Help me scope a 358 Norma Mag!

[Rstien321]

I am putting together an all-weather 358 Norma Mag. Rifle will serve two purposes.
1. Iowa deer hunting regulations allow for any rifle .350 - .500; want to have a rifle I can stretch to 400-500 yards with ~225 grain bullets
2. Flex into an effective Alaska setup in the brush with bullets in the 270 range

I was initially thinking a Swarovski Z6 or Z8 in the 1.7-10x or 1.7-13x. I appreciate the durability of a Nightforce, and am open to looking at their lineup as well. Will probably build the rifle with iron sights, and will use QD rings if I include iron sights.

 

[Shad71]

That's a tuff call as a 2-7 or 2.5-8 Leupold would work better for the brush and big bears.
But I personally run a 4.5-14x40 Leupold with 30mm tube on my 358 Norma but I'm not in brown bear country. Might look into 3.5-10x40 VX3 Leupold for an all around descent hunting scope that handles magnum recoil. Good luck with your search.

 

[Rstien321]

I actually found a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 I am going to try out! I really wanted a low end less than 3x, and 10x should be easy enough to stretch out to 500-600 yards.

 

[Shraggs]

Swfa 1-6 hd

 

[BjornF16]

I actually found a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 I am going to try out! I really wanted a low end less than 3x, and 10x should be easy enough to stretch out to 500-600 yards.

I was going to suggest that scope or SHV 3-10.

Shraggs had good recommendation with SWFA 1-6 HD

 

[Grizz2150]

Cutting the 358 NM barrel to 20 inches gets the rifle into action in the Alaskan bush, heavy cover in Africa, the Jungles of Camaroon and the Congo. Velocity loss is minimal. Install open sights, MagNaPort. My 20 inch barrel lost 80 FPS. Truely insignificate. It wears a Leupold 1.5 to 5 variable scope. Perfect for heavy cover jungle fighting. 400 to 500 yard shooting would best be done with the 340 Weatherby Magnum. Mine has the 26 inch barrel (FULL VELOCITY)with a Leupold 3.5 to 10 variable scope. It will REACH OUT and plant animals out to 500 yds.

 

[North61]

I went with a Huskemaw 1-6x24 for mine. The 1X is a great feature for dangerous game and at 6X with the hunt-plex reticle OR dialing I can hit the plates at the range to 525 yards with boring regularity. In the dark woods the illuminated reticle is very handy. I shoot 275 grain Woodleigh Protected Point bullets at 2700fps with IMR 4350. It's my third and best 358 Norma and gets 0.6" groups with the right load. It's a Varberger from Sweden with a wonderful rotary magazine and Lothar barrel. In my experience you lose more than 80 fps when you take off 6" of barrel..the expansion ratio is the same as a 30-06 and 24" has been my sweet spot. Your results may vary. The 2.5-10 Nightforce will be fine for your Norma but I really love the low end at 1.5x or less for the bear or bison in heavy cover and I have been surprised how well good optics at 6X can handle long range.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Cutting the 358 NM barrel to 20 inches gets the rifle into action in the Alaskan bush, heavy cover in Africa, the Jungles of Camaroon and the Congo. Velocity loss is minimal. Install open sights, MagNaPort. My 20 inch barrel lost 80 FPS. Truely insignificate. It wears a Leupold 1.5 to 5 variable scope. Perfect for heavy cover jungle fighting. 400 to 500 yard shooting would best be done with the 340 Weatherby Magnum. Mine has the 26 inch barrel (FULL VELOCITY)with a Leupold 3.5 to 10 variable scope. It will REACH OUT and plant animals out to 500 yds.

Not in Iowa it won’t. At least if you don’t want to end up chatting with the Game Warden.

 

[Rstien321]

True story - has to be at least a .35” bullet

 

[Rstien321]

I went with a Huskemaw 1-6x24 for mine. The 1X is a great feature for dangerous game and at 6X with the hunt-plex reticle OR dialing I can hit the plates at the range to 525 yards with boring regularity. In the dark woods the illuminated reticle is very handy. I shoot 275 grain Woodleigh Protected Point bullets at 2700fps with IMR 4350. It's my third and best 358 Norma and gets 0.6" groups with the right load. It's a Varberger from Sweden with a wonderful rotary magazine and Lothar barrel. In my experience you lose more than 80 fps when you take off 6" of barrel..the expansion ratio is the same as a 30-06 and 24" has been my sweet spot. Your results may vary. The 2.5-10 Nightforce will be fine for your Norma but I really love the low end at 1.5x or less for the bear or bison in heavy cover and I have been surprised how well good optics at 6X can handle long range.

Yeah, I went with 22” - I’m getting 2860fps with a 222 grain hammer bullet.

I was really happy with the nightforce this season. If budget was unlimited, I’d do a 1-8x24 Z8 Swarovski. I do like how rugged the nightforce is though.