Belgium Browning Safari 308 Norma Mag, still viable?

Beagle333 · March 23, 2015, 05:54 PM

Is this still a good buy on today's market as a shooter? It's a 1960 model that was rechambered in 308 Norma Magnum and has seen quite a bit of hunting in AK, but it still looks pretty good and is perfectly functional. I am not so much concerned about if the price is right, as to whether it is just too obsolete or not. I am a caster and reloader, so ammo price isn't a deterrent. I wanted to get one to play with and probably only shoot targets at distance, but if this is just a waste of time where there are other rifles that may be found that will do a better job.... here's a good time to tell me.
Thanks for any info! I do appreciate anybody's experience with this.
Chuck.

Scorch · March 23, 2015, 08:58 PM

Nothing wrong with the setup. Maybe not a great chambering choice given the unavailability of ammo, but for a reloader it would be a great setup..

jmr40 · March 23, 2015, 09:00 PM

It wouldn't appeal to me. But for someone who likes to use something different from what everyone else is using I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Beagle333 · March 23, 2015, 10:03 PM

Well, after much researching of it this evening and tonight, I have discovered that the tooling up to do the reloading of this new and obscure caliber is probably going to be a discouraging force to play into the decision. The thing probably would be lots of fun to load for, and also to have something fairly different than the everyday rifles, but it's going to be pricey at startup.

Scorch · March 23, 2015, 10:44 PM

Then just open up the chamber to 300 WinMag, it's as simple as running a reamer into it and lengthening the chamber a bit. Measure the magbox first, but it should work.

Beagle333 · March 24, 2015, 04:07 AM

Well, there is always that. I'm still watching it and mulling over it. I hope somebody ponies up the 800 before I start counting coins.

Jay24bal · March 24, 2015, 11:36 AM

I have no opinion on the caliber, that is for you to decide.

I wanted to chime in on the rifle itself as I have my grandfather's old Browning Safari in 30-06 from 1958 (first year of production, it has a 3 digit serial number), and man is it one awesome gun. It is in 95%+ condition with some of the best figured walnut I have ever seen. It does not matter what ammo I feed it, the thing flat out shoots. I only shoot it about once a year as I don't want to abuse it, but every time I do I fall in love all over again.

If you decide on the caliber situation, and the price is right, you will not be disappointed with it.

Mobuck · March 26, 2015, 09:23 PM

308 Norma IS a "viable " caliber. Cases are easily made from .338 Win mag(among others). Velocities are right up there with the 300 Win mag-close but not equal.

Beagle333 · March 26, 2015, 10:04 PM

I'm still trying to talk myself into it.

It is such a grand old rifle.

Beagle333 · March 27, 2015, 09:45 PM

I did it. It's coming home.

Lookout, piggies!

WIN71 · March 28, 2015, 08:35 PM

This was a gunsmith school project rifle in 308 Norma Mag. I like it a lot for two reasons. The caliber and the rifle. I don't shoot it much anymore.

Beagle333 · March 28, 2015, 08:58 PM

Nice!!!

If I had the tools and the smarts to build my own.... my house would look like a Cabelas showroom.

Beagle333 · March 28, 2015, 09:06 PM

This is the one I just bought:

WIN71 · March 28, 2015, 09:30 PM

That is nice. Good wood, dark, it just looks like a workhorse. What's the LOP. It almost looks like it has been shortened some. That could make sense for winter hunting in AK

Beagle333 · March 28, 2015, 10:05 PM

I don't know. I don't actually have possession of it yet. I do hope it's a shorter LOP. I'm gonna wear a thicker vest when I shoot it!

Scorch · March 29, 2015, 12:19 AM

You 'bama boys must have some downright huge pigs if you need a 308 Norma Mag to hunt them.

WIN71 · March 29, 2015, 01:38 AM

Quote:

You 'bama boys must have some downright huge pigs if you need a 308 Norma Mag to hunt them

That is a neat tongue in cheek comment and I agree. Seems 333 only felt a "heart and want" for his purchase. I couldn't count the number of times I've done it. Actually, like some 70 plus year old contributors on this forum, I started hunting around 1957 with a win 270. I still use it, it kills everything I hunt. That did not stop me from accumulating rifles in 22 Hornet, 222, 223, 204, 22-250, 243, 30-06, 308, 308 Norma Mag, 300 H&H, 300RUM, 375 H&H, 416 Rem Mag, 458 Win Mag, not to mention the levers in 405 win, 30-30, 32 spcl, 348, 30-40 kreg,

The .270 is fine for me. I don't need any of the rest of them to hunt pigs. But I can kill a pig with most of them.

I'm happy Beagle333 got the Browning. I must have missed something, I did not realize the 308 Norma Mag was for hog hunting. Or should I watch more for "Tongue & cheek?

WIN71 · March 29, 2015, 01:44 AM

I just noticed "piggies" in one of Beagle333's posts. My apologies.

Win 71

Beagle333 · March 29, 2015, 06:54 AM

Yep, it's not a need, it's a want. I do have a .270 that will do the job on anything I meet here quite nicely. I have a .45-70 Guide Gun too and my wife said "Why do you want a bear rifle in Alabama?" as well. It was just a "want".

I don't even currently have pigs on my property, but I am making progress in courting a hunting club nearby that does have many hogs and hoping for acceptance. (It's not easy to get into a club here.) The club's land is also here on the plains and has many large fields a thousand or more feet across and so it might be handy to have a nice flat shooter that will still have some punch if I wanted to take something at 200 yards or better.
And don't overlook the coolness factor of the old rifle..... even if it just hangs on my wall.

