Which big 30 to build???

[Ranger007]

Nice thing about Alex’s Reamers is that he has a good “no turn” reamer that shoots excellent.

My reamer is a tight neck .339” so I have to turn a couple thousandths off for brass to chamber. Shoots very well but if I ever had another reamer made, I would go with a no turn design like Alex did because the Lapua and ADG brass neck walls are so consistent that they don’t need turning to be accurate.

I do not want to turn brass.

 

[bobinpa]

Thanks guys!!! Tons of info to digest. I'm really glad I started this thread.

 

[46and2]

Yes, but you can shoot it with mid pressure loads while fireforming brass. My rifle shoots great with virgin unformed brass. Just can’t run loads anywhere near max when fireforming. And like Alex said, a barrel really doesn’t calm down and come into its prime until after the first hundred rounds or so.

The difference between the 300 Norma and 300 NMI is pretty significant as well. The standard 300 Norma isn’t going to perform much better than a 300 PRC or the Nosler cases. If I had to choose between the PRC and standard Norma, I’d keep it simple and use the PRC because I wouldn’t be losing much.

But when you add 7gr of increased capacity by going NMI and fill it full of Vihtavouri N570, now you’ve got one hell of a mean animal on your hands

The standard Norma with Lapua brass has about 102-102.5gr of H20 capacity. My NMI with straightened body and 35 deg shoulder in Lapua brass has 109-109.5gr of capacity. That’s a pretty significant increase of around 7gr.

Standard Norma on the left, Fireformed 300 NMI w/35 deg shoulder on the right.

View attachment 1224518

Thanks for this pic. 300Norma and 22-250 are two cartridges that Iare just beginning to be (35°) improved.

 

[tom]

Thanks guys!!! Tons of info to digest. I'm really glad I started this thread.

I guess we never asked you if it's for hunting, long range hunting, or carrying it around all day hunting? Or just for plinking, fun/entertainment. Do you even want or need it to be a repeater? My 30-28 was a good shooter, 215s tuned at 3100. But it's a carry gun, and I'm selling it in favor of something without a brake for that purpose. Still love my biggg toys with brakes, but they're for a purpose and heavy enough I won't get far from the pickup or hearing protection lol.

Tom

 

[Gabe22BR]

Well boys, I couldn’t stand it... I built a big 300 Black out to run the heavies.. 240gr Sierra over 8grs of AA1680..

I’m thinking ahead here-8gr of powder going a long, long way. 870 rds I hope..

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I agree 100% on the info I am leaning a ton. Great stuff here!

Mr. Wheeler is Hornady the only option? Could you or are you able to modify a LE Wilson micrometer seater and perhaps a Whiden sizer and Micrometer seater?

I use Hornady for the full length bushing dies. They are just like a Redding s-die. They can also supply a micrometer seater but most of my customers prefer a Wilson blank cut with the chamber reamer. There are other die makers out there too, thats up to you.

 

[284winner]

I use Hornady for the full length bushing dies. They are just like a Redding s-die. They can also supply a micrometer seater but most of my customers prefer a Wilson blank cut with the chamber reamer. There are other die makers out there too, thats up to you.

Forster is another decent option. I use there micro seat die for my 338 LM imp and reamer cut it to the ackley case. It's the only Forster seat die I have and really like it.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Yes, the sleeves in the redding competition dies can be reamed with the chamber reamer as well. Another good option.

 

[Ranger007]

I use Hornady for the full length bushing dies. They are just like a Redding s-die. They can also supply a micrometer seater but most of my customers prefer a Wilson blank cut with the chamber reamer. There are other die makers out there too, thats up to you.

Thank you Sir.

 

[Ranger007]

I've been following the 300 Norma Imp threads and I've been thinking about a 300 PRC lately. I would like to build a "big" 30 and I am looking for opinions... Maybe even a 30 Nosler. I even thought about a 300 RUM, but barrel life seems to be bad. I know I'm not going to get 308 barrel life out of any of these, but I don't want something known to give bad barrel life.
Based on experience what is the good and bad of each or even something not mentioned that maybe I overlooked.
Thanks in advance.
Bob

See what you started! lol lol

 

[Ledd Slinger]

See what you started! lol lol

It actually started well before the threads on this site.

Many people had been playing with variants of the 300 Norma and NMI before it had factory produced brass or loaded ammo by necking down the 338 Norma when it was first introduced around 2008-2009. Problem for many years was that there was only Norma brand brass available and they couldn’t get any great speeds because the primer pockets wouldn’t hold up.

Some people, including myself, tried forming 300 Norma and NMI cases from Lapua 423 Dakota brass before the Lapua 300 and 338 Norma brass was readily available. But it is a pain to do on such a big round and the necks end up really thick. I still have the forming dies for making 300 Norma from 423 Dakota but they’ve been collecting dust for the last two years.

So the 300 Norma rounds didn’t really take off and become well known until Lapua announced they would be making brass for it back in 2018. Then when Lapua finally started getting the brass delivered to suppliers in 2019 and the NMI took off like wildfire.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I didnt have interest until Lapua started making the brass. Brass is the foundation of a good setup. I have to say I love the Lapua 300 norma brass, I can not believe how tough the stuff is. The 300 Norma Imp is such a good case Id love to see them standardize one so more guys could try one. Maybe ADG or one of the others could pick up on this.

 

[Ranger007]

I can certainly see and relate to the admiration of Lapua.

Just curious about Peterson seeing how there is a wealth of knowledge in this thread, why not add more.

