Belgium Browning Safari 308 Norma Mag, still viable?

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Beagle333

New member
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.
 
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..
 
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.
 
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. :cool:
 
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.
 
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. :cool:
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

 
This is the one I just bought:

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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
 
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! :)
 
Need is not a requirement

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

(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.)
 
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