308 Norma mag any good???

[HUTCH 7.62]

I had my hands on a nice Winchester mod.70 from 1951 chambered in 308 Norma mag. Ammo is'nt cheap so would it be better to re-chamber it into something else or leave it? And if it's best to re chamber it what are my choices with out having to re-barrel?

[toby]

Great hunting round for Elk size game if your a reloader, if not pass on it.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Great hunting round for Elk size game if your a reloader, if not pass on it.

Even reloading sounds like a pain in the arse. Running 300 win mag shells through a full length resizing die, or necking up 7mm rem mag cases, or necking down 338 win mag cases.

[milotrain]

I wouldn't rebarrel it. Sort of a beautiful, if nuts thing. I'll buy it from you

[HUTCH 7.62]

I wouldn't rebarrel it. Sort of a beautiful, if nuts thing. I'll buy it from you

It's got a nice stock a boss or band where the dove tail sight mounts to. Only thing is the chrome on the bolt handle is coming off, the guy wants 900 for it.

[dave225]

I've got a fn mauser action built into a hunting rifle in 30-338(essentially a 308 norma) that I picked up last year. its a nice rifle, I paid 350.00 bucks for it but I sure wouldn't have paid 900.00!
its real easy to resize 338 win mag cases, just one pull thru the 30-338 dies and load em. I was concerned that the first firing would be inaccurate due to the shoulders being a little less sharp in the corners, but they shot great first load and multiple loads afterwards.
great accurate hunting/target cartridge but just not sure even an old Winchester 70 is worth that much.
just my 2 cents
Dave.

[milotrain]

mauser != Pre64 Win70 but I agree that 900 is a bit steep.

Norma makes 308 norma brass. Not easy to find but once you have 25 cases it's all you'll ever need.

[LynnJr]

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Winchester-Model-70-Pre-64-Rifles.cfm?cat_id=393&start_row=151

Looks your gun up here and see what they are asking for them and more importantly what they are getting for them.

[mark501w]

If you load at all it would be easy to learn how to make up your own brass. I think it would be a rare gun if it's original . The cartridge would be as good as any 300 mag.

[toby]

There is some ammo for sale here right now for it.

[dskit]

If it's 1951 original it should go to someone who appreciates it "as-is". Based on your comments, this rifle is not for you.

[HUTCH 7.62]

If it's 1951 original it should go to someone who appreciates it "as-is". Based on your comments, this rifle is not for you.

This is not a perfect rifle but rather a nice rifle for its age, It had the sights removed along time ago and the bolt will need to be rechromed. Only reason the Seller want's 900 because that's what Imbert and Smithers in San Carlos told him it was worth.

[Sunday]

For the price I would suggest a new[er] rifle in a common caliber.

[toby]

For the price I would suggest a new[er] rifle in a common caliber.

It's a collectable rifle, most new rifles will never earn the same status.

[dave225]

I guess someone thought I was trying to infer my fn mauser custom build from the early 1960's was worth the same as an original 1951 winchester model 70.
I did not intend to infer that. however the OP said his rifle was a 1951 chambered in 308 norma mag.and since the 308 norma was not released until 1959 or 1960 depending on the source, I therefore assumed the 51 model 70 was a re-barrel or custom build which certainly changes its value from original.
I would bet its a pretty decent shooter just as mine is as well.
it would probably make a nice hunting rifle, or heavy target gun but probably not a high value collector, but then I'm no expert on colectables.
so what say the experts on the value of a non original pre 64?
Dave.