 

[bobinpa]

I guess we never asked you if it's for hunting, long range hunting, or carrying it around all day hunting? Or just for plinking, fun/entertainment. Do you even want or need it to be a repeater? My 30-28 was a good shooter, 215s tuned at 3100. But it's a carry gun, and I'm selling it in favor of something without a brake for that purpose. Still love my biggg toys with brakes, but they're for a purpose and heavy enough I won't get far from the pickup or hearing protection lol.

Tom

I'm being over run with chipmunks and I need something big enough to thin them out!!! Seriously now, I just always wanted a heavy barreled .30 cal magnum in a varmint/tactical style stock that I could ground hog hunt with or just shoot paper. I have a stack of different 6.5s in HS Precision M24 stocks but I only have one .30 cal magnum in a target rifle. It's a 300 WSM that I use for groundhog matches. It sits in a Shehane laminate MBR stock. So this one will be in an HS Precision M24 stock with a HV barrel.

 

[Ranger007]

I'm being over run with chipmunks and I need something big enough to thin them out!!! Seriously now, I just always wanted a heavy barreled .30 cal magnum in a varmint/tactical style stock that I could ground hog hunt with or just shoot paper. I have a stack of different 6.5s in HS Precision M24 stocks but I only have one .30 cal magnum in a target rifle. It's a 300 WSM that I use for groundhog matches. It sits in a Shehane laminate MBR stock. So this one will be in an HS Precision M24 stock with a HV barrel.

Sounds pretty cool to say the least. I am nearly done piecing together my build and will post soon.

 

[tom]

I'm being over run with chipmunks and I need something big enough to thin them out!!! Seriously now, I just always wanted a heavy barreled .30 cal magnum in a varmint/tactical style stock that I could ground hog hunt with or just shoot paper. I have a stack of different 6.5s in HS Precision M24 stocks but I only have one .30 cal magnum in a target rifle. It's a 300 WSM that I use for groundhog matches. It sits in a Shehane laminate MBR stock. So this one will be in an HS Precision M24 stock with a HV barrel.

Well pretty much any of them will do what they need to do. I've watched first round hits on a 36" plate with 30 nosler/30-28 nosler....normal weight magnum hunting guns. Lonnie @MTlager is having great luck with 300 prc with actual real hunting bullets, as he said in an earlier reply.

I'm currently loving on the norma improved version, and will be fire forming with the big girl tomorrow!




And we thought the dogs got excited when a box shows up!!!

Tom

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I can certainly see and relate to the admiration of Lapua.

Just curious about Peterson seeing how there is a wealth of knowledge in this thread, why not add more.

I tried Peterson brass and had a really bad experience with extremely undersized primer pockets and case bodies cracking due to improper dimensions at the base. Customer service wouldn’t back it up all the way. Only replaced a portion of the faulty brass I bought. New stuff was dimensionally correct and primer pockets were better but if a company won’t back every bit of their product 100% then I don’t want anything to do with them.
So I sold the little bit of brass they replaced as new in the box to be done with Peterson altogether but still have 50 pieces of brand new Peterson brass from the faulty lot that I can’t use and will not sell to anyone because I can’t guarantee it’s safe.

I haven’t tried ADG 300 Norma brass specifically but have been very impressed with ADG quality in other cartridges I use it for. Seems to be equal to Lapua in every way for tolerances and toughness.

However, I can whole heartedly and highly recommend using Lapua brass. Especially if using Alex’s reamer because it is specifically designed on Lapua brass.

 

[Ranger007]

I tried Peterson brass and had a really bad experience with extremely undersized primer pockets and case bodies cracking due to improper dimensions at the base. Customer service wouldn’t back it up all the way. Only replaced a portion of the faulty brass I bought. New stuff was dimensionally correct and primer pockets were better but if a company won’t back every bit of their product 100% then I don’t want anything to do with them.
So I sold the little bit of brass they replaced as new in the box to be done with Peterson altogether but still have 50 pieces of brand new Peterson brass from the faulty lot that I can’t use and will not sell to anyone because I can’t guarantee it’s safe.

I haven’t tried ADG 300 Norma brass specifically but have been very impressed with ADG quality in other cartridges I use it for. Seems to be equal to Lapua in every way for tolerances and toughness.

However, I can whole heartedly and highly recommend using Lapua brass. Especially if using Alex’s reamer because it is specifically designed on Lapua brass.

Well that answers that and I kinda suspected Peterson would have some ugly to it.

 

[Ranger007]

Well pretty much any of them will do what they need to do. I've watched first round hits on a 36" plate with 30 nosler/30-28 nosler....normal weight magnum hunting guns. Lonnie @MTlager is having great luck with 300 prc with actual real hunting bullets, as he said in an earlier reply.

I'm currently loving on the norma improved version, and will be fire forming with the big girl tomorrow!

View attachment 1225161View attachment 1225162


And we thought the dogs got excited when a box shows up!!!

Tom

You know you have to post the specs and builder of the rifle not the lady. lol lol

 

[tom]

You know you have to post the specs and builder of the rifle not the lady. lol lol

I'll start a thread once I get going on it. But it's a rifle I've shot 3 2,000 yard match seasons with as a 338 lapua improved. I had Alex rebarrel it with a 30 cal in 300 norma improved. It's a Lawton 8000 (cheytac short) r.b. left load, right eject single shot, glued and screwed in a cerus elr stock, and I have a 4" plate attached to the anshutz rail. And of course the reciever has had Alex do his geek shit to it!
Tom