.308 Norma Magnum

The .308 Norma Magnum (7.62×65mmBR) cartridge was created by Nils Kvale at Norma, Sweden. Like the larger .358 Norma Magnum it is based on a shortened 300 H&H magnum.^[1][2] It very closely resembled the wildcat .30-338 Magnum cartridge.^[3][2]

.308 Norma Magnum
.308 Norma magnum cartridge.
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	Sweden
Production history
Designer	Nils Kvale, Norma
Designed	1960
Manufacturer	Norma
Produced	1960–present
Specifications
Parent case	.300 H&H Magnum
Case type	Rimless, Belted
Bullet diameter	.308 in (7.8 mm)
Neck diameter	.317 in
Base diameter	.513 in (13.0 mm)
Rim diameter	.532 in
Case length	2.559 in
Overall length	3.345 in
Primer type	Large rifle magnum
Maximum pressure	55,100 psi (380 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 200 grain 2,903 fps 3,744 ft. lbs.
Source(s): https://www.chuckhawks.com/308Norma.htm

Kvale designed a wildcat cartridge, the 8mm Kvale, in 1949. This gave a magnum power cartridge by rechambering surplus 8mm Mauser M98 rifles.^[4] The lessons learned from this cartridge were put into the .308 and .358 Norma Magnum.

While still popular, the .308 Norma Magnum has been largely supplanted by the .300 Winchester Magnum, mainly due to the availability of rifles chambered in this caliber.^[1][2][5]

References

1. ".308 Norma Magnum - Sporting Rifle magazine". May 16, 2015.
2. ".308 Norma Mag". www.chuckhawks.com.
3. "308 Norma Magnum". Northwest Magnum.
4. "8 X 61 KVALE MAGNUM (8x61) | Cartridgecollector.net". www.cartridgecollector.net.
5. ".308 Norma Magnum". www.ballisticstudies.com.

Further reading

• Kvale, Nils. "Kulor, krut och älgar". 1963. Norma. Åmotfors, Sweden. ISBN 9789163329159.