358 Norma

[S&W44]

I was looking at a custom built Mauser actioned rifle yesterday at the local gunshop.It's in 358 Norma and I was wondering if factory ammo is still available for this caliber.

[DRenn]

The only commercial ammunition available for the 358 Norma is imported by Norma. It usually isn't readily available and normally is special ordered. It normally runs about 35 - 40 bucks for a box of 20.
If I recollect, Dangerous Dave at the Old West Scrounger carrys the caliber.
However, I cruise the gun shows. I can easily find a couple boxes at every gun show. Not recent manufactured; maybe 10 - 15 years old. Works great.
I reload my own for the most part. In '88 when I built mine, there were no US sources for this ammo. I could find a few cases here and there and eventually built up a stock of about 200 once (?) fired cases, about 150 factory new Norma cases and about 200 rounds of factory new ammunition.
Buy the gun. It's a better caliber for elk and large bear than the 338WM or 300WM. I've taken 5 of the 7 elk I have with this caliber.

Watch yer 6!
Dave Renn