(and if what I read in the news is correct, the pigs will be on my land soon enough too. I understand they have perfected population growth.)

globemaster3 · March 29, 2015, 01:15 PM

Beagle, I have to hand it to you! That is one beautiful rifle!

March 23, 2015, 05:54 PM	#1
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Belgium Browning Safari 308 Norma Mag, still viable? Is this still a good buy on today's market as a shooter? It's a 1960 model that was rechambered in 308 Norma Magnum and has seen quite a bit of hunting in AK, but it still looks pretty good and is perfectly functional. I am not so much concerned about if the price is right, as to whether it is just too obsolete or not. I am a caster and reloader, so ammo price isn't a deterrent. I wanted to get one to play with and probably only shoot targets at distance, but if this is just a waste of time where there are other rifles that may be found that will do a better job.... here's a good time to tell me. Thanks for any info! I do appreciate anybody's experience with this. Chuck. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 23, 2015, 08:58 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Nothing wrong with the setup. Maybe not a great chambering choice given the unavailability of ammo, but for a reloader it would be a great setup.. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 23, 2015, 10:03 PM	#4
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Well, after much researching of it this evening and tonight, I have discovered that the tooling up to do the reloading of this new and obscure caliber is probably going to be a discouraging force to play into the decision. The thing probably would be lots of fun to load for, and also to have something fairly different than the everyday rifles, but it's going to be pricey at startup. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 23, 2015, 10:44 PM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Then just open up the chamber to 300 WinMag, it's as simple as running a reamer into it and lengthening the chamber a bit. Measure the magbox first, but it should work. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 24, 2015, 04:07 AM	#6
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Well, there is always that. I'm still watching it and mulling over it. I hope somebody ponies up the 800 before I start counting coins. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 23, 2015, 09:00 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	It wouldn't appeal to me. But for someone who likes to use something different from what everyone else is using I don't see why it wouldn't work.

March 24, 2015, 11:36 AM	#7
Jay24bal Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 735	I have no opinion on the caliber, that is for you to decide. I wanted to chime in on the rifle itself as I have my grandfather's old Browning Safari in 30-06 from 1958 (first year of production, it has a 3 digit serial number), and man is it one awesome gun. It is in 95%+ condition with some of the best figured walnut I have ever seen. It does not matter what ammo I feed it, the thing flat out shoots. I only shoot it about once a year as I don't want to abuse it, but every time I do I fall in love all over again. If you decide on the caliber situation, and the price is right, you will not be disappointed with it. __________________ I like guns. Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices. http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " Jay24bal "

March 26, 2015, 09:23 PM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	308 Norma IS a "viable " caliber. Cases are easily made from .338 Win mag(among others). Velocities are right up there with the 300 Win mag-close but not equal.

March 26, 2015, 10:04 PM	#9
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I'm still trying to talk myself into it. It is such a grand old rifle. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 27, 2015, 09:45 PM	#10
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I did it. It's coming home. Lookout, piggies! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 28, 2015, 08:35 PM	#11
WIN71 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Posts: 729	1903 springfield This was a gunsmith school project rifle in 308 Norma Mag. I like it a lot for two reasons. The caliber and the rifle. I don't shoot it much anymore. __________________ Air goes in and out. Blood goes 'round and 'round. Any variation on this is a very bad thing. 개인 정보를 보호하십시요

March 28, 2015, 08:58 PM	#12
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Nice!!! If I had the tools and the smarts to build my own.... my house would look like a Cabelas showroom. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 28, 2015, 09:06 PM	#13
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	This is the one I just bought: __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 28, 2015, 09:30 PM	#14
WIN71 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Posts: 729	Beagle333 That is nice. Good wood, dark, it just looks like a workhorse. What's the LOP. It almost looks like it has been shortened some. That could make sense for winter hunting in AK __________________ Air goes in and out. Blood goes 'round and 'round. Any variation on this is a very bad thing. 개인 정보를 보호하십시요

March 28, 2015, 10:05 PM	#15
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I don't know. I don't actually have possession of it yet. I do hope it's a shorter LOP. I'm gonna wear a thicker vest when I shoot it! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 29, 2015, 12:19 AM	#16
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	You 'bama boys must have some downright huge pigs if you need a 308 Norma Mag to hunt them. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 29, 2015, 01:44 AM	#18
WIN71 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Posts: 729	Scorch I just noticed "piggies" in one of Beagle333's posts. My apologies. Win 71 __________________ Air goes in and out. Blood goes 'round and 'round. Any variation on this is a very bad thing. 개인 정보를 보호하십시요

March 29, 2015, 06:54 AM	#19
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Yep, it's not a need, it's a want. I do have a .270 that will do the job on anything I meet here quite nicely. I have a .45-70 Guide Gun too and my wife said "Why do you want a bear rifle in Alabama?" as well. It was just a "want". I don't even currently have pigs on my property, but I am making progress in courting a hunting club nearby that does have many hogs and hoping for acceptance. (It's not easy to get into a club here.) The club's land is also here on the plains and has many large fields a thousand or more feet across and so it might be handy to have a nice flat shooter that will still have some punch if I wanted to take something at 200 yards or better. And don't overlook the coolness factor of the old rifle..... even if it just hangs on my wall. (and if what I read in the news is correct, the pigs will be on my land soon enough too. I understand they have perfected population growth.) __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile. Last edited by Beagle333; March 29, 2015 at 07:04 AM.

March 29, 2015, 01:15 PM	#20
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	Beagle, I have to hand it to you! That is one beautiful rifle! __________________ NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."