made me a bit hesitant this round, so I instead explored the 220s a bit further with RL33. I used to run N570 in .338LM and .338LM Improved when I lived overseas and it was an easy powder to get, and while I should be able to compare those loads to get a safe ballpark for what I should use in the .300NM, that particular log book from 2010-2015 I suspect is still packed away in storage.

For the record, I'm using Lapua brass and Fed 215M primers with 3.585" COAL.

Using the 220gr Scenar-L as an analog for the Berger 220, Vihtavuori says the max load should be 82.9gr

If I try to duplicate those values in QL, I get results that are wildly off. Their max load nowhere near the max pressure and velocity is predicted to be almost 200fps slower. According to QL, the max should be closer to 90.0gr @ 3000fps.

Again, normally I would defer to the load data from the manufacturer, because QL is a general predictor of performance. I've used it for years as a way to test a variety of load parameters virtually, and help guide my load development process. So normally I look at the published data and then fiddle with QL to see the zone I should be working in, but in this case the discrepancy is way off. And with so little published data out there for this combo, I'm a bit hesitant.

To add to the confusion, if I plug the numbers I used with RL33 into QL, they generally correlate with the readings I got at the range (this is normally the case from my experience). The results I got with RL33 were impressive, but the unexpectedly noisy nature of the velocity curve makes me hesitant to continue. I may just take the time to load a batch with N570 working within the VV data's min/max zone, and I suspect there will be quite a bit of room to expand on it. I also have a bunch of that new Ramshot LRT I could try as well.

So adventures with .300NM continue....

 

[dgheriani]

@Dogtown Thanks for posting that. I sent Berger a message as well seeing if they had load data for the 220s with N570 that they could share. Will update when I hear back. Hopefully start load dev after next weekend's match.

 

[moaflat]

Thank you sir, very good information, I ll be reloading those 250 in a 26 inch 1_8 with R 33 , time to look for the best group now, I ll post my results when ready, thanks again

Hello Tekardi what did you find with RL33 with 250 Atip?

 

[Dogtown]

I did some more testing today with 220 Hybrid LRs and both RL33 and N570 and it basically confirmed that RL33 is just varies too much. I was getting really impressive velocities, but shooting a series of 5-shot groups across relatively stable charge weights gave me some unacceptable SDs and no standout groups. For context, in this same session I did some seating depth testing of a 6.5x47L load I've been working on and got some outstanding groups with low single-digit SDs. Switching to N570 and shooting a velocity ladder from 89.6gr to 94.4gr (at 3.585" COAL) I got much more stable results. Velocities were still pretty high (from 3077fps to 3315fps) but the velocity curve was much more consistent than RL33.

 

[Globalstar66]

Hey guys, just following up on a previous comment on here. Looking at VV's reloading data for N570 and Berger 230gr Hybrid Target, they show start load as 71gr and max at 83.5gr. Berger's reloading manual shows for the N570 and 230gr Hybrid Target bullet, a start load of 86gr and max of 90.3gr - quite a massive difference, and not even "overlapping".

Anyone know why this is? Or have maybe asked Berger about the massive difference? I'm curious to know.

Thanks!!!