300 Norma Mag barrel life

[Cody Richardson]

Anyone have an idea for est. barrel life? With Lapua releasing brass soon and quality Norma brass abalaible, I’m thinking of putting one together.

 

[Bart B.]

It appears to be a slightly larger case than the 308 Norma Mag and its ballistic twin, the 30-338 Win Mag.

1100 to 1200 rounds of match rifle accuracy, 2000 for a big game hunting rifle. Will vary a little with powder heat index; less with hotter powders.

Here's a barrel life chart that compares favorably with what match rifles get. Big game rifles; double the numbers. Bore capacity for charge weight in grains has the same number as the bore cross sectional area in square millimeters.

 

[Drop Port]

Depends on how you run it? Pushing mid 80's to 90+ grains of powder through a 30 cal. hole can make for happy barrel makers.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Probably close to the same life as a 300 RUM (IMO).

 

[Rem06]

Depends on how you run it? Pushing mid 80's to 90+ grains of powder through a 30 cal. hole can make for happy barrel makers.

AH, the cost of having FUN!



300NM 230HT (Berger Hybrid Target)2915...91gr RL-33

 

[Rem06]

since the pic, i added a TIS olive sling and it is currently getting a little bastard break upgrade. I think i'll wait till next barrel to cerakote.

 

[DaveTooley]

Depending on the rate of fire and your management skills when it comes to heat checking and carbon fouling expect to get 700-900 good rounds. I'd have a new barrel waiting at 1000. Great round. I have one but there are other, more efficient cartridges that get very vry close to the Norma's performance using 15 grs. less powder. I'm shooting 225's at 2900 FPS out of mine.

 

[SAPenguin]

Depending on the rate of fire and your management skills when it comes to heat checking and carbon fouling expect to get 700-900 good rounds. I'd have a new barrel waiting at 1000. Great round. I have one but there are other, more efficient cartridges that get very vry close to the Norma's performance using 15 grs. less powder. I'm shooting 225's at 2900 FPS out of mine.

Hi there Mr. Tooley - would you mind giving some examples of these more efficient cases? Would they work in standard long actions?

 

[Zero333]

Hi there Mr. Tooley - would you mind giving some examples of these more efficient cases? Would they work in standard long actions?

If you can live and deal with the belt, the 300 winmag is right at the heals of the 300NM

My current 300winmag, 26" bbl, getting 3,000 fps with 208eldm and easily get over 2,800 fps with 240smk but I settle on a node at 2,745 with RL-33. This is with a 300winmag chamber with 0.090" freebore !!!

I would go with the 30 Nosler if you can find the brass and don't mind paying for it.

 

[JBT47]

If you can live and deal with the belt, the 300 winmag is right at the heals of the 300NM

My current 300winmag, 26" bbl, getting 3,000 fps with 208eldm and easily get over 2,800 fps with 240smk but I settle on a node at 2,745 with RL-33. This is with a 300winmag chamber with 0.090" freebore !!!

I would go with the 30 Nosler if you can find the brass and don't mind paying for it.

I agree. My Win Mag with a 29” Bartlein pushes a 215 Hybrid at 2980 using 71.5 7828 SSC. I like the idea of the Norma Mag but I can’t justify it given the results I get from the Win.

 

[Cody Richardson]

I’ve actually opted for an Improved 300 Norma now. Bumping the should forward .010 and changing to a 30* shoulder. May toast a barrel in 1,000 rounds but guys are getting close to 3,100 with a 230. I’ve witnessed 3,065 my self with another shooters rifle.

 

[DaveTooley]

Hi there Mr. Tooley - would you mind giving some examples of these more efficient cases? Would they work in standard long actions?

The one I have the most experience with is the 30-375 Ruger. Standard magnum bolt face. Myself and the Hornady crew have been shooting it in 1K BR comps for over a decade now. It was submitted to SOCOM once as an alternative cartridge. It now has the designation by Hornady of 300 PRC. I don't know if there are plans to bring it to market but why do all the work unless it had a future. With a 26" barrel you can run 225's in the upper 2800's at normal SAAMI pressures.

 

[jaybigboy34]

You

Depending on the rate of fire and your management skills when it comes to heat checking and carbon fouling expect to get 700-900 good rounds. I'd have a new barrel waiting at 1000. Great round. I have one but there are other, more efficient cartridges that get very vry close to the Norma's performance using 15 grs. less powder. I'm shooting 225's at 2900 FPS out of mine.

You are pretty much right on. My barrel went south at 650 rounds.

 

[Zero333]

You

You are pretty much right on. My barrel went south at 650 rounds.

What powder were you burning ?

 

[jaybigboy34]

H1000

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

You

You are pretty much right on. My barrel went south at 650 rounds.

WOW!!! That sounds like your barrel company may have gotten some bad steel or your are running the hottest loads around.
s that "normal" for benchrest?
I do not shoot benchrest but I get ~2k rounds out of my 300 barrels as long as they shoot under .5 min I am good. I shot 208s,
215s, 225s with 7828 and H1000.
I have no idea how you would have to shoot a barrel to get only 650 rounds out of it but then again I don't know much so I am sure there is
a reason for it.