Hello Mr. Vintage_Canvas,

here some personal information for these useful, but nearly obsolete cartridges:

- the .308 Norma would benefit from a longer-than-standard-Mauser98-length-action to set heavier bullets further out / rising the OAL

- for the .308 Norma and a 60cm barrel I used powders in the range of Dynamit Nobel Rottweil R904 and Kemira N160 for the 180grs bullets

- there was an article in the booklet "Big Bore Compendium" dealing with the .358 Norma, and the author was the opinion that even a 58cm barrel would be ok. He also suggested to use medium burning powders like the range of Kemira N140.

I once tested a rifle buildt by Krieghoff in Ulm on the basis of a FN 98 system with a 58cm (23") barrel in a heavier configuration (19,5mm at the muzzle).
This rifle was a delight to handle, very precise and did not lose much velocity on the factory ammunition of Norma:
Box information: 250grs Soft Point bullet @ 853 m/s
measured velocity / 50cm barrel: 841 m/s

- the brass forming for the .358 Norma M. out of new factory brass .338 Win. Mag. was very easy, the formed cases produced after fireforming very accurate ammunition, 5 shots at 100m below 40mm are common, if the shooter des not flinch...

- and I enjoy shooting heavier pistol bullets in the 358 Norma for training with reduced loads, of course!

best regards
Rolf